Believe the hype! If ever there was a Hong Kong style Kung Fu action flick that could break through the barriers and become a national hit in America, it is Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Poised to be an instant classic among fanatics of the genre, the film will also rivet adventurous movie goers, flame the passion of romance lovers and crossover the language barrier to reach the most crusty action fans.

The film uses a technique I have heard referred to humorously as "wire fu." Although I myself am no authority on the subject, I have heard that this is a genre that has been around for decades. Only recently films like "The Matrix" have made this style a burgeoning trend in American action flicks. In these movies, the actors are strung by wires and do acrobatic moves which makes them appear to be either quite agile, light as a feather, or able to fly. Much of this is based on ancient Asian lore, I suppose, where certain warriors had the spiritual gift of flight and agility. Anyway, the actors in this film bound along rooftops, soar up the sides of walls, walk on water, climb supple bamboo trees in milliseconds and float lazily back down to Earth. Eventually, Lee simply defies all convention or lack of pretense and simply has them soar ala Peter Pan throughout the final scenes in the film. Graceful, arid and magical, the effect is most beautifully used in the out of doors where lead Chow Young Fat and new female star Zhang Ziyi play tag in a lush forest while the limbs of trees seem to bend to accommodate their will and feather weights. Consistently throughout the film, the action and acrobatics will astound you. If you think you have seen it all, you are sadly mistaken.

Lee, who has brought forth such arthouse favorites as "Sense and Sensibilities" and "The Ice Storm" loses himself in this film and delivers a backstory to the action that is sweeping in it's romanticism. This is one action flick where the women will be as riveted to the screen as the men are. Defying convention, the women are actually the main characters of the film. For every scene of fantastic martial arts maneuvering, there is a sense of dramatic exposition that is also breathtaking. Exploring love and honor, Lee, with co-scripter Wui-Ling Wang, gives all the action resonance and poignancy by motivating it through romance or intrigue. It's wonderful writing which elevates the Asian action genre to a new height. The actors in the piece also give this script as much attention as they do the stunts causing the film to be adept no matter what is happening on the screen.

If "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" does not become one of the most successful martial arts films in America since Bruce Lee faded from the silver screen over 20 years ago, it will be a huge surprise. This is a film clearly designed to woo new fans to an established genre while delighting those already initiated to the utmost. With it, Ang Lee proves he is a filmmaker of many talents and clearly one of the most exciting directors to emerge in America in the last 10 years.

Note:

Also with Michelle Yeoh. Jet Li was a one time attached to the project but opted to do "Romeo Must Die" instead.

Action coordinator is Yeun Woo-Ping, who also trained the actors in "The Matrix." Based on a novel by Wang Dulu with prequels and sequels to this film expected.

In a dialect of ancient Mandarin with subtitles in English.

The title is referenced in the film's English subtitles somewhat. Ang Lee has also clarified the title for Americans by explaining that the word for "dragon" is embedded in the script for the name "Jen" (Ziyi) and the word "tiger" similarly in the character "Lo" (Chang Chen).

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