Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: Blu-ray
Brand: Sony
EAN: 0043396162235
Format: Color
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Sony Pictures Classics
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Classics
MPN: 043396162235
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures Classics
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2010-07-27
Running Time: 120
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Theatrical Release Date: 2000

CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON - Blu-Ray Movie
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 Rating:
Summary: Waht Can I say?
Comment: What Can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? Nothing, I'm afraid. It deserves all of the praise it gets. BUY THIS FILM!! I exhort you, if you only watch one foreign film in your entire life, let it be this one.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Blu-Ray Crouching Tiger Great
Comment: Fine transfer to Blu-ray format. Lovely to look at, would love to have had more extras. But the price was good.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Could be described as "required viewing"
Comment: 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

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Comparing the 2010 stand-alone Blu-ray release to the original DVD
Comment: 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.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: woudereful
Comment: A great movie you get drawen into, the fighting is breath takeing and the affects are great.

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