Film review: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

IT'S A tale that legends are made of. An old-fashioned story with a gamut of emotions - love, deceit, revenge - thrown in, ``Crouching Tiger...'' is set against the backdrop of martial arts.

Ten Oscar nominations... that will tell you quite a bit about the quality of Ang Lee's romantic drama. ``Sense And Sensibility with martial arts'' is how the Taiwanese director described his film. The underlying philosophical thread adds another dimension to the otherwise `action' film.

Based on a novel by Wang Du Lu and set in ancient China, the film opens with Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) renouncing his warrior life. He requests his friend Yu Shen Lien (Michelle Yeoh) to deliver his legendary sword, the Green Destiny, to Sir Te in Beijing.

In Beijing, all hell breaks loose when the Green Destiny disappears. The trail leads to the Governor's house and the suspicion falls on the pretty Jen (Zhang Zi Yi), the governor's daughter. She is to be soon married, though she secretly loves Lo, a bandit.

The appearance of a mysterious warrior, who has perfected the art of Wudan, adds to the confusion. Li Mu Bai is summoned to Beijing. And he discovers that Jade Fox, a wanted criminal and his master's murderer, is still alive and in Beijing. And, so the search begins...

The fight sequences are the highpoints of the film. Across rivers, on roof tops and tree tops, in the arid desert sands and in lush green forests... there is a lyrical and almost surreal quality about these scenes. The graceful duel between Lien and Jen is choreographed like a ballet. The women exude power but at the same time do not lose their feminine touch. The man who takes credit for the brilliantly masterminded moves is Yuen Wo Ping (of ``Matrix'' wires fame).

Chow Yun Fat has confessed that he had never handled a sword before the film. But watch him hold the Green Destiny, and you'd think he's lying. He brings quiet dignity to the role, his quest for inner peace and realisation adding another dimension to the character. The monk-like flowing robes and his deep set eyes do the rest.

Michelle Yeoh, who has trained in ballet dancing, is famous for her actioners. Her's is a strong and most often silent character, which she portrays with a lot of sensitivity. But the surprise package is Zhang Zi Yi, still a student. She fights like she's born with a sword in her hand. She lives and breathes the role of Jen.

Director Ang Lee has carefully put together a film, that, never mind the Oscars, is worth watching for the visual appeal, sheer poetry of martial arts and aesthetic values.

SAVITHA PADMANABHAN

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