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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang
Chen
Director: Ang Lee
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 (Chinese and
English), Dolby Surround (English)
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Studio: Columbia Tri Star
Features: See Review
Length: 120 Minutes
Release Date: June 5, 2001
“A faithful heart makes wishes come true…”
Film ****
Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon is
so exhilarating a movie going experience that not even the richest cache of adjectives can
possibly convey the experience. After all,
there are good movies, and there are great movies, but very rare is the picture that so
envelops and captivates you that it becomes a permanent part of your psyche. The first time I saw the film, it filled my
dreams every night for a week. The second
time I saw it, even more so. By the third
time, I realized I was more than a fan of the film, and this was no mere cinematic
experience. Director Ang Lee had created a
whole other world with his glorious masterpiece, and it was a world I never wanted to
leave.
From a
historical standpoint, Lee’s film has roots in the second of two major martial arts
picture traditions. The first was kung fu: these were action movies involving lots of
hand-to-hand combat and fighting styles, occasional some weaponry, and steeped in a
tradition of folklore. It eventually evolved
with the likes of Jackie Chan and others into modern settings, mixing elaborate stuntwork
and sometimes a little bit of comedy in for effect.
This type of film found a Western audience.
The second
tradition was the swordplay film. It’s
origins came more from fantasy and legend. Elaborate
wirework was employed to give the characters the impression of being able to fly, soar,
make giant leaps and otherwise defy gravity. This
type of movie never found an audience outside of the East, and as a genre, it never really
earned the chance to evolve. Were it not for
die hard fans like the Wachowski Brothers who took their love for the swordplay film and
implemented its style into The Matrix, there might not have been a Crouching
Tiger.
Ironically,
with The Matrix, audiences were given the one thing necessary for them to accept
such a style: an expository story. In traditional swordplay films, and indeed, with Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon, no explanation is given as to why the characters move the way
they did. The roots of authentic martial
arts are in spirituality, not physicality, and it was always believed that those who
mastered the highest level of the arts would achieve a mind-over-body kind of control that
would free themselves from physical limitations.
But the
history of the genre is only one part of what makes this movie so special. There is a rich, beautiful story at play here,
peopled with wonderful and memorable characters who seek honor, make choices, and endure
consequences, winning our hearts and our sympathies.
At the core of this so-called ‘action’ picture are two incredible
love stories driven by two strong, independent women.
One of the
love stories is a lingering, unrequited love shared by Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat) and Yu Shu Lien
(Yeoh). In their eyes, their voices, and
their quiet moments, we can sense the unfulfilled longing shared by these warrior souls,
bound by a sense of duty to restrain their feelings.
The other is between the young aristocrat Jen (Ziyi) and the reckless bandit
Lo (Chen). In a beautiful flashback sequence,
we learn their story, and wonder if the restrictions of honor and loyalty will force them
down the same lonely path as the elder pair.
Jen is
engaged to be married, but longs for the free and exciting life of a warrior. She envies Shu Lien, who in turn tries to make
clear that there is a price to paid for that kind of lifestyle. But Jen has a few surprises up her sleeve…the
revelation of which make for some of the film’s best moments.
The movie
combines the deep emotion and poetry of its story with its amazing, fantasy action
sequences. The beauty of the film is how each
serves the other…in a typical action film, even a martial arts one, the story is a
thin clothesline on which to hang key fight sequences.
Here, the spirit of the love stories seems to lend wind to the action
pieces. The wirework, orchestrated by Yuen
Wo-Ping (of Matrix fame, and also former opera brother of Jackie Chan and Sammo
Hung), elevates the art form to a new level, as characters soar through the air, skip
across water, leap from rooftop to rooftop, or, in the most unforgettable sequence, sway
from the tops of trees as they battle.
The Oscar
for cinematography was well deserved…rarely has a movie’s camera style worked so
fluently with the action on screen to bring already elevated material to an even higher
level. If Lee’s actors give us the
illusion of flight, his camera lets us share in that.
The cinematography heightens the picture’s illusion of breaking free
from physical limitations. It’s one
thing to consider two warriors leaping from rooftop to rooftop in a spectacular chase
scene, but when the camera actually follows them as they leap, the effect becomes
breathtaking.
But all
factors come into play to make the picture work. Tan
Dun’s amazing, Oscar winning score punctuates the action with relentless percussion
and lifts the romantic spirit with haunting cello solos by Yo-Yo Ma. And Lee was smart in casting two stars not only
noted for their action abilities, but acting skills as well. The performances of both Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle
Yeoh are moving, in sometimes beautifully subtle ways.
A simple glance or gesture conveys volumes of information; that’s how
strong and genuine their chemistry is. And
young Zhang Ziyi is a tremendous find…beautiful and fiery and skilled in her own
right, her passion fuels the key center part of the film.
As a final
thought, I, like many film fans, have a few yearly Academy Award grumbles…the fact
that an unedifying by-the-numbers sword and toga “epic” took Best Picture over a
truly unique, beautiful and imaginative film like Crouching Tiger is one, to be
sure, but not nearly as painful as the snub of Ang Lee in the Best Director category. Lee’s work was groundbreaking and visionary,
and easily the most deserving.
In other words, don’t let the concept of Awards sway you. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was truly the best film of 2000, and one of the greatest motion picture experiences of the last decade, at least.
Having seen
the film twice theatrically, I was comforted to know that the studio behind the release
was Columbia Tri Star…the film was instantly dear to my heart, and I knew they wouldn’t
disappoint when it came to the DVD. I was
right. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon may
be one of the most exemplary transfer efforts to date from a studio with a reputation for
excellence. Not even the theatrical
experience could compare; I was stunned by how much more bright, colorful and detailed the
picture was than I had thought. The visuals
are stunning, from the wide, beautiful desert landscapes, the rich green forests, the
intricate layout of the city…every color, shape and image rings pure. Look at the detail on Jen’s wedding dress…a
brilliant red color, but with lots of tiny gold emblems and multicolored designs. If there was ever an image that would lend itself
to bleeding, this would be it, but it doesn’t. Lee’s
natural light photography never lends itself to grain, even in low light settings. From start to finish, this is a gorgeous and
reference quality transfer.
Audio
****
Never has a
score been served so well by a 5.1 mix as Tan Dun’s music here…the open, multi
channel orchestration is enveloping and powerful, instant elevating the listening
experience into something magical. The action
scenes, as you would expect, will give your system quite a workout with plenty of discreet
and well balanced touches, and smooth crossovers from speaker to speaker. Almost as good are the ambient touches of natural
sound, including thunder, rain, the wind in the trees, the sound of a river…all of
these are expertly blended in such a way to draw the viewer in to the experience. The English 5.1 dubbed track is quite good, as far
as they go, but I still prefer the original Chinese (though the subtitles do NOT default
on when you start the disc…be warned).
Features
***1/2
For
starters, the disc includes a terrific commentary track by director Lee and co-writer
James Schamus. As this project was a long
time dream of Lee’s, his insight into the making of the picture and what it meant to
him personally makes for a warm and pleasant listen.
There is also the original Bravo channel special “Unleashing the Dragon”,
plus an interview with Michelle Yeoh (in which she reports that she and Chow Yun-Fat are
trying to convince Lee to make a prequel…bring it on!!), a 7 minute photo montage,
filmographies, plus both the U.S. and international trailers.
Summary:
Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon is
movie magic and escapism at its finest and most pure.
With a wonderful, emotional story at its core and a sense of action that
makes human movement as much a beautiful work of art as any routine by Fred Astaire, a
strong cast, amazing camerawork, powerful score and an absolutely brilliant and unequalled
sense of direction by Ang Lee, this is a film I would shamelessly beg anyone to try. With this glorious and top notch DVD transfer from
Columbia Tri Star, no film fan should pass it up. Unequivocally
recommended.