A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.
Director:
Woo-Ping Yuen (as Wo-Ping Yuen)Writers:
John Fusco (screenplay), Du Lu Wang (book)Stars:
Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum Jr. | See full cast & crew »Storyline
Still mourning the death of Li Mu Bai, Yu Shu Lien returns to safeguard his sword, the Green Destiny. Hades Dai, an underground warlord, sends his lieutenants to steal the sword , with plans to dominate the martial world. A young mysterious swords-woman and the hero with a past, Silent Wolf , comes to Shu Lien's aid, together with a disparate band of warriors who still believe in the iron way of honor. Written by K H Boey
User Reviews
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
I will say it from the beginning: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is inferior to the wonderful original film. But on its own merit, I found it a fascinating martial arts movie with good performances and impressive action sequences. Among the things I appreciated the most in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, I have to mention the return of Michelle Yeoh, one of my favorite actresses, bringing quite a credibility and intensity to her role once again and proving that, at her 53 years of age, she keeps having the grace and ability I admired so much during the '90s in films like Wing Chun, The Heroic Trio and Police Story 3: Supercop. The rest of the cast also makes an excellent work, from martial arts veterans such as Donnie Yen and Eugenia Yuan to rookies such as Harry Shum Jr., Chris Pang and Natasha Liu Bordizzo; all of them are given sub-plots of a diverse dramatic weight, but they all occupy a valid place in the mythological tapestry of this saga. Sure, it's probable that the multitude of characters is designed to establish the bases of future sequels, in case Yeoh or Yen don't want to return (and in case this film is successful enough); however, the variety of narrative tangents keeps the story on a constant movement, perfectly employing the classic elements of martial arts cinema: the rivalry between clans, the concern for family honor, the dynamic between master and disciple, etc. The only thing I would say against Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is that the "wire-fu" is too notorious in a few occasions. However, that's a small complaint which didn't avoid me from appreciating all the pros this movie has to offer, such as the simultaneously spectacular and dramatically relevant battles, as well as a captivating screenplay which respects the spirit of its predecessor, but without feeling limited because of that. In other words, the ones who have watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will appreciate the references and evolution of certain characters, while the newcomers won't need any previous knowledge in order to comprehend the premise and enjoy the experience. In conclusion, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is an excellent martial arts film which doesn't neglect the characters or the story. As I said on the beginning of this review, I would place it below the previous movie, but that didn't avoid me from liking it very much, and I definitely recommend it with enthusiasm.
