Patrick Explains CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (And Why It's Great)

[@leftyfourguns]

The most amazing achievement of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the fact that it's a love story that isn't boring, cliche, or pretentious. It's pretty much Shakespeare with Kung-fu

[@sfisabbt]

True Romance made me feel the same way.

[@egoncholakianfan]

its definitely pretty cliche

[@alexshiau180]

@@egoncholakianfan to me the fact that people are debating whether there's something going on between Jen and Li Mu Bai tells something. This is a multi-layer romance that can lead to different interpretations. It's also typical in Ang Lee's works. Life of Pi is a great example

[@Nabil-yh1dz]

It's definitely very cliche 😅

[@wxx3]

2 love stories

[@PauLtus_B]

I love how this movie manages to both mythologize a lot of characters while still showing the realities of it, mostly how it manages to do both at the same time without those elements detracting from one another. You do believe that these characters are both legendary fighters and real people with a lot of repressed emotions, there's a legendary sword which is an amazing sword, but still just a sword. I really don't know of another movie managing to balance this as well.

[@julianayala03]

well put, and on point thanks :-)

[@PauLtus_B]

You're welcome?

[@PauLtus_B]

+Spuious Flatus I just so happen to come across your comment 5 hours after you posted having gotten no notification of it. I just love how it actually show legends being both legendary and humans. Haven't seen that anywhere else. I have to admit that I'm not really understanding what you mean with "Despite being a master swordsman, who was the greatest at wielding his own sword, despite it being not as good as the prime sword produced in the whole world ;-) His Nature was above the "Nurture"." Ikiru has been on my watchlist for months.

[@tonyswe9463]

PauLtus B, agree. One of my favorite movie of all time.

[@FelicityGemini]

its actually a mcguffin that didn't drive the plot. thats were the magic lays

[@alphacause]

Your appraisal of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is spot on. The movie is one of the best martial arts movies of all time, not only because it had top notch martial arts choreography, but because it also balanced the mind blowing martial arts with exceptional drama, acting and storytelling. It is rare to find a film that can balance both the dramatic content with action, and have both aspects of the film turn out to be equally good. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the rare gem that did both.

[@Kathy-22]

Yes. Crouching tiger hidden dragon is a superb martial art movie.

[@seen921]

What Drake said.... all of this .... and is so well-balanced story-wise

[@irmese06]

"Imagine if Anakin Skywalker was a compelling character with a personality, the Star Wars prequels were all one movie, and were actually good." NAILED IT. CTHD is permanently in my all-time top five.

[@theanonymouscritic1710]

Um, no he hasn’t.

[@irmese06]

@@theanonymouscritic1710 Don't get me wrong; I love Star Wars! --but it's an opera, and character study was never the driving force in Lucas' stories. It's why "destiny" and *archetypes* come up so much. I will confess that my personal opinion of the prequels has improved since I wrote the above comment, years ago! Especially Ep iii. -- but CTHD is still better at certain things than Star Wars ever will be. Concision, for example. It puts a whole saga into 2 hours yet makes you feel the intergenerational significance of it all.

[@samisfun868]

Love this - the most engaging scene for me was when Shu Lien holding up Li Mu Bai and crying her eyes out - I cry every single time in that scene. Pure love. Repressed feelings. Unspoken words. All came undone at that very moment. Movie really was about their love for each other.

[@tkmwong020480]

Well, men and women had to live by Traditional values at the time in Ancient China. They couldn’t openly get together or express their love for each other because of the rules. Men had to save face and live by the rules of the Jianghu society while Women had to safe guard their status after marriage even when the husband is already dead. That's why both of them had to suppress their feelings and can't get together. The movie basically talks a lot about how people are restricted by Tradition, values, parents and society as a whole.

[@samisfun868]

@@tkmwong020480 precisely. which made it such a heartbreaking scene.

[@PeanutStrawberry]

OMG "It's like the prequels, but in one movie, and actually GOOD" I cannot agree more with that xD

[@theanonymouscritic1710]

As a huge fan of the Prequels, I take offence on that one.

[@guidebookofsuffering1266]

The soundtrack part is breathtaking

[@gladlawson61]

The score of this movie is the cherry on top.

[@audelsalazar1962]

"So imagine if Anakin Skywalker was a girl, and actually a compelling character with a personality, and you actually cared about their romantic subplots, and you would have this movie." Damn that was right on the money...

[@theanonymouscritic1710]

Um no it wasn’t.

[@middenway]

I got instantaneous goosebumps when you played the cue from the end. Fantastic music.

[@user-jq1mg2mz7o]

what's it called?

[@middenway]

“Farewell”

[@user-jq1mg2mz7o]

@@middenway thanks!

[@cyberpokey]

Man, I haven't seen this movie in a years but this vid made me to rewatch it desperately. It's a genuinely stunning, beautiful, gripping piece of cinema.

[@Omni315]

I got Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon free along with Stuart Little 2 and Charlie's Angels 2 when I bought my first DVD player, so I thought it was of about the same quality. Boy was I wrong!

[@JustinStoutArt]

This movie has so many layers and messages to it. It has very deep teachings in regards to Martial Arts. It is a masterpiece.

[@sfisabbt]

The calligraphy scene is also a great one.

[@JainaSoloB312]

Yesss omg I just watched it for the first time today and I was like "oh wow she's really good at calligraphy, is that a hint that she's also good at swords?" and then the protagonist(?) mentions the same thing and lemme tell you I was Hooked on the story from that point

[@sfisabbt]

@@JainaSoloB312 I love the way it comes back later when the rookie fights the more experienced fighter. No matter how much of prodigy the younger one is and how much more energy she has, Michelle Yeoh's character has already learnt everything she needs to know about her technique just by watching her calligraphy and that evens the odds.

[@CordelaineKline]

Thanks so much for making this video! I had the exact same experience with this film, and am constantly bewildered that more people aren't as impressed and in love with like us! Thank you for helping me remember my 13 year old self riding the school bus and listening to the Crouching Tiger soundtrack on repeat, with a tear in my eye...

[@GrahamMilkdrop]

The fights in this movie are so beautiful they make me cry.

[@wnbetv]

I adore Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Some of the best fight scenes you'll ever see but shot in calm, sweeping wide angles. Even the most intense moments have this breathtaking serenity, I just get lost in that world and cinematography. Masterpiece!

[@thejamnasium6447]

I think this is one of the best movies ever. I'll never forget the first time I watched it, as it ended I just sat there slack-jawed.

[@tanaka1477]

Every now and then I think about this movie and the ending and I just tear up.

[@thetramp123]

Also, interesting enough when talking about the fights as if they're musical or dance numbers, the actress who plays Jade Fox is veteran actress Pei-Pei Cheng perhaps most iconically known as the star of King Hu's *classic* Come Drink With Me, and she had a dance background which helped translate to her role in the film. Everyone see Come Drink With Me, and about everything else King Hu made if you want to see some major influences on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Dragon Inn and A Touch of Zen are both available from Criterion and are both essential wuxia films.

[@FelicityGemini]

Is that why as a villan I felt her pain, the outcast, the woman not fit to learn such fighting moves, but still able to sleep with. her only fault was not being able to read because if she mastered those teachings... everyone wouldn't be approaching her like that.

[@blairinnyc]

It's nice to see that I am not the only one who is obsessed with this film. So much to enjoy in this movie.

[@bobbydbuze]

Dude you're parents are awesome! Give them more screen time!!!

[@alisterfolson]

George Lucas: No one can make a better Star Wars movie than I can Ang Lee: Hold my beer

[@kaano3770]

God damn these asians do everything better :p

[@seen921]

hahahaha. Boom!

[@VfBlerf4Life]

also Irvin Kershner and maybe Rian Johnson ... but yeah also Ang Lee :D

[@ejoshcoron]

Ang Lee: Hold these Oscars from the future..

[@lukedoyle3002]

RF-D2 I sincerely hope you were joking about Johnson

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Incredible incredible film. One of my all-time favorites. People commenting it's a martial arts pic are 100% NOT getting it. Geez... Great video!

[@FacelessNoise]

I loved this. This is basically how I talk about my favourite movies; in a big rambling rant, where no one else gets a word in! CTHD came out when I was 11, my dad had gone to see it in the cinema, came home, picked me up and went to see it a second time just because he wanted me to see it. Incredible movie.

[@Kathy-22]

Crouching tiger hidden dragon is my favorite movie of all time

[@damianlee5438]

You have an awesome dad!!!

[@RothurThePaladin]

I love how you get your mom and dad involved. That awesome. Great job as always.

[@teslavoltagames3208]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon should've won the 2000 Best Picture Academy Award instead of Gladiator. Change my mind.

[@nikalbert5528]

i never understood Li Mu Bai or Jen Yu. Why did Li Mu Bai want to teach her? And what was Jen Yu doing the whole movie (what were her motives)?

[@rickgao2895]

Nik Albert Li Mubai was seeking retirement but also an apprentice that was worthy of passing on his masters sword art, after seeing Jiaolong and her immense talent, he was moved to choose her and teach her while avoiding the potential of her going to the dark side and becoming a menace. Jen Yu was after the sword who belonged to her loved one while trying not to destroy the honor of the Jiaolong’s family and her future.

[@FowlManor]

Watch the Director's cut of Gladiator and your mind will be changed... But I agree with you, Tiger should've won

[@teslavoltagames3208]

@@FowlManor maybe. I know the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven (another Ridley Scott film) made it a significantly better film. Sometimes, you have to let certain film percolate to be better. That being said, Crouching Tiger is a fantastic film that does not get enough credit.

[@FowlManor]

@@teslavoltagames3208 I have the Director's Cut of Kingdom on Blu-ray, and i tried for years to convince my friends to watch it with me. When I finally convinced them they agreed wholeheartedly that it was way better than the theatrical cut, and that it made it a really good movie.

[@nathanliu4610]

This was literally the first film I ever saw, and it has remained my favorite movie ever since. It not only taught me that martial arts films could be well-written and have good acting (it was nominated for best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars), but it also gave me a sense for how to write strong, interesting female characters. It introduced me to the fabulous Zhang Ziyi, who, to this day, remains my favorite actress of all time, and, of course, it is SUPER bad-ass! I am SO glad that you chose to do a video about this. A lot of people do seem to have forgotten it. Thank you!

[@WMCheerman]

Just saw it for the first time today, when it was back in theaters. Amazing movie!!!

[@ba1anse]

It’s also one of my favourite movies. Even for a Chinese who had seen tons of kong fu movies before, this movie was still one of a kind. Its fighting scenes delivers a kind of floating elegant surreal feeling other king fu movies don’t have. And the philosophical and emotional core also strikes hard. Ang Lee is one of the best directors.

[@PauLtus_B]

I rewatched it not too long ago, and then I watched a couple more times, because it's amazing. And now I want to rewatch it again.

[@MW-bn2vz]

This movie holds up to this day and deserves way more attention and love. Thank you for this!

[@Davination]

Thank you, Patrick, for making this video. When I saw CTHD in theatres as a 10 year old, I thought it was alright, although with some unforgettable parts. I re-watched it a few months ago, however, and believe it's one of the 2000's greatest cinematic achievements. The film seems to be remembered more fondly for its individual pieces (i.e. anti-gravity jumping, fight scenes incredibly choreographed by the legendary Yuen Wo Ping) more than the sum of its parts. I will note, however, that it lost some of its appeal with (mainland) Chinese audiences due to the cast's widely differing accents affecting comprehensibility: neither Michelle Yeoh or Chow Yun-Fat speak Mandarin natively, Chang Chen is from Taiwan, and Zhang Ziyi and Cheng Pei-pei (Jade Fox) are the only mains who are mainlanders. The result is like a western but with a Frenchman and German who don't speak English, and an Englishman all trying to pass off as Wild West-era Americans.

[@tkmwong020480]

Cheng Pei Pei's name is actually a pronunciation in Cantonese. Her parents are from China but she moved to Hong Kong in the 1960's. Most of her fame started in Hong Kong Kung Fu/Wuxia action drama in Black and White TV and she was famous in Taiwan because she married a Taiwanese Businessman in America.

[@jordanneal576]

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon has been one of my favorite films since I was a teenager. It's so damn good.

[@lolman105]

Love this series I hope you continue to do it.

[@aperfecte]

i really love this concept of you trying to explain a movie to your parents. Keep up the great work. I look forward to your next video.

[@Metaphizzle]

Agreed on the _Star Wars_ comparison. I also think the bandit love interest was basically Jack Sparrow before _Pirates of the Caribbean_ .

[@thetramp123]

Ang Lee actually got his start as part of the second wave of the Taiwanese New Wave making three great films (Pushing Hands, The Wedding Banquet, and Eat Drink Man Woman) before he started making films like Sense & Sensibility and The Ice Storm (also both great).

[@thomasmcgill6918]

I absolutely agree. There is no movie I know of that has a level of emotion, action, story telling, creativity like this movie. Your observations are truly educational. Thank you

[@celeritas2-810]

I love the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. Joe Wright's director's commentary is excellent, he actually critiques his own work and talks about his practice as a director. Really worth a rewatch with it on if you haven't seen it.

[@GKViddingHD]

I felt every word, thank you for voicing my passion for this film.

[@wilbermusicman]

I just watched this movie again and wanted to hear someone talk about how amazing it is. You did not disappoint! Especially the part when you started playing the soundtrack. Oh man, right in the feels! Hahahaha! Perfect video man.

[@RickLiebling]

I saw this movie when it originally came out and I remember leaving the theater and thinking, "those were what the Jedi should have been," so it's great to hear you say the same thing. CTHD is a fantastic movie.

[@tedankhamenbonnah4848]

Totally agree - a forgotten classic. I watched it in Japan, and had to translate from Japanese subtitles into English for a friend. When I started the bar fight poem, "I am the dragon from the desert," he thought I was nuts... good on so many levels it is insane.

[@PatBatemanAtDorsia]

that apple cider looks goooood

[@Whosaskin]

Pat Bateman is there cider of anything else?

[@NugGarou]

Pear Cider. It's sometimes called Perry though.

[@uwcb1]

I was thinking iced tea.

[@Furore2323]

Dear Mr W, I hope you will convey to your wonderful parents that they are absolute treasures. (Also your entire thing you do is great.)

[@patrickhwillems]

Thank you! I'll be sure to let them know.

[@ruthielalastor2209]

Man, i love these talks with your parents.

[@johnsolorzano6395]

That music at the end just tears at my chest

[@mumbojumbo88]

The dojo fight scene is my favorite fight scene of all time! Amazing choreography and directing. Hopefully with the success of John Wick more action films will do the same in Hollywood and get away from the frenetic, over edited, shaky cam that's been popular for ~15 years

[@Komediennekymd2009]

I've watched this movie a million times. My fave!

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

Oh man, THANK YOU!! Crouching Tiger is the movie that made me a cinema fan, and it's still one of my favorite films of all time

[@EveBolt]

That soundtrack bit, still get the goosebumps and the tears T_T

[@xremming]

I must've been around 10 when I got the VHS from my mother's friend. I remember absolutely loving it. After closer to ten years, last winter I watched it again, and oh my god. Everything you said about this movie resonates so much with me. One thing I especially love about it, is the zero concern of gravity, they just fly around whenever they need to (in fights) and you won't question it even once. Love your videos!

[@sarcasuccus]

That movie still gives me chills everytime I watch it. And yes, best fight scenes ever.

[@southamvids]

I think these may be the best videos you do, they're great.

[@umjackd]

I also remember seeing this when I was a kid and fell in love with it. My parents really appreciated it since they grew up reading Kung Fu serials and felt like it finally came to life in beautiful form. China used to produce lots and lots of cheap TV kung fu serials but their budget always kept them, well, very cheesy. CTHD was like dreams coming true in terms of how beautiful it could make it look, and that was quite the achievement.

[@willisingo]

My favorite part is Jen-Yu's cadence at the end of the bar fight, right before the floor collapse. Beautifully choreographed and so bad ass in execution.

[@ejoshcoron]

I can't believe I just saw for the first time today, I loved it!

[@CodeImplosion]

Like you, this is one of my all time favorite movies. Great essay!

[@annc7739]

Zhang Ziyi would’ve been a perfect Hua Mulan.

[@txmoney]

I experienced this masterpiece in the theater all those years ago. It’s 2019 and I’ve just watched the film again and I was transported back to 2000...still touched by the tragic relationships, thrilled by the action sequences, and moved by the beautiful score and song. Ang Lee is among the top five greatest living directors.

[@jhenson1618]

One of my best movie memories. Christmas Eve 7:00pm show. Sold out in a small theater, maybe about 50 people. Like you I was hungry for a real Martial Arts film. After the fist fight scene the theater filled with applause. I was in a place on Christmas Eve with like minded people. You could hear sniffles when Chow Yun Fat died. Standing Ovation when the movie finished. It was a perfect Christmas.

[@irmese06]

Ahhhh. Movie magic. The magic still exists but it's different now, with all the streaming. I hope we never totally lose the communal experience of watching a good film in the dark with strangers, everyone going on the same ride. Nothing quite like it except good live theater, which is also harder to come by.

[@jvondd]

Love and Friendship is woefully underrated.

[@FoxMacLeod2501]

I remember the commentary track (the one with the director and one or two of the lead actors, if I recall correctly) for _Crouching Tiger_ having some surprising hilarity hidden within. I think they were in a giddy mood when they sat down to record it. I remember them joking about how funny they thought it would have been if, without any hint of acknowledgement, they stuck _Matrix_ style sunglasses on the Chow Yun-fat's character for one scene.

[@omgwtfrofltomato]

wow pausing at :22 and just wow. I saw that slick cut. that wasn't there the last time the rents were featured. smoothed out the beginning a lot and wow made it so much good. nice job sir

[@jacksoneflin6006]

This schtick NEVER GETS OLD. Also I'm gonna watch this movie next chance I get.

[@sperfect20]

I remember I was in the 8th grade when I saw this movie for the first time on DVD. I played it so much in my room that I would just watch the title screen clips of the fight with jen and shuen. You are right one of the greatest movies of all time!

[@ColinPatrickWeiss]

you missed the one shot of the guy falling off the balcony at the beginning of the restaurant fight. one of the best shots of the entire movie. this is my favorite movie ever made. hands down.

[@syystomu]

I was blown away by this movie as a kid too but then I never saw it again for some reason. I should.

[@sugakunoneko]

These are your best videos, I love the conversational tone to the audience of your parents (but really to KZbin).

[@Yellowsnow69420]

I went into my first viewing of CTHD knowing nothing about the film as well...and it blew my mind. The same thing happened the year before and after CTHD with The Matrix and Memento, respectively. I agree that CTHD (and Memento) deserve more love.

[@MrTjowen87]

Thank you! This movie is horrifically underrated

[@drewsandoval]

I love your parents. They're amazing.

[@brwi1]

thanks for reminding me of this. i remember watching this in middle school too, blew my mind. also the score is amazing!

[@joshl4225]

Dude honestly keep it up. I'm a new subscriber but you are becoming one of my favourite youtubers.

[@PauLtus_B]

Oy, I also really like Jane Austen adaptations. I pretend to take my mom to those but I think they're very enjoyable myself.

[@jakeredmond3]

Is your mam Irish?

[@patrickhwillems]

Yeah

[@jakeredmond3]

That's pretty fucking cool

[@Kiywii]

Patrick (H) Willems my mom is Irish too!

[@katfud9864]

Hey Patrick, is your dad South African?

[@DomIstKrieg]

Somewhere down south. I am guessing Leitrim. Somewhere like that.

[@lak1294]

I'm another fan who considers Crouching Tiger among my favourite movies. Has a fantastic story that takes you in unexpected but engrossing directions, breathtaking fight scenes and matchless emotional arcs for its characters. I found the end very sad, though.

[@bullpaxton2001]

6 years later they released a remaster last year and we went to go see it in the theater. It was sick one of my favorite movies.

[@diegodiaz380]

Agreed, I´m flabbergasted every time someone tells me they have not seen this movie.

[@callumheatherly994]

Just watched it again. But yh it's an absolute masterpiece A+ all the way

[@PrinceofArfon]

More people need to talk about this movie, definitely.

[@FelicityGemini]

Till this day I cant talk about this movie. It just hurts how the story is so sad and everyone just wants to be happy and live the life they want but because of their society and their culture it isn't allowed. I love this movie so much but to cry every time I watch it... ugh so emotional and draining.

[@emptyblank099a]

Zhang Ziyi causes most of the trouble for everyone by stealing the sword and being a brat, she would never find happiness in this world. Very sad movie.

[@victhom19]

Crouching Tiger is still my favourite film. I rented it on DVD back in high school and while my parents didn't understand the movie or the ending, it nearly had me in tears at the ending. Everything about the movie is just a work of art - the music, the cinematography, the fight scenes are almost balletic as well as great sword fights. The movie dealt with a lot of themes - the differences between the older generation and the youth, the suppression of women in a male dominated society, the conflict of following your heart and honouring traditions, and the consequences of having true freedom. I haven't watched this movie in a while but I'll watch it soon.

[@jaredkunish]

really clever video man. this movie is pretty great also, ang lee is a legend

[@mooxim]

The first dvd I ever owned. Dunno why no one talks about it anymore.

[@skylaindigoink2013]

This was totally beautiful! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[@findmestudios]

I agree. I watched it last summer and was blown away. Probably one of my favorite movies.

[@toriagalaxy1566]

Yes yes and yes. This movie has everything you could want in a movie. And oh, that score gives me chills and kills me every time. Thank for for this breakdown of one of my all time favorites. Resounding applause

[@andrewjeisenman]

Yeah, I wasn't excited for this until you said that the movie waa directed by the same guy as Sense and Sensibilities. After that, I was like "Frick yeah, let's watch this"

[@imahimfan]

Love that soundtrack, listen to it all the time!!

[@GK-fy9dd]

My partner introduced me to this movie and it's the best thing I've watched 😍

[@benjaminrobertson6425]

I'm glad you made the star wars connections too. I thought I was the only one.

[@MariaVosa]

I cliked like on this video IMMEDIATELY only because of the title because F*** YES! And then I got angry that I couldn't click Like every other minute. This movie is a masterpiece, perfection. As an action, an adventure, a love story, a thoughtful take on gender roles, class structure and philosopy and did I mention awesome action!? I really liked your insight into the fights as musical numbers - you are so right! And the Austen theme as well. Fantastic. Off to rewatch it for the 45th time. (Oh, and your parents are great)

[@Kathy-22]

Crouching tiger hidden dragon is my favorite movie of all time

[@lamia.thira.lowenstein]

wish I met you 20+ years ago, I could not stop talking about this movie too, was drawing lyric fanarts and doing michelle yeoh-chow yun fat fanfics because of this

[@albertfrost4267]

I love your passion, your charisma

[@NamGui69NG]

Appreciate this Patrick 👌🏼👏🏼

[@grail68]

I know about Michelle Yeoh because of watching those Stuntmen React videos. She's pretty much the biggest badass to ever sit astride a motorcycle.

[@atheistsquid]

"Award season needs 80% more flying sword fights." The. Best.

[@getbeats255]

Your video essays are awesome man! Your parents are legit!