Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long)
movie review/analysis
written by Gavin Miller
It's very difficult for me to order my favorite movies of all time. I've tried and re-tried over and over again. However, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon always either comes out on top, or at least makes the top two or three. And this film truly is a masterpiece. Not only is it lavishly entertaining, fast paced and some what old fashioned, it's also touching, meditative and nothing less than beautiful and visually stunning. The acting is perfect. Chow Yun-Fat gives a stoic performance and you can really tell he's a somewhat trouble man underneath his shell. He does a great job and completely carries the movie. Michelle Yeoh is equally fantastic, she's slightly more unreserved and her character come off as extremely effective and human, especially in the movie's deep yet somewhat nail-biting climax. Ziyi Zhang and Chen Chang shine in their star making roles.
Another thing I would like to mention is the score. It's possibly my favorite film score of all time. In every scene the music fits perfectly, whether it's the fast drum beat to go along with an amazingly choreographed fight scene, or the slow, mournful cello solo "Farewell" by the master Yo Yo Ma that plays over the end credits, this film's soundtrack is nothing less than amazing, and it won an Oscar to prove it.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is so much more than a martial arts action movie. It's an epic drama with great characters, an amazing story, and beautiful scenery. It spawned a whole renaissance in the martial arts genre in the early 2000's; which is responsible for many films, Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004), and even Kill Bill (ok maybe not so much that one, but I'm sure Tarantino was inspired).
This is a perfect movie to me, in every aspect. The cinematography is gorgeous, Ang Lee's direction is spot on, the emotions run deep and the film is both exciting and affecting. Do not disregard this as a simple action flick, it's a drama, a beautiful romance, an epic, with amazing martial arts thrown in there. Crouching Tiger is quite likely my all time favorite film. There are not many people that love this movie as much as me. I re-watch it quite often and it never gets boring or old. I get more out of it every time. It excites and enthralls me, and also brings a tear to my eye. I could not love this movie more.
