With it’s stunning aerial combat and intense swordplay, it’s the film that launched possibly even more rip offs and spoofs than the Matrix – Ang Lee’s CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. First released in 2000, it was probably the first movie I ever saw with subtitles (it’s in Mandarin), an event that was quickly proceeded by the first time I ever made fun of someone for watching a dubbed version of a film.

Halcyon memories of childhood aside, this was a kick ass film in all senses of the term. Tearing it up at box offices, with critics, and even at the Academy Awards, the film still looks and plays out amazing. I’d wager that it’s highly unlikely that you haven’t seen this already, but in the off chance that I’m wrong, the film breaks down like this:

Chow Yun-Fat stars as Li Mu Bai, a master swordsman who intends to retire, deciding to gift his prized sword, Green Destiny, to a friend. He asks his equally skilled warrior friend, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), to transport the blade and all is going well until the sword gets stolen by a team of thieves consisting of Jen (Zhang Ziyi), the daughter of a wealthy official, and her master – and Mu Bai’s old nemesis – Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei). This event launches a series of bizarre and gripping battles, set across the beautiful and diverse terrain of China.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv_ed5VmoD8

Harvard Film Archive
Saturday, October 26th, 2013
9:30 pm / / $9 / / $7 students, seniors, and Harvard faculty / / FREE for Harvard students