Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Name Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Director Ang Lee Producer Li-Kong Hsu William Kong Ang Lee Starring Chow Yun Fat Michelle Yeoh Zhang Ziyi Chang Chen Cheng Pei-pei Distributor Columbia Tristar Release 200 Run Time 120 mins Country China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States Language Mandarin Preceded by na Followed by na Website IMdB profile

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a masterpiece of world cinema combining the technical precision of Hollywood, the noble tradition of a mythical China, and the kinetic grace of Hong Kong's action choreography. Transcending borders, Taiwanese director Ang Lee has created a film set in China yet with a universal theme that transcends cultural identity.

Synopsis

Based upon a serialized novel by Wang Du Lu, the film is a beautifully rendered tale of love denied and the acceptance of responsibility. Chow Yun Fat plays Li Mu Bai, a celebrated warrior of Wudan who dreams of a peaceful retirement with his comrade in arms, Yu Shu Lien . Both dreams are hindered by an incident involving the theft of Mu Bai's sword, The Green Destiny which was to be a gift for his father's friend, Sir Te. Jen Yu, daughter of the local magistrate is suspected. Finding her to be adept in kung fu Shu Lien and Mu Bai are both drawn towards this headstrong young woman hoping to cool her reckless passions. Yet the Jade Fox, a notorious thief and nemesis of Wudan hopes to have Jen Yu follow in her footsteps. Frustrated by an arranged marriage her father has set up, pining for an unquenchable thirst for freedom and confused by Mu Bai's intentions towards her, Jen Yu sets out on a destructive rampage that has serious consequences for all.

Martial Arts in the Film

The story is based upon a long running Chinese novel by Wang Du Lu. Its a tale of Wuxia, a genre of storytelling in China. Popular in Chinese stories, heroes could develop the ability to fly or perform superhuman feats through training in martial arts, particularity the internal kung fu. In this case, the style of Wudang Kung Fu deals with the development of internal strength rather than external. This is what accounts for the ability to climb walls and balance from the tips of bamboo trees. In one humbling scene, Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) confronts Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) who believes having the indestructible Green Destiny signifies true power. She is defeated by Mu Bai who wields only a thin tree branch.