CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON - Motion Picture Soundtrack

Can an amazing film lay claim to being a masterpiece if its soundtrack fails? That's irrelevant in this case, as they are both phenomenal!! Ang Lee's splendid Chinese fantasy period piece of high kicking, high flying proportions gets enriched with a soundtrack by Tan Dun, featuring the cello virtuosity of Yo-Yo Ma. Beautiful traditional Chinese instruments create haunting, melancholic but ultimately moving pieces that linger long after the CD player had brought the experience to an end. Yo-Yo Ma's worldwide recognition is not unfounded as the lustrous tones reverberating from his cello speak far more than any words can. But, for those who can appreciate the beauty of vocal art on an equal basis, A Love Before Time (sung by CoCo Lee) get both the English Celine Dionesque end credit epic tune execution, as well as the Mandarin version which feels far more real you can taste it. When someone says "Motion Picture Soundtrack", this should be what comes to mind as opposed to a string of "hits" "inspired" by the film. Who needs pop trash when there are musical masterpieces like this out there. You needn't see the film in order to experience this soundtrack fully, but missing this visual gem would be as foolish as passing this CD by.

6 / A
- PB


 

6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A - Multiple Listening Possibilities
B - Deserves Another Spin
C - Once Should Suffice