CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000) (****)

One of the best films of 2000, this is the kind of film that you love to watch over and over again. That's saying a lot for a subtitled film. Director Ang Lee (ICE STORM) brought to life a Chinese kung-fu move with heart and emotion. I had to twist my wife's arm to go see this in the theater. It's now one of her favorites and she let out an audible, "wow," in the theater when the first character effortlessly takes flight.

Veteran fighter Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat, ANNA AND THE KING) is about to retire and he has given his legendary sword, the Green Destiny, to Sir Te (Lung Sihung, EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN). It also allows him to reunited with his childhood friend, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh, TOMORROW NEVER DIES), who is employed as a guardian. Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien have long loved each other, but have kept their feelings repressed. Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang, RUSH HOUR 2) is the Governor's daughter, who is engaged to marry a man she does not love. Secretly, she is being trained in the Wudan martial arts by thief and murderer, Jade Fox (Pei-pei Cheng, THE LEGEND OF BLACK MASK), who killed Li Mu Bai's master.

To Lee's credit, the fight scenes in this film are some of the best ever. That he built an emotionally engaging and powerful tale to house those fights is remarkable. The most amazing thing about the fights is they actually help define the characters. In fighting, Li Mu Bai reveals his mastery of the Wudan martial arts. Jen Yu reveals her raw skill, her lack of discipline and her hatred of being forced into a life she doesn't want. A lot of action sequences in Hollywood movies could be edited out and nothing would be missed.

How the characters learn the identity of the person who steals the Green Destiny is intriguing. This process involves my favorite scene, which involves a dropped teacup. It's those kinds of details that make the film special.

Peter Pau's Oscar-winning cinematography gorgeously captures Timmy Yip's Oscar-winning art direction. The bamboo forest fight pays homage to classic kung fu flicks, while bringing a dance-like grace and rich color palette that is fresh and exciting. Jen Yu's battle with the bandit Dark Cloud (Chen Chang, HAPPY TOGETHER) in the desert is gritty and raw and comical. These mixed moods are enhanced by the perfect framing and setting. It's a perfect example of how all the elements of filmmaking are used as part of story.

Another thing that is unique about the film is that the main character is Jen Yu, who for most of the film is seen as the main villain. The picture has something to say about duty, repression of feelings, a woman's place in society, honor, respecting one's elders and redemption. It's a phenomenal film that has quickly become a modern classic.