What made you decide to join the cast?
The reason why I decided to wait two years after the Bond movie, and to work with Ang Lee in a martial arts movie, is because I really believe that this genre deserves more respect and dignity than it's ever been given. Before, people saw it as a fairy tale; they felt they could take it easy. But it shouldn't be about that. It's so steeped in our culture, it should have more depth to it. It's never easy to find that balance, when it's such a magical type of film, to make you accept our soaring to the skies... it was a risk, but when we did this movie, it was for a Western audience.
How was working with Chow Yun-Fat?
The one person, aside from Ang, I truly wanted to work with was Chow. We had to wait 15 years. This is our first time on film together. I am good friends with he and his wife. Off the set, he would be cooking for us, and we would be playing Mahjongg together. On the set, he is such an incredible giving actor, that it is easy to go through the entire scene with him. We looked good as a couple. It was so important for this movie to have that chemistry. All the unspoken emotions were there.
You injured yourself on set. How have you recovered?
I'm doing re-hab for my knee. From the minute I wake up, I do my stretches. When I'm brushing my teeth, I do my kicks. When I'm in the car, I do sit-ups. Since the age of four I've worked out. I'm so in tune with my body, I know what subtle movements I can do to keep me exercised.
Read a review of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Read an interview with "Crouching Tiger" director Ang Lee.
Read an interview with "Crouching Tiger" co-writer James Schamus.
Will "Crouching Tiger" increase the popularity of foreign language cinema?
