Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny By Justin Hill, Wang Dulu. Paperback, 320 pages. Published January 26th by Weinstein Books (6 of 10)
This is a novelization based on a screenplay based on a Chinese novel. Which is a sequel to the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. So, in short, this book should be doomed. Despite it being a translated work, the book hasn’t lost its essence. I loved the previous ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ movie and I am looking forward to Netflix’s sequel, for a variety of reasons, all of which are mirrored, in some way, in Sword of Destiny.
“The Sword of Destiny” transports the reader back to the landscape of ancient China when it was revered to be a warrior who followed The Iron Way. The story picks up seventeen years after the death of one of the greatest warriors, Mubai, as he defended the legendary sword, The Green Destiny. Shulien, who loved Mubai, must now come out of her self-imposed exile when The Green Destiny is once again vulnerable to falling into the hands of the evil warlord, Hades Dai. Two young warriors, Snow Vase and Wei-fang, also find their destiny intertwined with Shulien and the famed sword.
Mr. Hill’s words come alive on the pages as the story unfolds – the landscape, the inner thoughts of the characters and of course the agility of the battles. The warriors fight with such elegance and grace and you feel like you’re watching a beautiful and intricate dance play across the stage. Sulien’s character is the most complex—her feelings when she held Mubai as he took his final breaths, her need for reflection and solitude as she mourns a life that can never be, and finally her responsibility to the sword’s safe-keeping. No warrior is safe and evil is conquering the land. Can four warriors keep the sword safe or will it fall into the hands of one of the most evil warriors ever born? This is the journey Mr. Hill takes the reader on and he does it with such skill that before you know it, you’ve finished the story and are begging for more. Highly recommended.
The film version of the high flying sequel hits Netflix and select IMAX screens on February 26th, 2016 (tomorrow)…
Directed by the renowned martial arts choreographer (The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill 1& 2) and director (Tai Chi Master) Yuen Wo-Ping, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’ stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Lady) as Yu Shu-Lien and Donnie Yen (Ip Man 1&2, Monkey King 3D) as Silent Wolf. ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’ also stars Harry Shum Jr. (Glee), Jason Scott Lee (Seventh Son), Roger Yuan (Bulletproof Monk), Eugenia Yuan (Revenge of the Green Dragons) and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo.