Wo hu cang long (2000)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

Du Lu Wang (book)
Hui-Ling Wang (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Sword | Warrior | China | Martial Arts | Rooftop

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 73 wins & 90 nominations

Cast

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
Jian Hua Feng	...	Gou Jun Sinung
Zhen Xi Du	...	Shop Owner
Cheng Lin Xu	...	Captain
Feng Lin	...	Captain
Wen Sheng Wang	...	Gangster A
Dong Song	...	Gangster B
Zhong Xuan Ma	...	Mi Biao
Bao Cheng Li	...	Fung Machete Chang
Yong De Yang	...	Monk Jing
Shao Jun Zhang	...	Male Performer
Ning Ma	...	Female Performer
Jian Min Zhu	...	Waiter
Chang Cheng Don	...	Homeless Man
Yi Shih	...	Waitress
Bin Chen	...	Servant
Sao Chen Chang	...	Nightman

Directed by
Ang Lee

Writing credits (WGA)
Du Lu Wang		(book)
Hui-Ling Wang		(screenplay) and
James Schamus		(screenplay) and
Kuo Jung Tsai		(screenplay)

Produced by
Po Chu Chui	....	associate producer
Ping Dong	....	co-producer
Li-Kong Hsu	....	producer (as Hsu Li Kong)
William Kong	....	producer (as Bill Kong)
Ang Lee	....	producer
Philip Lee	....	associate producer
David Linde	....	executive producer
Er-Dong Liu	....	line producer
Kelly Miller	....	production executive: Good Machine International
James Schamus	....	executive producer
Wai Sum Shia	....	line producer
Quangang Zheng	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Tan Dun

Cinematography by
Peter Pau

Film Editing by
Tim Squyres

Production Design by
Timmy Yip		(as Tim Yip)

Art Direction by
Jian-Quo Wang
Eddy Wong		(supervising art director)
Xing-Zhan Yang		(supervising art director)
Zhanjia Yang		(supervising art director)
Bin Zhao

Costume Design by
Timmy Yip		(as Tim Yip)

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	hair stylist
Liu-Jing Dong	....	makeup artist
Yong-Hao Fan	....	makeup artist
Jian-Ping Liu	....	makeup artist
Yun-Ling Man	....	key makeup artist
Yi-Gong Ren	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Helen Li	....	production manager
Jian-Hua Liu	....	assistant production manager
Ketty Miller	....	executive in charge of production
Yu-Fong Peng	....	assistant production manager
Jeff Robinson	....	post-production supervisor
Chi-Wah Tse	....	assistant production manager
Jing-Hua Wang	....	assistant production manager
Li Zhao	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kai Keung Lai	....	first assistant director
Sylvia Liu	....	first assistant director (as Silvia Liu)
Bu-Si Ta	....	second assistant director
Cheng Lin Xu	....	second assistant director
Jinting Zhang	....	second assistant director
Ying-Ying Zhou	....	second assistant director
Hong-Bo Zhu	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Shu-Wing Fung	....	supervising stand-by props
Yan-Qing He	....	assistant construction coordinator
Yi Ho	....	stand-by props
Quan Jiang	....	construction coordinator
Da-Jiang Ji	....	set props
King-Fat Kung	....	property master
Bao-Tai Li	....	stand-by props
Ming-Shan Li	....	stand-by props
Wei-Zheng Li	....	set props
Yi Li	....	assistant construction coordinator
Chung-Wei Ng	....	supervising stand-by props
Sue-Chuen Sun	....	set props
Bing Thang	....	set props
Zhong-He Tian	....	assistant construction coordinator
Cei-Ming Tien	....	set props
Cheng-Sheng Wang	....	set props
He-Cen Wang	....	assistant construction coordinator
Song-So Wang	....	stand-by props
Jua-Feng Zhing	....	set props
Quin Zhing	....	assistant construction coordinator

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor
Mark Betts	....	technical supervisor: sound
Chad Birmingham	....	sound department intern
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	foley editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	dialogue editor
Heather Gross	....	apprentice sound editor
Harry Higgins	....	sound coordinator: Sound One Corporation
Kenton Jakub	....	supervising adr editor
Drew Kunin	....	production sound mixer (as Andrew Paul Kunin)
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Terrance Laudermilch	....	sound coordinator: Sound One Corporation (as Terry Laudermilch)
George Leong	....	boom operator (as George Huey Leong)
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr editor (as Lisa Levine)
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Blake Leyh	....	sound effects editor
Xiao Xing Lu	....	assistant sound engineer
Igor Nikolic	....	assistant sound editor
Jennifer Ralston	....	sound effects editor
Jennifer Ralston	....	supervising foley editor
Alex Soco	....	apprentice sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Betty P. Teng	....	assistant sound editor
Jean Tsien	....	adr supervisor
Paul Urmson	....	dialogue editor
Cuo Qing Xu	....	assistant sound engineer
Geo Ying	....	sound assistant
James Ziegler	....	sound consultant
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Betty P. Teng	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Patrick Ballin	....	visual effects editor
Travis Baumann	....	digital supervisor: Manex LA
Jenny Behnke	....	digital artist (as Jennifer Behnke)
John Cassella	....	digital artist (as John Cassella Jr.)
Robert Chapin	....	digital artist
Charles Darby	....	digital matte supervisor: Digital Firepower
John 'D.J.' Des Jardin	....	3D supervisor
Bill Dietrich	....	digital artist
Michael Feder	....	visual effects executive producer: Blue Sky Studios
Donald Fly	....	general manager
Gilbert Gonzales	....	paint/roto artist
Nicolle Gray	....	technical assistant
Rob Hodgson	....	visual effects supervisor
Kim Lavery	....	visual effects producer
David Lee	....	technical assistant (as Dave Lee)
Mary Leitz	....	digital compositor
Mark Leo Perry	....	digital artist
Anthony Mabin	....	senior digital effects compositor: Manex Visual FX (as Anthony 'antman' Mabin)
Matt Magnolia	....	visual effects coordinator: MVFX
Rod Park	....	bidding producer
Devorah Petty	....	digital artist
Sheldon Ramones	....	technical assistant
John E. Sasaki	....	digital compositor
Mark Shoaf	....	digital artist
John Siczewicz	....	senior digital artist: Blue Sky Studios
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	visual effects producer
Daniel Sunwoo	....	digital artist
Sean White	....	runner
Eric Wilson	....	visual effects producer: Blue Sky Studios
Jamie Baxter	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Fong-Tei Chen	....	martial arts stunts
Hu Chen	....	martial arts stunts
Su-Weh Chin	....	martial arts stunts
Wei-Lun Fung	....	martial arts stunts
Xian Gao	....	martial arts trainer
Yun Liang Geo	....	martial arts stunts
Cuan-Liang Ho	....	martial arts stunts
Chuen-Ze Jin	....	martial arts stunts
Zheng Jin	....	martial arts stunts
Zhan-Wen Keu	....	martial arts stunts
Chi-Tei Lam	....	martial arts stunts
Feng-Mei Le	....	martial arts stunts
Feng Lin	....	martial arts stunts
Hong-Lin Liu	....	martial arts stunts
Jun Ning	....	martial arts stunts
Wai-Fai Wong	....	martial arts stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Feng-Xiang Bao	....	set camera grip: second unit
Te Ba	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Gei-Ming Cao	....	set lighting grip
Kam-Chuen Chan	....	still photographer
Sung Fai Choi	....	camera operator: second unit
Jin-Chu Du	....	set lighting grip
Jimmy Fok	....	crane operator
Yun Gao	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Tao Hai	....	set camera grip: second unit
Si Ha	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Hai Hong	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Patrick Ho	....	clapper loader
Li-Jun Jia	....	set lighting grip
Yu-Cuo Jiang	....	set camera grip
Louis Jong	....	key grip
Jimmy Kwok	....	focus puller: second unit
Chun-Shing Lam	....	electrician
Chun-Wan Lam	....	gaffer: second unit
Kenny Lam	....	first focus puller
Kerry Lam	....	first focus puller
Wai-Kwan Lau	....	clapper loader: second unit
Wing-Teng Law	....	electrician: second unit
Tak-Shing Lee	....	first gaffer
Wing-Kong Leung	....	camera loader
Baoquan Li	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Jie Li	....	set lighting grip
Ming Hing Ng	....	electrician
Fi-Hong Pun	....	electrician
Zhan-Biao Shan	....	set camera grip
Dong-Shan Shi	....	set camera grip
Ching-Chuen Shuan	....	best boy electric
Marc Spicer	....	underwater photographer: second unit
Lin-Chen Sun	....	set camera grip
Pin Tang	....	video operator: second unit
Hai-Zhi Wang	....	video operator
Shu-Jun Wang	....	set lighting grip
Yuen-Me Xuen	....	set camera grip
Hai-Dong Zhang	....	set camera grip
Long Zhang	....	set lighting grip
Jia-Lieng Zhing	....	set camera grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wu-Tong Cao	....	assistant costumer
Jun Chai	....	costumer
Jin-Hua Gu	....	costumer
Shu-Chen Hsu	....	chief costume supervisor
Bao-Rong Huang	....	wardrobe master
Wang Rong	....	costumer
Zhi-Bin Zhao	....	costumer
Yu-Juan Zheng	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Pankaj Bajpal	....	colorist
Angela Bellisio	....	post-production assistant
Andrew Buckland	....	assistant editor (as Drew Buchland)
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Shelby Siegel	....	second assistant editor
Tim Streeto	....	first assistant editor
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Stan Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Jeremy Cohen	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Jorge Calandrelli	....	composer: song "A Love Before Time"
Jorge Calandrelli	....	music producer: "A Love Before Time"
Xie-Yang Chen	....	conductor
Elaine Chow	....	translator: lyrics "A Love Before Time"
David Cossin	....	musician: percussion
Tan Dun	....	conductor
Tan Dun	....	electronic music programming
Tan Dun	....	music producer
Steven Epstein	....	music producer
Richard King	....	music mixer
Xiao-Hui Ma	....	musician
Yo-Yo Ma	....	musician: cello solos
Wen-Zhao Pei	....	music producer
Jun-Ciao Tang	....	musician
Emmy Tu	....	music producer
Lin-Chen Yuan	....	electronic music programming

Other crew
Hong-Qun Bai	....	production assistant
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Ching Wei Chen	....	assistant: Mr. Hsu
Ling-Ying Cheng	....	assistant: Ms. Yeoh
Wei Cu	....	staff member
Shang-Liang Dong	....	set production assistant
Chun-Jiang Duen	....	set production assistant
Mei-Rong Fan	....	location accountant
Ying Feng	....	script supervisor
Angela Fung	....	accountant: Hong Kong
Si Hao	....	production assistant
Joyce Hsieh	....	accountant
Tong-Shuh Ji	....	production assistant
Da-Min Kao	....	set production assistant
Huan-Chiu Ku	....	martial arts coordinator
Tessa Lau	....	unit publicist
Carma Lee	....	accountant: Hong Kong
David L.S. Lee	....	assistant: Ms. Lee
Peggy Lee	....	production controller
Anna Leung	....	assistant: Mr. Kong
Kai Li	....	production assistant
Sherrie Liu	....	script supervisor
Wei Liu	....	set production assistant
Xiau-Qiang Li	....	set production assistant
Zhan-Duo Li	....	production assistant
Jawal Nga	....	assistant: Mr. Schamus
Wei Nu	....	set production assistant
Huie-Ling Peh	....	production coordinator
Tun Yong Sheng	....	production assistant
Zhen-Yong Shen	....	set production assistant
Misha Skoric	....	assistant: Chow Yun-Fat
Lian-Yu Sun	....	production assistant
Shao-Yuan Sun	....	staff member
Yong Sun	....	craft service
Dylan Verrechia	....	intern
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Cuo-Lin Wang	....	production assistant
Feng-Pu Wang	....	set production assistant
Hua-Jiang Wang	....	set production assistant
Hua-Jun Wang	....	set production assistant
Lu Wang	....	set production assistant
Tao Wang	....	staff member
Xin-Min Weng	....	set production assistant
Lin-Han Wu	....	production assistant
Cheng-Wei Xu	....	set production assistant
Feng Xu	....	production assistant
Ma Chun Ye	....	secretary
Peng Yi	....	craft service
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action choreographer (as Wo Ping Yuen)
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action director
Lei Yu	....	production assistant
Ren-Jun Zhang	....	set production assistant
Xian-Qian Zhang	....	staff member
Guo-Li Zhao	....	staff member
Jun-Jie Zhao	....	production assistant
Su-Juan Zheng	....	assistant script supervisor
Zeng-He Zheng	....	set production assistant
Hong-Jun Zhu	....	production assistant

Thanks
Philip Stockton	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (as China Film Co-Production Corp.)
• Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
• EDKO Film (as EDKO Films)
• Good Machine (as Good Machine International)
• Sony Pictures Classics
• United China Vision
• Zoom Hunt International Productions Company Ltd.

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2000) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Indies Film Distribution (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Blackwatch Releasing (2000) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2000) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Continental Film (2001) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2001) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Network (2003) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (dubbed version)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (VHS)
• Yorin (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Asia Legend
• Blue Sky Studios
• CFC/MVFX
• Manex Visual Effects (MVFX)

Other Companies

• Asia Legend  end titles
• C.S.  post-production sound services
• C5  post-production sound services
• Cinema Completions International (CCI)  completion bond
• Cood Edit Inc.  editing facilities
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Manhattan Audio Playground  audio playback
• Parnassus Productions Inc.  music production
• Post Production Playground  video dailies supervision
• Salon Films  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• Schreck Rose and Dapello  legal services
• Shanghai National Orchestra  orchestra
• Shanghai Percussion Ensemble  orchestra
• Shanghai Radio Film & TV Studios  music recording
• Shanghai Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Sony Classical  soundtrack released by
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack released by
• World Cinevision Services  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Ngo foo chong lung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Wo hu cang long (China: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Taiwan | Hong Kong | USA | China

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:16 (VHS/DVD rating) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Anhui Province, China

Company:

Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.

Trivia:

In the hall where Shu Lien first meets Li Mubai, there are two large sets of couplets hung on the wall behind them. The inner couplet reads "(Right) The Tall (Qiao) Tree spreads thousands of branches, but don't they have the same roots; (Left) the Long (Yangtse) River flows into tens of thousand of distributaries, but all have the same source" and is about maintaining harmony. The outer couplet reads "(Right)In Spring and Autumn sacrifices, follow the Ancient Sages' Rites and Customs; (Left) Arraying Left and Right, trace One Family's Generations of Continuity" and is about maintaining tradition.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Within the shots of forest and mountain before the sword-fighting scene in the trees, there is an electrical cable mildly visible gracing the side of a green mountain.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kill Buljo: The Movie (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Caravan Bells on the Silk Road

A wondrous mythology, a cinematic masterpiece.

I gave a wry chuckle when the opening credits pronounced Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a Sony Cinema Classic in the year of its release. However, I too would not have hesitated to brand this film such. It is a cinematic masterpiece that left me in silent reverie at its conclusion.

The film's story unfolds amidst the ancient temples, bamboo forests and painted deserts of nineteenth century China: a sensual, mystical landscape that, at our first high-angle glimpse of Peking takes on a dizzying scale. This world is inhabited by the Wudan, spectral warriors from legend who effortlessly leap between rooftop and bamboo tree, a device which elevates them to a plane divorced from our parochial middle-class values without the loss of their intense humanity. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an ode to the human spirit that transcends genre; it is at once fantasy, romance, historical epic and thriller, enriched by a subtle humour.

At the film's heart are four compelling performances. Ziyi Zhang, is enchanting as the wilful Jen Yu, daughter of a government official, who aspires to the code of the Wudan. Her destiny is entwined with those of Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), disciples of this enigmatic clan, and of the desert bandit Lo (Chen Chang) by the theft of an arcane sword, Mu Bai's quest for revenge and the fulfilment of a powerful yet unrequited love

Chow Yun Fat possesses an hypnotic screen presence in his portrayal of this regal master, who displays an unparalleled heroism untainted by western cliché as the film travels inexorably toward his shuddering death-blow. This resonates long after the credit sequence has run and you've marvelled at how few stunt artists were engaged to actualize the film's thrillingly beautiful fight sequences. These are not the idle distractions aimed at a boyish mind we find in other martial arts films but rather a transcendent form of dance. Their exquisitely honed choreography rivals that of Graham Murphy and Twyla Tharp.

Star of these sequences is the four hundred year old Green Destiny sword that exerts a powerful metaphoric presence on the film. It is a sensuous artefact that sings when struck, punctuating Yo-Yo Ma's haunting cello solos, a feature of the immersive soundtrack.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a film of titanic proportions, with all the pageantry of Kundun, minus the ponderous pace, and without a trace of the cloying sentimentalism which infected Titanic's impoverished narrative. Li Mu Bai's final words are a more fervent declaration of truth than any to have graced the screen before.

After all that, I can offer no further commendation except to say that this is the latest greatest film of my now seemingly hollow existence.