Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |  | Director: Ang Lee
Actors: Chang Chen, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Cheng Pei-Pei
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $0.04
as of 7/30/2010 10:33 MDT details
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Seller: river-city-books
Rating:  1032 reviews
Sales Rank: 3855
Format: Closed-captioned, Subtitled, Dolby, Dubbed, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Mandarin Chinese (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 99
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.6
MPN: COLD05990D
ISBN: 0767861442
UPC: 043396059900
EAN: 9780767861441
ASIN: B00003CXR4
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: June 5, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Hong Kong Iwuxia/I 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. ICrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/I 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 Iwuxia/I films as a youngster and made ICrouching Tiger/I 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 (IThe Killer/I, IThe Bride with White Hair/I) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on IThe Matrix/I. 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.p 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. I--Eugene Wei/I
Product Description
TWO WARRIORS IN PURSUIT OF A STOLEN SWORD AND A NOTORIOUS FUGITIVE ARE LEAD TO AN IMPETUOUS, PHYSICALLY-SKILLED, TEENAGENOBLEMAN'S DAUGHTER, WHO IS AT A CROSSROADS IN HER LIFE.SPECIAL FEATURES: ANG LEE AND JAMES SCHAMUS COMMENTARY: PHOTO MONTAGE: LINK TO WEBSITE: THEATRICAL TRAILERS AND MUCH MORE.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1032
Comparing the 2010 stand-alone Blu-ray release to the original DVD July 28, 2010
Steve W
6 out of 6 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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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 woudereful May 10, 2010
Jon Mcgarrett (Portland Oregon USA)
A great movie you get drawen into, the fighting is breath takeing and the affects are great.
 Just because you CAN make a movie doesn't mean you SHOULD April 6, 2010
Pilkate (Illinois)
0 out of 68 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:
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /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?).
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /One good point: The scenery is beautiful. The trees were especially attractive...until people started walking all over them.
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br /My rating: 1 star (a little something for the trees)
 Blu-ray's on sale, then it's not. Who knows why? April 2, 2010
Erik Ketzan (Orbis Tertius)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Why such an important and commercially successful film as Crouching Tiger has had such a confusing and spotty Blu-ray history is beyond me.
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br /Since July 2009, the only way to get Crouching Tiger on Blu-ray was as part of a 3-movie bundle, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon / Curse of the Golden Flower / House of Flying Daggers Trilogy [Blu-ray]. Fans were annoyed that a standalone disc of Crouching Tiger wasn't available.
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br /Around March 26, 2010, this stand-alone disc quietly went up for sale on Amazon. I ordered it, and it seems identical to the disc sold in the 3-movie package. The transfer is not as dazzling as some other recent Blu-rays, but I've read that Ang Lee's decision to shoot the film with a slightly "soft" look (to reflect the historical/fairy tale nature of the story) is the cause of this. The extras are identical to previous DVD releases. As in the 3-movie bundle, the Blu-ray packaging seems slapped together and riddled with errors: the film's in Mandarin, not Cantonese, it's in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio, not PCM 5.1, and I believe the subtitle and audio options are incorrect, as well. Crouching Tiger deserves better than all of this.
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br /Now, a few days later, the standalone Blu-ray is no longer available. Who knows why?
Outstanding Video Entertainment! March 29, 2010
Michael Zachary (Corona, CA United States)
This is an amazing video. The acting crew, including Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi were simply fantastic in this show. I guess what amazed me most about this movie were the stunning action scenes, the use of natural color, and the excellent camera work. I have watched this video over and over, and each time I see new details that impress me even more. You can't go wrong with this video if you like action, a good story line, and great acting.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1032
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