Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonThe action sequences can be inedible for some viewers but one cannot deny the fact about the way they are projected, as they express rage, fury and vulnerability more than the performance can; this is a masterstroke by the makers and the primary reason of its definite impression that it leaves the audience with. The script doesn't bar any specific format and has a newer and smarter structure to offer, that is completely adaptive and enthralling in its own way of storytelling. Ang Lee; the director, has done a tremendous work on executing such an eerie and humane vision of its "meta-human" characters. It is rich on technical aspects like editing, sound department and choreography. The performance unfortunately is not something where the feature scores and the actors, too weren't given enough range and room to flaunt in or factor in except for the lead actress. Despite of brilliant execution, it fails to draw out the essential emotions from the screen which at a certain point, is what it completely relies upon and in the end leaves this hollow space floating in the air. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is actually hidden beneath its self-created legacy that is layered and installed subtly which is plausible but it also never goes loud even when it becomes essential.

The action, the sets (scenery) are beautiful and pleasant for the eyes, despite this I think this movie is overrated. There were so many plots and characters that were either missed or abandoned. Jen-Yu got the most spot lights and scenes here, perhaps she is supposed to be the main character but I found that her story wasn't really interesting and her character was very annoying, I get it that she was very talented and brilliant fighter but her personality is such spoiled that she caused many problems to the others. What's the point with sword getting constantly stolen, returned and stolen again. In the beginning, I felt sympathy to her for her arranged marriage when she already had the man she loved (Lo) and wanted to live a free woman, but her immaturity, arrogance in her skills, and throwing tantrum when Shu-Lien only tried to give her wise advice were beyond my nerves. It is fair if she started as annoying character, but I expected character development in her which didn't exist. The flashback sequence showing her love interest (Lo) was too long, I enjoyed the fight on the horse in desert but still, it could've been cut. She desperately wanted to retrieve her supposed precious comb yet it never explained why it was precious, the comb actually was just a plot device for her romance with Lo. Jen's fight with Shu-Lien was quite pleasant in my eyes but I hated how it went though, surely I saw that both had comparable skills, but Jen had more advantage with that legendary sword (wtf when it could sliced the heavy weapons Shu-Lien used), Jen said to her when she blamed the weapon for her lost (indicated that Jen was superior than Shu-Lien) yet their very first fight when Jen stole the sword (both unarmed) told the otherwise. I half-expected that Jen would accidentally killed Shu-Lien with that sword to the horror, I'm so glad when Mu-Bai knocked that sword out and threw it, as skillful as Jen was, she wasn't worthy yet to wield that sword. So many random fight scenes for Jen being awesome with no relation to the plot, only to show how spoiled and arrogant she was. None of the characters got proper development, Shu-Lien and Mu-Bai got lesser scenes than Jen, their past love story was barely mentioned. Almost forgot about Jade Fox, the supposedly main villain here became only an extra character, her lost and demise felt like a joke. Only appeared briefly in many unimportant scenes, her fight with the Police Inspector Tsai and his daughter May (since both father and daughter held revenge against her for killing his wife) resulted in May lost both her parents in the hand of Jade Fox, this had promising premise to further the plot but got abandoned for the sake of beautiful Jen. Mu-Bai's revenge on Jade Fox for murdered his master, got ditched for the sake of paying attention to Jen. I wished May and Mu-Bai would unite to defeat Jade Fox (as they had similar motives) and May became Mu-Bai's disciple instead of Jen but everything was about Jen here, I would be okay if the story itself nice and Jen's character got proper development, but not. Also, a flashback of Jade Fox killing Mu-Bai's master with Mu-Bai mourned for his master would be much more worthy than Jen-Lo's lovey dovey flashback. Mu-Bai's death too, should be very sad and moving, but his lack of scenes, importance and development hardly made me feel it, though I feel sorry for Shu-Lien, losing her loved one (after losing her fiancee years ago). I'm happy when Shu-Lien pointed the sword at Jen's neck, it seems like she wanted to blame Jen for it (and so do I) but in the end she forgave her because despite everything, Jen was her beloved "sister." I expected Shu-Lien to commit suicide, to follow Mu-Bai and to be reunited with him as she already lost everything, only facepalmed so hard when Jen was the one who choose to commit suicide despite she already reunited and could be live happily together with Lo.As beautiful as the fights and the sceneries were, storyline/plot is still the most important and core element in every movies, and since the plot here is weak and failed miserably, I think that it's enough to watch this once, this movie is the kind that I hardly want to watch for second time, though I would like to give it a try for the sequel later.

I don't know why it took me this long to watch this movie. WOW! I don't know where to begin. I suppose with the characters and their archetypes. In my assessment: Master Li Mu Bai would be the sage. The reason why, is because he was, at any time, able to kill Jen Yu. Instead, he wanted to teach and show her the way. Which, in the end, he did. Yu Shu Lien would be the caregiver and the hero. Caregiver, because she looked after the well-being of Jen Yu. The Hero because in the end, she sacrificed the love of her life (Li Mu Bai) in a way to teach Jen Yu a lesson. The lesson being, because Jen Yu wanted to be just like Yu Shu Lien, was: Don't waste your life or the opportunity to love for the sake of duty. Breaking tradition is necessary to stay true to yourself. Jen Yu would be the shapeshifter simply because you don't know what side she's going to wind up on. Not too far into the movie does it reveal her alliance with Jade Fox. However, at the same time she wants Yu Shun Lien to be close to her like a sister would be. It's not until the very end, we see that she finally listens to Yu Shun Lien "sisterly" advise and tells her to live her life and to follow her heart. Basically, Yu Shun Lien was telling Jen Yu not to make the same mistake she did in not expressing her true feelings to the person she loves. Lo 'Dark Cloud' would be both the Outlaw and the Lover. The outlaw because he does not come from the same life style as Jen Yu. He is called/known as the Dark Cloud because of the ruthless, barbarian ways to stay alive in the desert. However, being an orphan, he longs for the "one bright star" which turns out to be Jen Yu. Lo and Jen Yu were truly in love with each other. Jade Fox was, in a general sense the, the villain. However, if we take a deeper look in her different archetypes, she would be known as the Sage, Caregiver, and Outlaw. The Sage because she was very wise and tried to teach Jen Yu her ways (even though Jen Yu would eventually surpass her in power and ability). The Caregiver because she looked after Jen Yu in ways as a mother, teacher, or guardian would. The Outlaw because she is wanted by highly respected people. This movie was one big lesson filled with excitement and regular beats all the way up the act structure and down the resolution slide. The main lesson I took away from it is to not waste your opportunity in life to love in the name of duty. What I loved about this movie was the regular beats up the act structure. While it was difficult to watch the scenes with dialog, because of having the distraction of having to read subtitles, they usually didn't have much action in them. So, you weren't missing much, visually. Note: the scenes with dialog weren't too long. So, the audience would not get bored with having to listen for too long. While the dialog wasn't too long, they were still able to accomplish a lot of expression without over using words or extended explanations. The choreography of the fight scenes was incredible. The best fight scenes I think I've ever seen. It was difficult to see the same move performed twice. It seemed every scene, location, and scenario of a fight was fascinating. I mean, the fight in the trees? Beautiful! This movie is clearly obvious as to why it would be known as an artistic film. The message is creatively deep, as well as visually. By. Malcolm Krause

The best film with the best fight between two characters, are actually women. It may exist and was filmed by master Ang Lee. My favorite film by Ang Lee, which combines a deep history, women victims of society, in its largest controlled by men. The perfect combination of visuals, unique and mystical with exemplary performances and fierce, fast fights in some of the best action scenes I've ever seen.Not to mention the wonderful soundtrack that completes this modern classic. An amazing movie, which I highly recommend.