A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long)

Date Viewed: 2/12/01

Details:

Chow Yun-Fat

Michelle Yeoh

Ziyi Zhang

Director: Ang Lee

Score: +

The Review: Gorgeous cinematography, relatively untrammeled plot, excellent acting, English subtitles; recommended. In some ways an art film, and in others a sword-and-sorcery action adventure: an excellent amalgam of style and substance. Situated in old China, the action is difficult to summarize succinctly: there's a clandestine night-time thief, two guardians and protectors who track down the intruder, a spoiled but talented young rich girl, a renegade pirate of the deep desert, superb sword-fighting, tragedy and redemption. Ignore my inability to articulate nuance -- it all fits together quite well. Clearly a fantasy, so check your disbelief at the door.

This is, however, a polarizing film: while I obviously liked it, there were several others around me who found it tedious and fell asleep in parts. You have to tolerate subtitles (or ignore them), you have to focus on cinematography, and then sit back and enjoy the adventure.

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