Is Crouching Tiger the first consistently Taoist Martial Arts Movie?

I know there is already a Good movie/bad movie thread. I just want to talk about the representation of Taoism in the movie.

I posted on another thread about the Taoist perspective Croaching Tiger presents.

Okay a couple of examples:

The Green Dragon was very flexible and a Wudang warriors weapon. Every other jian in the movie was far more rigid.

No matter what a little sh!t Jen was, she was never made out as bad or good. The worst she was called was a potential "poisoned dragon" or "you are not my sister." No good or evil except for Jade Fox, but she had a history with White Crane...maybe she was just a bitter jilted lover...not truly evil?

What do you think? Most martial arts movies are "Shaolin/Confucian" in technique and philosophy(even Tai Chi Master). CTHD seems to be consistenetly Taoist/Internal.

One must toughen up without losing one's tenderness.

"Shaolin/Confucian"?

explain please...

That movie did have Taoist imagery coming out the a$$. The picture of the wagon wheels when Shu Lien's people first pulled into beijing, numerous shots of "empty vessels," yes, the green destiny, and Sir Te's advice to Governor Yu are some examples. Straight swordplay as I understand it is one of the "softest" kinds of combat, and shares many similarities with calligraphy (there's a scene about that too).

I've always nurtured the theory that almost all of Jackie Chan's movies are Taoist at heart, as well.

Hi-

While there was definitely a Taoist flavour in the imagery and so on, the "martial arts" were choregraphed martial arts and were drawn upon from a variety of sources to produce what looked the best on film.

please visit http://www.crouchingtiger.com and read what Ang Lee and Yuen Wo Ping have to say about the MA in the movie. As well there are quick time movies of interviews with both of them at this site and in these interviews, they will be the first to tell you a little about "movie fu"

peace

Kung Lek

hmmmmmmmm, i've not seen it yet
worth seeing?

Nothing is to be feared, only understood....

Conan the Barbarian was one too. In the end the bad guy "detatches" from his head.
Any psycologist can tell you that this is a symbol for letting go of one's thoughts and worries.

Crouching Tiger was a Taoist outreach propaganda, however in the end he chose attatchment and love over detachment and enlightenment proving that Conan The Barbarian is far truer to taoism. :) :( :o :D :eek: :rolleyes: :cool:

I don't have a signature because I have no pen to write it.

No more Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon threads!! Ugh! :eek:

Actually the film seemed to say that undisciplined energy tends to fall into destruction if not placed on a proper path. I agree.


Now no more!! LOL



judo legend, Masahiko Kimura

I'm SO glad to see someone else mention Conan as something other than a muscle-guy flick. Artisticly, it's fantastic (from the sets & costumes to the soundtrack), and it's filled with some brilliant philosophical points.

The Destroyer, however, sucked horribly.:(

Did the director of "Crouching Tiger..." direct any other martial arts movies you guys would recommend?

K. Mark Hoover

Yes, Sense and Sensibility. Emma Thompson kicks some major butt in that one!!!

Budokan,

Ang Lee actually directed a movie called "Push Hands." It's not a martial arts movie, per say. Nothing at all like Crouching Tiger. But, obviously, it does make extensive reference to taiji.

It's about a chinese man, his caucasian wife, and his father, who lives with them. His father is a taiji teacher at the local Chinese cultural center.

The movie centers on the cultural clashes resulting from a traditional chinese elder living with an American daughter in law.

Good flick. With some interesting taiji scenes.

Aside from that, Ang Lee hasn't ventured into martial arts much.


Stuart

In both push hands and crouching tiger, MA ability is shown by catching something before it falls. I'm sure that most of you can relate.

also, you have got to check this out.

The Father of "Kung Fu Rythm" and spiritual Son of Jackie Chan

http://uzair.20m.com
http://sipra.20m.com

In both push hands and crouching tiger, MA ability is shown by catching something before it falls. I'm sure that most of you can relate.

also, you have got to check this out.

The Father of "Kung Fu Rythm" and spiritual Son of Jackie Chan. He's gonna be in movies soon, buy stock in his company.

http://uzair.20m.com
http://sipra.20m.com