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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Blu-ray]

Director: Ang Lee
Actors: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Chang, Sihung Lung
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~$24.95~~
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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

1031 reviews
Sales Rank: 2107

Format: Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Thai (Subtitled), Mandarin Chinese (Original Language), English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.4

MPN: 043396162235
UPC: 043396162235
EAN: 0043396162235
ASIN: B00198X0UY

Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON - Blu-Ray Movie

Amazon.com
Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 1-5 of 1031

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Blu-Ray Crouching Tiger Great August 22, 2010
Stephen Nelson
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Fine transfer to Blu-ray format. Lovely to look at, would love to have had more extras. But the price was good.

5 out of 5 stars

Could be described as "required viewing" August 18, 2010
Eric S. Kim (Southern California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Many people consider this to be the greatest martial arts film ever made. I'm not a martial arts expert, but I can tell that this is simply a masterpiece. It's brilliant from beginning to end: the fight scenes, the breathtaking scenery, the haunting music, the realistic sets/buildings, and even the occasional bits of humor. This is not your usual Bruce Lee martial arts flick, where silliness pretty much plays a dominant role in the action. Here the action scenes, as well as the dramatic scenes, are done with beautiful skill and are taken very seriously. Every single actor in this film (Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Cheng Pei-pei, etc.) do an extraordinary job, while director Ang Lee tells the story with his own uniquely artistic craft. It's safe to say that I really like this movie, even if it isn't really one of my personal favorites. It's a great film, and it should be required viewing for those who love films made from the East.

Grade: 9.5/10

4 out of 5 stars

Comparing the 2010 stand-alone Blu-ray release to the original DVD July 28, 2010
Steve W
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I upgraded to Blu-ray from my well-worn DVD copy (the 2001 release). I have not seen the previous Blu-ray release that came as part of the three-pack, so my comments below compare the stand-alone Blu-ray to the DVD.

The Blu-ray transfer is a definite improvement over the DVD, though not to the degree of some other transfers I have seen. Much of the film was shot "soft" by Ang Lee to cover for wire-work and, basically, to suit his own taste. Those scenes remain soft on the new transfer. Not much if any of the grain has been removed and it occasionally flares up. So while it doesn't provide the "digital sharpness" (for a lack of a better phrase) of many recent releases, it does present what the director intended and I don't list that as a fault.

Black levels have improved and several scenes have had exposure levels altered (all for the better). Coloring remains much the same as the DVD. Most noticeably, the offensive random noise and dirt from the DVD release has been cleaned up. That in itself is a good reason to upgrade.

Sound is now in Dolby TrueHD and emphasizes the clash of swords a bit more but it is no huge improvement. I've never listened to the English audio track so I don't know if that's changed at all, but the sub-titles have been reworked and that is good news. It seemed easier to follow some of the plot nuances (like the master-pupil concerns) which I had to piece out over several previous viewings of the DVD. Extras are the same with one addition, a commentary track by Peter Pau (cinematographer) which is worth listening to.

Overall this is a definite improvement over DVD and fans should consider buying. I always thought the DVD rushed and beneath Sony for a film that won so many Academy Awards; this is a good step up. Oh, and Michelle Yeoh looks more gorgeous than ever in HD.

5 out of 5 stars

woudereful May 10, 2010
Jon Mcgarrett (Portland Oregon USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

A great movie you get drawen into, the fighting is breath takeing and the affects are great.

1 out of 5 stars

Just because you CAN make a movie doesn't mean you SHOULD April 6, 2010
Pilkate (Illinois)
0 out of 114 found this review helpful

I actually saw this movie in 2001. I hadn't planned on reviewing it on Amazon until I noticed so many recent, positive reviews. Here's my entry, to offset the imbalance created by those positive reviews:

This is the type of movie which would be best to watch on a Saturday morning when you're extremely ill and have neither the energy nor desire to find the remote so as to change channels or, get up and manually do so.

As with the Blair Witch Project, much hype accompanied this film, none of which was deserved. The "fight" scenes were touted as the best ever. What you actually get is a lot of sword and sword-like play filmed at close quarters for the most part, so that you are unable to see any artistry in the choreography. Since it is a period piece, they use reproductions of Chinese clothing from way back when so it's hard to see any action as the long robes and sleeves whirl about.

In addition to the swirling robes which obscure the action, the film is waaay too long and, it seems to employ all the old, shopworn plots used in the majority of martial arts movies: the good guy's master is killed and his death must be avenged, there is a sacred object which has been stolen and must be recovered (in this case, it is not stolen once, but TWICE!), there are two schools of fighting - one is evil and one is good, the good guy comes across an extremely talented fighter and wants to serve as master/teacher (Hey! If this person could kick the good guy's butt, why would this person need a teacher?), the person whom everyone thinks is a tough guy is actually a tough girl (Yo! Add some carrots to your diet - you didn't notice the arched eyebrows, soft skin and small hands on your masked toughie?).

My number one complaint (and as you can see, I have many) is the use of that stupid Matrix-like technique in the fight scenes.You know, the one where people run in mid-air and fight in mid-air and simply hang in mid-air. It looked stupid when it was first used and now, several movies later, it looks just as lame. We have people flying all over the place and walking among the treetops. Gimme a break! Everything else is done on the up and up, then they want you to suspend ALL belief in gravity and reality.

The film is in Mandarin Chinese which, luckily, I am fluent in (just kidding). I have no quarrel with movies which must be "read," but I DO have a quarrel with movies like this one which simply stink.

One good point: The scenery is beautiful. The trees were especially attractive...until people started walking all over them.

My rating: 1 star (a little something for the trees)

Showing reviews 1-5 of 1031

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