Crouching camera man, Hidden Wire

[TheScribe]

Just wondering, did anyone that saw Crouching tiger hidden dragon like it? I can understand that the flying bit could look a little bit funny, but over all- really, it was pretty good. Some of the tai-chi sword techniques used by lee (chow yung fat, or whatever) looked decidedley fencing like, and I thought that most of the fencing community (fencing community, lol) would get a kik out of it. So just drop a line, and tell me- good or bad, what you liked, and what you wished you could do...

[ 08-18-2001: Message edited by: TheScribe ]

[Iwant2bafencer]

lol I like the title for the topic. I thought the sword fighting and stuff was alright. (I agree the flying part was a bit overrated.) Although I didn't like the story line really. I mean the parts with just the girl and her outlaw lover were alright, but otherwise I dont think it would win top prize or anything like that.

[Event Horizon]

I loved the movie. One of my favorites now. You have to understand Asian martial arts films. All the flying and spectacular stunts that seem totally unbelievable are just accepted as the norm. Check out some Hong Kong Kung-Fu flicks and you'll see what I mean.


The fight seens were choreographed by one of the best of Asian martial-arts films choreographers (some say he's the best). For those who may not know he also choreographed the fight scenes in The Matrix (and many of Jet Li's movies).


The storyline is good in my opinion...works on many levels. But I think many will disagree with me in this forum. There are some other threads that go deeper into this.

[ 08-20-2001: Message edited by: Event Horizon ]

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by TheScribe:
<STRONG>Just wondering, did anyone that saw Crouching tiger hidden dragon like it? </STRONG>

You ask this like you expect most people to say no. Among those that I know, the overwhelming majority thought it was a great movie (myself included).

-m

[Craig]

I thought it was a great movie. Excellent action sequences plus a good story line.

Another popular movie where I work is "Memento" - only good if you like movies that mess with your mind.

Cheers,
Craig

[Iwant2bafencer]

Hey Craig! I haven't seen you forever! Whats up?
Well like I said Some of the action stuff was a bit Alise and Wonderland. (Dont ask.) Although the guys other movies I Loved!

[Foil Girl]

Originally posted by Iwant2bafencer:
<STRONG>Well like I said Some of the action stuff was a bit Alise and Wonderland. (Dont ask.)</STRONG>

I think that you had to take it as a fantasy film. A lot of people went into the theater expecting it to be all seriouse, and though there were serious themes, the plot was mainly fantasy. I sincerely enjoyed this great movie, and the action was unbelievable. I also agree with you, though, Event Horizon, it is pretty much the norm for kung fu films over there. But it's still way cool! hehe

[latenight]

I think the whole film was supposed to be sort of like a number of Chinese myths that are told to children. It should be taken in the same vein as the Geek myths we are all familiar with.

No one complains that Perseus had a horse with wings.

[neevel]

<STRONG>
You have to understand Asian martial arts films. All the flying and spectacular stunts that seem totally unbelievable are just accepted as the norm. Check out some Hong Kong Kung-Fu flicks and you'll see what I mean.
</STRONG>

Just as 20-second, recoil-free bursts from submachine guns and people bailing out of cars moving at highway speeds and getting up with only a few bruises and scrapes are accepted norms in Hollywood action films .
(Actually, a guy tried that car-bailing stunt here last night, apparantly to make a point during an argument with his girlfriend- he died instantly when his head hit the guardrail. I sense a Darwin Award nomination for that one.)

To my understanding, much of the 'wire-fu' type action seen in CT-HD and others has it's roots in Chinese mythology-- it's a genre that should be viewed in the same way as the sort of feats in stories drawn from western mytholgy and folklore. The more complex, multi-leveled plot was a nice change from the simple Hollywood action-fare. One of the best things about the film, for me, was Michelle Yeoh's perfomance.

A funny play on the title I've seen was Adrian Ko's orginal name for the tech-support board over at Swordforum: Crouching Computer, Hidden Frustration.

-Dave

[ 08-20-2001: Message edited by: neevel ]

[Sildar]

I'm with neevil 100 percent. It does not cease to amaze me that Americans cannot accept one mildly silly Hong Kong movie convention (wires) while they don't even bat an eye at the dozens of goofy Hollywood conventions we see in practically every American movie. Was I the only one who thought the Matrix was pretty lame compared to CTHD?
I loved Crouching Tiger, if only for the fact that it was something different from the usual Hollywood drivel. To be quite frank, two thirds of the movies I bothered to go see these last couple years I have only seen because they had some Hong Kong giant (Chow Yun Fat, John Woo, Jet Li, Jackie Chan) in them. Most big movies don't interest me at all anymore, considering how homogenized Hollywood has been lately. I've seen so many CG explosions and squeeking animated muppets that I miss the paper-mache models and rubbery monster costumes of the 80s. The last Star Wars is the perfect example, but that's a topic for another thread.
I'd better stop myself before the rant goes any longer. It was really nice to see a movie that had kung fu fights with real martial artists, and people who could actually act, and with a plot that wasn't just another "beat up the bad guy and get the girl" formula piece.
BTW, I hear there's a prequel planned!

[Stryder]

I agree Sildar, although I am a big fan of big movies, I miss the days when you watched wondering "How'd they DO that?" Now we know how, they call ILM and order up: "Two flying swordsmen, hold the blood. One T-rex, extra feisty. And for dessert, throw in millions of creepy scarabs. We'll bring the 'Actors' over on Monday for image mapping."

What fun is that? Granted computer graphics make movies better than they ever could be, (purists can talk all they want about the good old days of cinema, but show me a movie cooler than The Matrix, and I'll show you, "The Matrix 2")but after we've seen "bullet-time" done in every knock-off from "Scarey Movie" to "Scarey Movie 4", it just loses it's edge.

[TheScribe]

Was I the only one who thought the Matrix was pretty lame compared to CTHD?

How dare you insult the Matrix. That movie got more response with Americans than anywhere else probly because of our ever growing dependance in technology, its just playing off of fears that we have about AI. And anywho I loved the Matix, but it does get boring when you watch it 40 times.

[Swordsman]

But then, anything gets boring after 40 times...

Okay, maybe not. Everything but The Princess Bride and Gladiator.

[Event Horizon]

I agree foilgirl, the stunts are way cool--even being the norm. Yeah, neevel and latenight I believe you are right about HK Kung-fu movies rooted in Chinese mythology (concerning the flying and spectacular actions people can do). I'll tell you another good Kung-fu movie with a interesting story is "The Bride with White Hair" (If I remember correctly it's even more outrageous than CTHD...hehe). Sildar hits the nail on the head with his post about blockbuster movies coming out today...that's so totally true now. I hope Matrix 2 will be as good as the first one. They should get Zhang Ziyi (Jen from CTHD) to be in it.

[E-fencer]

I liked the film, but came away from it thinking about how to improve my fencing...(I got tired just watching the stunts...)

...started thinking...if I just had a Green Destiny...

[Iwant2bafencer]

I Totally agree with Swordsman on the Princess Bride!! Oh and R.H.M.T. & D.P.S.


-------------------
Carpe Diem

[peircer]

Way back when I used to study martial arts, my sensei used to say that the Chinese martial arts movies are sort of like their versions of our cowboy movies. You know, a man with a six shooter can shoot guns out of people's hands and should be taken like that.