Ang Lee's gorgeous 2000 masterpiece has awe-inspiring martial arts stunts and a tragic love story for the ages.
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A Valentine’s Day homage to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
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All this talk about her other great roles and not a single mention of Supercop or The Heroic Trio?
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jonbob_newcastle
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Bear in mind that CTHD is a Chinese film and their tropes are a bit different. Running up walls, or over water, balancing on bamboo stems and outright flying are all pretty standard for a Wuxia film, but were new to Western audiences at the time.
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When I originally watched CTHD in the theater, I was profoundly reminded of the difference between the worldview of a country with multi-thousands of years of a semi-continuous culture and one with a culture only a few hundred years old. China and America, for example. In this movie,
Two couples have a good, bad, ugly, or beautiful future. In the Chinese version (original CTHD), both couples end up shattered. Very sad, and why I seldom watch this excellent movie.
In an American 'revisioning' of CTHD, Jen shows up just in time to save Mu Bai's life. Both Mu Bai and Shu Lien - having shared their feelings for each other when they thought he was dying - move beyond propriety and become a near-perfect 'adult' couple. Jen, now properly informed of the consequences of arrogance, rejoins with Lo “Dark Cloud” and they set out for an adventurous future. They become a near-perfect 'young' couple. (In future years, Mu Bai and Shu Lien may become their teachers.)
Under one worldview, the world is pain-filled. Under another worldview, the future is unknown but hopeful...
In an American 'revisioning' of CTHD, Jen shows up just in time to save Mu Bai's life. Both Mu Bai and Shu Lien - having shared their feelings for each other when they thought he was dying - move beyond propriety and become a near-perfect 'adult' couple. Jen, now properly informed of the consequences of arrogance, rejoins with Lo “Dark Cloud” and they set out for an adventurous future. They become a near-perfect 'young' couple. (In future years, Mu Bai and Shu Lien may become their teachers.)
Under one worldview, the world is pain-filled. Under another worldview, the future is unknown but hopeful...
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Same for me. It was one of those movies that I went into without much prior knowledge, and as soon as I saw the wire work, I realized that this just wasn’t my thing.
Not going to hold it against the film, though. Wire Fu is an established genre and a legitimate artistic choice, it’s just one that I could never get on board with.
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Enjoyed this in the cinema when it came out. I'm now enjoying introducing it to my kids. Hasn't aged badly at all.
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Did everyone stay for the post-credits scene where they're sitting at a food court eating Philly Cheesesteaks?
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HoFD had a plot that didn't make much sense but it was even more beautiful to look at compared to Crouching Tiger. The early 2000s were the peak of wuxia cinema when directors took the genre seriously. It's sad that it's fallen into a parody of its former self.Typo of sorts. The Image used for Jen is from the movie "House of the Flying Daggers".
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jonbob_newcastle
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Klingons love Hamlet, even when it's not performed in the original Klingon. Who doesn't love a good revenge story?
They hate Romeo and Juliet. No-one wants to watch two selfish puqpu' defy their parents and bring dishonour to their houses for some infantile infatuation.
But seriously, watching Hero and another Chow Yun Fat blockbuster 'Curse of the Golden Flower', one will detect a certain undercurrent of conformity, quite unlike the Lone Hero archetype that we see so often in Western media. I'm not making a value judgement, just saying that different cultures have different virtues.
As to worldview, I regularly drive past Segedunum, which was built about two thousand years ago. Late last year I attended a funeral in a village church that was laid down a mere nine hundred years ago. It can sometimes be... humbling, to have that sort of history on one's doorstep.
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Jen is not in love with Lo, anymore. She does not care about that boy. The whole film is about her love for Li Mu Bai. She steals his sword to get his attention, repeating how Lo stole her comb. Yet she is simultaneously scared of ending up a chewed-up concubine, like her teacher Jade Fox. Shu Lien battles Jen as her romantic rival, and Jen kills herself after her love Li Mu Bai dies.
This movie is a brilliant story of its female characters, and their inner conflicts. It is way deeper than the martial arts make it seem.
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I have been looking for a Blu-ray copy of Big Trouble Little China for a damned age (okay, year and a half) now.* Some of the fun is in the search, but I'd really like to see it. I love that movie; Lo Pan gave me infinite creeps as a kid, and I remember a few other completely absurd scenes that I adored and waited for every rewatch.In all honesty, reality is the last thing I expect of wuxia films.
*It's probably available on Amazon but I only use it as the last of all resorts.
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Always enjoyed the old Mystic Kung Fu series and movies. These days, over abuse of obnoxious CGI/VFX. Still, I still believe to this day that majority of the core Asian Sphere, Actors were superior to others. Training in Martial Arts, Dance, Vocal Training, various acting and studies, and singing. I watched a lot of Hong Kong award shows up to the 2000s when China's influence started to take down the aspects there. Always believed that I could train myself and fly but only to end up rolling around in an egg carton, bleeding yolk. Excellent movie that finally hit the Western Spheres besides to what other actors strived to acheive in the global movie/tv industries.
Still, I cannot forgive the biggest name of all, Jackie Chan for kotowing to China whims and his change in beliefs.
Still, I cannot forgive the biggest name of all, Jackie Chan for kotowing to China whims and his change in beliefs.
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I saw this in the theatre on the strength of Ang Lee! Just such a great director, I was like, oh nice, a new Ang Lee movie. An all-time favorite. It has the perfect balance of sincerity and hammed up wuxia melodrama. My favorite moments:
the film is lovely. Just go into it with an open heart.
- Mu Bai beating Jen silly with a stick while chastising her as she tries to get a handle on green destiny.
- Shu Lien trying to find something in her arsenal that has a chance against the sword.
- the earnest but incredibly inept head of security for Sir Te. His whole arc is amazing.
- just looking at Zhang Ziyi. Ang makes her into a princess and she is stunning and has her wrestling bandits and she is stunning.
- the bar scene is great comedy-in-the-camera.
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Certainly an all-time favorite of mine. The early aughts had some fantastic wuxia flicks, with this being my favorite. Hero (also with Zhang Ziyi) and House of Flying Daggers round out my top 3.
For fans of the cast of Hero, if you haven’t seen Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood For Love, also with Tony Leung and Maggie Chung, that’s another great Valentine’s Day choice.
For fans of the cast of Hero, if you haven’t seen Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood For Love, also with Tony Leung and Maggie Chung, that’s another great Valentine’s Day choice.
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I was 13 when this came out, and this was the film that turned me on to wuxia in general. Every time I see or hear the the voice of the legendary James Hong, in my head I hear him saying “Mister Burton”. Also Incredible that he was still doing voice work as of last year at the age of 95.In all honesty, reality is the last thing I expect of wuxia films.
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I remember I first saw this on the in-flight TV on a cross country flight to Baltimore, MD. It was dubbed, of course, tiny screen and all, I bought it on DVD and saw the subbed version not long after. Also, my Aunt and Uncle, who I rarely see, invited me over to their house to discuss and kind of debate the ending. Ultimately I think we all concluded that Jen did die after jumping off the bridge, and Dark Cloud went back to being a Hun. But that movie had a far greater impact than any other 21st century film I can think off. It was a true phenom at the time.
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On top of this movie another wuxia that I really love is Hero. Also has an
Fantastic love story
Fantastic love story
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Glad to see so many fans here of both CTHD and Hero. Like others here, I have watched these movies multiple times and both of them are a feast for the senses.
For me, the rashomonesque nature of Hero and the dazzling use of colours is something that always leaves me floored even after all this time.
Coming to the discussion of the Occidental (and particularly American) culture of largely wanting everything tied up with a neat little bow vs the Oriental acceptance of bittersweet nature of life reminds me of how Showtime ruined Californication by pushing it on for 7 seasons when the heart of the story was wrapped up much earlier.
It’s very rare to get a story where the studio recognises when to stop telling it. But when they manage to do that, it’s lightning in a bottle that becomes eminently rewatchable.
For me, the rashomonesque nature of Hero and the dazzling use of colours is something that always leaves me floored even after all this time.
Coming to the discussion of the Occidental (and particularly American) culture of largely wanting everything tied up with a neat little bow vs the Oriental acceptance of bittersweet nature of life reminds me of how Showtime ruined Californication by pushing it on for 7 seasons when the heart of the story was wrapped up much earlier.
It’s very rare to get a story where the studio recognises when to stop telling it. But when they manage to do that, it’s lightning in a bottle that becomes eminently rewatchable.
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This is a must watch in a theater IMO.
I also liked the the quote of:
"You want to know who I am? I am... I am the Invincible Sword Goddess, armed with the Green Destiny that knows no equal! Be you Li or Southern Crane, bow your head and ask for mercy! "
I also liked the the quote of:
"You want to know who I am? I am... I am the Invincible Sword Goddess, armed with the Green Destiny that knows no equal! Be you Li or Southern Crane, bow your head and ask for mercy! "
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The sequel was… Made in English and didn't capture the magic of the first one at all.
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To JENNIFER OUELLETTE,
It had a sequence of releases across the world from May through early December 2000. That puts is squarely in the 20th century, not the 21st century. As an Arc author, I expect better of you than stating a common misconception that the year 2000 is part of the 21st century.
It had a sequence of releases across the world from May through early December 2000. That puts is squarely in the 20th century, not the 21st century. As an Arc author, I expect better of you than stating a common misconception that the year 2000 is part of the 21st century.
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... except for Section 31. No one could make that awful script good. One of those examples where even an extraordinary talent can't pull a derailing train wreck of a story back on the tracks. There's just so many examples where casting a Talent or Ego (both intentionally capitalized, I consider Yeoh the first category) doesn't make a terrible script smell any better.
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The reason you're getting down voted is because few people care about the century/milliennium rolling over on a -00 or -000. For the vast majority of people, you're wrong. Your technical pedantry is irrelevant, and doesn't add anything to the conversation.
How do you change or evolve a living language? When the majority of the general population shifts their definition. Look up "ain't" or "aint" some day. It doesn't matter if you're technically right and they're technically wrong. At some point what communication demands has its own might-makes-right.
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A soul wringing story of love, beauty and adventure. If you don't need to hold back the tears, measure your pulse, you may not have a heart. I think itmis one of the most beautiful movies I have seen, but then, I am a bit of a crybaby.
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Go back and watch some of her work from early in her career. When she was Michelle Khan, in the early 80s. Back then, sometimes in really dodgy films with incomprehensible plots, she was still awesome.
When she got cast in Police Story 3: Supercop it was basically her return to film after a few years, and it was quite exciting at the time. Thankfully, the success of that film got her out of Hong Kong, and into Hollywood.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an impressive film, and the wire work and fight choreography is as good as any wuxia film. I still don't think Ang Lee is very good at action. The film looks gorgeous, and the non-action scenes are well directed, but I didn't really think he showed off the action to the best advantage. Same with Hulk.
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I think Hero is more an Eastern film, it has more of a Chinese/Hong Kong style and feel to it. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to me feels more Western. It's a Hollywood friendly film of a Chinese story.
That's just my opinion, though. And I have no authority in such matters.
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The Heroic Trio also has Maggie Cheung, not just being Jackie Chan's clingy girlfriend, and the sadly no longer with us Anita Mui. Well worth tracking down.
And nobody ever mentions YES MADAM! with Michelle and Cynthia Rothrock.
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This movie was one of those rare times in my life where I saw a movie in the theater with a group of friends, and we all immediately realized we had just watched an instant classic. The buzz following that kind of experience is awesome, and unfortunately has happened far too few times in my life.
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Love it and rewatch the DVD in home theater on a regular basis. Hero is amazing as well, but Crouching Tiger has the better personal stories. Hero’s amazing colors get a slightly less frequent replay. I definitely need to find Blu-rays for these. And OMG Big Trouble! Why don’t I have a copy of that? I only catch the occasional “cable TV” reshowing when it’s half done.
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One of the reasons that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon works as a film is that it is a loose adaption of the novel. I think the movie casts a far more critical eye on the culture than the novels did, which is what makes the characters compelling.
Contrast that with the Sword of Destiny sequel, which is probably more faithful to the novel but incredibly bland by comparison. What's particularly galling is the Michelle Yeoh character emerges at the end of it more-or-less declaring, "Actually, my place in society is just fine and it was all for the best!"
Contrast that with the Sword of Destiny sequel, which is probably more faithful to the novel but incredibly bland by comparison. What's particularly galling is the Michelle Yeoh character emerges at the end of it more-or-less declaring, "Actually, my place in society is just fine and it was all for the best!"
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One of my favorites as well, but they are both fantastic. I rewatch both of these every few years, and I did just watch CTHD on an international flight a month ago. Hero is up next...
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A group of us watched it and thought it was OK. Do not see the why it gets so much acclaim.
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Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. If only I could get my wife to watch it!
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Great movie.
Definitely not the critically-acclaimed-and-much-beloved-tragically-romantic-movie-from-China-released-in-2000 that I'd have picked first though.
Wild that that whole series of words describes two almost entirely different movies.
Definitely not the critically-acclaimed-and-much-beloved-tragically-romantic-movie-from-China-released-in-2000 that I'd have picked first though.
Wild that that whole series of words describes two almost entirely different movies.
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