The level of choreography is insane, and then add the acting, the costumes, the setting, the direction, the photography... such a masterpiece. Easily one of the best sword fights in cinema history.
Point of Reference: When everyone is taken from your life or when you start to delete people from your life to go in isolation. As Christ did when he was taken on the Mountain to be tried while he fasted 40 days. This is in order to elevate you spiritually. To speak to you. To get you away from those that are assigned as handlers and gatekeepers in your life. To keep you focus on distractions of this life. It's like one that attend school and have a friend that encourage him to skip classes. Taking that child off its course. And which the father and mother is upset. Counseling their son or daughter to obey their instructions and the instructions of their teachers. Not to skip school nor their classes neither to drop out of school. To finish their courses of studies. So they can graduate the 12th grade and received the diplomas completion of studies (THE BASIC STUDIES THAT ONE NEEDS BEFORE GOING INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ELEVATE IN LIFE ALSO KNOWING THE LAWS THAT GOVERNS THE LAND. EXPECTED OF THEM. WHOM ARE TAUGHT BY THEIR FATHERS AND MOTHERS THE LAWS OF MORALITY. AS CHRIST WAS ALSO TAUGHT THESE LAWS BY HIS PARENTS. BEFORE HE ATTENDED THE SCHOOL AND COUNCIL OF THE ELDERS. WHEN HE WAS TAKEN INTO THE TEMPLE TO LEARN BECOMING AN UNDERSTUDY/PUPIL/STUDENT OF THE LEARNED ELDER TEACHERS OF HIS TIME HERE IN THIS EARTHLY KINGDOM. E.g (Example Given) many people primarily males think with their lower head. Instead of thinking with their higher head. In order to operate in the "Highest Vibration" of Christ consciousness. He was raised up to Spiritual Maturity by our Divinve Feminine Heavenly Mother (represented by the Holy Spirit which is her Motherly Spirit written in Proverbs 8). That he may not only be made in the image of the heavenly father. He also operated in the perfect image of the Righteous Divine Masculine Heavenly Father. In characteristics (12/Fruits of the spirit) and Anointing (The Personality of The Heavenly Father yoke destroying burden removing power). This Earthly Kingdom (2nd Estate of our souls materialize in vessels of flesh) on Probation. In hopes that you may one day be permitted to return back into the Kingdom of Heaven (1st Estate of our souls). I've other rounds to make. May Our Heavenly Parents bless and send people into your life to encourage Spiritual Growth within you. That takes up to the straight and narrow path of Christ. Don't forget your teaching: For it is written: Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments (Exodus 20 Law); It is written: Study to show yourself approved. A worker (student in the school of life & The Courses of life) needing not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth. The humble Messenger serving you this day: (LDS) Latter Day Saint, Daughter of The Most High El Elyons, Servant of all. I will now take my leave. Using voice command in between typing. I apologize for the typos in advance. 🕊️ 🔑 🕎 🌿~⚔️🛡️Shalom🛡️⚔️~🌿
Agreed. You should of heard the audience at the movie theater before the fight started; they knew a masterpiece was coming. But they were surprised with the outcome of this scene. Perfect movie.
Julio Areck Chang Yep. One of my fav fight scenes of all time. Perfectly choreographed and executed, subtle real life comedy [weapon being too heavy for her [Yeoh] to use and her smirk back [Zhang], and just overall entertainment.
Michelle Yeoh is an absolute legend. The sheer skill and character she relays are incredible. You don't have to see anything else of this movie to understand exactly who Yu Shu Lien is.
This was a moment in my childhood that defined the value of skill. Michelle’s character clearly outclasses Zhang’s, but the Green Destiny is such a formidable force multiplier that it is able to compensate the lack of skill. The sword is extremely sharp, durable, flexible and most importantly its light. An impossible weapon that would only exist in fantasy. And yet, Michelle’s char overcomes all of that with her skill, grit and wit. Very cool fight scene. A classic. Honestly, I don’t even remember what the movie was about 😂 its been decades since ive seen it lol
d movie was about The West vs the Far-East. The young girl was the classic West that was practical and never respects the older generations. It was more effective than theancient Chinese world. By now they have changed. There is pragmatism in China and out-dated suicide ideologies on the West. The Master was a kinda hesitating Hamlet character in a love triangle. From the other hand, the little rebel girl's real partner, her real needed phallos was the green sword. This movie was an early new feminist film too.
I love how long the camera takes are. No choppy split second editing like in most action films, just pure fight choreography masterclass with excellent cinematography.
I can't stress enough how important it is to a GOOD scene to not make a lot of cuts. Give us those wide angle shots and let us really see the skill of the fighters/stunt people.
@Wibble Wobble - But it's been noted by many Chinese actors and directors that in Chinese cinema they are allowed days, weeks, and even months to put the fight sequences together and filmed. When working in the U.S., because of the tight filming schedule, they are working on a much shorter choreography window. They also noted the skill of the actors and not working with a choreography crew who have worked together for years.
Choreo only can do so much. Tbh this choreo wouldn’t have come out the way it did without Michelle. Her posture, flexibility, facial expressions, her movements are a dream.
best part is the end where michelle yeohs character knows her weapons cant matvh the green destiny but her skill and experience outclasses her opponent so much that she legit uses that to her advantage and counts on her weapon being cut through to put herself in a victorious position
its great how they show that even if jen yu is younger and has natural talent while having one of the strongest swords, she still is no match to yu shu lien and all her training and experience
@@Atthetta Tbh Zhang ziyi's character is arrogant and is evidently wining the fight because of the sword. Her sword skills really cannot compare to Michelle yeoh's character's skills.
For context Shu Lien chose the long sword in the end. At the start she told Jen Yu it was her least favorite weapon. The fact that she chose it as her last weapon to almost defeat her is a great detail in the movie.
She also chose it because she knew any weapon she chose would be cut through by the Green Destiny. She knew that she could maneuver the long sword into a position that even if cut through the angled remains of the long sword would still have the reach to end up at Jen Yu’s neck
@@nonopenope Right and she started off with her favorite weapons the double saber. She actually could've cut Jen within the first 2 seconds with that (she slapped her in the chest instead). In fact she pretty much beat Jen with almost every weapon but Jen wouldn't have accepted that unless she had a sword held up to her throat.
@@FoieGras Interesting take. I have long attributed this to Jen being a prodigy that simply lacked experience. Keep in mind that Jen is relatively new to fighting and is basically self taught. Yes, Shu Lien had the upper hand when starting off with a new weapon, but Jen would learn on the fly, adapt and then win.
How didn't she get an Oscar win for this performance? The fact she didn't know Mandarin and still sounded and acted pretty well should have won her one
This is still the most amazingly choreographed, performed, and shot fight scene ever. The speed and ferocity of every move is unmatched. These women are both apex performers, and are able to put 'character' into every movement. Simply beautiful to watch... :)
Fits nicely into my playlist "Dragons and Daffodils, Gods and Wizards, Goats and Devils, Fairies and Magicians, Queens and Princes, Grannies and Sons-in-law, Posession and Spirit, Knowledge and Wisdom" ... you name it ...
Every Chinese film fight scene has that round eating table getting taken out at some point. You know when it's featured it's going to be in pieces very soon
This is literally my favourite film of all time. I could cry watching this. I love how this scene shows how Michelle Yeoh's character manages to keep fighting with so many different weapons. She is so formidable, gifted, well trained, wise, etc. It's so good to see this metaphor about how sometimes wining is not always about defeating the adversary, but give a good fight. You can win a fight and lose at the art of fighting.
@Irwan Santoso literally the grammar policy is here, I think. I'm sorry to bother you with my wrong use of the word, but I have to admit that I'm even more sorry to see that with the number of subjects you could pick to start a conversation with me you choose the boring one, literally...
@@vintageb8 you’re literally being so annoying, you literally need to stop, right now. I’m quite literally so tired of your bitching and moaning about the use of literally, literally… So literally stop, literally no one wants to hear your garbage, literally…
Additional insight from a chinese martial arts perspective, it gives a lot of background to just how powerful the Green Destiny is. The point isn't that Michelle Yeoh is just good at every weapon, nor is it really about what you said about winning and losing, it's that she is specifically choosing weapons that specifically counter the Jian and is meant to break them, which is why so many times during the sequence she is showing surprise that her Jian breaking or countering weapons is 1. not doing any damage to the Jian, and 2. getting shattered by them. This scene is meant to highlight just how absurdly strong the Green Destiny is. She also could have defeated Ziyi Zhang's character a couple of times but due to reasons told in the movie, she does not. She outskills and counters her in everyway but the Green Destiny prevails.
@Ajaxlancer, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I noticed that too, but I couldn't explain it. This is why I love this movie so much, the way it is so well thought out and beautifully executed, ART!
At 3:47 their exchange can be more accurately translated as such: Yu Shu Lien: "Do not touch it. That's Li Mu Bai's sword" Jen Yu: "Come get it if you have the skills" Yu Shu Lien: "If YOU'VE got any skills, then you don't need the Green Destiny" Jen Yu: "You blame your weapon when you can't win a fight?" This dialog is actually a typical arrogant pay-to-win or cheese player being toxic to a skills, honor, and hard work player, where the hard working person knows she's objectively better and stronger. I didn't feel like the dub captured this aspect of the dialog so here is my attempt in doing so.
How did Michelle Yeoh not receive an Oscar nomination for this role?! Not to mention she successfully portrayed the character with great depth, she did all the action scenes by her own self!!!
this scene lived a lifetime. ran the gauntlet of weaponry and found no match to the incredible green destiny. i love how the underdog comes back with the 50 lb knightstick that leveled the playing field for a long while. the sparks from blade contact made it even cooler. i cant imagine a better sword scene ever being created
It’s called a bian, or “Iron whip”, weirdly. Anyways, it’s cool to see that scene you mentioned where Michelle pushes Jen back with the bian and she goes flying, and when the camera pans to Jen, it shows her shaky and out of breath even with the Green Destiny in her hands (which is as light as a feather to wield). But, when the camera pans to Michelle, it shows her calm and composed even after swinging that 30-35lb bian. That shot in particular said a thousand words in itself of how disciplined of a master-warrior Shu Lien is.
This fight is basically showing you the difference between a good fighter with high potential ceiling wielding a great weapon vs a great, experienced, and skilled fighter wielding good weapons. The Green Destiny in this fight was quite LITERALLY...the equalizer.
Fits nicely into my playlist "Dragons and Daffodils, Gods and Wizards, Goats and Devils, Fairies and Magicians, Queens and Princes, Grannies and Sons-in-law, Posession and Spirit, Knowledge and Wisdom" ... you name it ...
"The Green Destiny in this fight was quite LITERALLY...the equalizer." It certainly helped, but the thing that actually let Jen stay in the fight for more than a minute is that Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) was holding back the entire time, desperately trying *not* to hurt her. You can see how she consistently hits with the flat of the blade, not the edge.
@@davidstorrs Hit with the flat of the blade is a standard parry technique, and serves the purpose of saving the edge. The only swords in the world that can take edge vs. edge fight without edge damage are some XVIth and past XVIth century European sabres, but even they can take only few shots, at least when confronting a sabre of similar quality.
One of the most brilliant things about this scene is the way they act with their eyes. Zhang moves between trepidation and over-confidence, while Michelle’s intent to teach the brat a lesson is unmistakable.
I heartily agree! This is not fair, especially to Cate Blanchete but this kind of stunt work (even if there were stunt doubles used) making it look real, with safety guidelines, is the highest form of great acting and none of the other Oscar contenders could come anywhere near this ; which is why Yeoh deserves and should get The Oscar!!
They need to give an Oscar to Michelle Yeoh not only for her brilliant performance in EEAAO, but also to make up for this! The fact she wasn't even nominated for this is criminal!
This is why I don't even care about the Oscars - they dismiss a lot of the "foreign" films even though a lot of films in India, China, Korea could match any Oscar contenders in any category. I don't know what awards Crouching Tiger got, but it better have swept the awards like Parasite did.
My parents took me to see the film at a theater in a worker’s club in Beijing when I was seven. Those places at the time were notorious for audience’s shouting, drinking, and smoking while a film was playing. However, during the first forty seconds of this scene I just remembered that the chatty, small, smoked-filled theater gradually but quickly came to a dead silence. By the end when the two put blades on each other’s throat I could hear a collective breath as people, even those half-drunk, had been holding there breath. I fell in love with cinema that night.
This has always been a top tier example of a PERFECT fight scene to me. Beautiful chorography (some of the best that wushu has ever offered up), masterful and steady camera work, fantastic and restrained use of wires, masterful editing and textbook storytelling through action and how the weaponry was utilized by Shu Lien. It's, for lack of a better word, beautiful. I'm a lifelong fan of cinematic combat. Martial, ballistic, magical and otherwise. For anyone who's interested, on my RUclips channel, I actually have a collection of movie clips that are among my favorites of all time. The playlist is called "Amazing Fight Scenes". Not a bad way to spend an hour+ if you're a movie fight junkie like me. Spoiler allert...this fight is #1 on that lineup.
"fantastic and restrained use of wires" What would unrestrained use of wires be, in your opinion? Literally two people hanging from the ceiling? The wire in the shot 8 seconds in couldn't be any more obvious and jarring if they'd painted it red and hung ribbons off it.
@98z76y did you think they were actually flying? Lol I think what he means is the flying parts are restrained. You only see them do it a few times as opposed to the entire fight taking place in mid air.
As a kid watching this, it was one of the best thing I ever laid my eyes on, i wanted to be and live as a warrior like they did! They were incredible then, they're even more incredible now that I am an adult and can fully appreciate everything that went on in this movie, especially this scene. An all time masterpiece.
This to me is one of the most impressive fight scenes in any movie in recent history. A detail that I really enjoy is the one at 1:18 where you can visibly see the scratches that the green destiny has inflicted on the swords which were undamaged before.
Watching closely, you can see Shu Lien actually turned her blade or held back throughout the fight. In the very first strike, she turned it in to a hit with the flat of the blade. Had she kept edge on, that would have cut Yu along her upper left pec deeply. That would have been fight over, and probably death had she not tried to hold back and instead disarm and reform the youngster. Jen Yu's major advantage was a weapon that overcame the characteristics of any other weapon, but even at the end, Shu Lien could have killed her, but exercised restraint. As Hippo says, without the Green Destiny, Yu is utterly overmatched.
Correct, a little slide to the back with sharp edge, and the fight would have been over at 0:52. Yu is just a stupid kid with inferior skill and no honour. I hated that character through the whole movie and wished her to be killed instead.
@@piotrmalewski8178 Well, she has enormous skills and talents, I would argue, but they are RAW and unrefined. And you are right that she has no honor here. Her moral guide after all, was Jade Fox. Shu Lien was an absolutely consummate swordswoman. Far beyond Yu. But Yu having what basically amounts to a lightsaber really does equal it. What did you think of Lien's last strike? I thought her judgement on the fly that her broadsword was GOING to be cut, and to follow through anyways with a cut was brilliant. She could have decisively ended it at least 5 times in the fight even with the weapon mismatch. This fight is a joy to watch.
Fun fact: In Chinese sword fighting they were trained to turn the blade unless dealing a blow. It prevents the blade edges from becoming gouged. When you really think about it: they must have been some masterful damn swordsmen. Because a crap ton of Chinese blades were flexible like the Green Destiny.
@@republicoftexas4651 I hear ya! But she had Yu completely out of position by the low fake, high cut. Had she kept her blade edge on, thats a fight ending cut. Given quality of metals in these ages, dulling and gouging was absolutely an issue yep. I can see that being a thing.
@@shkotayd9749 I totally understand what you're saying: she had her early on and let her know it. The Chinese learned about a thousand years before anybody else: stiff brittle swords = bad. It's the same reason the Japanese smear that paste on their sword edges when forging: so they don't become brittle. That's why all Japanese swords have that wave pattern along their edges. It's actually brilliant metallurgy.
Can we just note the masterful storytelling at 0:48? Jen with full confidence goes to block an attack, thinking Shu will fall to her blade like everyone else. Shu displays a new technique that catches Jen by surprise that she is barely able to block. A gasp and a look of shock on Jen's face and in 2 seconds the audience and Jen know that she's facing the final boss now and that she's in WAY over her head.
It's basically a feint, done mostly with the wrist. Cuts in one direction (the feint), opponent goes to parry and once committed to the parry, changes direction with the wrist (not the whole arm). Fast and subtle. Good to use against a more inexperienced opponent using big heavy cuts with the whole arm. Very common move in Western sabre fencing. Not surprised it's in Chinese Martial arts as well. Teaches Jen to respect and not underestimate her opponent....
It's subtle details like that, showing that a fight really is a battle between the combatants where they try to one-up and fool each other while defending against counterattacks that really make a good action scene. There are way too many movies and TV shows where the director seems to think a good action scene is just lots of spectacle, so you're left with big flashy movements or explosions, but there's no narrative to follow of how the fight is going or what the characters are thinking. Just two people waving their fists or weapons at each other. The spectacle can hold attention for a bit, but it quickly gets boring when that narrative isn't there to make us really feel the stakes of each and every move the combatants are taking. This fight scene is such a great one because the narrative is always there, always the focus, with the spectacular choreography being used for that focus.
One of the best and most beautiful fight scenes ever made. Absolutely brilliant. The skills are fantastic. A no-holds barred battle between two women in an armoury. The older master literally throwing every weapon at her younger foe and protege.
but the thing is, SHE TRIED. More commitment to her inner sense of duty than to *any* shortcomings. I'm still blown away by what she could do with the spear. When no one is at home, I try to do that with the broom when sweeping leaves and snow lmao.
I remember when i first watched this film on the big screen, people laughed at some its flying scenes, but people failed to understand the art, the beaty, and the culture behind it, still one of my favorite movies of all time.
yes, in the beginning, but people shut their pie hole as they got into the story. I remember not expecting anything when I went into the cinema but was totally in awe afterwards.
@Whyyoumadatfacts? 🤷♂️ It's no different than superheroes in tights or crap like using your mind to curve bullets. It's an established premise of the fantasy.
Michelle Yeoh is just amazing now and then. And Ziyi Zhang is holding her own against her, both in choreography and in the acting. This is a scene that will be remembered for a long time.
You know, I was describing this scene to my wife and I caught myself qualifying it as "perhaps the greatest example of female fight choreography ever filmed". And you know what, I just watched it again and realized how unfair that was. It's one of the single greatest fight scenes ever put to film, period....
The best thing is that she was clearly holding back the entire time, that first smack at the beginning with the dual sabres is evidence of that. She could have easily sliced her face in that moment but didn’t want to
absolute masterpiece. The choreography is on the level of the greatest ballets ever performed. Seems impossible it didn't take years to film just this one fight, and the movie is full of them. So beautiful. Nothing has topped it since
Zhang Ziyi as Jen absolutely stole this film despite her flawed character. She became the main focus and everything revolves around her and The Green Destiny. Her spectacular display in her action scenes really put her on the map.Her restaurant scene and this showdown with Michelle Yeah made this movie truly unforgettable and worth seeing over and over.
What's even more interesting is that she is self-taught and put up a good fight against Shu Lien. Remember, she taught herself by secretly reading the scriptures and surpassed her teacher, who had stolen the secrets of the Wudang top fighting technique hidden in a scroll. However, according to Liu Mui Bai, her ex-teacher only mastered the basics even after ten years but her student Zen exhibited so much skill that she impressed Liu Mui Bai, who wanted her to be his student. This admiration, in turn, led to her ex-teacher becoming jealous of her and desiring to kill her due to her exceptional skill and Liu Mui Bai's admiration for her.
The fight scenes in this movie, expecially this one, is like an homage to the Shaw Brothers, Raymond Chow, and Golden Harvest. And for Michelle to showcase her skill with multiple weapons...priceless.
This is not just fight scene, it's cinematic art. Beautifully choreography, stunning art direction, and the movement of the actors with the weapons. Ang Lee crafted a masterpiece.
This scene tells a story even while the amazing choreography is happening. The very first move in the fight Is Shu Lien tricking Jen with a fake move and could have easily killed her in that moment, but spared her because she doesn't truly want to hurt her. You can see Jen's face looking frantic because she knows she's out of her league, but is determined. Then as the fight goes on she becomes more confident because the sword can cut through anything, so her face becomes stronger, eventually overconfident. They are acting even while the fight is happening. Breathtaking.
This should have been her first nomination (same for Ziyi Zhang). Of course the action scenes and exquisite nature of the film itself are a testament to why its still considered one of Ang Lee's greatest films but so much of both comes from the nuance Yeoh and Zhang both bring.
@@AngelofMusic04 I agree completely. In my opinion, this movie is a masterpiece because of the stunts that she herself, trained for. Lee is a visionary, his ability to transform any nostalgic period into ordinary time on the screen is what turns Dulu’s novel into a theatrical masterpiece. Chow Yun Fat too, was overlooked. I love this movie. It is a classic that never tires nor ages.
One of the most well-choreographed fight scenes in Kung Fu cinema. I first saw Michelle Yeoh in Supercop and thought she was awesome. This was easily her best movie. I particularly enjoy the emotional exchange. Yeoh is angry and disappointed and concerned for Liu Mu Bai. Jen is proud and desperate to be a warrior, and for her the only way to achieve that is with the Jade Sword. Great fight scene and great movie.
I thought that I bought this film by mistake because when I played it it the spoken language was not English, so I stopped watching. Then I noticed the trailer for another film maybe in the same language, also with subtitles, and it looked so good and interesting that it inspired me to exercise patience and watch this film. So I finally watched this film in full last night. Such a brilliant film. I’m so glad I watched it and I love the story. I recommend watching this film and watching similar films that feature English subtitles. 10 out of 10.
It's been a while since I've seen this movie, but I think Michelle Yeoh's character was a master level practitioner or warrior herself. She'd be able to outclass Jen any day. ^_^
Even without the sword, she is able to defend or fight. She got the talent in martial art and she more time to train and tune her skill, she is able to defeat her opponents. Even armed with Green Destiny Sword, she is able use it very competently, so in the first place you need to have that shining talent for martial art skill.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is an incredible movie with an exceptional cast and dreamlike action sequences. Michelle Yeoh should have gotten Oscar love for this movie.
0:28 EPIC starting from when Jen tosses her satchel, and then they simultaneously toss their scabbards. The swiftness and preciseness of those motions is already amazing. I wonder if those items were pulled strings.
Many years ago, I was seeing a soldier in the Air Force. He snuck me into his barracks room and we made love to parts of this movie's soundtrack. I saw him on and off throughout the years until we both married. I often think of that moment. This movie carries so many beautiful memories for me. Aside from that night, I've watched it countless times. Even the fight scenes are like something from a dream.
I agree with everyone else, probably the best sword fight scenes ever. Aside from what everyone said below, it also told a story better than 99% of movies can do today. The green destiny had no equal!
This fighting scene here is a masterpiece. The fighting choreography is insane... the amount of talent and skills put together to pull this off is a masterclass. ❤❤❤💪💪💪
As others have noted, the fighting choreography, the cinematography, the editing, all come together to make for such thrilling movie making. An incredible film from beginning to end.
I’m just now realizing after all these years that Zhang Ziyi also starred in House of Flying Daggers which is one of my favorite movies. She’s a beast!
Both actresses sold the choreography brilliantly. Michelle Yeoh showing just what a right badass she is handling any weapon possible against Ziyi. Ziyi, despite not being a martial artist is more experienced with dancing and here she’s equally as good as Yeoh. Her hand movements and flips were very artistic.
And extra props to the continuity. I didn’t notice thru the whole fight but in one of the overhead shots, you see some of the discarded and damaged weapons on the ground. Who knows how long it took to film this!
0:28 Thank you Scene City for choosing the EXACT wrong time to pull up your channel banner Literally any time 10 seconds before or after would've worked without blocking the subtitles
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 🐉 one of the Best Martial Arts Movie to ever Grace The Movie Industry!! Michelle Yeow and Zhang Ziyi were Absolutely Phenomenal 💯🔥💯 throughout this entire Movie!! Not to mention Chow Yun Fat gave a Incredible Performance this movie certainly got the American Audience Attention that's for Sure!! I can watch it over and over and Never Grow Tired Of It!! Much Love For This Cast💛💖🌟💛💖
The whole movie is first about what to fight for, then how to fight, then why to fight, ending why to live for. This scene is both realistic in the facial expression and artistic in the choreography. The lesson of youthful skill and superior weapon against hard learned talent and restrain is one of the step in the mind progression.
My favorite part about this whole fight, and fight scenes in Asian films in general, is th fact that you can see exactly what each of the fighters are doing. There are few, if any, shaky-cam sequences or a dozen cuts in the span of one second. You see every punch and kick and swing and thrust, and you see the counters. That's what makes this fight feel so much more exciting and real.
I love how much is being communicated between these two characters as they fight. there is real tension and conflict here that is deeper than the fight we are seeing, and it enhances the stakes for us as viewers. it's so rare to see fight choreography that is about pushing the story forward these days.
this scene was legendary and the women involved are amazing. i heard that michelle yeoh got injured during filming so she had a stunt double for many of the shots. zhang's face is clearly visible during a lot of choreography so she is definitely doing a lot of this action herself. everything about the scene is great, even down to the sound design
@@markzzzzberg1312 no, theres an interview of her explaining that for most of the movie she did all her own stunts but during this scene she had a leg or ankle injury so she wasn't able to do all of them
@@markzzzzberg1312 honestly, can't find it right now. i specifically remember she talked about how her ACL was so screwed, she had to film the last scenes with an ankle brace on, so she was unable to do the jumping and acrobatic stunts. that's why when you see her turned away from the camera with the spear for example, and she's jumping and striking with the spear but her face is not shown, it's because that's her double. in the parts where her face is shown, she is not doing much footwork at all.
I love how in the start, this young, seemingly limitless, prodigy of a fighter is so arrogantly confident. The look on her face, the lack of truly putting in any effort. Then, Shu strikes; and in that instant you can see her face turn white, her eyes widen, as she realizes (but doesnt want to accept) that if Shu didnt pull her first strike, She would have won in one hit. Then the real battle of pride vs honor starts.
Definitely the most memorable fight in the movie. I love how Yu Shu after having all her weapons broken came up with a strategy to use that to her advantage to win.
I would have been proud had she won for CTHD, or for any other movie thirty or forty years ago. But these days, academy awards are just an award for wokeness, and after the recent announcements, they aren't even trying to pretend otherwise.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Kung Fu: Neo vs Morpheus | The Matrix [Open Matte]](/img/1.gif)
The level of choreography is insane, and then add the acting, the costumes, the setting, the direction, the photography... such a masterpiece. Easily one of the best sword fights in cinema history.
That's why we get with true martial artists in fine form.
and the drums
Point of Reference: When everyone is taken from your life or when you start to delete people from your life to go in isolation. As Christ did when he was taken on the Mountain to be tried while he fasted 40 days. This is in order to elevate you spiritually. To speak to you. To get you away from those that are assigned as handlers and gatekeepers in your life. To keep you focus on distractions of this life. It's like one that attend school and have a friend that encourage him to skip classes. Taking that child off its course. And which the father and mother is upset. Counseling their son or daughter to obey their instructions and the instructions of their teachers. Not to skip school nor their classes neither to drop out of school. To finish their courses of studies. So they can graduate the 12th grade and received the diplomas completion of studies (THE BASIC STUDIES THAT ONE NEEDS BEFORE GOING INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ELEVATE IN LIFE ALSO KNOWING THE LAWS THAT GOVERNS THE LAND. EXPECTED OF THEM. WHOM ARE TAUGHT BY THEIR FATHERS AND MOTHERS THE LAWS OF MORALITY. AS CHRIST WAS ALSO TAUGHT THESE LAWS BY HIS PARENTS. BEFORE HE ATTENDED THE SCHOOL AND COUNCIL OF THE ELDERS. WHEN HE WAS TAKEN INTO THE TEMPLE TO LEARN BECOMING AN UNDERSTUDY/PUPIL/STUDENT OF THE LEARNED ELDER TEACHERS OF HIS TIME HERE IN THIS EARTHLY KINGDOM.
E.g (Example Given) many people primarily males think with their lower head. Instead of thinking with their higher head. In order to operate in the "Highest Vibration" of Christ consciousness. He was raised up to Spiritual Maturity by our Divinve Feminine Heavenly Mother (represented by the Holy Spirit which is her Motherly Spirit written in Proverbs 8). That he may not only be made in the image of the heavenly father. He also operated in the perfect image of the Righteous Divine Masculine Heavenly Father. In characteristics (12/Fruits of the spirit) and Anointing (The Personality of The Heavenly Father yoke destroying burden removing power).
This Earthly Kingdom (2nd Estate of our souls materialize in vessels of flesh) on Probation. In hopes that you may one day be permitted to return back into the Kingdom of Heaven (1st Estate of our souls).
I've other rounds to make. May Our Heavenly Parents bless and send people into your life to encourage Spiritual Growth within you. That takes up to the straight and narrow path of Christ.
Don't forget your teaching:
For it is written: Proverbs 3:1
My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments (Exodus 20 Law);
It is written:
Study to show yourself approved. A worker (student in the school of life & The Courses of life) needing not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth.
The humble Messenger serving you this day:
(LDS) Latter Day Saint, Daughter of The Most High El Elyons, Servant of all.
I will now take my leave.
Using voice command in between typing. I apologize for the typos in advance.
🕊️
🔑
🕎
🌿~⚔️🛡️Shalom🛡️⚔️~🌿
Agreed. You should of heard the audience at the movie theater before the fight started; they knew a masterpiece was coming. But they were surprised with the outcome of this scene. Perfect movie.
Julio Areck Chang Yep. One of my fav fight scenes of all time. Perfectly choreographed and executed, subtle real life comedy [weapon being too heavy for her [Yeoh] to use and her smirk back [Zhang], and just overall entertainment.
Michelle Yeoh is an absolute legend. The sheer skill and character she relays are incredible. You don't have to see anything else of this movie to understand exactly who Yu Shu Lien is.
I've never seen a performance of hers that I didn't like.
Dude, chill out... she's not Bruce Lee lol
@@davida6146 You're right, she's better.
@@Rezinstance wow... how can you compare her to Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee's movements were so fast, the cameras had to slow down his scenes.
Michelle Yeoh has been around for a long time. She is a top martial artist and actress. Legend indeed👍🏾
This was a moment in my childhood that defined the value of skill. Michelle’s character clearly outclasses Zhang’s, but the Green Destiny is such a formidable force multiplier that it is able to compensate the lack of skill. The sword is extremely sharp, durable, flexible and most importantly its light. An impossible weapon that would only exist in fantasy. And yet, Michelle’s char overcomes all of that with her skill, grit and wit. Very cool fight scene. A classic. Honestly, I don’t even remember what the movie was about 😂 its been decades since ive seen it lol
d movie was about The West vs the Far-East. The young girl was the classic West that was practical and never respects the older generations. It was more effective than theancient Chinese world. By now they have changed. There is pragmatism in China and out-dated suicide ideologies on the West. The Master was a kinda hesitating Hamlet character in a love triangle. From the other hand, the little rebel girl's real partner, her real needed phallos was the green sword. This movie was an early new feminist film too.
Feel like I'd like to see it again soon, hopefully.... amazing choreography, story and setting, and superb acting all around.
@@ymelfilm you and I saw two different movies
@@sushles this film has lots of interpretations. It runs in more cultural dimensions
@@ymelfilm Wrong movie
Still one of the greatest sword fights ever choreographed.
It certainly is!!!!
Do you know sword fighting?
@@vijayvijay4123 they were using swords.... in a fight..... hence... they were sword fighting....
THE greatest.
Some of the best 6 minutes in cinematic history.
I love how long the camera takes are. No choppy split second editing like in most action films, just pure fight choreography masterclass with excellent cinematography.
No stupid quick edits, no bad cinematography, just top quality choreography beautifully shot, what a scene!
I can't stress enough how important it is to a GOOD scene to not make a lot of cuts. Give us those wide angle shots and let us really see the skill of the fighters/stunt people.
@Wibble Wobble -
But it's been noted by many Chinese actors and directors that in Chinese cinema they are allowed days, weeks, and even months to put the fight sequences together and filmed. When working in the U.S., because of the tight filming schedule, they are working on a much shorter choreography window. They also noted the skill of the actors and not working with a choreography crew who have worked together for years.
How Luke and Rey in the last Jedi should of been🤦🏼♂️
Choreo only can do so much. Tbh this choreo wouldn’t have come out the way it did without Michelle. Her posture, flexibility, facial expressions, her movements are a dream.
Yes! I hate all the recent Chinese martial arts films and TV series because it’s all slo motion Matrix style.
best part is the end where michelle yeohs character knows her weapons cant matvh the green destiny but her skill and experience outclasses her opponent so much that she legit uses that to her advantage and counts on her weapon being cut through to put herself in a victorious position
I did not realize that fact until you pointed it out
And it builds to that as she is not in the least put off discarding & grabbing weapon after weapon.
@@hydrocarbon82 Because she kept losing weapons, Zhang Ziyi becomes over-confident and is blind to her tactic
its great how they show that even if jen yu is younger and has natural talent while having one of the strongest swords, she still is no match to yu shu lien and all her training and experience
@@Atthetta Tbh Zhang ziyi's character is arrogant and is evidently wining the fight because of the sword. Her sword skills really cannot compare to Michelle yeoh's character's skills.
For context Shu Lien chose the long sword in the end. At the start she told Jen Yu it was her least favorite weapon. The fact that she chose it as her last weapon to almost defeat her is a great detail in the movie.
Not almost, she DID defeat her. She just showed mercy afterwards.
She also chose it because she knew any weapon she chose would be cut through by the Green Destiny. She knew that she could maneuver the long sword into a position that even if cut through the angled remains of the long sword would still have the reach to end up at Jen Yu’s neck
@@nonopenope Right and she started off with her favorite weapons the double saber. She actually could've cut Jen within the first 2 seconds with that (she slapped her in the chest instead). In fact she pretty much beat Jen with almost every weapon but Jen wouldn't have accepted that unless she had a sword held up to her throat.
I absolutely loved that little detail when I saw her pick up the longsword!
@@FoieGras Interesting take. I have long attributed this to Jen being a prodigy that simply lacked experience. Keep in mind that Jen is relatively new to fighting and is basically self taught. Yes, Shu Lien had the upper hand when starting off with a new weapon, but Jen would learn on the fly, adapt and then win.
AND 23 YEARS LATER MICHELLE YEOH SHINES THROUGH WITH HER OSCAR WIN!!!
THIS WOMAN IS BEYONDDDD TALENTED I CAN'T EVEN!!!!!!!!!!
Right! Well deserved!
My highest compliment for a woman is "sultry" and Michelle is a sultry atomic bomb.
How didn't she get an Oscar win for this performance? The fact she didn't know Mandarin and still sounded and acted pretty well should have won her one
@@totalwar1793, it wasn't for this film
@@colleenross8752 I know she didn't. She won for Everything Everywhere All at Once. However, I think her performance here was better than that one lol
This is still the most amazingly choreographed, performed, and shot fight scene ever. The speed and ferocity of every move is unmatched. These women are both apex performers, and are able to put 'character' into every movement. Simply beautiful to watch... :)
This is arguably the greatest sword fighting scene ever filmed.
I can't think of a better one.
Agree
Fits nicely into my playlist "Dragons and Daffodils, Gods and Wizards, Goats and Devils, Fairies and Magicians,
Queens and Princes, Grannies and Sons-in-law, Posession and Spirit, Knowledge and Wisdom" ... you name it ...
You'll get no argument from me
Prisoner of Zenda Coleman version is very good
Every Chinese film fight scene has that round eating table getting taken out at some point. You know when it's featured it's going to be in pieces very soon
The tables are strong and familiar to everyone, so smashing it shows visually the strength of a weapon or a person smashing it.
Just like every car chase will crash into a fruit stand
love it!
I believe they call that Chekhov's round eating table
How did you find out?
This is literally my favourite film of all time. I could cry watching this. I love how this scene shows how Michelle Yeoh's character manages to keep fighting with so many different weapons. She is so formidable, gifted, well trained, wise, etc. It's so good to see this metaphor about how sometimes wining is not always about defeating the adversary, but give a good fight. You can win a fight and lose at the art of fighting.
wrong use of the word literally
@Irwan Santoso literally the grammar policy is here, I think. I'm sorry to bother you with my wrong use of the word, but I have to admit that I'm even more sorry to see that with the number of subjects you could pick to start a conversation with me you choose the boring one, literally...
@@vintageb8 you’re literally being so annoying, you literally need to stop, right now. I’m quite literally so tired of your bitching and moaning about the use of literally, literally…
So literally stop, literally no one wants to hear your garbage, literally…
Additional insight from a chinese martial arts perspective, it gives a lot of background to just how powerful the Green Destiny is. The point isn't that Michelle Yeoh is just good at every weapon, nor is it really about what you said about winning and losing, it's that she is specifically choosing weapons that specifically counter the Jian and is meant to break them, which is why so many times during the sequence she is showing surprise that her Jian breaking or countering weapons is 1. not doing any damage to the Jian, and 2. getting shattered by them. This scene is meant to highlight just how absurdly strong the Green Destiny is. She also could have defeated Ziyi Zhang's character a couple of times but due to reasons told in the movie, she does not. She outskills and counters her in everyway but the Green Destiny prevails.
@Ajaxlancer, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I noticed that too, but I couldn't explain it. This is why I love this movie so much, the way it is so well thought out and beautifully executed, ART!
Oh don't mind me...I'm just crying at how absolutely beautiful this fight looks 😭
Gay
@@Reborncanine yes and?
@@Reborncanine Oh look! A disrespectful troll! What a novelty... Man it must suck to feel so shitty inside the only thing you can do is talk shit.
@@hdlamon Don’t mind him. You’re are a beautiful handsome gay.
@@lucasgoncalves723 thank you, kind sir 💛🥰
Michele should have gotten an academy award for this movie. I absolutely love this movie.
At 3:47 their exchange can be more accurately translated as such:
Yu Shu Lien: "Do not touch it. That's Li Mu Bai's sword"
Jen Yu: "Come get it if you have the skills"
Yu Shu Lien: "If YOU'VE got any skills, then you don't need the Green Destiny"
Jen Yu: "You blame your weapon when you can't win a fight?"
This dialog is actually a typical arrogant pay-to-win or cheese player being toxic to a skills, honor, and hard work player, where the hard working person knows she's objectively better and stronger. I didn't feel like the dub captured this aspect of the dialog so here is my attempt in doing so.
Thank you for pointing this out!❤
How did Michelle Yeoh not receive an Oscar nomination for this role?! Not to mention she successfully portrayed the character with great depth, she did all the action scenes by her own self!!!
Oscar was and is still racist. She shoulda won one for crouching tiger 22 years ago
@@hatelovebowel4571 but better late than never
She was nominated for Best Actress at HK Academy Award in Hong Kong. But lost to Maggie Cheung
Oscar at that time didn't care about international movies lol
Takes a lot more than fancy flying.
Love how Michelle had to learn the art of so many weapons. Absolutely love her dedication and her beauty.
Michelle also had to learn to speak Mandarin for this film, she only spoke Cantonese before making Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
100th like
And you can see she's better than her opponent with each of them, it's just the Green Destiny making the difference
this scene lived a lifetime. ran the gauntlet of weaponry and found no match to the incredible green destiny. i love how the underdog comes back with the 50 lb knightstick that leveled the playing field for a long while. the sparks from blade contact made it even cooler. i cant imagine a better sword scene ever being created
the metal staff bent it if you look closely- then next scene it was straight again
It’s called a bian, or “Iron whip”, weirdly. Anyways, it’s cool to see that scene you mentioned where Michelle pushes Jen back with the bian and she goes flying, and when the camera pans to Jen, it shows her shaky and out of breath even with the Green Destiny in her hands (which is as light as a feather to wield). But, when the camera pans to Michelle, it shows her calm and composed even after swinging that 30-35lb bian. That shot in particular said a thousand words in itself of how disciplined of a master-warrior Shu Lien is.
I’ve seen this scene countless of times yet I still get the feeling of excitement every single time. This scene never disappoints.
Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi are both legendary actresses. One of the best fighting scenes ever filmed up to date
This fight is basically showing you the difference between a good fighter with high potential ceiling wielding a great weapon vs a great, experienced, and skilled fighter wielding good weapons. The Green Destiny in this fight was quite LITERALLY...the equalizer.
Fits nicely into my playlist "Dragons and Daffodils, Gods and Wizards, Goats and Devils, Fairies and Magicians,
Queens and Princes, Grannies and Sons-in-law, Posession and Spirit, Knowledge and Wisdom" ... you name it ...
"The Green Destiny in this fight was quite LITERALLY...the equalizer." It certainly helped, but the thing that actually let Jen stay in the fight for more than a minute is that Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) was holding back the entire time, desperately trying *not* to hurt her. You can see how she consistently hits with the flat of the blade, not the edge.
@@davidstorrs Hit with the flat of the blade is a standard parry technique, and serves the purpose of saving the edge. The only swords in the world that can take edge vs. edge fight without edge damage are some XVIth and past XVIth century European sabres, but even they can take only few shots, at least when confronting a sabre of similar quality.
Good insight, from all of you. Thank you.
and the more experienced fighter still found a way to turn the weapon's strength against its wielder
Ahhh I have watched this a thousand times and I'm not getting tired of it. Super entertaining sword fight ever!!!
Christ this is good
Dork! 🤦♂️😆🤦♂️
@Macdealerx Don't forget about Zhang's turn in Rush Hour 2 as Hu Li fighting Jackie Chan (Lee) and Chris Rock (Tucker).
One of the most brilliant things about this scene is the way they act with their eyes. Zhang moves between trepidation and over-confidence, while Michelle’s intent to teach the brat a lesson is unmistakable.
She has earned The Oscar, with all due respect to the other nominees, not only for latest part, but for her body of work!!
I heartily agree! This is not fair, especially to Cate Blanchete but this kind of stunt work (even if there were stunt doubles used) making it look real, with safety guidelines, is the highest form of great acting and none of the other Oscar contenders could come anywhere near this ; which is why Yeoh deserves and should get The Oscar!!
Michelle Yeoh... Wooow... She's. Soooo really Amazing...!!!!! Proud of her....!!!!! 😯😃😊😍😍👍👍👍👏👏👏💝💝💝🌹🌿🌻🍀🌺🌹
They need to give an Oscar to Michelle Yeoh not only for her brilliant performance in EEAAO, but also to make up for this! The fact she wasn't even nominated for this is criminal!
She got one after 40 years
This is why I don't even care about the Oscars - they dismiss a lot of the "foreign" films even though a lot of films in India, China, Korea could match any Oscar contenders in any category. I don't know what awards Crouching Tiger got, but it better have swept the awards like Parasite did.
She already got it today. First Asian woman Oscar winning
Imagine caring about meaningless trophies like the Oscars
Now michelle yeoh got oscar and golden globe both for the movie “everything everywhere all at once"
My parents took me to see the film at a theater in a worker’s club in Beijing when I was seven. Those places at the time were notorious for audience’s shouting, drinking, and smoking while a film was playing. However, during the first forty seconds of this scene I just remembered that the chatty, small, smoked-filled theater gradually but quickly came to a dead silence. By the end when the two put blades on each other’s throat I could hear a collective breath as people, even those half-drunk, had been holding there breath. I fell in love with cinema that night.
This has always been a top tier example of a PERFECT fight scene to me. Beautiful chorography (some of the best that wushu has ever offered up), masterful and steady camera work, fantastic and restrained use of wires, masterful editing and textbook storytelling through action and how the weaponry was utilized by Shu Lien. It's, for lack of a better word, beautiful.
I'm a lifelong fan of cinematic combat. Martial, ballistic, magical and otherwise. For anyone who's interested, on my RUclips channel, I actually have a collection of movie clips that are among my favorites of all time. The playlist is called "Amazing Fight Scenes". Not a bad way to spend an hour+ if you're a movie fight junkie like me.
Spoiler allert...this fight is #1 on that lineup.
hell yeah I’ll take that offer
"fantastic and restrained use of wires"
What would unrestrained use of wires be, in your opinion? Literally two people hanging from the ceiling? The wire in the shot 8 seconds in couldn't be any more obvious and jarring if they'd painted it red and hung ribbons off it.
Agreed on everything, also the sound editing is utterly mad.
@98z76y did you think they were actually flying? Lol
I think what he means is the flying parts are restrained. You only see them do it a few times as opposed to the entire fight taking place in mid air.
@@98z76yhe added that just for people like you who see wire = bad
As a kid watching this, it was one of the best thing I ever laid my eyes on, i wanted to be and live as a warrior like they did! They were incredible then, they're even more incredible now that I am an adult and can fully appreciate everything that went on in this movie, especially this scene. An all time masterpiece.
I will never in my life get tired of watching this movie. An Absolute Masterpiece! This is where my love for Michelle Yeoh began!
This to me is one of the most impressive fight scenes in any movie in recent history. A detail that I really enjoy is the one at 1:18 where you can visibly see the scratches that the green destiny has inflicted on the swords which were undamaged before.
Good catch!
Watching closely, you can see Shu Lien actually turned her blade or held back throughout the fight. In the very first strike, she turned it in to a hit with the flat of the blade. Had she kept edge on, that would have cut Yu along her upper left pec deeply. That would have been fight over, and probably death had she not tried to hold back and instead disarm and reform the youngster.
Jen Yu's major advantage was a weapon that overcame the characteristics of any other weapon, but even at the end, Shu Lien could have killed her, but exercised restraint.
As Hippo says, without the Green Destiny, Yu is utterly overmatched.
Correct, a little slide to the back with sharp edge, and the fight would have been over at 0:52.
Yu is just a stupid kid with inferior skill and no honour. I hated that character through the whole movie and wished her to be killed instead.
@@piotrmalewski8178 Well, she has enormous skills and talents, I would argue, but they are RAW and unrefined.
And you are right that she has no honor here. Her moral guide after all, was Jade Fox.
Shu Lien was an absolutely consummate swordswoman. Far beyond Yu. But Yu having what basically amounts to a lightsaber really does equal it.
What did you think of Lien's last strike? I thought her judgement on the fly that her broadsword was GOING to be cut, and to follow through anyways with a cut was brilliant.
She could have decisively ended it at least 5 times in the fight even with the weapon mismatch. This fight is a joy to watch.
Fun fact:
In Chinese sword fighting they were trained to turn the blade unless dealing a blow. It prevents the blade edges from becoming gouged.
When you really think about it: they must have been some masterful damn swordsmen. Because a crap ton of Chinese blades were flexible like the Green Destiny.
@@republicoftexas4651 I hear ya! But she had Yu completely out of position by the low fake, high cut. Had she kept her blade edge on, thats a fight ending cut.
Given quality of metals in these ages, dulling and gouging was absolutely an issue yep. I can see that being a thing.
@@shkotayd9749
I totally understand what you're saying: she had her early on and let her know it.
The Chinese learned about a thousand years before anybody else: stiff brittle swords = bad. It's the same reason the Japanese smear that paste on their sword edges when forging: so they don't become brittle. That's why all Japanese swords have that wave pattern along their edges. It's actually brilliant metallurgy.
Can we just note the masterful storytelling at 0:48? Jen with full confidence goes to block an attack, thinking Shu will fall to her blade like everyone else. Shu displays a new technique that catches Jen by surprise that she is barely able to block. A gasp and a look of shock on Jen's face and in 2 seconds the audience and Jen know that she's facing the final boss now and that she's in WAY over her head.
It's basically a feint, done mostly with the wrist. Cuts in one direction (the feint), opponent goes to parry and once committed to the parry, changes direction with the wrist (not the whole arm). Fast and subtle. Good to use against a more inexperienced opponent using big heavy cuts with the whole arm. Very common move in Western sabre fencing. Not surprised it's in Chinese Martial arts as well. Teaches Jen to respect and not underestimate her opponent....
It's subtle details like that, showing that a fight really is a battle between the combatants where they try to one-up and fool each other while defending against counterattacks that really make a good action scene. There are way too many movies and TV shows where the director seems to think a good action scene is just lots of spectacle, so you're left with big flashy movements or explosions, but there's no narrative to follow of how the fight is going or what the characters are thinking. Just two people waving their fists or weapons at each other. The spectacle can hold attention for a bit, but it quickly gets boring when that narrative isn't there to make us really feel the stakes of each and every move the combatants are taking. This fight scene is such a great one because the narrative is always there, always the focus, with the spectacular choreography being used for that focus.
Shu is clearly waaayyyyy better than Jen. Jen just has the better sword.
Came to look for this comment. It was shocking how quickly she could have killed her
Well, not exactly final... they were both nowhere close to Li Mu Bai.
As far as action scenes go, this is an all timer. Truly awesome. Those long overhead shots are incredible.
One of the best and most beautiful fight scenes ever made. Absolutely brilliant. The skills are fantastic. A no-holds barred battle between two women in an armoury. The older master literally throwing every weapon at her younger foe and protege.
I died when she tried to pick up that heavy half moon spear
That act gave more reallistic to the film.
u died? so stop commenting please,u are dead
@@kinh0t 🙄🤔🙄🤔🙄🤔
but the thing is, SHE TRIED. More commitment to her inner sense of duty than to *any* shortcomings. I'm still blown away by what she could do with the spear. When no one is at home, I try to do that with the broom when sweeping leaves and snow lmao.
Is that actually what it’s called?
I remember when i first watched this film on the big screen, people laughed at some its flying scenes, but people failed to understand the art, the beaty, and the culture behind it, still one of my favorite movies of all time.
Where I saw it, they gave it a standing ovation.
@@jonothandoesernice 👍🙂
yes, in the beginning, but people shut their pie hole as they got into the story. I remember not expecting anything when I went into the cinema but was totally in awe afterwards.
@Whyyoumadatfacts? 🤷♂️ It's no different than superheroes in tights or crap like using your mind to curve bullets. It's an established premise of the fantasy.
Agree🙏
Michelle Yeoh is just amazing now and then. And Ziyi Zhang is holding her own against her, both in choreography and in the acting.
This is a scene that will be remembered for a long time.
So happy for her Oscar win.
I love when they are in movies together …: it’s always amazing!!
Congratulations to Michelle Yeoh for winning the 2023 Academy Award, the light of Malaysia, well deserved ❤
Kangtian
You know, I was describing this scene to my wife and I caught myself qualifying it as "perhaps the greatest example of female fight choreography ever filmed". And you know what, I just watched it again and realized how unfair that was. It's one of the single greatest fight scenes ever put to film, period....
Yup. Exactly!
The best thing is that she was clearly holding back the entire time, that first smack at the beginning with the dual sabres is evidence of that. She could have easily sliced her face in that moment but didn’t want to
Even in the final stroke she could have slit Jiaolong's throat open but she chose to give her yet another chance to amend her mistake
I used to watch 70’s & 80’s kung fu movies as kid in the 90’s.
So when this movie came out I was blown away!!
Rightfully earned an Oscar!
absolute masterpiece. The choreography is on the level of the greatest ballets ever performed. Seems impossible it didn't take years to film just this one fight, and the movie is full of them. So beautiful. Nothing has topped it since
Zhang Ziyi as Jen absolutely stole this film
despite her flawed character. She became the main focus and everything revolves around her and The Green Destiny. Her spectacular display in her action scenes really put her on the map.Her restaurant scene and this showdown with Michelle Yeah made this movie truly unforgettable
and worth seeing over and over.
What's even more interesting is that she is self-taught and put up a good fight against Shu Lien. Remember, she taught herself by secretly reading the scriptures and surpassed her teacher, who had stolen the secrets of the Wudang top fighting technique hidden in a scroll. However, according to Liu Mui Bai, her ex-teacher only mastered the basics even after ten years but her student Zen exhibited so much skill that she impressed Liu Mui Bai, who wanted her to be his student. This admiration, in turn, led to her ex-teacher becoming jealous of her and desiring to kill her due to her exceptional skill and Liu Mui Bai's admiration for her.
I agree, an amazing performance.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The fight scenes in this movie, expecially this one, is like an homage to the Shaw Brothers, Raymond Chow, and Golden Harvest. And for Michelle to showcase her skill with multiple weapons...priceless.
This is not just fight scene, it's cinematic art. Beautifully choreography, stunning art direction, and the movement of the actors with the weapons. Ang Lee crafted a masterpiece.
It's not a fight scene at all. It's a dialogue...A loud, passionate argument with neither side giving in.
This scene tells a story even while the amazing choreography is happening. The very first move in the fight Is Shu Lien tricking Jen with a fake move and could have easily killed her in that moment, but spared her because she doesn't truly want to hurt her. You can see Jen's face looking frantic because she knows she's out of her league, but is determined. Then as the fight goes on she becomes more confident because the sword can cut through anything, so her face becomes stronger, eventually overconfident. They are acting even while the fight is happening. Breathtaking.
Let's not forget the camera work, and how it puts you right inside the fight. Just epic. This is how it's done.
Looking Back Now, She Deserved That Oscar!
Michelle Yeoh should have won best actress for this movie. Excellent scenes Ang Lee is my favorite director.
This should have been her first nomination (same for Ziyi Zhang). Of course the action scenes and exquisite nature of the film itself are a testament to why its still considered one of Ang Lee's greatest films but so much of both comes from the nuance Yeoh and Zhang both bring.
@@AngelofMusic04 I agree completely. In my opinion, this movie is a masterpiece because of the stunts that she herself, trained for. Lee is a visionary, his ability to transform any nostalgic period into ordinary time on the screen is what turns Dulu’s novel into a theatrical masterpiece. Chow Yun Fat too, was overlooked. I love this movie. It is a classic that never tires nor ages.
One of the most well-choreographed fight scenes in Kung Fu cinema. I first saw Michelle Yeoh in Supercop and thought she was awesome. This was easily her best movie. I particularly enjoy the emotional exchange. Yeoh is angry and disappointed and concerned for Liu Mu Bai. Jen is proud and desperate to be a warrior, and for her the only way to achieve that is with the Jade Sword. Great fight scene and great movie.
The action in this movie is another level. No messy quick cuts, no shaky cam. Just beautiful balletic energized choreography presented clearly.
I love how you can see Jen Yu getting better as the fight goes on and gets a better grasp of the Green Destiny.
The amount of times I replayed this scene was probably longer than the entire movie 😂
I thought that I bought this film by mistake because when I played it it the spoken language was not English, so I stopped watching. Then I noticed the trailer for another film maybe in the same language, also with subtitles, and it looked so good and interesting that it inspired me to exercise patience and watch this film. So I finally watched this film in full last night. Such a brilliant film. I’m so glad I watched it and I love the story. I recommend watching this film and watching similar films that feature English subtitles. 10 out of 10.
I just love how Shu lien calmly switches her weapons
This is my favorite fight scene in cinema history. Shu Lien does the equivalent of sacrificing her queen in chess to win. Wisdom over power.
I have watched a lot of martial arts movies in my life. This movies contains some of the best filmed fight scenes that I have ever seen.
Michelle Yeoh is now the lead in two of the greatest films ever made. Her presence is absolutely incredible.
Someone in this scene just won an Academy Award!
You can clearly see that without the Green Destiny, she is nothing. She is completely owned in terms of skill and strength.
It's been a while since I've seen this movie, but I think Michelle Yeoh's character was a master level practitioner or warrior herself. She'd be able to outclass Jen any day. ^_^
Even without the sword, she is able to defend or fight. She got the talent in martial art and she more time to train and tune her skill, she is able to defeat her opponents.
Even armed with Green Destiny Sword, she is able use it very competently, so in the first place you need to have that shining talent for martial art skill.
@@oradba168
I think his point was that she would have been wrecked in this specific fight without the Green Destiny...not that she had no talent.
Definetely. Jen had the superior weapon but Shu Lien had more experience.
Rey: I don't need training, I'm naturally talented and have never lost a duel in my life.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Are you an idiot?
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is an incredible movie with an exceptional cast and dreamlike action sequences. Michelle Yeoh should have gotten Oscar love for this movie.
0:28 EPIC starting from when Jen tosses her satchel, and then they simultaneously toss their scabbards. The swiftness and preciseness of those motions is already amazing. I wonder if those items were pulled strings.
Many years ago, I was seeing a soldier in the Air Force. He snuck me into his barracks room and we made love to parts of this movie's soundtrack. I saw him on and off throughout the years until we both married. I often think of that moment. This movie carries so many beautiful memories for me. Aside from that night, I've watched it countless times. Even the fight scenes are like something from a dream.
can't stop watching this scene over and over again. so artistic and so beautiful
I agree with everyone else, probably the best sword fight scenes ever. Aside from what everyone said below, it also told a story better than 99% of movies can do today. The green destiny had no equal!
I like how there's a little musical sting when Shu Lien picks up the Jian. Tells the audience, "It's on now!"
Still the best choreographed sword fight I've ever seen.
Michelle Yeoh is such a beast! Gracefully weilding multiple weapons in this scene as if she's been using them all her entire life! Wow.
This fighting scene here is a masterpiece. The fighting choreography is insane... the amount of talent and skills put together to pull this off is a masterclass. ❤❤❤💪💪💪
I love how they added a bit of comedy to the scene, when she chose a weapon that was a bit to heavy.
As others have noted, the fighting choreography, the cinematography, the editing, all come together to make for such thrilling movie making. An incredible film from beginning to end.
She is everything everywhere all at once!
I wish more people would know about that movie.
the fact she is both characters
I haven’t seen this movie in like 15 years. But there was a time I would watch this every week. It was so good.
Truly a masterpiece! I love Ang Lee, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang!
No actress in Holywood can match the sheer perfection of this fight scene. Kudos to Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi!
Shu Lien fought amazingly using ordinary weapons... Just imagine if she possessed the green destiny sword...
Darth Vader would've fared poorly.
I freaking love this so much. Gives me chills … such a great fight-scene
I’m just now realizing after all these years that Zhang Ziyi also starred in House of Flying Daggers which is one of my favorite movies. She’s a beast!
Both actresses sold the choreography brilliantly. Michelle Yeoh showing just what a right badass she is handling any weapon possible against Ziyi.
Ziyi, despite not being a martial artist is more experienced with dancing and here she’s equally as good as Yeoh. Her hand movements and flips were very artistic.
And extra props to the continuity. I didn’t notice thru the whole fight but in one of the overhead shots, you see some of the discarded and damaged weapons on the ground. Who knows how long it took to film this!
EVEN now sooo many years later, this is STILL one of the BEST sword fights ever filmed.
Film is such a masterpiece in everyway, also unbelievable that it was filmed over 20 years ago
Who's here after Michelle Yeoh won her Oscar?
Just you alones sadly
Noone😂😂😂
0:28 Thank you Scene City for choosing the EXACT wrong time to pull up your channel banner
Literally any time 10 seconds before or after would've worked without blocking the subtitles
So true! It's the only reason I won't give an upvote for this video.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 🐉 one of the Best Martial Arts Movie to ever Grace The Movie Industry!! Michelle Yeow and Zhang Ziyi were Absolutely Phenomenal 💯🔥💯 throughout this entire Movie!! Not to mention Chow Yun Fat gave a Incredible Performance this movie certainly got the American Audience Attention that's for Sure!! I can watch it over and over and Never Grow Tired Of It!! Much Love For This Cast💛💖🌟💛💖
The whole movie is first about what to fight for, then how to fight, then why to fight, ending why to live for.
This scene is both realistic in the facial expression and artistic in the choreography.
The lesson of youthful skill and superior weapon against hard learned talent and restrain is one of the step in the mind progression.
This is among one of the Best movies I've EVER seen. Everything about was poetic and epic. Fights, scenery, the story....
My favorite part about this whole fight, and fight scenes in Asian films in general, is th fact that you can see exactly what each of the fighters are doing. There are few, if any, shaky-cam sequences or a dozen cuts in the span of one second. You see every punch and kick and swing and thrust, and you see the counters. That's what makes this fight feel so much more exciting and real.
Awesome fight! Michelle Yeoh is incredible here! Her reputation is well-earned. She is a total legend!
I love how much is being communicated between these two characters as they fight. there is real tension and conflict here that is deeper than the fight we are seeing, and it enhances the stakes for us as viewers. it's so rare to see fight choreography that is about pushing the story forward these days.
this scene was legendary and the women involved are amazing. i heard that michelle yeoh got injured during filming so she had a stunt double for many of the shots. zhang's face is clearly visible during a lot of choreography so she is definitely doing a lot of this action herself. everything about the scene is great, even down to the sound design
nope, Michelle did all the stunt by herself
@@markzzzzberg1312 no, theres an interview of her explaining that for most of the movie she did all her own stunts but during this scene she had a leg or ankle injury so she wasn't able to do all of them
@@madeofmars mind to share the link to the interview?
@@markzzzzberg1312 honestly, can't find it right now. i specifically remember she talked about how her ACL was so screwed, she had to film the last scenes with an ankle brace on, so she was unable to do the jumping and acrobatic stunts. that's why when you see her turned away from the camera with the spear for example, and she's jumping and striking with the spear but her face is not shown, it's because that's her double. in the parts where her face is shown, she is not doing much footwork at all.
This is the most cinematic & perfect sword fight scene ever choreopraphed!!
One of the sickest fight scenes I’ve ever seen… Love this film so much! It’s a shame the Netflix sequel’s choreography wasn’t up to par.
I love how in the start, this young, seemingly limitless, prodigy of a fighter is so arrogantly confident. The look on her face, the lack of truly putting in any effort. Then, Shu strikes; and in that instant you can see her face turn white, her eyes widen, as she realizes (but doesnt want to accept) that if Shu didnt pull her first strike, She would have won in one hit. Then the real battle of pride vs honor starts.
My Grandma loved this movie. Every time I hear the soundtrack I miss her.
Definitely the most memorable fight in the movie. I love how Yu Shu after having all her weapons broken came up with a strategy to use that to her advantage to win.
and now... she's an OSCAR WINNER!! So proud of Michelle!
I would have been proud had she won for CTHD, or for any other movie thirty or forty years ago. But these days, academy awards are just an award for wokeness, and after the recent announcements, they aren't even trying to pretend otherwise.
@@daleviker5884lol, ok, you don't have to care
I grew up watching Michelle Yeoh, jesus. Thank you for your work.
When someone asks me what my favorite movie is, I can never give just one. I always give my top 5... and this is one of them.
What are your other top favorites? 🙂