He has turned his focus to a mythical China of several hundred years ago.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an epic martial arts film that
combines incredible action sequences with elements of romantic melodrama.
Taking place during the Qing dynasty, Crouching Tiger gives us a trio of
larger-than-life characters: the great martial arts master (Chow
Yun-Fat), whose near-invincibility makes him the Superman of his day; the
love of his life, a female warrior (Michelle Yeoh); and the powerful but
innocent Jen, who is wandering down a path toward evil. The story hinges
on the hero's attempt to sway Jen from the clutches of their arch nemisis
Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei); the woman who killed their master.
Crouching Tiger is very much in the style of Melodrama, its rich story
unfolds much like a comic book, with the characters and their
circumstances being painted using very wide brush strokes. Subtlety is
not part of Lee's palette; this is grand and melodramtic to the hilt.
The characters are bigger than life and their quest is the kind of epic
endeavor that pits good against evil, with an innocent caught in between.
Yet, despite the grandiose feel, there is enough time for intimacy to
get to know the characters.
Crouching Tiger is a stunning visual experience even when the action is
static. From the glorious matte shot of ancient Bejing to the verdant
splendor of the surrounding bamboo forests to the majesty of Wudun
Mountain, the film never ceases to dazzle the eyes and arrest the
viewer's attention. The gentle, occasionally haunting score provides the
perfect musical backdrop for the story, never calling undue attention to
itself.
Crouching Tiger is not your ordinary martial arts, testoterone-driven
film. It pays particular attention to Chinese legends and metaphical
beliefs. Martial art sequences are presented with a reverance that does
not call to mind the campiness of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan genre films.
It has a poetic, rich underlying foundation. It ruminates on the true
nature of freedom and how everyone, regardless of circumstance, is a
prisoner of one sort or another. Crouching Tiger balances the timeless
equation of love, honor, and sacrifice. Crouching Tiger stands out as
one of the year's most complete, exhilarting motion picture experiences.
Rating 4 stars (out of 4)