Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Angsty Love and Bloody Fighting. How much better can it get?

[dangermousie]

Today's movie of the day is Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, one of my favorite movies. It looks like Lee will win Best Director/Best Picture for Brokeback Mountain, and while BM is a well-made movie, I don't think it can compare to the beauty, restraint, and philosophy of CTHD. Plus, did you see Heath or Jake soar on tops of trees while maiming dozens with their sword?

Of the three Chinese martial arts dramas that have been popular in the West (CTHD, Hero and HoFD), CTHD is by far my favorite, maybe because the fighting sequences (while spectacular) are secondary to a story about restraint and regret and uncertainty. I remember debating this movie with Husband (then Boyfriend) ad nauseam.

Anyway, here is some picspam.

Comments

[kaseido.livejournal.com]

awesome pics - thanks!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You are welcome :)

I decided that I shouldn't just post on anime :P

[kaseido.livejournal.com]

I'm liking the mix!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kaseido.livejournal.com]

You might have some thoughts about scarab_dynasty's musing on women in anime here (http://scarab-dynasty.livejournal.com/54834.html#cutid1)...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! Off to read...

[raelee.livejournal.com]

Great pictures! I love CTHD. That makes me want to rewatch it tonight.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I love it too. So much beauty.

Btw, your post on fanfic preferences was really neat to read.

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous pics! Thanks a lot for sharing. I love wu xia films like whoa! XD ... I haven't seen this one since a couple of years ago, and now watching all this pretty pictures have made me add it to my TO SEE list!! *hee*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, love the new HofD icons

I haven't seen that many wu xia films, but what I've seen I loved.

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

Must. Rewatch. Soon!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I keep telling myself that :)

[koalathebear.livejournal.com]

I definitely loved this movie. One of my friends who's a journo interviewed both Chow Yun Fat and Chang Chen (the bandit guy) and said they were both lovely although Chow Yun Fat was cuter ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I am so jealous of your friend.

I adore this movie...

[wasabi-girl1.livejournal.com]

Love this movie. It will always be a classic, not only in Chinese movies, but in all movies! :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes. Totally agreed.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound really pretentious, but I hate seeing it as picspam. I think of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as one of the greatest movies of all time, and there are really no words to describe my love for it. There was a point where I watched this movie every single weekend. In order to love it, I think you really have to see it in motion. The grace, the visuals, everything is just so gorgeous, simplistic, and perfect. I may love "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", but simple they are not. Oh, god, I love Crouching Tiger. I have even have the fucking soundtrack! I'm considering taking Chinese in school next year so that I can watch it without the clashing yellow subtitles. I need an icon of this movie...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Whoa, you like it that much? Is it your favorite movie?

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

Sadly, it's not actually my favorite movie. I just have a lot of love to give.