Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Grade: |
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"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." -- Jack Handey (Deep Thoughts)
Opinion:
No, the #1 ranking is more or less because if I were stranded on a desert island with a TV and a DVD player and had to pick just one DVD to be stranded with, CTHD would be the one. Put simply, every scene in the movie works, and even if you've seen the movie many times (like I have) there isn't much of a temptation to skip the 'talking' parts and watch just the action scenes because the talking parts are just as good.
I won't bother with a plot summary, because it would be redundant if you have seen it (remember, I'm not a real movie critic...), and if you haven't, it's better not knowing anything about it going in anyway. One of the reasons CTHD is successful is that it is one of the few movies that everyone regardless of age, gender, or favorite movie genre can enjoy. While there are some complaints about it (see below), I have to believe it would be hard to find someone who could watch CTHD and actively hate it.
If you're looking for a good starting point for getting into Chinese
cinema, this is the one to see...
Content Analysis:
Jen and Lo's love scene, with a hint of sadomasochism, is the other factor in making CTHD an easy, but not heavy, PG-13 rating. Yes, it's 'breaking the law of chastity', but it's consistent with both Jen and Lo's character--young people who often act impetuously without considering the consequences. Rather than focus on that, let's note that on the plus side of the chastity ledger, CTHD also provides another romantic relationship which allows us to make a direct comparison. The relationship between Yu Shu-Lien and Li Mu-Bai, two mature adults who treat each other with respect and dignity (and no 'chastity breaking'), is in sharp contrast to Jen and Lo's somewhat tumultuous relationship and even younger kids will be able to differentiate between the two as to which one is the 'better' relationship.
In-depth Analysis:
For this section, let's do it in Q&A format, answering some of the common questions and concerns about CTHD.Q: I'd like to watch CTHD, but I hate movies with subtitles. Am I an evil person?
Yes. Yes, you are. This is one of the most common reasons for someone not wanting to watch foreign movies--fear of subtitles. While some people have a valid concern that they'll miss some of the action on the screen while they're reading the text at the bottom, most people will find they adjust to reading subtitles after a few minutes and never think about it afterwards. If there was a movie for which to overcome your fear of subtitles, this is the one. Of course, if you rent the DVD you can always switch to the dubbed version, but be aware the Baron will call you backwards and uneducated from that time on...
Q: So is CTHD a 'guy' movie or a 'girl' movie?
It's both, and that's one of movie's biggest strengths. As I mentioned above,
just about anyone can watch and enjoy it. The guys get to see awesome fight scenes, and (*ahem*) extremely hot Asian women. (*Full Disclaimer: The Baron has a 'thing' for Asian women. In fact, he married one!)
What about the girls, though? Well, there's some good looking Asian guys too, if you're into that sort of thing, but that's not the real reason CTHD is a girl movie. Three out of the four main characters are women, and the movie is primarily about them, their feelings, and their goals in life. Hollywood's version of a 'girl power' movie (see: Charlie's Angels) is to have good looking girls with revealing clothing beat up on bad guys while having casual sex with good guys. Of course, we're taught in these movies that girls shouldn't be treated as sex objects, although oddly they end up acting like sex objects most of the time anyway.
Hey, girls, if you want to see a REAL girl power movie, where women aren't merely present to do what the men want, see Crouching Tiger... One example: note the scene near the end of the movie where Jen travels to Wudan mountain and as she's climbing the steps, Lo runs down to meet and embrace her. How many times have you seen this scene in other movies, only with the genders reversed--where the guy comes home at the end after grueling adventures and his faithful wife/girlfriend is there waiting. As in other so-called 'chick flicks' the focus is on the girl and her search for love and meaning in her life on her terms, not the other way around.
Q: So, how do you pronounce "Jen", the name of Zhang Zi-Yi's character?Depends on what language it is. Her Chinese name is Xiao-Lung (this is what they call her in Chinese throughout the movie, which means 'little dragon') The subtitles use "Jen" constantly--which I found odd, because if that's supposed to be a translation from Chinese, it has no relationship to any part of her Chinese name. I have to assume, then, that it's an English name for use only in the English subtitles (although, oddly, no other character gets one), and thus is pronounced "Jen" as in "Jennifer"... I'd love to hear any other logical explanation for this...
Q: What's the difference between a Han and a Manchurian?
Good question! This isn't explained in the movie, which will make some lines of dialogue go over the head of non-Chinese viewers. (Lucky for you, The Baron has a degree in Asian Studies...)CTHD takes place in the Ching Dynasty which lasted from the mid 1600's to 1911. The Ching rulers were not native Chinese but invaders from neighboring Manchuria. The Manchurians took over China and the native Chinese (Han as they were called) became second class citizens in their own country. As a marker of their subjugation, the Manchurians made native Chinese men wear a particular hair style; the front half of their head shaved and the back half with full hair ending in a pony-tail (you'll notice almost all the men in CTHD have this hair-style). Since the Manchurians are the ruling class of China at the time, it's 'better' to be a Manchurian rather than a native Chinese (Han)--for pride's sake, if nothing else. This is why Jen is offended when Lo assumes she is a Han and tells him specifically that she's a 'full-blooded Manchurian'. Lo, by the way, isn't Manchurian or Han, but a native of Hsi-T'sang the desert area on the far west side of modern day China (near Mongolia).
Q: Common Complaint #1: What's up with the flying? That's not very realistic...
It's not supposed to be realistic. CTHD is a fantasy movie, in essence no different than "Star Wars", or "The Lord of the Rings".
The fantasies of Eastern cultures (Japanese anime excepted) aren't traditionally futuristic sci-fi universes (like in "Star Wars"), or alternate magical universes (like Middle Earth), but instead look to the past. The Chinese view ancient history as a 'golden age' of sorts, and it's natural to set heroic adventures in a historical time period, even giving their heroes superhuman abilities--a Chinese tall tale of legends past, essentially. But the fact that it takes place in an actual historical era of human history doesn't mean it's not a fantasy movie at its core. The 'flying' is part of the premise of the movie which you have to accept if you're going to accept the movie at all, much like recognizing that in the Star Wars universe, Jedi Knights can use their Force powers to do superhuman things--it's just part of the story.
Q: Common Complaint #2: CTHD is overrated. Everything in it has been done before in many Chinese martial arts flicks over the past thirty years. Americans are just ignorant about the history of Chinese cinema and thus think CTHD is just soooo amazing and original...
And yet...I'm familiar with Chinese martial arts flicks, and CTHD is
still #1. I never said Crouching Tiger... was an original movie, only
perfect in its execution. CTHD actually has substance, and quality.
Old Chinese kung-fu flicks (of which I enjoy quite a few) are, almost be
definition, pretty cheesy. The talking parts are just excuses to
pass the time between fight scenes, and there's no character depth. If
you feel you've seen CTHD's fight scenes before and done better in the past,
so be it...but surely you can't name another movie that has combined the
top-notch fighting with characters and worthwhile talking parts?
Q: I thought the movie said Wudan doesn't accept women as students? So, how did Shu Lien learn to fight Wudan style?
Shu Lien isn't an Wudan student. She was only introduced to Li Mu Bai through her late fianc?who was also an Wudan student. Shu Lien works for her father's security company, and learned to fight herself as part of her work through another school of martial arts (Shaolin probably). Notice that she had a difficult time fighting Jen (who was Wudan trained, albeit indirectly) in their two encounters, while Li Mu Bai (an Wudan master) never had any problems getting the best of Jen when they faced off.
Q: Common Complaint #3: This movie meanders, like that big tangent in the middle with Jen in the desert. Doesn't that just distract from the main story?
Who's the main character of the movie, huh? It's not Li Mu Bai, it's not Yu Shu Lien, it's Jen. By definition, a sequence concerning the main character of the movie IS NOT A TANGENT. Plus, we need more background on Jen and Lo's relationship if the ending is going to have any emotional resonance.
Q: Common Complaint #4: Yeah, what about that ending? That's kind of weird...
A lot of people don't like the ending. But to them I ask: how should it have ended? With a wedding, like an American movie? I love the ending, actually--wonderfully abstract.
Q: Any favorite lines, or plot points?
The movie has many great lines--even in subtitled form: ("Stop talking like a monk!", "Don't be a sore loser!") That's why you won't be bored in between the action scenes. Plus, there's two lines from the guys that will make all the girls in the audience go "Awwww...." If you've seen the movie, you know the ones I'm talking about--Lo talking to Jen watching the stars, and Li Mu Bai's last words to Shu Lien. Li Mu Bai's death is handled quite brilliantly. First, his death is foretold, then a solution is proposed suddenly. At that point, the audience is thinking he's going to be saved...but he dies anyway, leaving the audience sadder than if no solution had been presented at all. Brilliant plotting...
Q: Should I pay attention to anything the second (third/fourth/fifth) times
I see this movie?
If you've already seen it, and want to see it again, here's a few things you
can look for:
(a) Pay more attention to the music--the soundtrack is really good, especially Yo-Yo Ma's cello
(b) There is one (1) white guy in this movie. Find him...
(c) In the beginning of Shu-Lien's second fight with Jen, she has only one sword at the outset. See if you can figure out when and how the second sword appears...
