"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Title: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
Director: Ang Lee
Producer: Li-Kong Hsu, William Kong, and Ang Lee
Editing: Tim Squyres
Composer:
Starring:
- Chow Yun Fat as Li Mu-bai
- Michelle Yeoh as Yu Xiulian
- Zhang Ziyi as Yu Jiaolong
- Chang Chen as Luo Xiaohu

Plot and Critical Review: Per the length of previous reviews (some exceeding four pages) and a suggestion from a most trusted friend I will limit my reviews to 1,000 words beginning at the plot review. This will save me time and challenge me to present more succinct reviews and spiritual thoughts for your reading enjoyment. I will, however, reserve the right to use additional word space if necessary, for one cannot easy say to the wind "blow this hard" or to the rain "fall this fast". In an effort to help with this goal I will use plot synopses from Wikipedia and make additions and subtractions as I see fit.

"Crouching Tiger..." is one of the most famous Chinese-language films produced in the "wuxia" style. "Wuxia" is a style of film-making that incorporates an intense use of the martial arts set against against an epic and often chivalrous storyline. Modern films to adopt this methodology in film production include "Hero", "House of Flying Daggers", and "The Forbidden Kingdom". "Crouching Tiger..." has thus far been the most decorated and rewarded of all wuxia-style films.

The story follows two martial arts warriors, Li Mu-bai and Yu Shu-lien. The two characters are attracted to each other but have abstained from a romantic relationship. Mu-bai, an accomplished Wudang swordsman, asks Shu-lien to give his valuable sword, the Green Destiny, to his friend Sir Te because he wants to leave his warrior life behind but Sir Te decides to keep it for safekeeping in Beijing. In the meantime, Mu-bai intends to commemorate the death of his master, who was murdered long ago by Jade Fox, a woman who sought to learn Wudang.

One night, a masked thief sneaks onto Sir Te's estate and steals the Green Destiny. Tsai, Shu-lien, and others pursue the thief across rooftops, walls, and other obstacles. Shu-lien discovers that the thief is well-versed in the Wudang school of martial arts. The fight is broken off when a mysterious figure shoots a dart at Shu-lien, which she catches just in time.

Mu-bai and Shu-lien trace the theft to Governor Yu's compound and learn that Jade Fox has been posing as Jen's governess for many years to evade the authorities. Jade Fox challenges Inspector Tsai, his daughter May, and Master Bo to a showdown; she easily defeats all 3 of them before Mu-bai arrives and outmaneuvers Jade Fox, but the masked thief reappears and, to Mu-bai's amazement, uses Wudang techniques. After another short confrontation in which Tsai is killed, the thief and Jade Fox escape, and in a confrontation, Jade Fox realizes that Jen (the "thief") has secretly read her Wudang manual and surpassed her in skill. Mu-bai catches the masked Jen attempting to return the Green Destiny, and after defeating her, suggests that she become his apprentice. She refuses and escapes.

The dart that prevented Shu-Lien from capturing Jen came from a man named Lo, who returns and asks Jen to leave with him. A flashback reveals that Lo is a desert bandit called Dark Cloud who had raided Jen's caravan and stolen her comb. Jen chased after him to get it back; Lo defeated and kidnapped her. However, they eventually fell in love. Lo convinced Jen to return to her family, though not before telling her a legend of a man who jumped off a cliff but did not die. Instead, his wishes came true.

Lo has come to Beijing to persuade Jen not to go through with her arranged marriage. However, Jen refuses to leave with him. Soon after, she is married in an elaborate ceremony. Mu-bai and Shu-lien find Lo and tell him to wait for Jen at Wudang Mountain. The day after her wedding, Jen runs away. She is at a crossroads: should she be a court official's wife, the lover of a desert bandit, an outlaw under Jade Fox, or a martial artist under Li Mu-bai? Headstrong, she rejects the path of Shu-lien and Mu-bai, and starts a fight in a restaurant.

Jen finds Shu-lien, who tells her that Lo is at Wudang Mountain. Jen is outraged, thinking that Shu-lien is setting her up. Shu-lien is angry at Jen's lack of gratitude, and says that she always knew Jen was the thief but covered it up for the sake of Jen's family. The two women fight and it becomes clear that Shu-lien has better technique but Jen has the better sword (the Green Destiny). Mu-bai arrives and pursues Jen into the forest. He again offers to train her and she says that she will accept him as her master if he can take the Green Destiny from her in three moves. To Jen's surprise, Mu-bai snatches the sword from her hand in a single movement. When Jen still refuses to become Mu-bai's pupil, he throws the Green Destiny over a waterfall.
Jen chases after the sword, and Mu-bai is too shocked to pursue her.

Jen retrieves the sword and is rescued by Jade Fox. She puts Jen into a drugged sleep and leaves her in a cavern. Mu-bai and Shu-lien find her there. Jade Fox suddenly reappears and attacks the others with poisoned needles. Mu-bai blocks all but one needle with his sword. He avenges his master's death by mortally wounding Jade Fox, only to realize that he has been hit with a poisoned needle. With his last breaths, Mu-bai confesses his love for Shu-lien. Shu-lien is heartbroken at his death, and furious with Jen for spoiling her chance at happiness. However, Shu-lien spares Jen's life and instructs her always to remain true to herself.

Jen goes to Wudang Mountain and spends one last night with Lo. The next morning Lo finds Jen standing on a balcony overlooking the edge of the mountain. In an echo of the legend that they spoke about in the desert, she asks him to make a wish. He complies, wishing them to be together, and Jen leaps into the clouds.

If Jedi Knights lived on Earth during the 18th century and happened to find themselves in China without lightsabers...this would be their way of life! In his fight with Jade Fox, Li looks as elegant and noble as Qui-Gon Jinn did in "The Phantom Menace" or as Obi-Wan did in "Revenge of the Sith." Flowing robes and elegant swordplay are married to near-fantastic environments in a way that secures the action of this film as being far more than reckless sword-swinging.

"Crouching Tiger..." was declared by over 100 critics in America alone as the best motion picture of the year. Nominated for 6 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) it won 4 but lost Best Picture to "Gladiator." Few films, especially foreign-language films, can claim such worldwide success. "Crouching Tiger..." does not disappoint.

My Rating: 8.5/10

The "Reel Revelation": "Lord, Be Our Master"

Whenever a person seeks to learn a specific skill or trade they must first achieve the proper motivation to pursue the task and then find a master to teach them. In an age when you can get an "x For Dummies" book on whatever you care to learn the concept of apprenticeship has somewhat diminished, but even those who purchase instructional material still must submit themselves to the material, thus making it their master. This idea of apprenticeship and being a student to a master is a great theme in "Crouching Tiger..."

We in the Body of Christ seek to learn the most difficult of all trades, something that isn't even a "trade" but a discipline of mind, body, and spirit: to live in peace, walk humbly with our God, and love one another as God loves us. While many have attempted to "write the book" on the subject there is but one resource, the Bible, and one master; Jesus.

Have you ever met a person so good at a particular trade they seemed to be "unbelievable"? While we use that word rather loosely you've no doubt seen or met people who actually were beyond belief; those whose skill you simply could not comprehend. For many God seems beyond belief; altogether beyond this realm and beyond human experience. While God is infinite in power and majesty he saw fit to send his Son to walk among us. God saw into the mortal dilemma: How can we follow a God we cannot know; one who cannot teach us with his own hands the way of eternal life?! Jesus came to do more than just make God believable, he came to teach people that God was near, like a friend, and would teach us not from afar, but in our midst like a master to an apprentice.

Jesus is our Master.
His words are the instruction.
His life is the example.
We are the students.

See you tomorrow - E.T.