Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and BADASS FEMALES

I just watched this movie. Finally. After hearing about it and just sort of knowing the name for a long time, I finally watched it. If you've never heard of it, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese martial arts film featuring Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh, directed by Ang Lee. It came out in 2000. It's set in 18th century Qing dynasty China (I typically don't really like these period piece movies but the Chinese movies are good). Just go watch it. It's fantastic. There are English subtitles so don't worry (I don't really understand Mandarin either so that's the way I need to watch it anyway). Also, if you need more public opinions on why you should go watch it, it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards back in the day, including Best Picture. So yeah, it's freakin good.

Anyway, I never really knew what this movie was about. All I really knew was that Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat are in it and that it was some type of martial arts movie, as many Chinese movies tend to be. (I also don't really know how I know who Chow Yun Fat or Michelle Yeoh are. Probably just from my parents talking about them growing up. Cuz it wasn't like we watched a lot of Chinese movies growing up either.) But THERE IS SO MUCH FEMALE BADASS-ERY IN THIS MOVIE! And they talk about arranged marriages, and wanting to be free and find their own loves, etc. It's some complex stuff, but mainly the women KICK ASS. Also, the cinematography is gorgeous and the fight scenes are incredible.

In a little search on director Ang Lee, I discovered that he has directed a few other hits, and I never knew who he was. Maybe it's just because I'm from a different generation but like, YES TAIWANESE FILMMAKER in the mainstream. But I guess I'm the generation of Chinese-American director Jon M Chu, cuz he's a big deal to me. Anyway, back to Ang Lee. He directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2003's Hulk, Brokeback Mountain, and Life of Pi.

So, all this to say, I'm gonna spend a good chunk of my "free time" watching some Chinese movies now. Maybe some Ip Man? Maybe I'll actually learn some Mandarin?