ZachDVD

Let's all be honest here, not so many people are into foreign films.

They have their own little niche, their own little fans and pretty much

their own little market. In most smaller areas (not cities), you're

lucky if you have two art house theaters (I only have one). It's sort of

like independent films, films from other countries are very unique and

are usually in their native language with subtitles. The only really

mainstream foreign film ever was the good but overrated "Life Is

Beautiful", which garnered many, many awards and spread to a few hundred

theaters and became the top grossing foreign film in the U.S., grossing

around sixty million dollars.

So here comes "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Released in China last

July to much critical acclaim, Sony Pictures Classics snapped up the

rights to bring it to the U.S., where the film has been playing for the

past few months in various film festivals, gaining a lot of buzz. Sony

has even released two trailers. One for the casual moviegoer with the

action it features, the other for art house audiences with more of the

story side and critical acclaim. Sony is also releasing it in a few

theaters for a consecutive weeks, so by mid February, it'll be all over

the United States. After hearing about the movie it did sound like it

could be like a mainstream film, and that Sony may be having a surprise

smash hit on their hands, but after seeing the film itself, this film is

defiantly not mainstream for a sole reason: it is too arty.

Mu Bai (the excellent Chow Yun-Fat) has an reputation for being a deadly

and soulful warrior, yet has a lot of wisdom and heart. The film opens

with him arriving at the headquarters of Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), that

being one of his oldest and most loyal friends. Mu Bai is settling down

to retire, so he is giving away his infamous sword, the Green Destiny,

(which is 400 years old and looks really light and somewhat weak, yet it

is incredibly powerful and heavy) to Sir Te, a man who has supported and

encouraged him throughout his life. However, after the sword is at the

home of Sir Te, it is stolen by a mysterious masked stranger known as

the Jade Fox. Lien assumes that Te's beautiful daughter, Jen (Zhang

Ziyi) stole it, but we learn that Jen isn't like any other girl, as she

is controlled by the Jade Fox herself and is a deadly warrior. Jen is

also downright nasty, who wants to be free of the male dominated

society.

I really don't know what more I can add to what already has been said,

but I'll do my best. This film has gotten raves all over, and pretty

much it's all been covered. But here it is anyway. I guess I'll start

what has gotten the movie a lot of buzz: the action sequences. The

action sequences don't outrank the plot or story (thankfully), but I

wish there were more of them. Still, what is presented is a real treat.

There are about seven or eight of them throughout the film, and they are

really like nothing you've ever seen before. These stunts and fights are

really, really intense. Many people are going to draw comparisons to

"The Matrix" with them. For one thing, they were choreographed by

Yuen-Wo Ping, the same guy who was responsible for the sequences in

"The Matrix". Anyhow, these parts defy the laws of gravity and balance.

Characters fly and duke it out with swords and their punches and kicks.

I'm glad these don't last a minute or two, and with the exception with

the final battle with Jade Fox and the Green Destiny (which was

disappointing in length but still cool), these last a good amount of

time and will cause your jaw to drop. Characters jump so gracefully and

run sideways on walls, it's all really well done and such a joy to

watch. This is what I think is the mainstream part of the film, and if

you're going in for these stunts, you'll be amazed, but ultimately

disappointed at the lack of them.

Next is what I think won't appeal to the mainstream audiences: the

story. The story is excellent, but what I really like about is how deep

it is. Based on an early 20th century novel about the Wuxia, a group of

loyal Chinese warriors, the film was written by James Schamus, Hui-Ling

Wang and Kuo Jung Sai. For you Ang Lee fans, you know Schamus has been

his right hand man, adapting the screenplay for "The Ice Storm" and

writing "Ride With The Devil". The script is really good, as the plot is

laced with some deep themes of love and the old days of China when it

was ruled by males. The characters are well developed, each with their

own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their own emotional core. Jen

yearns for freedom, Lien wants to express her love despite what's going

on and Bai is a man who is tired of fighting and simply wants to settle

down and live in solitude. What I didn't like about the script though is

how things shifted, it felt a bit uneven. There was not so much of a

focus on Jade Fox and the sword itself, but rather what Jen was going

through. This really gives the film depth, but it would have been great

if they made it more even. Yes, I realized things have to be

established, but I felt it was a bit much.

The production values of the film are first rate. I think Ang Lee is an

extraordinary director, bringing such films as "Sense and Sensibility",

"The Ice Storm" and "Ride With The Devil" to life. Here he really shows

his stuff here, as he blends the action and themes into one. His vision

for this film is superb, and I think without him it wouldn't have been

so good. The sets and costumes are really unique, I actually thought I

was there back in Imperial China watching all of this unfold before my

eyes. You really feel like you're there, and it looks really nice, so

good art direction on that part. In part of feeling like you are there,

the performances are great. Chow Yun Fat (people will recognize him from

"Anna and the King" and "The Replacement Killers", but he's a huge Asian

action star) and Michelle Yeoh (who was in the James Bond film "Tomorrow

Never Dies") has deeply affecting performances, bringing a lot of life

into their characters. The same thing for Zhang Ziyi and Cheng Pei Pei.

The musical score is really well timed and is sweet yet haunting,

perfectly fitting the film, it does bring a lot to it. The cello solos

are performed by Yo Yo Ma, which is really cool (I like Yo Yo Ma). One

aspect of the film which I really liked was the sound effects and sound

design, they are just booming to death. The fists flying, guns firing

kicks rising and swords clasing... they sound so good and are edited so

well, it's like music to your ears. It makes it all the more alive, so

my kudos to the sound designers. Finally, the editing and

cinematography. Each is can be summed up in one word: flawless. The

movie is so well filmed with great camera movements and angles. There

are so many lovely shots, just like the action sequences, they will

amaze you. The editing is great too. As I said, I felt like I was there

watching all of this, thanks to the cuts the film has. It's all done

appropriately and with much thought. The editing is superb in the action

sequences. It's not shaky or quick or anything, like some movies where

you get so confused and can't tell what's going on. Here you have a real

easy time following the action, setting up good shots.

This film is nearly perfect, and not perfect as everyone is going on to

be. What brings it down is how the story arc is presented (see earlier

in the review), but it's still all good. What is going to be interesting

is how all of this does with mainstream audiences. As I said, the story

is deep, and I don't think so many casual moviegoers are going to really

understand be enthralled by it. Yes, they'll love the action, but

there's so much beauty to the story, which I feel they'll find boring.

Also, so many people mind subtitles. If it's not in English, it is a big

turn off (they re-released "Life Is Beautiful" into a lousy dub which

quickly bombed). But I am a big advocate of films being presented in

their original languages, so they can be presented they way they were

originally supposed too.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a revolutionary film, there is

simply nothing like it to ever grace the film before. While I felt some

parts were a bit slow and dragged on, and the story was not as even as

it could have been, this is one damn good film and is an instant

classic. Even if you hate subtitles, but love a great plot with

interwoven themes, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a film for you.

Be on the lookout for when it hits your area, Sony is putting it out

gradually so it catches steam. You will not see a finer film in the year

2000 (some of you will have to wait until 2001) than this, and is the

first time in a long time where I have really, really loved a film so

dearly as this. It's incredible. Sure to win the Best Foreign Film

Oscar, and possibly be nominated for Best Picture, but I doubt it will

win it. I hope the Academy doesn't over look the editing, music,

cinematography, performances and art direction.

I believe this show only lasted one season, from 1994-1995, and

thank the Lord it did. Nick, however, has empty air space and

needs something to show, so if you're sitting home on a rainy

Saturday, you are more than likely to find this on the air.

Basically, Nick felt there was a need for a sitcom with

African-American characters. I have no problem with that, but

when you do something like that, the idea is that you don't make

it stereotypical. This show is based all on stereotypes and is

recycled, stupid trash. It basically involves an older and

younger Black brother, as they go through trials and tribulations. One usually wants or needs to do something, and

the other gets involved. The jokes will make you die with

laughter, since they're so bad and monkeys on typewriters could

write better. The acting is plain horrendous and annoying, and

the theme song is really catchy and will be in your head for

week. Do not watch this show at all costs, unless you are having

a party and have a few friends over. You can do a Mystery

Science Theater 3000 sorta thing. This is one of the best shows

to moc

Not really a big box office draw, but I was pleasently surprised

with this movie. James "I did some things to Farrah Fawcett" Orr

co-wrote and directed this movie about an ordinary, average guy

named Larry Burrows who thinks his life would have been

incredibly different if he hit a homerun at a key baseball game

when he was 15. But thanks to mysterious and magical bartender

Mike, Larry gets his wish, yet soon realizes that his new life

isn't exactly as he hoped it would be.

I must say, this movie really impressed me. Critics have given

it mixed, and I must say the concept is really interesting and

pulled off well. Yes, it is a little standard, but packs enough

funny moments, drama and excellent acting to make it really

good. James Belushi (I think) was Oscar worthy for his role. Jon

Lovitz is perfect, and Linda Hamilton plus Renee Russo shine in

their roles. Michael Caine is perfect as the bartender. It's

just a good movie with a good lesson. If you've never seen, I

highly recommend you check