Wo hu cang long (2000)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

Du Lu Wang (book)
Hui-Ling Wang (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Plot Keywords:

Sword | Warrior | China | Martial Arts | Rooftop

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 73 wins & 90 nominations

Cast

Yun-Fat Chow	...	Master Li Mu Bai (as Chow Yun Fat)
Michelle Yeoh	...	Yu Shu Lien
Ziyi Zhang	...	Jen Yu (Mandarin version) / Jiao Long (English dubbed version) (as Zhang Ziyi)
Chen Chang	...	Lo 'Dark Cloud' / Luo Xiao Hu
Sihung Lung	...	Sir Te
Pei-pei Cheng	...	Jade Fox (as Cheng Pei-Pei)
Fa Zeng Li	...	Governor Yu
Xian Gao	...	Bo
Yan Hai	...	Madame Yu
De Ming Wang	...	Police Inspector Tsai / Prefect Cai Qiu
Li Li	...	May (as Li Li)
Su Ying Huang	...	Auntie Wu
Jin Ting Zhang	...	De Lu
Rei Yang	...	Maid
Kai Li	...	Gou Jun Pei
Jian Hua Feng	...	Gou Jun Sinung
Zhen Xi Du	...	Shop Owner
Cheng Lin Xu	...	Captain
Feng Lin	...	Captain
Wen Sheng Wang	...	Gangster A
Dong Song	...	Gangster B
Zhong Xuan Ma	...	Mi Biao
Bao Cheng Li	...	Fung Machete Chang
Yong De Yang	...	Monk Jing
Shao Jun Zhang	...	Male Performer
Ning Ma	...	Female Performer
Jian Min Zhu	...	Waiter
Chang Cheng Don	...	Homeless Man
Yi Shih	...	Waitress
Bin Chen	...	Servant
Sao Chen Chang	...	Nightman

Directed by
Ang Lee

Writing credits (WGA)
Du Lu Wang		(book)
Hui-Ling Wang		(screenplay) and
James Schamus		(screenplay) and
Kuo Jung Tsai		(screenplay)

Produced by
Po Chu Chui	....	associate producer
Ping Dong	....	co-producer
Li-Kong Hsu	....	producer (as Hsu Li Kong)
William Kong	....	producer (as Bill Kong)
Ang Lee	....	producer
Philip Lee	....	associate producer
David Linde	....	executive producer
Er-Dong Liu	....	line producer
Kelly Miller	....	production executive: Good Machine International
James Schamus	....	executive producer
Wai Sum Shia	....	line producer
Quangang Zheng	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Tan Dun

Cinematography by
Peter Pau

Film Editing by
Tim Squyres

Production Design by
Timmy Yip		(as Tim Yip)

Art Direction by
Jian-Quo Wang
Eddy Wong		(supervising art director)
Xing-Zhan Yang		(supervising art director)
Zhanjia Yang		(supervising art director)
Bin Zhao

Costume Design by
Timmy Yip		(as Tim Yip)

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	hair stylist
Liu-Jing Dong	....	makeup artist
Yong-Hao Fan	....	makeup artist
Jian-Ping Liu	....	makeup artist
Yun-Ling Man	....	key makeup artist
Yi-Gong Ren	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Helen Li	....	production manager
Jian-Hua Liu	....	assistant production manager
Ketty Miller	....	executive in charge of production
Yu-Fong Peng	....	assistant production manager
Jeff Robinson	....	post-production supervisor
Chi-Wah Tse	....	assistant production manager
Jing-Hua Wang	....	assistant production manager
Li Zhao	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kai Keung Lai	....	first assistant director
Sylvia Liu	....	first assistant director (as Silvia Liu)
Bu-Si Ta	....	second assistant director
Cheng Lin Xu	....	second assistant director
Jinting Zhang	....	second assistant director
Ying-Ying Zhou	....	second assistant director
Hong-Bo Zhu	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Shu-Wing Fung	....	supervising stand-by props
Yan-Qing He	....	assistant construction coordinator
Yi Ho	....	stand-by props
Quan Jiang	....	construction coordinator
Da-Jiang Ji	....	set props
King-Fat Kung	....	property master
Bao-Tai Li	....	stand-by props
Ming-Shan Li	....	stand-by props
Wei-Zheng Li	....	set props
Yi Li	....	assistant construction coordinator
Chung-Wei Ng	....	supervising stand-by props
Sue-Chuen Sun	....	set props
Bing Thang	....	set props
Zhong-He Tian	....	assistant construction coordinator
Cei-Ming Tien	....	set props
Cheng-Sheng Wang	....	set props
He-Cen Wang	....	assistant construction coordinator
Song-So Wang	....	stand-by props
Jua-Feng Zhing	....	set props
Quin Zhing	....	assistant construction coordinator

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor
Mark Betts	....	technical supervisor: sound
Chad Birmingham	....	sound department intern
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	foley editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	dialogue editor
Heather Gross	....	apprentice sound editor
Harry Higgins	....	sound coordinator: Sound One Corporation
Kenton Jakub	....	supervising adr editor
Drew Kunin	....	production sound mixer (as Andrew Paul Kunin)
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Terrance Laudermilch	....	sound coordinator: Sound One Corporation (as Terry Laudermilch)
George Leong	....	boom operator (as George Huey Leong)
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr editor (as Lisa Levine)
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Blake Leyh	....	sound effects editor
Xiao Xing Lu	....	assistant sound engineer
Igor Nikolic	....	assistant sound editor
Jennifer Ralston	....	sound effects editor
Jennifer Ralston	....	supervising foley editor
Alex Soco	....	apprentice sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Betty P. Teng	....	assistant sound editor
Jean Tsien	....	adr supervisor
Paul Urmson	....	dialogue editor
Cuo Qing Xu	....	assistant sound engineer
Geo Ying	....	sound assistant
James Ziegler	....	sound consultant
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Betty P. Teng	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Patrick Ballin	....	visual effects editor
Travis Baumann	....	digital supervisor: Manex LA
Jenny Behnke	....	digital artist (as Jennifer Behnke)
John Cassella	....	digital artist (as John Cassella Jr.)
Robert Chapin	....	digital artist
Charles Darby	....	digital matte supervisor: Digital Firepower
John 'D.J.' Des Jardin	....	3D supervisor
Bill Dietrich	....	digital artist
Michael Feder	....	visual effects executive producer: Blue Sky Studios
Donald Fly	....	general manager
Gilbert Gonzales	....	paint/roto artist
Nicolle Gray	....	technical assistant
Rob Hodgson	....	visual effects supervisor
Kim Lavery	....	visual effects producer
David Lee	....	technical assistant (as Dave Lee)
Mary Leitz	....	digital compositor
Mark Leo Perry	....	digital artist
Anthony Mabin	....	senior digital effects compositor: Manex Visual FX (as Anthony 'antman' Mabin)
Matt Magnolia	....	visual effects coordinator: MVFX
Rod Park	....	bidding producer
Devorah Petty	....	digital artist
Sheldon Ramones	....	technical assistant
John E. Sasaki	....	digital compositor
Mark Shoaf	....	digital artist
John Siczewicz	....	senior digital artist: Blue Sky Studios
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	visual effects producer
Daniel Sunwoo	....	digital artist
Sean White	....	runner
Eric Wilson	....	visual effects producer: Blue Sky Studios
Jamie Baxter	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Fong-Tei Chen	....	martial arts stunts
Hu Chen	....	martial arts stunts
Su-Weh Chin	....	martial arts stunts
Wei-Lun Fung	....	martial arts stunts
Xian Gao	....	martial arts trainer
Yun Liang Geo	....	martial arts stunts
Cuan-Liang Ho	....	martial arts stunts
Chuen-Ze Jin	....	martial arts stunts
Zheng Jin	....	martial arts stunts
Zhan-Wen Keu	....	martial arts stunts
Chi-Tei Lam	....	martial arts stunts
Feng-Mei Le	....	martial arts stunts
Feng Lin	....	martial arts stunts
Hong-Lin Liu	....	martial arts stunts
Jun Ning	....	martial arts stunts
Wai-Fai Wong	....	martial arts stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Feng-Xiang Bao	....	set camera grip: second unit
Te Ba	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Gei-Ming Cao	....	set lighting grip
Kam-Chuen Chan	....	still photographer
Sung Fai Choi	....	camera operator: second unit
Jin-Chu Du	....	set lighting grip
Jimmy Fok	....	crane operator
Yun Gao	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Tao Hai	....	set camera grip: second unit
Si Ha	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Hai Hong	....	set lighting grip: second unit
Patrick Ho	....	clapper loader
Li-Jun Jia	....	set lighting grip
Yu-Cuo Jiang	....	set camera grip
Louis Jong	....	key grip
Jimmy Kwok	....	focus puller: second unit
Chun-Shing Lam	....	electrician
Chun-Wan Lam	....	gaffer: second unit
Kenny Lam	....	first focus puller
Kerry Lam	....	first focus puller
Wai-Kwan Lau	....	clapper loader: second unit
Wing-Teng Law	....	electrician: second unit
Tak-Shing Lee	....	first gaffer
Wing-Kong Leung	....	camera loader
Baoquan Li	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Jie Li	....	set lighting grip
Ming Hing Ng	....	electrician
Fi-Hong Pun	....	electrician
Zhan-Biao Shan	....	set camera grip
Dong-Shan Shi	....	set camera grip
Ching-Chuen Shuan	....	best boy electric
Marc Spicer	....	underwater photographer: second unit
Lin-Chen Sun	....	set camera grip
Pin Tang	....	video operator: second unit
Hai-Zhi Wang	....	video operator
Shu-Jun Wang	....	set lighting grip
Yuen-Me Xuen	....	set camera grip
Hai-Dong Zhang	....	set camera grip
Long Zhang	....	set lighting grip
Jia-Lieng Zhing	....	set camera grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wu-Tong Cao	....	assistant costumer
Jun Chai	....	costumer
Jin-Hua Gu	....	costumer
Shu-Chen Hsu	....	chief costume supervisor
Bao-Rong Huang	....	wardrobe master
Wang Rong	....	costumer
Zhi-Bin Zhao	....	costumer
Yu-Juan Zheng	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Pankaj Bajpal	....	colorist
Angela Bellisio	....	post-production assistant
Andrew Buckland	....	assistant editor (as Drew Buchland)
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Shelby Siegel	....	second assistant editor
Tim Streeto	....	first assistant editor
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Stan Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Jeremy Cohen	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Jorge Calandrelli	....	composer: song "A Love Before Time"
Jorge Calandrelli	....	music producer: "A Love Before Time"
Xie-Yang Chen	....	conductor
Elaine Chow	....	translator: lyrics "A Love Before Time"
David Cossin	....	musician: percussion
Tan Dun	....	conductor
Tan Dun	....	electronic music programming
Tan Dun	....	music producer
Steven Epstein	....	music producer
Richard King	....	music mixer
Xiao-Hui Ma	....	musician
Yo-Yo Ma	....	musician: cello solos
Wen-Zhao Pei	....	music producer
Jun-Ciao Tang	....	musician
Emmy Tu	....	music producer
Lin-Chen Yuan	....	electronic music programming

Other crew
Hong-Qun Bai	....	production assistant
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Ching Wei Chen	....	assistant: Mr. Hsu
Ling-Ying Cheng	....	assistant: Ms. Yeoh
Wei Cu	....	staff member
Shang-Liang Dong	....	set production assistant
Chun-Jiang Duen	....	set production assistant
Mei-Rong Fan	....	location accountant
Ying Feng	....	script supervisor
Angela Fung	....	accountant: Hong Kong
Si Hao	....	production assistant
Joyce Hsieh	....	accountant
Tong-Shuh Ji	....	production assistant
Da-Min Kao	....	set production assistant
Huan-Chiu Ku	....	martial arts coordinator
Tessa Lau	....	unit publicist
Carma Lee	....	accountant: Hong Kong
David L.S. Lee	....	assistant: Ms. Lee
Peggy Lee	....	production controller
Anna Leung	....	assistant: Mr. Kong
Kai Li	....	production assistant
Sherrie Liu	....	script supervisor
Wei Liu	....	set production assistant
Xiau-Qiang Li	....	set production assistant
Zhan-Duo Li	....	production assistant
Jawal Nga	....	assistant: Mr. Schamus
Wei Nu	....	set production assistant
Huie-Ling Peh	....	production coordinator
Tun Yong Sheng	....	production assistant
Zhen-Yong Shen	....	set production assistant
Misha Skoric	....	assistant: Chow Yun-Fat
Lian-Yu Sun	....	production assistant
Shao-Yuan Sun	....	staff member
Yong Sun	....	craft service
Dylan Verrechia	....	intern
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Cuo-Lin Wang	....	production assistant
Feng-Pu Wang	....	set production assistant
Hua-Jiang Wang	....	set production assistant
Hua-Jun Wang	....	set production assistant
Lu Wang	....	set production assistant
Tao Wang	....	staff member
Xin-Min Weng	....	set production assistant
Lin-Han Wu	....	production assistant
Cheng-Wei Xu	....	set production assistant
Feng Xu	....	production assistant
Ma Chun Ye	....	secretary
Peng Yi	....	craft service
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action choreographer (as Wo Ping Yuen)
Woo-ping Yuen	....	action director
Lei Yu	....	production assistant
Ren-Jun Zhang	....	set production assistant
Xian-Qian Zhang	....	staff member
Guo-Li Zhao	....	staff member
Jun-Jie Zhao	....	production assistant
Su-Juan Zheng	....	assistant script supervisor
Zeng-He Zheng	....	set production assistant
Hong-Jun Zhu	....	production assistant

Thanks
Philip Stockton	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (as China Film Co-Production Corp.)
• Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
• EDKO Film (as EDKO Films)
• Good Machine (as Good Machine International)
• Sony Pictures Classics
• United China Vision
• Zoom Hunt International Productions Company Ltd.

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2000) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Indies Film Distribution (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Blackwatch Releasing (2000) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2000) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Continental Film (2001) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Falcon (2001) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2003) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (dubbed version)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (VHS)
• Yorin (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Asia Legend
• Blue Sky Studios
• CFC/MVFX
• Manex Visual Effects (MVFX)

Other Companies

• Asia Legend  end titles
• C.S.  post-production sound services
• C5  post-production sound services
• Cinema Completions International (CCI)  completion bond
• Cood Edit Inc.  editing facilities
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Manhattan Audio Playground  audio playback
• Parnassus Productions Inc.  music production
• Post Production Playground  video dailies supervision
• Salon Films  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• Schreck Rose and Dapello  legal services
• Shanghai National Orchestra  orchestra
• Shanghai Percussion Ensemble  orchestra
• Shanghai Radio Film & TV Studios  music recording
• Shanghai Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Sony Classical  soundtrack released by
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack released by
• World Cinevision Services  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Ngo foo chong lung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Wo hu cang long (China: Mandarin title)
El tigre y el dragón (Argentina) (Peru) (Venezuela) [es]
O Tigre E o Dragão (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Tigre et dragon (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
йПЮДСЫХИЯЪ РХЦП, ГЮРЮХБЬХИЯЪ ДПЮЙНМ (Russia) (video title ) [ru]
Green Destiny (Japan: English title) [en]
Hiipivä tiikeri, piilotettu lohikäärme (Finland) [fi]
Im Reich der Tiger und Drachen (Germany) (pre-release title) [de]
Kaplan ve ejderha (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
La tigre e il dragone (Italy) [it]
Na'mer, Dra'kon (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Prezeci tiger, skriti zmaj (Slovenia) [sl]
Przyczajony tygrys, ukryty smok (Poland) [pl]
Snikende tiger, skjult drage (Norway) [no]
Tiger & Dragon (Germany) [de]
Tiger på spring, drage i skjul (Denmark) [da]
Tigre i drac (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Tigre y dragón (Spain) [es]
Tigris és sárkány (Hungary) [hu]
Tiiger ja draakon (Estonia) [et]
Tygr a drak (Czech Republic) [cs]
Wa ho jang ryong (South Korea) [ko]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Taiwan | Hong Kong | USA | China

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:16 (VHS/DVD rating) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Anhui Province, China

Company:

Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.

Trivia:

"Crouching tiger hidden dragon" is a quote from Chinese mythology. It refers to hiding your strength from others; advice which is followed too well by the characters in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the fight between Yu Shu Lien and Xiou Long many floor tiles are smashed by Shu Lien. After Shu Lien discards her heavy metal weapon and continues to fight, the tiles appear repaired.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Man: Master Li is here! Master Li is here!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "King of the Hill: Returning Japanese (#6.21)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

A Love Before Time

Beware of cheap imitations

Crouching Tiger is Ang Lee's take on the Wu Xia tradition of film making. Wu Xia, for those not familiar with the style, evolved out of popular Chinese fiction. It contains formulaic elements such as honourable warriors, powerful swordswomen, powerful swords, and often magic and mythical beasts. Possibly, it has a parallel with sword and sorcery pulp literature – and even Western romances.

Although he grew up in Taiwan, not Hong Kong or China, Ang Lee has said he has always wanted to make a Wu Xia film. When he did, he brought sophistication and strong production values which, while not uncommon in mainstream Chinese cinema, was less common in the martial arts or Wu Xia traditions.

Make no mistake; Crouching Tiger is a beautiful, beautiful movie. The colours are rich, the light dances and the movements are balletic. But unlike lesser imitations, such as Hero, it is much more than that just stylish production and mesmerising action.

Most films (Western or Eastern) have a rigid plot against which characters move. At worst the characters become ciphers; they advance the story by making choices regardless of whether these choices are in keeping with their character. Crouching Tiger, like the best of cinema, has dynamic characters whose internal struggles advance the plot. The dog wags the tail, not the other way around.

At the heart of Crouching Tiger is the relationship between Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Mu Bai is looking for a way out of the Gang Ho (Warrior) lifestyle – he joins a monastery, as a route to enlightenment and peace, but cannot cast aside his unrequited love for Shu Lien (another warrior). On the brink of declaring their love for one another, Mu Bai's Green Destiny Sword is stolen, and his arch enemy returns. He must temporarily put aside his feelings to recover the sword and bring his master's killer to justice… Seeming to take a fair chunk from his previously directorial role, Sense and Sensibility, Ang Lee weaves a story which tragically juxtaposes the loving and giving but repressed relationship of Mu Bai and Shu Lien, with the fiery, wilful and destructive passions of Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) and Lo (Chang Chen). The result, for me, was breathtaking.

Some critics have suggested that the characterisation is quite slight. I think this just demonstrates the high standard to which they were prepared to judge this film. Ang Lee perfectly marries action/adventure with drama. The results may not please purists from either camp, but for the rest of the audience it is pure magic.

In many ways, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is pure Wu Xia. But it has also re-invented the genre and given it artistic credibility. The greatest joy of the film is watching great Hong Kong stars like Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh being given characters with depth – and watching them fill the screen with their performances. The film also benefits from great performances from Zhang Ziyi and a very under-rated Chang Chen.

Quite simply, Crouching Tiger has everything. It is beautiful, breathtaking and deeply moving. 9½ /10