Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Directed by: Ang Lee

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen

Majestic. Hauntingly Beautiful. Breathtaking. This sweeping epic involves a quest for love, honor and ultimately the search for one’s purpose in life. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) is a Wudang swordsman on the verge of retiring from the life of the warrior.   He asks Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) to transport his sword, Green Destiny, to Beijing as a gift.  Green Destiny is subsequently stolen, and Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai must locate the powerful sword.  One of the primary suspects is the governor’s young daughter, Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), who is not what she appears to be. 

Ziyi positively shines as the rebellious strong woman battling against society’s norms and her own internal struggle between right and wrong.  Crouching Tiger fuses romance, a compelling story line and mind-blowing fight scenes into a fantasy film that satisfies on all levels.

STMR recommends the original, which is in Mandarin with English subtitles.  The English voiceovers in the dubbed version detract from the authenticity of the movie.