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Cast:
Chow
Yun Fat
Michelle
Yeoh
Zhang
Ziyi
Cheng
Pei Pei
Chang
Chen
Action:
Yuen
Woo Ping
Writer:
Wang
Dulu (novel)
Wang
Hui-Ling
James
Schamus
Tsai
Kuo Jung
Producer:
James
Schamus
William
Kong
Hsu
Li-Kong
Ang
Lee
Director:
Ang
Lee
Score:
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CROUCHING
TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
AKA:
Green Destiny ||
Tiger & Dragon
Year:
2000 Reviewer: Tony
Ryan
Ever
since this movie did the rounds at various film festivals it
has caused a tremendous stir, and while some snotty Hong Kong
film "buffs" feel it is overrated, I beg to differ
and give it the credit it deserves.
Story
wise, it is based on a book Ang Lee read many years ago by
Wang Du-lu and is both a love story, fantasy epic and a tale
of revenge centred around Chow Yun Fat (Li Mu-bai) as a
legendary swordsman and Zhang Ziyi (Jen) as a repressed woman
fighting an inevitable arranged marriage, while Yeoh plays a
resistance fighter (Yu Shu-lien), a noble woman with a
forbidden love for Mu-bai. The fights are almost seamlessly
integrated and amongst some of the best on offer for a few
years even if they are not new by Jade screen standards, and
the quality of acting, production and direction are ahead of
other Hong Kong films and directors. Yes, even Tsui Hark I'm
afraid 'Zu:
Warriors From The Magic Mountain' fans! The story flows
smoothly with a slight narrative drag in the middle, but
unlike similar films, we are gripped and not just waiting for
the next fight.
If
anything we should all be grateful that people will shut up
about 'The Matrix' and talk about a "real" Hong Kong
film instead. Woo Ping has surpassed 'The Matrix' and maybe
even 'Fist
of Legend' which is impressive when you consider that Yun
Fat and Yeoh are not classically trained martial artists, even
though they each have around 20 years experience in the
industry. While the choreography looks impressive, smooth an 'oh-so-easy',
it is worth noting that after the first fight scene Michelle
required knee reconstruction adding another injury to her
growing list!
In
the long run, I will probably end up watching 'Drunken
Master 2' and 'Fist of Legend' more often, however, we
should be eternally grateful that America has accepted, and
reacted to, a real Hong Kong film more so than watered down
sell outs like 'Romeo
Must Die' and 'Rush
Hour'.
Region
1 & 2 DVD's are now readily available and selling like hot
cakes showing the West that these films are not just for
festivals and restricted release, but are for everyone.
Hopefully, this may cause Hollywood to give Eastern directors
the money and space to make movies their way. I for one would
love to see what Sammo could do with lots of time, cash and
freedom!
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