Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- Probably one of the saddest martial arts films I've ever seen, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon just brings in something new to movies of this genre.

One thing that immediately makes this movie a great one is the cast. We have Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen and Zhang Zi Yi, plus, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is directed by the great Ang Lee himself.

The story revolves around these four warriors you see on the picture. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh plays two seasoned warriors named Li Mu-bai and Yu Shu-lien respectively. The plot begins when Mu-bai tells Shu-lien that he wishes to surrender the Green Destiny - a sword he has been taking care of for a long time. Shu-lien agrees to deliver it to a friend of Mu-bai, a certain master, for safekeeping.

There, she meets the daughter of the governor, Jen (Zhang Zi Yi), who tells Shu-lien that the is to be married despite her not loving the man. That night, the Green Destiny is stolen by a masked thief whose trail leads to the governor's place, pointing out that Mu-bai's long-time enemy, the Jade Fox, is hiding under the guise of Jen's governess.

Jen and the Jade Fox tries to escape but Jen is to be stopped by a man called Lo (Chang Chen), a desert bandit whom Jen had a relationship with years before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's storyline. I'd actually want to tell you more, but that would just spoil everything, especially if you haven't seen the movie yet.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is about discipline, honor, self-sacrifice and courage that a warrior has to learn in order for them to fully understand what it means to live. It is a movie of reflection and realization as well as acceptance for the past and present.

Don't get me wrong. It's not all story. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen. There are a series of fight scenes all throughout the movie, so it's kind of interchanging: talk-fight-talk-fight-etc. You get the point, right?

If you're a fan of martial arts movies, philosophical movies, action movies, or you're someone who just wants to watch a good movie, I'd recommend Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.