By James Keast

Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm) isn’t the first person you’d expect to direct a stunning, genre-honouring yet rule-breaking martial arts film, but Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is poised to take its place amongst the truly remarkable accomplishments in film. It follows a mercenary (Chow Yun Fat) who seeks to leave a warrior’s life, but first must avenge his master, murdered by a notorious criminal; he gets help from a long-time love (Michelle Yeoh). The emotional resonance of the film is pure Lee, but the martial arts literally take flight in the hands of famed choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix). The jaw-dropping fight scene in a bamboo forest is just one highlight that requires repeat viewing.

Grizzly Bear - Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC October 14
Before the release of 2009's Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear stood at a career watershed of sorts. Critical darlings without much mainstream success, they could very well have continued in the direction set with 2007's Friend EP and become perennial indie overachievers, in the vein of the Li... Full Review
Hostage Life - Centre Of The Universe
It's unfortunate the words "maturity" and "growth" are stigmas in the world of punk rock. They would be the perfect descriptors for Toronto, ON-based Hostage Life's tertiary release. Maintaining the adage that a band never realize their true potential until their third album, the quintet prove thems... Full Review
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Dir. by Paul Weitz
In an interesting twist of Hollywood fate, Chris and Paul Weitz have entered the final stretch of 2009 each in control of a major vampire franchise built from the pages of popular young adult fiction.

From one half of the brotherly team who brought us American Pie and About ... Full Review
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