China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States of America

AdventureDramaActionRomance

Martial artsKung fuBased on novel or bookFlyingTaskmasterSwordTigerVillainessMountainCombFistfightSword fightThiefRevengeTheftHistoricalFemale martial artist18th centuryWuxiaWarriorBambooTavern fightAction heroQing dynasty

Ang Lee

Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, Cheng Pei-pei

James Schamus, Wang Huiling, Kuo Jung Tsai

China Film Co-Production Corporation, Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Good Machine, Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd., United China Vision, Zoom Hunt International Productions Company Ltd., Edko Films, Ang Lee Productions, Sony Pictures Classics

Taglines: A timeless story of strength, secrets and two warriors who would never surrender.

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.

Reviews:

Author: talisencrw
Easily my favourite of Lee's films, plus this was a no-brainer for me to watch, since I love martial arts films and the three stars. Peter Pau's cinematography and Dun Tan's soundtrack deservedly won two of the four Oscars, amidst its ten nominations, but even though the production values and story were the reason that this, rather than more significant martial arts classics, such as 'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin' and other Shaw Brothers' masterpieces of the genre is that it stepped outside the box and became mandatory viewing for both genders and all cultures with its love story, in the same way that 'Rocky' isn't simply a boxing movie. Still fascinating watching today, and the scene in which the restaurant is destroyed is one of the most fascinating set-pieces I have yet seen.