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DECENT STORY AND GREAT FIGHT SCENES Jan 05, 2009
The cinematography, fight scenes, costumes, acting ( by Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi particularly ) and sets were wonderful. The story, and romance were very good, but I wish that Ang Lee could have left out the flying fight scenes ( his nod to the martial arts films that inspired him early on ). I was very impressed by Ziyi's ability to hold her own with two of the most famous actors in Asia. This is a really beautiful film, that both manages to embrace tradition, and rail against it, with a lot more poignancy than most films in this genre.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 CROUCHING TIGER Oct 25, 2008
I RECIEVED MY ITEM IN GOOD CONDITION AS PROMISED AND IT ARRIVED IN A TIMELY MATTER. THE MOVIE WAS OF GOOD QUALITY.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Oct 24, 2008
This was a very good movie. My second time watching it.
My only drawback from 5 star is that it was very dark at times. I believe the mechanics of making Fighting movies keeps it that way.
But if they ever lighten the fighting scenes, the star will be awarded.
Very accessible with a broad appeal, deeply influential in bringing asian style to western films. . .. . . Sep 14, 2008
Now, I know a lot of people don't love this movie. But hear me out before you disagree.
I acknowledge that this film was made with a western audience in mind. That means that as a typical wuxia film it is watered-down by comparison. It was also apparent that they tried to do a lot with the script, probably too much, so as to please the arthouse crowd.
Because of those things I can't review it as a traditional HK film. Also, this movie was the final part in a three-part process that was absolutely critical to American cinema.
Part 1: The introduction of Jet, Jackie, Michelle, John, Chow, Tsui and Ringo to American audiences. It got them used to seeing the kung fu, the wires, and stylistic, kinetic bullet ballet.
Part 2: "The Matrix". "The Matrix" took HK choreography, wires and all, and made it mainstream acceptable. Sure, a lot of our directors tried it and failed, but at least the audience was ready for it (and even now anticipating it).
Part 3: "Crouching Tiger". A full Asian film, starring Asian actors, loaded with HK choreography and stylish wirework. A film that 5 years prior would have been an arthouse flick, at best, was now a mainstream, widely accepted, critically acclaimed, award winning film. This film finally made it acceptable to import more and more of HK to our shores.
Look at what has happened since this film came out. Look how many more Asian action films find their way to our theaters...and not just the little theaters. We've been given Dragon Dynasty so we can get great picture quality, no editing to our movies, subtitles that actually mean something, and extras that have translation to them. Asian re-makes are all the rage in the US. And on and on. . .
As an up and coming filmmaker who grew up watching all the great classic asian action films, it is now acceptable for me to incorporate a true HK style into my work. When I tell the studio I want to hang 2 of my actors from wires and have them fly around fighting one another, there's no fights or strange looks. Hellboy 2 was loaded with wire work. And we owe it all to CTHD.
Besides that I do enjoy the film immensely. I got a little choked-up during the first fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi when people in the theater were cheering, watching something I'd known existed for decades. Better late than never.
Wo Ping is a true artist, and CTHD gave him the talent and the leeway to create- talent and leeway that the Matrix was lacking. The visuals are spectacular. The performances are incredible. I always liken Chow to Morgan Freeman. No matter what role they play, they always bring a certain degree of respect and sophistication, with just a hint of the regal, to it.
It is a fantastic movie. And more than that, it is an important movie. No, it is not pure HK. It is watered-down and it does have its flaws. But I love it and I will always be grateful to it for the doors it opened.
0 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 CROUCHING TIGER UN-HIDDEN SUBTITLES!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aug 19, 2008
I was expecting so much out of this movie because of all the hype following it. I am an avid reader and do not normally mind subtitled movies (ie.. Pan's Labyrinth and Kung-Fu Hustle.. BTW, Kung-Fu Hustle is LOTS OF FUN!) but there were PARAGRAPH AFTER PARAGRAPH, NOT SENTENCES, OF DIALOG.. FAR TOO MANY SUBTITLES GOING ON AND ON FOREVER, AND GOING BY QUICKLY, that I could not figure out who was who or what was what in this movie. I lost the plot in the first half hour. I was so busy trying to read that my contacts kept drying out and I could not enjoy anything else going on in the film. If you're a martial arts purist, maybe you would enjoy it more than myself. Also, maybe I could have enjoyed it more dubbed in English.
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