Mysterious and dangerous, yet exquisite, but oh dang! Those fighting scenes are simply dy-no-mite!

Whatever you want to call Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it is a really awesome movie.

This two-hour film may seem a little long, but it is a trailer compared to the real deal Chinese action/soap opera epics that last 30 tapes long and sometimes even more.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is about Chinese warrior Li Mu Bai, portrayed by Chow Yun Fat, deciding to turn in his profession. In the beginning of the movie, he confides in his life longtime crush and fellow warrior Yu Shu Lien (played by Michelle Yeoh) and tells her to give his sword, the Green Destiny, to a friend and leader in Bei Jing.

The Green Destiny is a sword with unbelievable power, constructed with precision. The sword is so awesome that it makes a nifty vibrating sound when it hits people.

The Green Destiny, however, is stolen by a silent ninja who is, in turn, Jen (Zhang Zi Yi) the daughter of the governor. Investigations are held by Bai and Lien to find the sword and catch the culprit.

The rest…well, you will have to watch the movie to find out all the other details and eventually the end. The movie is terrific if you know a lot about Chinese action/soap operas. Firstly, I loved the fact that it

was a nice, brief two-hour movie (yes, you got it: a two-hour movie!) in contrast to the usual 30-tape stories I encounter when I want to see some authentic Asian cinematography. The only flashback scene in the movie is a bit lengthy, but it is still pretty interesting.

The special effects and choreography are superb made especially outstanding with some major kick-butt fighting action. Though the flying in the beginning and a particular fight scene later in the movie get a little hokey and far fetched, that is the medium in real Chinese epic-making! Warriors have been seen flying through the air ever since the Eighties—flying has to be in every Chinese action/soap opera story! So if you stick with the wild and unbelievable effects, you will enjoy the movie.

Just a friendly warning: this movie is subtitled! If you understand Mandarin fluently, you are in luck; otherwise you’ll have to read your way through the script.

But the combat scenes are nevertheless a must see.

And director Ang Lee does a great job with acting and choreography. Fat, Yeoh, and Zi Yi also wonderfully play their roles. The beautiful locations in China were perfectly selected by Ang, and the costumes are gorgeous and accurate with his early 1900 setting. The Green Destiny, along with other weapons used in the film, are exquisite, with fine decoration and precision.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a distinctively well-orchestrated film.