Three texts whihc i have decided to comment on in my independent study are 'Enter the Dragon', 'Kill Bill and Crouching Tiger', 'Hidden Dragon.' All these films are based around the portrayal of both males and females, and also include the genre of martial arts. It will be relevant for me to therfore make reference to the texts as a way to justify ceratin arguments which i intend to make and also i think they will help me in producing a debatable essay. I will also be making reference to few other texts such as 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', as this to depcits women in a more action based role!!


Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2002) d. Ang Lee


In the early 19th century of China, martial arts master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) is hanging up his sword, a legendary, 400-year-old blade known as Green Destiny, after fighting for so many years. He wants to retire into a life of quiet self-contemplation after his endless pursue for his master's killer was going no where. He realizes that revenge was not a way out. Although still keen on avenging the death of his late master, who was killed by the witchlike Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei), Li now seems more inclined to a meditative life and entrusts the sword to Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), a friend and warrior with whom he has experienced a mutual, long-suppressed love. He wants Shu Lien to give the sword to a good friend in Beijing but things get complicated along the way. While delivering the sword to Beijing, Shu Lien meets Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a petite, headstrong politician’s daughter. Jen is unhappy over being forced into an arranged marriage, which only increases the envy she feels over the freewheeling lifestyle she imagines is enjoyed by Shu Lien. She is a good fighter and has a good strong heart, but she's too stubborn and easily manipulated. Later, Green Destiny is stolen by a masked thief. Sir Te's chief security officer Bo (Gao Xian) and Shu Lien, both skilled fighters, try in vain to stop the thief, but the mysterious figure escapes. After the sword is stolen, the plot supposely get better as Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) has to recover the sword along with the help of Shu Lien. Together they would embark on a quest that will determine their fate and destiny for their love for each other.

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