| Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
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List Price: $14.94
Buy New: $5.10
You Save: $9.84 (66%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $1.22
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 1017 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1575
Category: DVD
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Studio: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Label: Sony Pictures
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: Cantonese Chinese (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 120 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0767861442
UPC: 043396059900
EAN: 0043396059900
ASIN: B00003CXR4
Release Date: June 5, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: November 30, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.
The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei
Description
An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.
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Customer Reviews: Read 1012 more reviews...
 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon June 11, 2006
Before I had seen "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" I had never seen any sort of martial arts movie and had only seen one film in a foreign lanugage with the original language spoken and subtitles. However, this film was so intreguing that I felt immediately absorbed.
This film has an excellent plot line for an action movie. There is plenty of fight, but not too much. There is a coming of age element, but it doesn't drown out the rest of the story. Lastly the matter of love is disscussed and attended two in two diffrent veins, but does not overpowere any other part or element of the story. The ending was slightly disapointing, but the middle made up for it.
Some people are bothered by the flying in the fight sceens. Yes, if you are a purist, then it is most likely going to bother you. However, the choreography of the fighting, again, is very powerful and allows the viewer to ignore the slight, fantastic moments of flying.
Overal, great movie.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon April 15, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Classic movie. All of the fighting scenes were excellent, no flaws in them. People dislike the fact that they glide over buildings etc, like they are flying. Big deal its just a movie, and adds a different type of twist to the movie. The music of course, goes along with the movie, and the scenery that its filmed in is nice of course. "Michelle Yeoh" and "Ziyi Zhang" both act excellent in the movie, just with the normal acting and especially in the fighting scenes. I highly recommend this movie to ALL Kung Fu fans and for people that want a good story line in a movie. Because this movie, it does follow a story line, its not just fighting here and fighting there. So I highly recommend it, youll love the fighting scenes also.
 stupid and boring April 10, 2006
2 out of 21 found this review helpful
I saw this in the theatre and tried to fall asleep becuase it was so dull. True story.
A good movie but... April 3, 2006
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
As someone who doesn't frequently watch foreign movies with subtitles, I have to admit that I enjoyed the movie and that it is good. The scenery and the sets are a treat and the 3 lead actors are all good in their parts.
Now for the buts: there are some good fighting scenes but all of a sudden, the characters would fly. Everything else is realistic and believable and then we have people flying. Why? But#2: a more upbeat ending would have probably made this a better movie. But#3: The part of the young Chinese warrior is played by an actress who looks like she's 90 pounds. There are scenes where she fights off large groups of 200-250 pound men and it would have been more believable with a bigger person in this part.
It is still a good movie - however, for me, the 3 buts prevent it from being a great film.
Simply a work of art. April 1, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I enjoy Martial Arts films. I like them. They're entertaining. I will admit, however, that many of them lack a decent plotline and good acting. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", however, is not one of those films.
It is, quite simply, a work of art. A masterpiece. It's fantastic.
The plot is strong, and relatively easy to follow. The acting is superb. Chow Yun Fat is great, but I'd say the real revelation of this movie is the great Michelle Yeoh. The emotion that is found in her eyes in unreal. The entire story is right there in her face. She expresses everything so beautifully and is the ultimate heroine of this movie. She's incredible. I feel that she really carries this film. The ending is fabulous, and Yeoh couldn't have done a better job.
Zhang Ziyi is also very good, and pretty young in this film. She comes off as a bit of a brat, but she redeems herself, and the chemistry between her, Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat is excellent.
All three actors really make you feel the emotion and tension, which is important, seeing as how you're reading subtitles the entire movie.
The cinematography can't be beat. It's gorgeous. Ang Lee is a master, and he proves it in this film. The fighting in the bamboo trees is unbelievable. The way the movie is shot/edited etc. seems very artsy to me, and very beautiful.
As for the stunts, well, what can we say? Michelle Yeoh herself is a master, so already you know the stunts are going to be great. People are bouncing on rooftops, flipping off of walls, jumping through the trees, swinging huge swords around, it's unreal. The stunts are pretty jaw-dropping at times, and there's no CGI involved. It's all real action with wires and all of that. It's amazing, and honestly, even if you don't like the story, it's worth it to watch for the action and the cinematography.
Joel Siegal of Good Morning America stated that this could be one of the greatest movies ever made. Joel, I'd have to agree. All in all, probably my all-time favorite movie, and most definitely my all-time favorite martial arts flick. Great story, fabulous acting, jaw-dropping stunts, it's all there. The movie has it all. No wonder it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards(nominated for 4). It deserved it.
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