How we arrived at our grades...

A martial arts movie with sub-titles -- hmmm. But like a predator with muscles bunched and ready to spring, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon burst out of nowhere and caught me off guard.

Seeking peace from his bloody past, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) a respected soldier gives custody of his sword, the 400-year-old Green Destiny, to his aged friend Sir Te. When the weapon is stolen, Li and his long-time friend Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) work together to retrieve the ancient, legendary sword. Following a rooftop skirmish, suspicions for the theft fall on the household of Governor Yu. To avoid casting blight on the high official and his family, Shu uses her budding friendship with the Jen Yu (Zhang ZiYi), the governor's daughter, to get inside their home.

Moving from the bustling throngs of the Peking streets, to the vast arid desert, then on to the lush wooded mountains of Western China, this story bats around the emotions of its characters like a cat with its prey. Determined to reverence the name of a fallen comrade once engaged to Shu, Li is unable to voice his growing love for her, but finds solace in her affections. Weary of fighting, he still feels duty-bound to avenge the life of his murdered Wudan master. In contrast, the impetuous teen-aged Jen, burdened by her aristocracy, dreads her approaching arranged marriage and rebels in the arms of a desert desperado.

Packed with scenes of clashing swordsmanship and intricate hand-to-hand combat, this movie is a credit to Matrix choreographer Yuen Yo Ping and the martial art skills of the actors, many of who performed their own stunts. But death when dealt is often swift and gruesome.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, taken from Chinese mythology, means hiding your strength from others, a quality mastered by these characters. But for parents trying to balance the powerful lessons of honor and discipline with the vivid and abundant depictions of violence in this movie, caution may be the best weapon of choice especially when considering this title for pre-teens.

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Talk about the movie with your family...

Using her friendship with Jen, Shu Lien enters the house of Governor Yu to try and encourage the thief to return the sword. Why was it important that she retrieve the sword without causing embarrassment to the family? Is there honor in letting someone repair a wrong without shaming them?

Some of the characters in this movie pay a high price for seeking revenge. Do you think the cost was worth it in the end?

This martial arts film, which explores the value of honor, is different from the heavy action/adventure titles usually found in this genre, such as Jackie Chan's Shanghai Noon, or Rush Hour. Jackie Chan is also known for performing his own stunts.

Chow Yun Fat, the actor who plays Li Mu Bai, can also be seen alongside Jodie Foster in Anna And The King.

Kerry Bennett

© 2001 One Voice Communications. All Rights Reserved

Making The Grades...

The MPAA rated Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality.

Overall: A-
While illicit relations and martial arts violence are well documented in this film, there are profound lessons of discipline, honor and the need for knowledge, taught in the context of ancient Chinese culture.

Violence: C-
Martial arts fighting, curved knife imbedded in head, ambush of caravan, girl fights with bandit, tackling, kicking and hit on head with heavy object, stabbing in chest, fight in restaurant, tables and balcony broken, characters falls, man slashed on mouth - blood shown, intruder in home, fight in cave with swords, poisoned needles are shot and slowly kill victim, character dies after falling on broken clay pots.

Sexual Content: D
Most sexual content involves teen characters. Girl in bathtub, shoulders up shown, man comments that he's had no sexual contact with captive woman. Teen-aged male and female characters engage in a fight that turns to pressing and kissing. Same unmarried teens shown in tub together- shoulders up only. Implied sexual encounter, naked shoulders shown, then kissing the next morning. Female character in wet t-shirt.

Language: A
Nothing of concern seen in subtitles.

Alcohol / Drug Use: B+
Girl is drugged by inhaling smoke, poison is applied to needles which are later shot at characters.

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