'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' packs a punch

By Joko E.H. Anwar

JAKARTA (JP): Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a martial arts drama film by renowned Taiwanese film director Ang Lee, is a feast for the eyes and soul.

This Mandarin-language movie, set in 19th century China, tells the story of a legendary fighter, Li Mu Bai, played by Chow Yun Fat, who owns a jade sword called the Great Destiny.

Opting to leave the bloody life behind, Li Mu Bai decides to give up the sword by asking his beloved, a female martial artist Yu Hsu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), to give the Green Destiny to a respected old man, Sir Te (Lung Sihung), to keep.

The night the sword arrives at Sir Te's house, the incredible weapon is stolen from its case.

However, the film is neither about the quest to search for the missing sword (as many reviews of the film say) or a whodunit flick.

Not long after the stealing of the sword, Li Mu Bai and Yu Hsu Lien already know that the thief is the governor's daughter, Jen, a troubled impressionable beauty whose rebellious soul has made her seek guidance from notorious bandit Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei).

Li Mu Bai finds a potential of a great warrior in Jen and tries to guide her to the right path of becoming a fighter.

Having a mind contaminated by Jade Fox's vengeful way of viewing the world, Jen is drawn into a conflict of her own soul which may lead to self-destruction.

Chow Yun-Fat, Hong Kong's top film star, shows his usual commanding performance in his only sword-wielding feature film (excluding his TV series The Smiling Wanderer). The charismatic actor is well-known for playing steely characters in super violent action dramas, such as The Killer.

After starring in numerous films in his native, Hong Kong, Chow Yun-Fat has starred in three unsuccessful Hollywood films, The Replacement Killer, The Corruptor, and Anna and the King with Jodie Foster.

Michelle Yeoh, whose performance in Tomorrow Never Dies helped the movie to be the top grossing James Bond film ever, succeeds in portraying a strong woman who suffers from Li Mu Bai's denial of their love.

Yeoh, a Malaysian, is also known for her performance in action films such as Supercop with Jackie Chan (she too does her own stunts).

But the real surprise comes from newcomer Zhang Zi Yi who plays the pivotal role of Jen. The third-year student of the School of Performing Arts at China's Central Drama college portrayal of a rebellious aristocrat is convincing.

Respected Taiwanese director Ang Lee, who gained international success with Sense and Sensibility, which earned seven Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture, clearly does not exclude his gift for great drama in this film.

The New York University graduated director has made great family sagas: Eat Drink Man Woman, Pushing Hands, The Wedding Banquet and the American civil war film Ride With The Devil.

All of his films have been critically acclaimed around the world.

In Ang Lee's hands, even the antagonist, Jade Fox, is not the one-dimensional kind of baddie we usually find in kung fu movies. The scene where she sheds a tear after being told to leave by her protege is one of the most moving moments of the film.

With help from action director Yuen Woo-ping, who was responsible for the amazing fight scenes in the smash hit The Matrix, the film generates applause from audiences at movie theaters for kung fu fighting scenes which sometimes substitute for words in the movie. Of particular note is the incredible fighting scene at the top of bamboo trees.

Furthermore, the film was shot at beautiful and exotic locations, including the Gobi Desert, under the direction of camera wizard Peter Pau who has shot many of Hong Kong's martial art films, including The Bride With White Hair.

The film also contains elements of humor.

However, if you do not speak either Indonesian or Mandarin, be forewarned: There are no English subtitles.

Chinese, particularly Hong Kong film elements have been copied numerous times by filmmakers but Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has confirmed the place of Chinese filmmakers in world cinema once again.