Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon’ earned two Oscars in 2000: one for the best original sound, and one for the best foreign movie. Although by many viewed as a martial arts flick, Crouching Tiger offers a lot more than that synchronized squirting kung-fu fights. It’s actually more or less a magical, romantic, mythical and oriental movie where martial arts are shown as the means in the whole story. Literally.
The fights are literally choreographies with mind-dazzling use of tricks, most of them set in front of pretty backgrounds. Acting is not important in the whole movie, since the story is clear: an apprentice is to make a choice and when she apparently has chosen her fate is clear. In these kind of mythologies there is no room for happy ends nor is their room for a long goodbye-kiss. There are strong women playing strong characters in this movie though, but unlike most Hollywood movies, they set their marks convincingly in Crouching Tiger. Watch the fight between the sisters almost at the end.
So, even, if you’re not into martial arts, the choreography (particularly the ‘Tree fight’) is still worth the watch and literally stunning. Add to that the beautiful scenery, the music and the storyline and you’ve got a movie for your VHS/DVD selection.