Teenage Mutant Ninja Chaos Engine

My favourite fight in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the multi-weapon smackdown between Jen Yu and She Lien. So let's talk about Jen Yu, Teenage Mutant Ninja Chaos Engine.
Patreon: / jillbearup
Music from Extreme Music:
Yang Blood (James Hannigan)
Path to Precision (Oswin Mackintosh)

[@JillBearup]

Happy New Year! To join us on Patreon for behind the scenes photos, livestreams, and sometimes extra content, go to patreon.com/jillbearup Hope you enjoyed the fact that I finally got around to reviewing this very requested fight 😁

[@davidharriss3792]

The comedy in the bamboo fight is intentional. CTHD is a parody, done by highly skilled veterans of the genre being parodied. Much like so many of the film cowboys in Blazing Saddles had decades of experience as film cowboys when they made that film. Unfortunately, the parody is too subtle for most western audiences, especially when (like myself) it was one of their entryways to the genre being parodied.

[@only257]

Happy new year too 🙂

[@doyouwanttogivemelekiss3097]

Hurray for Polearms!

[@DanteneNyx]

Hey Jill, I can’t see your videos on Nebula anymore. Are you no longer using that platform?

[@beanbaka]

Love this video good spear fight in the hidden fortress 😁👍

[@Loremastrful]

A great scene. I love the irony. The conflict that drives Jen is freedom vs choice. She rejects every choice because she sees it as a net loss of freedom. Even the choices she likes like running away with James Dean on Horseback means losing some freedom. But in this fight she sticks to one weapon. But Shu who made a choice and stuck with it has the skills to use all the weapons on display. Jen never cottons onto that choice can lead to a deeper freedom and that fear of making a choice is already a loss of freedom.

[@sharkofjoy]

Yes, this comment!

[@taylor_green_9]

Brilliantly put 👍👍

[@Biomirth]

She is a spoiled brat, but really only because her experiences have led her there. That is what makes her "poison dragon" status so tragic. Her true character has everything needed to be an important and respected martial artist but her life history, particularly the influence of Jade Fox and a family she couldn't relate to, make this impossible.

[@Arashmickey]

In the final scene she chooses to allow her spirit to move beyond this world, while it's Li Mu Bai who at the last moment chooses to stay in his poisoned body, exchanging places with each other in the end.

[@damsonrhea]

Not making a choice is itself a choice with consequences, which widows the field of possibilities.

[@psychologymajorptsd62]

Teenage Mutant Chaos Engine is an appropriate title. For most children really.

[@hamstermk4]

I call mine a "Chaos Monkey" but that is mostly based on how much he likes climbing on things.

[@warrendourond7236]

Beauty!

[@SnabbKassa]

Bitmap Brothers!

[@DailyLifeSolution]

Also Team Brat VS Team Dorks in Love

[@zam6877]

Yes chaos monkey...it shows the love ❤️

[@glenmurie]

I have teenage daughters. Everything about the teenage girl being a willful force of chaos checks out.

[@adedow1333]

I'm no longer a teen, but I am still a willful force of chaos. Just ask my husband. My kids are, if anything, even more chaotic and I don't know how we will survive their teens.

[@ornessarhithfaeron3576]

kek

[@christopherbacon1077]

@@adedow1333 Human sacrifice of the worst as an example to the others?

[@glenmurie]

@@christopherbacon1077 It's the secret to a long and happy life. Clean living and human sacrifice.

[@dercooney]

always did like how she played as 'the brat'

[@gregcampwriter]

It is refreshing to have a set director who turned on the lights and a camera operator and editor who understood that they occasionally need to let us see what's going on.

[@TheSchultinator]

" 'Visual medium'? Wazzat?"

[@Artaimus]

Earlier in the movie Shu Lien states that while she likes most weapons, her favorite preferred weapon is a straight sword. Thus the focus on the weapon at the end, signifying that she's actually getting serious by pulling out the weapon that she has the most training in. She knows that this will be the final section of the fight; when they're both tired and likely to make mistakes. So she pulls out what is effectively her ace card.

[@Artaimus]

I will admit, it has been many years since I've seen the movie so it is likely I'm misremembering the quote.

[@taylor_green_9]

No. She says her preferred weapon is the curved sword, but there are certain techniques that require the elegance of the straight sword (I'm paraphrasing the Spanish translation, but that's the gist of it)

[@Woodclaw]

Interestingly enough, in the Italian dubbing she states that she likes the machete, which was a terrible way to call the dao that she uses as her first weapon.

[@taylor_green_9]

@@Woodclaw It also happened in older Spanish subtitles for this and The House of the Flying Daggers. Kinda cringey, since it's more of a falchion-type weapon

[@zhoufang996]

@@taylor_green_9 That's right, and I think that has a significance since that's the chosen weapon of her partner.

[@tripencrypt]

8:37 "Don't let your emotions show through is basically Shu Lien's entire gig" Michelle Yeoh's performance in this movie is a masterclass of subtlety. The saavy small looks and graceful finesse of her expression are part of what make this movie a standout. A few items of note: 1) This was the third movie that Ziyi Zhang had made, she was 20 at the time of filming. A solid performance by a young actress 2) taken from wikipedia "Poison is also a significant theme in the film. The Chinese word "毒" (dú) means not only physical poison but also cruelty and sinfulness." 3)On a budget of $17 million USD, the film grossed $213.5 million USD worldwide. The first foreign-language movie to break $100 million. 4)Ms. Yeoh grew up speaking Malay and English and learned her lines in Mandarin phonetically 5)The majority of the film crew is Chinese, in particular, the fantastic work by cinematographer Peter Pau. 6)Nominated for ten Academy Awards and won four. Won four BAFTAs and three Golden Globes In summation, dear reader, if you have not seen this film. Please, do yourself a favor and watch.

[@davidshi451]

Side note, Peter Pau's Oscar's acceptance speech was amazing :D

[@githane]

It's a fantastic film. I know the fantasy combat turns a lot of people off, but it's good even just for the story. The sequel... Not so much. Just pretend it doesn't exist.

[@owensmith7530]

@@githane There's a sequel? I'd better forget you ever told me.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

If i"m not mistaken, most of the main actors were not native Mandarin speakers which makes the Mandarin version awkward for people who do understand the language. Yet I prefer it over the English dub and for the same reason I also dislike the sequel which was shot in English.

[@TrueYellowDart]

Very much “yes” to recommending this film. If the floaty stuff bothers you, just think of this is a Chinese fable. That easily covers the mystical aspect (which is pretty much just the wire work and the supernatural strength of the Green Destiny). It’s less mystical than most King Arthur stories. Plus writing, acting and fighting are superb. It’s rare that one gets such a quality “fighting movie” that is also just a GOOD MOVIE all-around.

[@rielo9725]

0:23 your mistake Jill, was thinking we want your jokes to “improve” they’re perfect the way they are

[@damsonrhea]

I love the feel, the style of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," but it's 100% a story where someone's chaotic life choices ruined everything for everyone, and it didn't have to be that way. It's a very depressing story, and these days I just don't want depressing stories. I get to many of them.

[@springerjkreb]

So basically the Wuxia genre in a nutshell. Awesome action sequences concealing a tragic story.

[@TrueYellowDart]

Sad but beautiful fables will always have their place. That one gets numerous kickass fight scenes in it is a big bonus.

[@3nertia]

It was, for me, an important life lesson heh

[@AlexSamaras]

I think there's another reason for the glamour shot of the last sword of the fight. If I remember right, earlier on in the movie there is a conversation with Shu Lien about why doesn't she take the Green Destiny sword and she says something along the lines of straight swords aren't her thing and she prefers curved blades. So, there's added significance to her not only having to take up a straight sword there, but also that she not only knows it well enough but knows the Green Destiny well enough to use it to her advantage and honourably win the duel.

[@unmessable12]

She mentions that while she prefers dao, some techniques require the elegance of a straight sword. To me it's a pretty cryptic foreshadowing that she's going to show Jen exactly what she means by "some techniques"

[@zetareticulan321]

You see that warrior named Shu Lien? She prefers curved swords! Curved! Swords!

[@WhatIfBrigade]

Michelle Yeoh is one of my favorite actresses of all time and this scene is very meaningful for me because I've seen her do all kinds of awesome things in other movies, her character's previous deeds are hinted at in the film, but she is perfectly cast as the wiser martial artist. In many ways she understands the situation better than any of the other characters, she just struggles to get them to understand.

[@TrueYellowDart]

They even mention how Shu Lien has succeeded in a world that is almost completely dominated by men (security and underworld stuff). She’s actually the greatest example that Jen could have wanted and would have potentially been the best teacher for her, since she’s such a grounded person and likely had a ton of experience with being viewed as “out of place” by much of her society (even though she’ clearly proved such people wrong time and again many years ago and is now properly viewed as top tier in her line of work).

[@wyrmh0le]

@@TrueYellowDart Look eventually you run out of people to make regret saying you can't hack it.

[@TrueYellowDart]

@@wyrmh0le Sometimes by hacking them 😎

[@3nertia]

I can definitely relate to her character more in this movie than nearly any of her others. I adore Michelle Yeoh, she's a wonderfully talented actress *and* stuntwoman! Working with Jackie Chan really honed her edge, in my opinion

[@nectarina3891]

Jen's self destructive nature is really the heart of the film and I find it so relatable. Especially when you are young you want to do everything for yourself. Her internal conflict is moving.

[@Biomirth]

Yes, you can see she's never truly had the space to get to understand humility or compassion but has the potential for it. That she is already too skilled and resistant is a great tragedy, mostly to herself, but also to all who must suffer her.

[@gregsmw]

just to add some appreciation to the actors of the scene, michelle yeoh (the actress of shu lien) hada broken collarbone when filming this scene thats why she very VERY rarely makes any sort of rotation with her upper body, and whenever she does the face is offscrene (because the actress literally couldnt due to the injury) yet both her, and the film maker, worked around the limitations caused by her injury to make a FANTASTIC fight scene full of skill and emotion

[@Rachel-fi4sc]

Jesus H Christ! I had a greenstick fracture in my collarbone as a kid, and it hurt so much I couldn't even put my own shirt on or sit in a car with a seatbelt across it. Michelle Yeoh must have the pain tolerance of an actual dragon.

[@3nertia]

Even more of a testament to how well thought out this movie really was! Amazing if true!

[@3nertia]

@@Rachel-fi4sc Or she was just chasing one xD

[@robchuk4136]

I know that Jen is cocky and chaotic, but another key aspect to remember with this fight is that she did genuinely bond with Shu Lien, earlier in the film, going so far as to consider her like an older sister. So besides Lo, Shu Lien is the only other character she has affection for, and it shows- there's a different emotional energy here than what we'd seen up to this point so far. To further complicate the context, although Jen had been Jade Fox's pupil, there are hints theirs may have been a toxic relationship. This likely affects how she views masters that want to teach her. Along with her affluent upbringing, there are trust issues Jen needs to work through

[@TheLastSane1]

If you look at when she smacks her with the sword after the fight is ended. Its a look of annoyance not really answer. And a hint of concern in the way she follows her to the wall with her gaze. So it does have a sibling energy there, the younger sibling getting annoyed at being beaten and lashing out, but lashing out in a way that causes injury when perhaps they did not mean that injury to be that bad. I mean she smacked her with a sword that was cutting through inches of solid metal so her concern makes sense in a way because that light smack could still have taken her arm off.

[@phillychick]

I watched "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" when it was first released in the theater back in 2000, and at least a dozen more times on DVD. The dojo fight is still one of my all-time favorite movie scenes; the fight choreography is SO good.

[@wyrmh0le]

When I had a hankering for a movie that was exciting but also full of story and feelings, but I didn't have 2 hours, I'd cue up this scene. There's so much going on story and character-wise (if you know the context) that it almost feels like watching the whole movie.

[@crazyquilt]

It really was a fantastic cinematic experience. I saw it on the outskirts of DC, so there was a fantastic crowd. At the end, there was a standing ovation.

[@kilgirlietrout]

The bamboo fight is one of those scenes that looks somewhat silly on television but was awe inspiring in theaters. It really does require a big screen.

[@BradyPostma]

"... they will not improve." This line earned my like.

[@johnthomas2485]

How do we tell her we come for the bad jokes? LOL

[@kohakuaiko]

@@johnthomas2485, I believe, exactly like this.

[@randomgeocacher]

The broad sword joke was a pure crime against humanity. I sighed painfully loud and my SO laughed at me / you / who knows../

[@AvatarRiku]

“Divides her swords.” Ohh she has Zuko swords. Cool Ohh and Jet swords

[@crazyquilt]

Perfectly reasonable when fighting the ur-Azula, Jen

[@kitano0]

Michelle Yeoh was robbed...she deserved at least a nomination for best supporting actress.

[@arnaudgerard1971]

She was new, she was good ... was that enough for an award. In her subsequent works you see, yes, it would have been enough. Life isn't fair.

[@3nertia]

@@arnaudgerard1971 New? NEW!? Michelle Yeoh has been doing this as long as, if not longer than, Jackie Chan!

[@arnaudgerard1971]

@@3nertia In Hollywood? I'm quite sure OP meant the Oscars. I didn't mention Jackie or Bruce (whether any of them deserved an Oscar or not), but at the time of Tiger, Michelle was to new - from a region that get no Oscars (except for US remakes :p ) - to have any chance with the academy.

[@3nertia]

@@arnaudgerard1971 That can only be true for someone that's unfamiliar with her work :) She was in Tomorrow Never Dies which came out in 1997

[@arnaudgerard1971]

@@3nertia Tomorrow Never Dies. A typical Oscar candidate movie :)

[@OverpepperedSoup]

This is my favorite fight in this movie. Possibly in all martial arts movies ever. I am pretty sure the bamboo forest fight is intentionally funny, going by the interactions between Mu Bai and Jen. He's basically sniggering a few times in it, like when he chops down the stick Jen's balancing on.

[@humphreysg]

One of the most underappreciated things about CTHD is the score. I used to work in a video rental store when I was a teenager (and such things still existed) and I used to have it on, even though I'd watched it a million times, just to listen to it.

[@humphreysg]

@GiRayne fair enough, I think when I said underappreciated I meant by the casual viewer, rather than serious film buffs and critics. I had no idea that it was so revered, but that makes me very happy

[@theladyamalthea]

I bought the soundtrack on CD and have listened to it maaaaaany times over the years. In fact, I played it just two days ago while I was painting.

[@NoobsAndGeeks]

I actually didn't notice the release or the awards. A few months later I listened to a classical music radio show that did play Silk Road and I fell in love with the song so much that I had to get the movie and the soundtrack. And 20+ years later it is still one of my favorite movies and soundtracks.

[@douglashenschel]

When she is using the straight sword, she makes makes a piercing attack moving behind Jen's back, then they both spin and jen's parry her attack. She repeats that same movement at the end, and knowing that jen will parry, cuts through, using the green destiny's ability to break swords against her, since the sword will break that means jen can't parry the attack. Genius move.

[@Philistine47]

Here I was thinking you wanted to call Shu Lien's last weapon a "broadsword" because of a coincidental resemblance to historical European weapons... For about half a second, until _"I told you the jokes weren't going to improve."_ 😂

[@anonymousfellow8879]

…I…need some help here. I caught that it wasn’t European Broadsword?? as Familiar Counterpart?? for the joke… …but I sense IDK. My ace ass either missed an innuendo, or some other sort of reference to media I don’t consume

[@williamjenkins4913]

To bad she is so fit or we could have called it the broad broad's broadsword.

[@magnusasgeirsson7244]

It is probably supposed to be a chu jian which is 2 handed but totally not that broad

[@SilverGreeneye]

@@anonymousfellow8879 “Broad” is an old-fashioned, slightly-to-rather insulting slang for “woman.” It’s usually referencing a woman who’s too old to be a chick or a dame, but too young to be a biddy. So, a sword that belongs to a broad would be a broadsword (broad’s sword). It made me laugh.

[@theladyamalthea]

“Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” has been one of my favourite movies ever since it came out, despite the sad ending. You are spot on about the pathos of this fight scene.

[@turtle8558]

Your jokes will never improve, cause they are already perfect

[@nicobones9608]

I love that this movie is basically a musical without words, and each fight scene is a musical number with dancing instead of singing.

[@leonpeters-malone3054]

Don't you just love it? Absolutely. This movie has a wonderful, beautiful, tragic dance with happiness to it. It always seems so close, but just ends up being so far away. This particular fight I also have to say is wonderfully counter balanced with the bamboo forest fight. Each of these fights have a poetry to them. I need to watch this movie again. Subbed, this is one of the movies I have to watch in the original language.

[@JillBearup]

I watched with the subtitles which is definitely a better experience 😁

[@leonpeters-malone3054]

@@JillBearup Not to mention the soundtrack to it. It's just...... perfection, poetry. That theme.....

[@adedow1333]

@@leonpeters-malone3054 the soundtrack is indeed glorious!

[@theladyamalthea]

I fully agree!

[@Awntry]

To be perfectly honest, I used to not be one for fight scenes generally speaking. Mostly because the narrative aspect of it completely flew past me. However, I did learn martial arts and loved it with all the passion a middle school girl could and even though my school is not an East Asian school so the style isn't the same, there is something really entrancing about these Chinese martial arts film. Even though I couldn't suspend my disbelief in superhero movies, these fights made sense because I could feel why the wirework and anti gravity stunts enhances the beauty of the movements in their fight. And in some scenes, I could also relate it to the philosophy behind some of the moves I learn in my school. I wonder if that is another layer of context that adds to one's enjoyment of these fight scenes.

[@markfergerson2145]

I agree that having some martial arts training enhances understanding what's goi9ng on and why the characters do what they do. Way back in Ye Olden Days I watched the David Carradine TV series "Kung Fu" and liked the way he fought to disable but not kill. A review by someone who was trained in Wu Shu (Carradine was not except per each fight scene!) praised the "workmanlike efficiency" as opposed to later showy stuff and lack of emotional tone to most of Carradine's fight scenes, emphasizing his detachment consonant with the philosophy he learned at the monastery as a child. I ran into that review after I had acquired some training, and went back and watched some of the series and had a far greater appreciation of the fights and the whole show. Hey Jill; how about some of the fight scenes in that ancient show? There's one where he fights a Naive American Brujo (sort of a sorcerer) with some primitive SPFX and another where he fights an Apache warrior pretty much to a standstill, not a clear win.

[@Biomirth]

Yes, the wirework is something that when done well just plays on our sense of the awe, beauty, and majesty of human movement. Every fight tells a story and if you've ever done martial arts you can get a glimpse of what it must be like to be masterful. The movies let us experience this beauty.

[@lauroralei]

Over so many rewatchings I realised all the wirework is different, too. Li Mu Bai and Jen and Shu Lien all move differently - Shu Lien is almost clumsy in the air, limbs flailing, the other two have more grace, which is a whole other level of expressing their martial capabilities

[@Sir.Alonne]

I was too young to understand the plot of this movie when I first watched it but regardless Shu Lien was, and still is, my favourite character.

[@andrewhoward6946]

I think this was the first movie that I really recognized that you could still have really good character building in an action scene, specifically FROM the action. There is a really great contrast between the more youthful energy and natural talent of Jen Yu, vs the discipline and skill She Lien. The gap between them is just close enough that the Green Destiny seems to bridge it at first, but I just love how She Lien's final move comes from her taking advantage of the very thing that has been giving Jen Yu the advantage for the whole fight. What a great scene, thanks for covering it!

[@susanne5803]

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Chaos Engine". I'm gonna treasure this expression like rare chocolate ... 🖖

[@MartynHutchby]

I have to say that every time I watch his film the story pails into insignificance and I just end up "drowning" in the beautiful camera work. Some of the shots are truly magnificent.

[@MrTrevormaclean]

I believe one of the reasons Michelle Yeoh's character was so static and less fancy was because she had a torn ACL and couldn't do the usual amount of movement and stunt work she usually does

[@iDEATH]

It was that or a broken leg, I can't recall. But yeah, she had a serious injury they had to work around. They did a great job, I think. I _think_ it was mentioned not long ago in a "stuntmen/women react" on the Corridor Crew channel.

[@MrTrevormaclean]

@@iDEATH that is likely where I heard that.

[@iDEATH]

@@MrTrevormaclean Haha, nice! I love those guys. They get some excellent guests, especially the stuntpeople.

[@MrTrevormaclean]

@@iDEATH the stunt men segments are probably some of the coolest things I've watched in recent memory.

[@beccag2758]

@@iDEATH I saw that video too!😂

[@randomobserver8168]

I've never thought of it that way before- as a general principle, especially for any system in which teaching/training is one on one and personal- what happens when the student surpasses the master, there is no better master available to which they might be passed on, but the student is otherwise not yet ready to assume independence and the position and duties of a master him/herself? Traditionally, it was just assumed that surpassing the master, presuming it was possible, was a sign the student WAS ready to be a master in turn. It is not necessarily so. Probably true in real life, certainly a driver in literature. Or, alternatively, the student surpasses the master but must still undergo the trials of the story in order to qualify as a master herself. One thinks of Anakin Skywalker, the classic example of the surpassing student who needed a new and stronger teacher. And found one.

[@carloshenriquezimmer7543]

There is a scene in the book "The Wise Man's Fear" where they participate in a martial arts competition/demosntratio/ritual thing. One of the fight is between the grand master/village elder character and a younger person. She looses because she is older and phisically weaker. Than the main character is scared because he thinks that the youger person will become the leader, but is explained that it would be a disaster if it happened, because the leader is a very good figther, but she is also wise and experienced, and that is the important part. If the stronger would become the leader, every other day they would change, and also the masters would never teach theyr students properly, for not to be deposed. It is the first and, so far as I remember, only time I heared this topic being debated with a level of reason, and it makes sense. Experience and wisdom make a good leader.

[@tarmaque]

There is a school of thought in some martial arts that every student will eventually reach a point where they can't learn any more. After that, the only way to improve is to begin teaching. Teaching improves both the student and the teacher.

[@skadoink1736]

I think it was in the directors commentary that Ang Lee contrasted that in the western world students surpassing their teacher was seen as a positive thing, whereas in China it was seen as a negative and terrifying thing. Whether that was just his opinion or a more general mindset I don't know.

[@catatoblob8598]

@@skadoink1736 I think that's more of a general statement on how people don't like to suddenly find themselves landed with responsibilities. It's more like how 99% of the time, when a young adult graduates from school/training, they're as prepared as they can be to join the adult world. However, in those rare occasions when someone graduates at age 12, it becomes a headache for everyone.

[@claytonberg721]

Ang Lee is a such a boss. He never plays it safe and always swings for the fences. Sometimes you get crouching tiger, sometimes you get the hulk but it's always interesting. Sometimes spectacular, sometimes a spectacular failure.

[@baercub521]

That’s interesting that you said that fight would look nice when sped and I totally agree. I watched Mulan recently yes that Mulan which isn’t a great movie by any stretch of imagination, but I remember reading that Jet Li was so fast that they had to slow down his fight scenes for the audience to understand. Neat that it can go both ways.

[@tarmaque]

I don't know about that, but I do know that when Bruce Lee first started auditioning for US TV, they had to tell him to slow down his punches. He was too fast for the cameras of the day to pick up his movements. (I think this was for his audition for _The Green Hornet_ but I may be mistaken.)

[@uptorest]

professional fighters are regularly too fast for someone who doesn't fight (like myself) to follow. At some point, your brain just doesn't process the visual information fast enough. People like Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh can move at light speed if they wanted to

[@chasethevioletsun9996]

It would be interesting of you did a series on Magic Swords in general, in exponentially escalating levels of ridiculousness.

[@AndrewBlack343]

Consider this a vote for "Team Dorks in Love"

[@J_Gamble]

Always a good day when Jill Bearup posts a fight review. This was great as always. Thanks for making our day/s!

[@1LivingCuriously]

Once again a great breakdown of a great scene.

[@kirk001]

So the lesson I learned today is chaotic teen girls is a phenomena recognized across many different cultures. LOL

[@ppvk2610]

And then, story wise, remember how Li Mu Bay, defeated Jen (with his own Green Destiny) early on with the smaller of sticks... A randomly found bamboo stick

[@426mak]

The sword used by 俞秀蓮 in the last fight is simply called 長劍 - Long Sword. Chinese jians with the exception of military ones, have generally been long and thin from the Han Dynasty onwards, with the 刀 taking the place of the broadsword.

[@Oldkingcole1125]

Li Mu Bai leaves the mountain, his training, and even enlightenment because he wants to tell Shu Lien that he loves her. It just takes him the entire movie to get up the courage to do so.

[@whyjay9959]

The shot of the slashed-up club in She Lien's hands stuck with me for a long time.

[@AskMia411]

I only have vague memories of this movie, but the spinning move that breaks the bludgeoning weapon stuck with me. Baby me was awed. Also the one sword becoming two was a thing that i only remembered after seeing this video, but given my affinity for dual swords coming from one weapon, i think it's safe to say that it stuck with me too. I also could NOT, for the life of me, follow the plot of this movie. I was around 6 or 7 at the time? I should probably rewatch it

[@toreyzyre]

I was 14 when this came out, training in multiple martial arts actively. I poured over this movie so much, time and again. Weapon combat, and martial arts were two of very few things I felt I could wholly claim as being mine, and being part of who I was. The whole dynamic between Jen Yu and Shu Lien made me weep first time I saw it in theatres. I was very much like Jen Yu in the sense of wanting to connect and find someone to guide me. My issue was trusting people though, childhood abuse tends to muck that up a lot. I remember watching this scene in the theatre, hoping so much Jen Yu would finally get it, but when she still lashed out after Shu Lien removed the severed blade it tore through me. After seeing this movie I did the best I could to really delve into the philosophy behind what I was studying. In doing so I was able to find people to learn from and improve my quality of life greatly.

[@morantactical1105]

There are no words to express how much I love “Crouching Tiger”. I have watched this movie with my family sooooo many times.

[@Philaster3000]

This movie for me was the perfect cinematic experience. I went in knowing nothing and between the story, the acting, the direction, the music, and the cinematography I was completely transported into a different world. Ang Lee is the master of portraying repressed emotions.

[@max-zv7sf]

She Lien: -This is my bitch cutting sword!! - - the name's a bit long- - My bitch sword!- - Not classy enough- -... my BROAD SWORD!!! -

[@TheAnhedonicOne]

Currently my favorite fight scene in a film, very nice to see it appreciated and dissected. Keep the interesting stuff coming.

[@sarahscott5305]

Happy New Year Swordylady! x

[@jeremiahpatterson2168]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the first movies that I can remember watching as a small child. I have fond memories of sitting in our livingroom and being in awe of the beautiful masterpiece that it is. Absolutely great movie. I think I'll go watch it again now.

[@michaelbuelow9275]

Thanks for your illumination of the context of the fight. I saw this movie when it was released, lo these many years ago. I enjoyed the fights and grasped some of the story, but missed alot that you have shared.

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

An aside. Jade Fox is played by Cheng Pei Pei, a dancer turned actor/fighter who was the previous generation's female combat heroine.

[@Ikataja]

Great analysis of one of my favourite fight scenes :) Fun fact: In German, the Green Destiny is called the Green Sword of the Underworld, das grüne Schwert der Unterwelt. I am not sure how that came about, but I like both names.

[@RasperHelpdesk]

In this style I *highly* recommend Into The Badlands, a TV show produced by AMC from 2015-2019. 3 seasons, 32 total episodes, and some of the most gorgeously choreographed fight scenes on television. Pretty sure it is on Netflix currently.

[@Sinewmire]

Really interesting take on Journey To The West.

[@CantankerousDave]

Sunny vs The Widow in season 1 reminded me a lot of this, with The Widow using anything and everything at hand.

[@tomstern9498]

Hanging on your lips from the beginning till the end - thinking, that's it - that's the essence of this iconic scene. There is only one little detail I just want to add. From my Tai Chi experience (yes we do weapons and yes we keep it slow) I know the different character, feel and recommendation of the jian and the dao. And these comes so clearly out in the first sequence. In the context it fits perfect to the to Characters of Jen Yu and She Lien. And it comes to annother level in the fencing between Jen and Li Mu Bai - when the angry arrogant well skilled "Teenage Mutant Ninja Chaos Engine" faces true Mastership jian vs jian.

[@shadowman21282]

I love this movie, thank you for breaking it down like this and giving me a chance to watch it again with a different level of appreciation.

[@johnthomas2485]

I'm also very much a "Happy Ending, Yeah!" But this is one of my absolute favorite films. If the protagonists have to die, it should be for more than "subverting expectations. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon struck me as Romeo and Juliette meets Hamlet meets Macbeth. I saw it at the theater, and while I could never explained the fights, the fights draw you in emotionally. It has to be seen on a large screen to be truly appreciated.

[@TommyMaqueenie]

The way you describe fights is so unreasonably entertaining, I love it

[@NoBudjetFilms]

I absolutely love how passionate you get about great movie fight scenes, and how you beautifully and meticulously analyze and describe them. You are a real gem Jill.

[@ricksmidlifecrisis2137]

Another excellent, insightful and humorous review by Jill - a welcome start to the new year :) I don't think the jokes need improvement. I can appreciate "Dad" jokes, but "Jill" jokes is another level, as it involves content and delivery that is just superb.

[@mikegould6590]

Can we all just agree that Michelle Yeoh is absolutely BADASS at everything she does? What a legend.

[@tarmaque]

I won't argue it. It also amazes me how tiny she is. She always fills the screen. (Which is hilarious, because Ziyi Zhang is even tinier!)

[@lethalchicken1173]

Thank you for BEAUTIFULLY articulating why this scene is compelling. I fell in love with this fight as a teenager, but Expressing Things with Words is hard, so my friends and family never did understand. Now I can send them this.

[@benjaminsouthworth5698]

Crouching tiger hidden dragon is my moms favorite movie, this really hit me for some reason

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

I learned about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon from my mom, who in no way was a fan of action or wuxia movies. She saw it as a beautiful and expertly edited foreign film, not as a Kung Fu movie. We rented it, and I was blown away, because it was all of those simultaneously.

[@skipper2285]

Outstanding! This is my all-time favorite sword-fu movie and you nailed it.

[@glossaria2]

Michelle Yeoh is a goddess of martial arts cinema (as is Chow Yun-Fat), and Zhang Ziyi was truly a wunderkind to keep up with such a pair of heavyweights. I'm not *generally* a fan of wuxia floaty-floaty, but there were some truly beautiful moments in this film. This one and Jen Yu's non-lethal badassery at the inn (which is HILARIOUS and pokes fun of SO many tropes) are my two favorite fights in the movie. (And it's classically Shakespearean, in a way, too-- high-minded, sensitively-acted tragedy with low humor, action, and silliness to keep the groundlings entertained.)

[@3nertia]

I will never not love Michelle Yeoh - she's an amazing actress and quite the stuntwoman! Check out some of the crazy motorcycle stunts she's done with Jackie Chan!

[@nosrin1988]

I absolutely remember when this movie came out but never watched it. Was probably too young to appreciate it.

[@v8packard]

I love it when Jill does these!

[@KootFloris]

What I like best about these fights is that, unlike most American movies (Hollywood expand your options!) , they aren't about killing the other. The fights are mostly dialogue! "I want to teach you!" slash "You're not good enough." slash. "You don't get the point I'm making!" slash, etc. Very refreshing.

[@rylian21]

I saw this movie in the theater when it came out. It's the only time I've been in a theater where the whole audience sat in their seats in stunned silence after the final scene.

[@bartlettmeeks]

Great breakdown! I now want to rewatch the movie, so... There's an afternoon. I am contractually obligated to yell "Michelle Yough is a goddess!"

[@FairladyZ2005]

One of my favorite film swordfights of all time. And one of the only ones I know of between two women.

[@Cau_No]

The fight choreographer was Yuen Woo-Ping, the same who worked on The Matrix one year before. It is also one of my favourite fight scenes. I cold not find any continuation error in the whole sequence.

[@kadmii]

Love when they break furniture etc, really makes it seem like they're channeling their qi into their attacks

[@slightlyembittered]

Jen Yu: The ultimate chaotic neutral teenage character. I think her character would be extremely fun to play in D&D or excessively annoying. (She is after all not a party player.)

[@sbvera13]

Green Destiny Sword of Never Losing: Perfectly average in every way, but any critical failure rolls are automatically counted as critical success rolls instead.

[@TheRacoonGhost]

"I'm sure the spear is very sturdy" - the spear in question being the floppiest thing I've ever seen as a movie weapon...

[@lucbourhis3142]

I have watched this scene countless times but you still manage to bring interesting points I had never thought about! You are really special!

[@jakobbraun5180]

I love that dojo fight scene as well - it has a really nice choreography without those now modern superfast cuts, where you can‘t see anything.

[@Kittykat5kits]

Don’t forget the music. Tan Dun wrote some of the most beautiful soundtrack music I’ve ever heard in this movie.

[@kittymervine6115]

for my daughters it was one of the first of these types of movies, with women having such fabulous fights. The happy ending, they weren't even interested in that (they were young, maybe too young but their Aunt is a huge martial arts movies fan and took them!). Just that these were females, plus then they proceeded to wreck the house with nerf swords and trying to climb up walls via the backs of furniture).

[@matthewteague623]

The two best things about this movie. a) intro of Li Mu Bai. He walks in, on foot, dressed humbly, and people greet him adoringly and serve him tea. And THAT's how his street cred is established. Compare to say, any traditional western movie where he'd have to be beating up/killing a bunch of mooks who just so happened to accost him on his way into town. b) the first fight between Li Mu Bai and Jen Yu. "Not only do you carry the green destiny sword while I have a thin stick, but I will still defeat you AND, *lecture* you while I do it!

[@taebias]

I freaking love this show. Jill, you are fight analysis, comedy gold.

[@markuhler2664]

I had forgotten how wonderful this movie is. It would be better now I think as i could appreciate it more, thanks to my kids & talking about all sorts of aspects of movies. Time to see where i can re-watch it.

[@MKempICI]

This is a very good analysis of the narrative/cinematic purposes of each portion of the fight. Well done, madam!

[@KackyMuse]

Such a well-presented analysis, to a depth I would not have known to go.Wonderful.

[@scarletletter4900]

I now have an inexplicable craving for cheese and voting 🤔

[@scottmantooth8785]

*i'll vote for cheese any day*

[@AndrewBlack343]

Democracheese!

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@AndrewBlack343 *brilliant*

[@SamuraiMujuru]

The scene is greatly aided by Michelle Yeoh just actually being a stone-cold badass. I'd love to see your take on either penultimate fight from the The Raid films. (Mad Dog from 1 or kitchen fight from 2)

[@MattieAMiller]

One of my favorite little facts about this scene is that Michelle Yeoh actually had just undergone knee surgery. If you pay close attention you can see that any scene where they move their feet, it's actually a stunt double, because she was in so much pain from walking. There also are a lot of scenes where she is standing still and fighting because of that.

[@TF_NowWithExtraCharacters]

The analysis? Love it. The pronunciations? Woookie. I don't expect tonal/accent accuracy, so based on that, 8/10, pretty good actually! There's only 2 words that are noticeably off: 1. Wuxia - "xia" is quite close to "see-ah", but faster, like a single syllable. Think of the first part of "siesta". Or actually, you got "Lien" right, apply the same approach and you're pretty much there. 2. Yu (from Jen Yu): Technically you're in the clear cos that's her name in the dub (wiki says her name in Chinese is "Yu Jiaolong"). But let's assume you want the pronunciation for that last name - yeah I can't help, unfortunately. I haven't heard a single non-Chinese-speaking person pronounce it correctly, and worse, I haven't figured out a good way to explain how it's supposed to sound, without just getting an audio of it. I mean, the closest I can think of is: imagine _whistling_. So yeah, you've got my approval for the pronunciation, as an Asian who speaks the language. Whatever that counts for.

[@mbryson2899]

You perceived the fight pretty much how my Chinese friend did, and he'd read the books. I wasn't much exposed to wuxia as a kid but this film killed me, I believed everything was possible. I saw it in the theater, subtitled, with my friend. I was riveted throughout. That fight is hands down my favorite ever and I have seen a lot of awesome film fights. Even without the language it seemed clear to me.

[@gutspraygore]

Jen Yu was a dragon. A force of nature hidden in the body of a slight girl. She made life changing impact on anyone that encountered her... even powerful villains and heroes. It might be a stretch, but I always interpreted the end, after everyone failed to guide her, was that she was never meant to remain on a mortal plain. Her lament that she felt alone was because she really was the only one of her kind.

[@MrGrimsmith]

As a pointy stick afficianado the spear segment is truly awesome. Not the same as a European style where the bludgeoning portion is more commonly from the butt of the spear but it's a common theme in Chinese martial arts films that they a) use longer spears in close quarters and b) use blunt attacks with them reasonably often. Slams and swings are relatively common compared to our more usual approach of "Stick them with the pointy end!" They're treated as much as a staff as they are a spear. I both appreciate and like this. A little more sturdy than they should be but seriously, bamboo might be up to a quarter of this sort of treatment so I'll take it! I also appreciate the fact that the choreography is so on point, it truly is a conversation by physical means. Western cinema rarely gets that right.

[@manderse12]

Love your channel. I now immediately click on each new released episode. This is my favorite character / cinematographic / sword fight analysis that you've done. Bravo (especially with the cringy jokes)!

[@dirgniflesuoh7950]

I loved this movie, when I saw it, years ago ... Now that I listen to your comments, waiting for a chance to watch "Cobra Kai" season for, sifting through spoilers, I realize how much I would appreciate Your commentary on that series, fight scenes, troubled youths and crising middle aged champions , and scheming instructors ...

[@WhyNotAParadox]

Love the video, loved how many times I snort laughed at the bad jokes. The dojo fight scene is all the more interesting because I believe Michelle Yeoh had injured her leg/ankle and they still filmed the fight and still had it work spectacularly.