LOL at my older review. I could’ve done with it earlier tonight. I had no intention of watching this today, I had a lot of other things to view, but someone else in the house wanted to watch it, and I kinda rolled my eyes at the prospect of sitting through it. Yet again, I need to get it into my head that this is a great movie: I have no idea why I’m always thinking, “pah, long-ass foreign epic!” I mean, it’s not even long. Maybe it’s just my knee-jerk reaction to movies like this that are perhaps just a little overrated in certain circles, but nevertheless are pretty damn amazing. I wouldn’t call this movie a major favourite, but it sucks me in more every time I watch it.

The action sequences need no mention – they’re mesmerizing. The camerawork is amazing – I love how the camera will shoot off almost in the “wrong direction” only to pick up on something else with impeccable timing.

I think another reason I don’t immediately get filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing this movie is that I still don’t entirely understand it – it kind of comes at me from a different direction each time and unlike most modern cinema it makes no effort whatsoever to explain itself. There are probably dozens of interpretations that legitimately apply, and I haven’t found mine yet.

I feel like both this and the old review have been nothing but babble. Whatever. The bottom line is, and I’m talking to me again now, do not hesitate to watch this movie again next time!!

6th April 2004:

This is yet another movie which I absolutely love while watching, but just totally slips my memory when I’m not, so forgive me if I appear to not know what I’m trying to say here. Hopefully this will serve as a reminder for myself next time I’m thinking of watching it—future self: YES, watch it, you love it!

This is pretty much a basic martial arts movie which was given a high profile, possibly because of its cast, possibly because of its director, and finally because of its reviews and awards. It’s one of those movies that ultimately makes you question those awards, because really, it’s not that different from many great Asian action movies – it might surprise some, but these movies are often quite emotional and deep in addition to being violent and strange. But I have to set that aside because even I myself haven’t seen that many of these other Asian action movies, so I can’t really follow through on that idea, as I can’t think of any I’ve seen that got me as much as Crouching Tiger... though I am an Oscar whore, so make up your own mind as to my bias.

What I loved most about this movie on this viewing was the relationship between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi… just two women questioning their place, wanting the normal life, getting married, having kids, but unable to deny their attraction to the warrior life. There’s a couple of scenes which is just them together talking and they kill me, there’s just so much in their faces. This movie is just all about people surrendering to life and fate, they’re never surprised or overly dramatic about what happens…. from what I’ve seen of Eastern cinema and art in general, this seems common and it’s what draws me to the culture the most, and what repulses me so much about Western culture: we make such a big deal about everything – I can’t stand when I hear any Westerner say that old phrase “Don’t cry over spilt milk,” ‘cos they’re so obviously being hypocritical. Zhang Ziyi’s final scene says everything, it’s so pointed and decisive what she does, she has no fear, no nothing, it’s not even an event for her, she’s just doing. This movie just happens… I don’t know what it is, myth, history, made up, it doesn’t matter to me, it just happens, and you either go with it or not.

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