While this is taking place the atmosphere that is created is eerie giving the audience a sense of wonder about the scene. The music has a definite beat and slowly increases while the criminal is taking the ‘green destiny’ (a famous sword with a history) and, as they are ready to leave, the doors open and the guard looks in, the beat increases suddenly. Before he can do anything the criminal hits him and tries to get away but he fights back and the fight begins. The music gets stronger, it’s like a heart racing, and the music begins to take over and is very important to the scene that contains very little dialogue. As the alarm is sounded and with the hustle and bustle of people, the criminal escapes up onto the roofs for a get-a-way. However is closely followed by Shu Lien and they don’t get far.
The camera then pans out and shows us the whole roof network with artificial lights being used to try and find the criminal who is on the lose. This stresses the sense of panic in the house of the sword being taken. Here there is no use of music but the sound of a panicked place with the sound of people rushing around trying to find the criminal.
Back with Shu Lien and the criminal up on the roofs we see Shu Lien grab the arm of the criminal and ask with force for the sword back. The criminal is certainly not going to give her it and by the stern look we see on Shu Lien’s face she isn’t going to give up with out a fight. Then the criminal sprees followed again by Shu Lien. In this Scene Ang Lee must have used every sort of camera angle possible, this adds great effect and allows us, the audience to keep up with the fighting. He uses a wide span shot to show them running across the roofs. But this is no normal running that they are doing they seem to hardly ever actually put their feet on the roofs. This is just some of the magic, it seems surreal and adds escapism to the film. The camera also gives the effect that we are following them and are actually there. We also get shots where we are below, looking up at them. This has a greater effect when they are walking up walls or coming down them because it exaggerates the size of the wall and shows us the greatness of their powers. Close up shots are also used, sometimes they show who is in control or show a point that is wanted to get across in more detail.
The music gets a stronger beat as the two are of the roofs and fighting begins. Here Ang Lee uses slow motion shots to show who is in more control at certain parts of the fighting. Like when Shu Lien, who is portrayed as the older and wiser of the two, has the greater control at that moment in time, she is pulling the foot of the criminal down with her foot, still with full control of the use of other parts of her body, to stop them getting away. This is done in slow motion to exaggerate and show the moves more clearly.
As the fighting becomes more intense so does the music. It is though the timing of the music co-insides with what is taking place on the screen. The moves that are taking place complement the beat of the music for a greater impact of the moves. The music is complex when the moves are complex. This effect is good on the audience because it encourages them to follow the movements taking place. Percussion instruments tend to dominate the music, which adds rhythm. The pace quickens and moves become more skilful and they are pushing each other to their limits. Some of the fighting takes place on the floor, at this point the camera moves above them and you can see legs interlocking, not quite touching. It is as though each know what is coming next and therefore make it so they are avoiding each other. The moves are very similar to those you would find in a dance routine. Shu Lien’s experience in martial seems to be winning it for her until a dart comes down which she is able to catch with ease, showing Shu Liens powers at a level we had not seen until then. The dart distracts her for a second, just enough time for the criminal to escape. The music has reached a climax and suddenly is cut off, the criminal has gone leaving Shu Lien standing there alone in silence. This is shown well using a wide-angle shot looking down onto the place where only seconds before was a fighting place. This signals to us it is clearly the end of the scene and the fact she is now on her own seems quite surreal in a sense.
We later find out that the criminal is Jen, the governor’s daughter who is soon to be married and has been trained in these martial arts in secret by Jade Fox who is a wanted criminal for murder. This film breaks all stereotyping that takes place in many films; the women in it play important roles, instead of men’s love interest like in many films. No one thought that the criminal could possibly be a woman as it turned out to be. And this scene is dominated by the roles of women.
The second fight scene I looked at is very different to the first. It takes place in the middle of the day, in the treetops. This time between Jen and Li Mui Bai. This scene has a calmer, more tranquil and serene feel about it. The atmosphere seems a lot lighter and airy, the natural light and it being more open help create this atmosphere. The music also has a great effect; here it is quieter, more in the background. You become aware that there is nothing to be worried about in this scene; there is no sense of danger looming.
It’s obvious from the beginning that Li Mui Bai has the control in this scene. We can tell that he has this control because Jen has to strain her self but all of it comes easily to him. We only hear Jen breathless. Jen and Li Mui Bai fly through the treetops adding yet more surrealism and magic to the film. This allows the audience to escape reality. The moves from Li Mui Bai in the scene are far more relaxed to any in the first scene, the swaying of the trees compliment the calmness of the scene. While Jens moves seem a lot more rushed, she comes over as inconsistent, flustered slightly. You can also tell a difference in the tone of their voices; Li Mui Bia’s is low and calming while Jen’s is higher pitched. In the tree’s Lee uses shots in contrast by switching from shots where you see them both to close ups you see the feelings facial expressions better and in turn this helps us understand the situation better. Wide angled shots are often used in the forest and create depth to the forest like the depth to powers both have, especially Li Mui Bai. In the forest as Jen is falling at one point the camera is placed above this has the greater effect as you can see her slowly vanishing and also shows us the distance she has fallen then returned with barely a scratch. When out of the forest and they are standing down by the river things become more intense between the two. They stop fighting and she confronts him about what he wants with her. The camera’s help with the intensity by still having both in shot but one of their faces actually in focus and the back of the others head, this shows the distance of the two as well as intensity. At this point she still has the ‘green destiny’ until she challenges him to getting off her in three moves in return for her allowing him to train her. He easily gains possession of the sword. She isn’t pleased by this and protests the unfairness of the way he challenged. The Music at this point builds up and creates the question of what is going to happen next. We soon find out he throws the sword down the river. Lee uses a great camera angle for this, the camera is low, and about level with the water pointing slightly upward. He captures the sword gliding through the air and hitting a rock, which it bounces off and goes into the water itself. This exaggerates the distance that the sword travels and how quick Jen was to get after the sword. Jen dives in the water after it, it seems her actions are careless and she doesn’t care. But luckily for her Jade Fox comes to her rescue again and in a split second Jade Fox has come from the trees and grabs Jen before vanishing again. And Li Mui Bai is left on his own, just like Shu Lien was. It seems to the audience that every time they come close to getting somewhere it all changes.
Both of these scenes took a great deal of time and money. They are jammed full of special effects and are choreographed to get the best effect possible. These effects were created by using wires attached to the actors so they were able to do these with little effort, the wires were then later digitally removed. The film is made of real and computerised clips. These scenes would of be filmed a lot slower than we see them but easily speeded up afterwards.
“Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” is a spectacular film and I’ve heard great things about it. Even if you don’t like the film you have to give it some credit for effects. Ang Lee did a good job and has achieved brilliant effects.
I’ve talked about the size of the film industry and the huge competition within. Different film companies are battling it out for who can create the best effects and impress us the most; which can get the biggest actor. But with all these special effects plus the fees for actors I wouldn’t even like to random a guess on how much the film cost, but is all this really worth it? Well, yes if you want to get the audience, capture their hearts and causes them not only to see it at the cinema but buy it later, it has to be worth it and anyway if it is so successful it should make all the money back.
