December 2025

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Delivers High-Flying Adventure

This in-depth look at the making of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon first appeared in American Cinematographer's January 2001 issue. For full access to our archive, which includes more than 105 years of essential motion-picture production coverage, become a subscriber today.A smash hit at the Cannes and Toronto film festivals last year, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is as wonderfully deceptive as its title suggests. Set in the 19th century, the film presents a complex romantic drama enlivened by the trappings of a Hong Kong-style, period martial-arts epic. The plot is laced with intrigue: legendary warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) entrusts his jade sword, the Green Destiny, to his beloved, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). When the weapon is...more

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Feature

Historical


tron_lightcycle_featured
October 2025
Historical

The Making of Tron

Bruce Logan, ASC and director Steven Lisberger take filmmaking into the computer realm, where programs are characters and video games are mortal combat....more

Speed Racer Featured
August 2025
Historical

Speed Racer: A Need for Speed

Speed Racer, shot by David Tattersall, BSC, translates a popular animated series into a live-action feature, calling for some unusual visual techniques....more

O Brother Feature
July 2025
Historical

Escaping From Chains: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Cinematographer Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC departs from traditional methods on Joel and Ethan Coen’s O Brother, Where Art Thou?, using digital wizardry to lend the Depression-era jailbreak tale a customized look....more


Subscribe Today

Act now to receive 12 issues of the award-winning AC magazine — the world’s finest cinematography resource.

Print Edition Digital Edition
December 2025 AC Magazine Cover
November 2025 AC Magazine Cover
October 2025 AC Magazine Cover