Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
"Wo hu cang long" (original title)

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Du Lu Wang (book), Hui-Ling Wang (screenplay),

Stars:

Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang

Won 4 Oscars. Another 87 wins & 92 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yun-Fat Chow	...	Master Li Mu Bai (as Chow Yun Fat)
Michelle Yeoh	...	Yu Shu Lien
Ziyi Zhang	...	Jen Yu (Mandarin version) / Jiao Long (English dubbed version) (as Zhang Ziyi)
Chen Chang	...	Lo 'Dark Cloud' / Luo Xiao Hu
Sihung Lung	...	Sir Te
Pei-pei Cheng	...	Jade Fox (as Cheng Pei-Pei)
Fa Zeng Li	...	Governor Yu
Xian Gao	...	Bo
Yan Hai	...	Madame Yu
De Ming Wang	...	Police Inspector Tsai / Prefect Cai Qiu
Li Li	...	May (as Li Li)
Su Ying Huang	...	Auntie Wu
Jin Ting Zhang	...	De Lu
Rei Yang	...	Maid
Kai Li	...	Gou Jun Pei

Storyline

The disappearance of a magical jade sword spurs a breathtaking quest for the missing treasure. Li is embittered by the loss of his jade sword, and his unrequited pursuit of Yu is further complicated by the mysterious intrusion of an assassin. The identity of the assassin is gradually unveiled as another poignant tale of love begins to ravel with that of Li and Yu against the backdrop of Western China's magnificent landscape.

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Plot Keywords:

sword | warrior | china | fugitive | rooftop | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Kinowelt Median AG (german)

Country:

Taiwan Hong Kong USA China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Filming Locations:

Anhui Province, China

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

AUD 2,873,420 (Australia) (26 January 2001)

Gross:

$128,067,808 (USA) (27 July 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd., China Film Co-Production Corporation, Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stamped documents shown by Shu Lien to the guards at the city-gate before she enters Beijing shows the date "In the of 43rd year of the reign of (Emperor) Qianlong, the sixth month, the eighth day", which is the year A.D. 1778, somewhere in June or July.

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Goofs

When Jen is kicking the crap out of everyone in the restaurant, her mouth is out of sync a lot of the time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Man: Master Li is here! Master Li is here!

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Connections

Referenced in Crouching Waiter Hidden Chef (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Caravan Bells on the Silk Road"
Traditional Xinjiang Folk Song
Arranged by Ning Yong
Performed by Bo Liu
Published by China Record Corporation, Shanghai, 1994

User Reviews

My Dream Came True

As Ang Lee, I grew up reading wuxia novels in Taiwan. Those novels usually mixed engrossing history, thrilling action, enchanting romance. But when these novels were made into movies or TV series, none of them could match my imagination. It's either because of wrong casting, bad acting, tedious costumes, sloppy storytelling, minimal budget (so everything is shot in studio rather than in the grand Chinese landscapes as they were told in books), fake action... I could go on and on. Now Ang Lee finally made a wuxia film that captures my imagination and fulfills my dream of childhood.

The casting of CTHD is perfect. No disrespect to Jet Li, but Jet Li would not make Li Mu Bai into what he should be: noble, wise but weary. Chow Yun Fat conveys the unspoken feelings of Li Mu Bai in a way I can't imagine anyone else can. But he's known for his acting, Michelle Yeoh was known for her fighting skills. Here in CTHD, she proves herself as an excellent dramatic actress. The secrete longing for Li and the confusion of Li's true feelings were clearly conveyed by her eyes. The scenes between them are heartbreaking. Zhang Zi Yi is a true discovery! What a wonderful talent to steal scenes after scenes from the veterans around her. She ran from looking innocent, haughty, feisty to loving and distraught. She made the complex Jen a real flesh and blood believable human being. Chang Chen made a perfectly sexy and charming bandit.

The scenery and the photography was beyond belief. The majestic landscapes of China match my imagination when I read all the beautiful Chinese poems of the Tang and Sung dynasties. No wonder those poets could come up with those masterpieces. They sure had the best inspiration. Peter Pau not only captured the landscapes and the settings, he also managed to capture the fast-as-lightening action wonderfully. The shot of Jen gliding over water just lodged in my mind. The soundtrack is also excellent. Tan Dun used different instruments to match the different locales. He mixed in Central Asian music in the desert sequence and Chinese flute in the Southern China scenes. Yo-yo Ma's cello in the main theme makes me want to weep everytime I hear it.

The storytelling was also done expertly. As a romantic-at-heart, I love the desert romance between Jen and Lo. It's one of the most charming and believable love stories that I can remember. Most people gave credit of the fighting to Yuen Wo Ping. I'd give kudos to Ang Lee. I've seen Yuen's martial art films before, but they're never done in such an imaginative and artistic way. The artistic vision has to come from Ang Lee.

To sum it up, three cheers for Ang Lee! You not only fulfilled your childhood dream, you fulfilled mine too. It's such a pleasure to finally see a wuxia novel be done right. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!