I’m not a big fan of martial arts films. Fact is, I’m not even a little fan of martial arts films. First off, I have no interest in gratuitous violence. Second, I actually like films to have a story. I know – that sounds terribly radical to all of you violence buffs and aficionados of gore. Heaven forbid that a film should have a story to get in the way of all the butt-kicking, eye-popping action!

Well, here, in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon we have, at last, a martial arts film that, first off, provides some ground-breaking (and roof-top pounding) martial arts combat scenes, and, secondly, actually pretends to have a story. Certainly it’s not much of a story by the standards of a drama film (or even a weighty comic book), but at least it’s there as filler between the action scenes. The various story lines generally lack clarity, especially on a first viewing. The opening set-up is slow-paced and goes on too long. There’s no credible foundation for the ability of these warrior characters to fly hither and yon. (Perhaps somebody dropped some peyote into the ginseng. These guys and gals are flyin’ high!) An extended flashback pops up in the middle of the film and deadens momentum. No matter. All of this weak, weak, and weak pseudo-story is largely just cool down time to space out the spectacular martial arts scenes, which are pretty much in a league by themselves. Think Matrix, think Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in Star Wars I, then – think better! The choreography is amazing and the production values awesome – from the scenery, to the acting, to the soundtrack, and, especially, the special effects and choreography. So what if the story sucks?

For what it’s worth, here is a brief recap of the narrative (which, as I think I might have mentioned once already, inhales abruptly with lips engaged). Not that it matters, but the story takes place long ago in China. A great warrior, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), is having something of a mid-life crisis and has decided to hang it up. No more fighting, no more killing for good old Li. Li is in love with Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) and vice versa but they still can’t get it on because of some silly business about honor. Apparently she was previously engaged but her fiancé died in battle to save Li, so somehow his getting together with the dead guy’s gal would be some kind of betrayal. Maybe all he needs is some Viagra. Beats me! I’d say she could use a little love and comfort, but they just dance around and fawn over one another instead. This is what passes for romantic intrigue. Yu is also a skilled warrior – a security expert to be precise – and has picked up wuxia fighting skills from Li, though they are supposed to be reserved to men in this ancient society. Li wants to mark his retirement from the warrior ranks by giving his legendary sword, called “Green Destiny”, to a prominent old friend in Beijing, Sir Te. He asks Yu to deliver it to him personally. Yu agrees and her arrival in Beijing with the sword coincides with a visit to Sir Te’s household by Governor Yu (Li Fa Zeng) and his lithe and lovely daughter Jen (Zhang Ziyi). Jen is a somewhat unhappy camper because she will soon be wed, in an arranged marriage, but her heart yearns to pound in the breast of a liberated gal and warrior. She envies Yu. Jen – like every teenage girl – wants to fight and kill and maim and all those good things – for honor and glory. No sooner does Yu turn over the sword to its new owner than it is stolen by a masked bandit of petite proportions. Hmmm, who could it possibly be? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe . . . . . Jen? The masked robber flees with Yu in hot pursuit, leading to the first big action scene.

Skipping ahead a bit, so as not to give too much away (as there is very little to go around), it seems (in a flashback) that Jen had, at one time, been kidnapped. While crossing a desert, her caravan was attacked by a mounted band of thieves. Jen had taken it all rather calmly, until the leader of the thieves, Lo (Chang Chen), decided (heaven forbid) to steal her ivory comb. Kill my entire retinue of retainers, if you must, but steal my comb, fella, and you’re in for it! Fired up, Jen puts up a fight but is knocked unconscious and taken to the lair of the thieves. By the time she comes to, poor Lo is hopelessly in love with her and in not too much longer (after bopping him once on the head with a rock to see if there was anybody home), she is equally head-over-heels in love with him – a la Stockholm syndrome.

Then, there’s just one more bit of plot to round all of this out. After returning to civilization, Jen has apparently received surreptitious training from a mean old lady called the “Jade Fox.” The Jade Fox is like the head of a Women’s Studies Program – a really, really, really radical feminist. It seems that the Jade Fox was once denied admissions into the academy (at Wudan Mountain) where guys like Li were trained, because it’s a men-only exclusionary kind of deal. Ticked off, Jade Fox killed an instructor of the academy, known as the Southern Crane, and stole his training manual. Fox eats Crane! Southern Crane was also Li’s mentor and, most likely, part of Li’s midlife crisis is related to his dishonor from not having properly avenged his mentor’s death. Jade Fox, in the meantime, using the stolen manual, has taught herself some of the tricks of the trade, but only enough to become a topnotch thief. So, you see the issues, here. One – Li and Yu need to get the sword back. Two – something has to be done to de-fang the Jade Fox. Three – the right romantic pairings have to be realized. And four, and perhaps least obvious – honor requires that Li and Yu detach the talented Jen from the clutches and evil influence of the dark side of the force – er, make that, Jade Fox. How many of those things happen, you’ll have to watch the film to determine.

Practically speaking, none of that matters much, because if you’re like most of the film’s viewers (me included) you’ll be just as glad when the paltry filler material passes so we can all get back to what really counts here: action, action, and more breath-taking action. But oh what action it is! We’ve got warriors running across the roof tops and flying from roof to roof. They’re leapin’ and swingin’ their arms like so many lethal ballerinas. Later, they’re gliding across the surface of a body of water like water bugs. Then there’s a truly magnificent scene where the battling martial arts experts are clinging to these reed thin tree tops of a bamboo forest, swaying back and forth as they swish swords. Another glorious scene is the thunderous arrival of the outlaw band on horseback headed by Lo. Another time, in a kind of bar brawl, Jen single-handedly whips the bejeezus out of about two-dozen hulking men. One of the best fights is between two of the female characters – and guys never could resist a good catfight. Gals neither, I imagine. It’s all stunningly fluid and utterly inventive. The choreography was scripted and directed by Yuen Wo-Ping, who also worked on The Matrix. There’s no denying the beauty and artistry of these scenes. It’s easily the most artsy and ballistic fight scenes I’ve ever seen. The cinematographer was a fellow named Peter Pau, but the acrobatics of the fight scenes are more reminiscent of Peter Pan. Maybe that “u” got inadvertently flipped during one of the fights.

Production Values: The cast for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon couldn’t have been any better. The youngsters playing Jen and Lo were suitably gorgeous and the older pair, Li and Yu, are two of the most experienced and athletic action heroes currently working in film. Chow Yun-Fat, who played Li, has gained an international following through his appearance in Anna and the King and is beloved in China. He has teamed with John Woo repeatedly in action films, including The Killer. Michelle Yeoh, who is Malasian, is also known to American audiences for her appearance as a rather atypical Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies. She also appeared in Supercop (1996) with Jackie Chan. Both of these veterans deliver marvelous performances here for director Ang Lee. Zhang Ziyi has both the body and the face for her role as Jen. She is as sleek as a cat, radiates dynamic energy, and flashes a dynamite smile. She also knows how to make her eyes look very naughty. Chang Chen as Lo provides an ideal romantic foil for Zhang Ziyi. You can’t help rooting for them to get together.

Director Ang Lee has had so many successes, now, in his still early career, that one wonders where else he can go. His previous credits include Eat Drink Man Woman (See my review at Eat Drink Man Woman.), Sense & Sensibility, and The Ice Storm.

The soundtrack is highly effective. Lot’s of cool sound effects (chimes, blocks), drums, and some delicious cello solos by Yo-Yo Ma. All providing the right emotional base.

Themes – yeah, right: Some reviewers claim that this film actually has “themes!” It pretty much amounts to imaging mountains from ant hills, but for what it’s worth – for any who might feel guilty admitting to watching the film purely for its beautifully choreographed violence – you could pretend that there are deep insights relating to the nature of freedom (or lack thereof when one is bound by convention or duty).

Bottom-Line: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is just about as visually appealing and entertaining a film as you’re ever going to see. It’s eye-candy of the sweetest kind. The choreography, cinematography, acting, and soundtrack are all that you could ask for. The story is convoluted and strained and not of any serious import. This is a stylistically novel and thrilling film which can be highly recommended on that basis alone. The DVD includes a commentary by Ang Lee and James Schamus, theatrical trailers, production features, a conversation with Michelle Yeoh, and two versions of a music video with CoCo Lee called "A Love Before Time."


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You might want to check out these other excellent films from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan:

Chungking Express
Eat Drink Man Woman
The Emperor and the Assassin
Fallen Angels
Farewell My Concubine
Hero
In the Mood for Love
To Live
Raise the Red Lantern
Red Sorghum
Road Home
Shanghai Triad
The Story of Qiu Ju
Temptress Moon
Together
What Time is it There?
The Women From the Lake of Scented Souls
Yi Yi

Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older