Search - New Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on DVD

The soap opera version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Wilson Ng | Guam USA | 08/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Ang Lee version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon left many Asians with a bad taste. The movie version cut alot of the side stories and boiled it down to the bare essentials. Asian audiences felt that 2 hours was not enough to tell the original story. The same can be said of many book to movie adaptations.





This U.S. DVD release of New Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is essentially a condensed Reader's Digest version of the television mini-series that aired in China shortly after the Ang Lee movie came out.



The original series, like alot of Chinese mini-series, tended to explore many aspects of Chinese culture that would be unfathomable to Western tastes. Much of that is cut out.



This series plays out more like a soap opera with continuing plot lines from episode to episode.



It's too bad that Tai Seng edited alot of the story out as some folks may want to see the complete uncut series. But in the interest of Western audiences, it was pared down to a more managable 4 hour show. This DVD release would probably not have sold very well if it was released in the U.S. in its complete uncut edition with more discs and a higher price.



VCDs of the original uncut series are available in China and in Chinese video rental shops but there are no English subtitles or English dubbing."

Colossal Letdown!

Omni-perspective | Sacramento, CA USA | 09/21/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This version of Crouching Tiger is certain to disappoint most fans of the Ang Lee movie version. The special effects budget is nonexistent. There are scenes where the wires are vividly visible, destroying any believability. Unfortunately, the acting only deepens the disappointment. It is abysmal and amateurish. The story progresses at a jerky pace and the editing is choppy, (probably reflecting the fact that this is condensed from a 15 hour TV version), making it difficult to follow what is going on. Take my advice, save your money! Buy the Ang Lee movie version if you have not already seen it. Watching this horrific and degenerate version is painful and not worth the effort."

This is not really a movie but it's intersting

AriesSpaceboy | Chicago | 06/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This "NEW" version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is more like a television mini-series. It is shot on VIDEO. Not Hi-Def George Lucas like video but soap opera / sitcom style video. However, despite the low budget quality of the production, this is a fun ride. The story and characters differ quite a bit from the theatrical version of the story but I enjoyed this alternate take. It clocks in at over 200 minutes so the story delves deeper into nuances & character arcs. Now on to the martial arts. The fighting in this new production is intense & non-stop. Top notch Kung Fu all the way. Overall, this will not make you forget about the Ang Lee directed theatrical film but it's an interesting alternate version of the epic story. Approach it with an open mind & I think you'll enjoy it."

Excellent Production

Mark Chrisco | Essex County, USA | 08/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This tv production pre-dates the famous movie by a year or so, but, has it's own character and story to tell. Some incidents remain the same, as well as all the major characters, performed by an attractive and talented group of actors (I've developed a little crush on the actress playing Shu lin). This was apparently a much longer work attested to by missing scenes shown in the opening and closing credits and it's a shame Tai Seng has not also offered the complete series dubbed for the serious collector. What's left is a sometimes choppy, but well edited story that expands into many different directions from the movie, yet at it heart never strays from the familiar. Great martial arts too. Very Highly Recommended!!"