(Don‘t try this at home, kids…)
CAST: Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Cheng Change, Pei-pei Cheng.
DIRECTOR: Ang Lee
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and some surprisingly light-footed martial artists - straight ahead.
After seeing the martial arts romantic epic CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, you may be faced with one of two reactions: (1) jumping around your living room trying to mimic the improbably fluid and graceful leaps and bounds demonstrated by its characters; or (2) throwing your remote at the screen while yelling, “BULLSHIT! No one can jump that high!”
Suffice it to say, you will need to suspend your disbelief when you watch this movie because, yes, people cannot jump as high as these people do. Our story is essentially a martial arts version of a Hitchcockian chase movie, with a little tragic romance thrown in for good measure, and set in ancient China. In every Hitchcock film, there was something called a “MacGuffin” which basically gets everyone’s undies in a bundle and pushes them to go after it. It can be a secret disc, or a vial of experimental drugs, or a briefcase with something important in it.
In CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, the MacGuffin is a sword called The Green Destiny - and our story gets off to a running start when it is snatched by a mysterious thief from a sacred temple. Caught up in the pursuit of The Green Destiny are: (1) Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat), the owner of the Sword who had decided to give it away as part of an, ahem, lifestyle change that does not involve slicing and dicing people anymore; and (2) Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), Li Mu Bai’s lifelong friend and soulmate whom he entrusted the sword to until it could be delivered to the new owner.
Well, it looks like the new owner now is the mysterious thief, whoever he (she?) may be. As Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien pursue the trail of the stolen sword, they cross paths with Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) a young aristocrat who is about to be married off, as per ancient aristocratic Chinese protocol. Turns out Jen Yu is somewhat of a closet Lara Croft who craves adventure, and looks forward to the marriage the same way a porn starlet looks forward to Sunday Mass. Meanwhile, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien start to give each other major googley eyes. Quickie, for old time’s sake? I hope so.
Also factoring into the story is a rebel named Luo Xiao Hu (Chen Chang), who crosses paths with Jen Yu when she does a Mrs. Robinson (sans Benjamin) and escapes into the desert to avoid her fate as a bored married noblewoman. Good thing, too, because had she gone ahead with the nuptials, we might have found ourselves eventually dealing with an ancient Chinese version of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.
How do these two couples tie in to the missing sword? Who is the thief who stole The Green Destiny? What is his (her?) agenda? Will Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien renew their love for one another? What about Jen Yu and Li Xiao Hu? Who will survive the quest for The Green Destiny? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice for the one that he (she?) loves? And most importantly: who is Michelle Yeoh’s facialist?
Because that’s some glowing skin right there, folks. Michelle… hook me up, girl.
BUT, SERIOUSLY: Lyrical, hypnotic, and surreal, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON is not an easy film to peg down. Part-romance, part-drama, part-thriller chase film, part-martial arts epic, the movie is an odd film that manages to beguile despite its potentially unwieldy elements. In our review for LEGAL EAGLES (review # 284) we talked about how dangerous it is to combine genres. You have to get it right or the whole thing falls apart.
Fortunately, the blend of action, drama, romance, and thrills in CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON is just right, making it a seamlessly entertaining experience. Director Ang Lee expertly orchestrates his story, aided by lush visuals, evocative music, and a cast that is as talented as it is gorgeous.
Chow Yun Fat brings a nice solid gravity to the role of Li Mu Bai. Nevertheless, we get glimpses of the fire and passion beneath his reserved surface. This is essential if we are to buy into his buried feelings for Yu Shu Lien, who is nicely brought to life by Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh follows Yun Fat’s lead in turning her character into a commanding mix of serious, playful, and soulful. These characters are truly soulmates, which makes the ending all the more affecting.
As for the film’s second couple, Zhang Ziyi and Chen Chang are equally terrific. It was important for just the right actress to play Jen Yu, since the character walks the line between being likable and almost unsympathetic. The wrong actress might have tipped the balance either way. With Zhang, though, we get a character who keeps us on our toes. Her lovely performance is capped by a final shot that is both heartbreaking and haunting in equal measure. Those of you who have seen the film know what I’m talking about. Meanwhile, Chen Chang as Luo Xiao Hu makes a fine adversary/lover who gives back to Jen Yu as good as she throws out.
Special mention should also be made for Tan Dun’s atmospheric score, that is mournful, romantic, spirited, and rousing, all at the same time. Definitely an album for the score collector.
In the end, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON is an offbeat experience that takes you down unexpected paths. Just surrender to it, and don’t question anything too much - especially the leaping fighters. Go with the flow.
