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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Review Date: May 2, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Amazing, magical martial arts fairy tale.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie features a lot of martial arts battles. Most are bloodless, but one character is killed when a blade is hurtled into his forehead. Major characters are killed, and one death could be interpreted as suicide. Although the women in the movie are treated with complete equality and are equal to or superior to the men in judgement and combat, one female character expresses bitterness that she was not permitted to train as a warrior. There is brief mild language.
What's the story?
Michele Yeoh plays Yu Shu Lien, who runs a company that provides secure transport for shipments of goods to be sold. She is visited by Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat), who has come to give his famous sword to Sir Te, a mutual friend, for safekeeping. Li has been a warrior-hero, using the Green Destiny sword to fight for justice. He is tired of killing and wants to retire to a life of meditation, but instead of enlightenment he has found "endless sorrow," and that "something was pulling me back." He has one unfinished obligation -- to avenge the death of his master at the hands of a villain named Jade Fox. And it may be that there was something else pulling him back, his love, never expressed, for Yu. At the home of Sir Te, Yu meets another guest, the pampered daughter of a governor named Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang). Jen and Yu each dream of freedom. That night, the sword is stolen. Yu races after the masked thief to get it back. The thief has ties to Jade Fox. And Jen, soon to enter into an arranged marriage, has a secret love, the leader of a pack of desert bandits.
Is it any good?
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is passionately romantic -- the story of two sets of star-crossed lovers who face enormous obstacles, within themselves as well as those imposed by the outside world. It is a thrilling adventure saga that includes a magical 400-year-old sword called "Green Destiny," a warrior who must avenge the murder of his master, a handsome bandit, the spoiled daughter of a high-ranking official who dreams of the freedom to do what she wants, and the bitter villain who wants to destroy them all. It is dazzling, with breathtaking landscapes, gorgeous costumes, and magnificent cello music played by Yo Yo Ma. And it has, unquestionably, the most brilliantly staged fight scenes ever put on film, possibly the best that ever will be put on film. The fight scenes, staged by Yuen Wo-Ping (of The Matrix) are balletic masterpieces. Like the dance numbers of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, they are both mesmerizingly graceful and more eloquent than dialogue.
The story is told with great subtlety and power, giving it the quality of a myth or a collective dream. Yu reveals the identity of the masked thief by quietly allowing a teacup to slip out of her hands. When one person is able to catch it with a lightning-fast motion before it hits the floor, Yu knows that her suspicion was correct. When Li touches Yu's hand for the first time, it is a moment of heartbreaking intimacy. The quest for honor and justice could be set in the old West, in ancient Greece, in medieval times, in a 1930's San Francisco detective story, or in some Luke Skywalker-esque space fantasy. Its themes are enduring because they are inside all of us.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how we balance our heads and our hearts to forge lives that are grounded in honor and in love.
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Parent of 7 and 10 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Intriguing for kids into martial arts
I watched this movie with my 9 year old son who is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He thought it was one of the best action films he's ever seen (which is not a lot). I think it's great that the main warriors in this story are women.
Three things I'd wish I'd known:
1. There is a sex scene between the two younger lovers which was a little more than I wanted him to see at the time.
2. In one fight scene a large "knife-weapon" gets lodged into the head of a man - which was pretty gross.
3. In the final fight scene between Jade Fox and the three others, there is a pretty graphic scene of poison darts that go right into the eye of Jade Fox. That was kind of gross as well.
Overall, the acting, directing and story are excellent. Even my 9 year old understood the moral of the story which had to do with living your love while you can. It also has an amazing soundtrack with Yo-Yo Ma doing cello solos.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Crouching Nap Time, Hidden Wire
What was all the rave about?
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Phenomenal!
Undoubtedly the best martial arts film ever made. A truly brilliant masterpiece with some exciting and epic kung fu fight scenes. Great for anyone over the age of 10, although there is one sexual scene and some violence.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Brilliant movie
Mr Anonymous knows not what he talks about. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not merely just another chop socky film. It's a martial arts movie with heart. It's poetry not just in the visuals, but in the music and in the emotional bonds between the characters. It teaches lessons like honor and that stealing is wrong and that even warriors can't always use violence to win and that sometimes good people die. The movie only gets an iffy for violence for one scene where a character's mouth gets cut open.
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Adult
December 20, 2009
AGE
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
November 25, 2009
AGE
Chinese VS English
There is a lot of people ask me is this movie better in Chinese or English. I like it in Chinese. Better.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
fascinating
I was disappointed that the movie I got from Netflix was dubbed into English since I hate dubbed movies and I saw it originally in Chinese. However the kids loved the martial arts action and the beautiful cinematography and I liked the women who were just as strong as the men.
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Parent
August 6, 2009
AGE
One of the greatest wire-fu epics
My wife and I saw this movie in the theater, loved it, later bought the DVD. We're fans of pretty much everyone involved (Ang Lee, Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi, et al).
I accidentally let my 6yo watch a few minutes of the first fight (Shu-lien vs masked thief) and his eyes opened as wide as an anime. He's now crazy about wire fu. But the rest of CTHD really isn't kid-appropriate. So we got Shaolin Soccer and all is well.
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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
UGH
dont watch it. it was one of those stupid pointless kung fu movies like hero that give all of them a bad name. lots of pointless fighting scenes...fearless is WAY better it actually has a STORY.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Ang Lee |
| Cast: | Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 120 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 22, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | June 5, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | martial arts violence and some sexuality |
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