Sony Pictures Classics is handing wuxia fans an encore presentation with Ang Lee’s decorated 2000 release, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in theaters everywhere on February 17. The studio made the announcement several days ago via social media and a brand-new trailer which you can view at the bottom of the page.
The film toplines actress and Time Magazine’s Icon Of The Year 2022, Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy) along with actor Chow Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen for a story adapted for the screen from author Wang Dulu’s serialized novels in the 1940s. Set during the 19th-century Qing Dynasty, the film unravels a soaring, sweeping, and poetic epic revealing long-lost romance, and betrayal, ensuing battles of martial skills when a beautiful aristocrat catches the attention of two warriors in the wake of the theft of a legendary sword.
There’s plenty to learn and familiarize yourselves with online since the film’s release and grand reception more than twenty years ago, but if you’ve been a moviegoer even longer than that, then there’s a good chance this film landed on your radar, putting you in the throes of a whole other fandom you weren’t ever exposed to. The cast all became household names in our collective minds while we opened ourselves up even further to a rich film history that ultimately became an essential framework to Hollywood’s own sustenance in the years to come, heralding the likes of noted cinematographer Peter Pau and legendary action auteur, Yuen Woo-ping whose inclusive involvement in the Matrix trilogy shot the franchise to stratospheric success.
Ironically, it’s almost easy to forget Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has a sequel that Yuen directed, which was released straight to Netflix in 2016. Clearly, opinions differ on that film’s delivery and I’ve had my two cents on it, but the shelf life for Lee’s inaugural event flick quite speaks for itself with Sony taking the reins and making this film relevant again, which ought to be a nice little cherry on top for Yeoh after ending last year on such a high note.
Check out the trailer for the re-release of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon below!
