Tiger tale combines many elements for foreign film

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an intriguing tale of an unspoken love and a warrior's journey in ancient China. The story opens with Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) returning from his meditation in the sanctuary of the mountains. Master Li is a renowned warrior who is respected throughout all of China. After deep meditation he has decided that it is time for him to retire. Master Li requests that his sword, the Green Destiny, be given to his friend Sir Te. A mysterious sword that has existed for 400 years, the Green Destiny is composed of a strange and powerful metal. Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) is charged with delivering the sword safely to Sir Te. The sword is delivered to Sir Te as promised but is soon stolen by a thief that is assumed to be the infamous Jade Fox. Fox is a master thief who stole the ancient secrets of combat from Li's Master and subsequently murdered him. Master Li has pledged to seek revenge for his master's death but was never given the chance to face Fox. Yu begins to suspect that a guest of Sir Te, or rather his daughter, was in fact the one that stole the Green Destiny. Jen Yu (Zhang Zi Yi) is the daughter of a high government official and apprentice to the great Fox. Now it is up to Master Li and Yu to discover the secrets Jen is hiding and face off with the long sought-after Fox. Li and Yu must also face their hidden love for one another before the quest is finished. The exquisite visuals of the backgrounds and time period offer nothing short of magnificence. The waterfalls and the city walls make viewers feel as though they were really in the China of many centuries past. The action sequences are spectacular. Director Ang Lee shows a real mastery of visual style that keeps the audience entangled with the happenings of the story, as well as the action that guides the cast through the epic adventure. The subtle chemistry between Yeoh and Yun-Fat perfectly captures the essence of longing and despair their characters share in a love that has been suppressed for many years. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won Golden Globes for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director. The film is definitely worth seeing if you don't mind reading the English subtitles that have been added for the North American release and a few cultural crossovers that differ from American cinema. Rating: B+