Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 343 Ratings

  • Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Yun-Fat Chow, Ziyi Zhang
  • Summary: In 19th century China, a magical sword given by a warrior (Chow) to his lover (Yeoh) is stolen and the quest to find it ensues. The search leads to the House of Yu where the story travels into a different direction with the introduction of a mysterious assassin and another love story.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Splendid, soaringly ambitious Chinese period fantasy.
  2. 100
    Transcends its origins and becomes one of a kind. It's glorious, unashamed escapism and surprisingly touching at the same time.
  3. Handsome, passionate and fun. It's everything we go to the movies for.
  4. 80
    Whenever Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon resorts to flying fists or soaring sword battles, the Force is definitely with it.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 116
  2. Negative: 29 out of 116
  1. ChristosM
    9
    Saying this is a bad film just because you are bored of reading the subtitles proves how uneducated and childish some people can be.Americans tend not to recognize the fact there is filmmaking happening outside of America and the Uk too. I must admit the origins of the film increase the hype surrounding it but most of all it's a rewarding movie full of high aesthetics,great martial performances and if not good acting,at least perfect photography.It's a piece glistenning with oriental elegance! Collapse
  2. I honestly headed into this film thinking that I would not like it because of the subtitles, but it was very good. Not the best movie ever, obviously, but it was very entertaining, especially once I came to understand what the characters were representing. Ang Lee did a fantastic job directing the film and all of the actors were marvelous as well. Expand
  3. I found it a little overrated. It wasn't as astonishing as I had expected. A little better than a so-so one for me. That's it. Some predictable stuff and not so amazing story to me. Expand
  4. KevinG.
    3
    Boring! The story was long, drawn out, and had little to no redeeming qualities. The acting was good, though the whole idea of the movie was pushed at its "amazing" effects. I'm sorry, but people jumping around on trees obviously dangling from wires is not my idea of 'good' effects. Forget Crouching Tiger, Get "House of Flying Daggers" or "Hero". They are both 100% better than this. Expand

See all 116 User Reviews

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