House of Flying Daggers

Todd Inoue
December 10, 2004

The story surrounds an underground sect—the House of Flying Daggers—rising up during the waning years of the Tang Dynasty. One of its operatives, Mei (Zhang Ziyi), wiles her way into the arms of the local army captain, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro). Meanwhile, the other captain Leo (Andy Lau) attempts to squash the uprising while maintaining a secret alliance.

House of Flying Daggers is everything one would expect from Zhang Yimou boosted with a human element. The scenery—much of it filmed in the Ukraine—is so visually stunning that each shot looks like a fresh painting come to life. Kaneshiro and Lau show extraordinary depth while Zhang does her best Gong Li/Meryl Streep impressions (while still kicking much ass). There’s plenty of high-wire fighting and the CGI-enhanced effects—the camera following a hurtling rock, a shooting bamboo or arrow through the air as it hits its target—are cool the first couple of times but I thought Zhang Yimou went to the well too many times.

I would characterize HOFD as occupying the middle space between Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It retains some of Hero’s expansive and handsome looks while maintaining Ang Lee’s soft emotional touches. I’ll probably go see it again.

One of my favorite timewasters is annointing new movies a porno movie name (Better Luck Tomorrow = Better F#cked Tomorrow, etc.). House of Flying Daggers? House of Flying Peckers. Thank you, goodnight!

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Comments

Comments

j01ce wrote on Sat, 12/11/2004 - 9:28am
This movie is a farce and an insult to the great tradition of Chinese cinema. Zhang Yimou fetishizes Oriental beauty and neglects to realize that good cinematography alone does not equal a good movie. His script is ludicrous and the acting subpar to say the least. When I watched it 6 months ago in Hong Kong, the entire cinema erupted in laughter when Zhang Ziyi got up with a dagger stuck in her chest. Oh yeah, that was AFTER fall turned into winter in a space of thirty seconds.The most regretful part about it, I think, is how badly Zhang Yimou has sold out to mainstream audiences. His 'subversive' films ("To Live" "Red Sorghum" "Yellow Earth" etc) were so much better in their intense portrayal of peasant life. And now he comes out with lavish extravaganzas like Hero which panders to the Chinese Communist Party by delivering a thinly-veiled allegory for Mao Zedong's unification of China, since he implies that unity under a dictator is the best thing that can happen to a country.House of Flying Daggers tries to be Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but totally forgets about the central component that made Ang Lee's film so good: the script. In short, Zhang Yimou wants an Oscar SOOO badly that he is willing to compromise quality filmmaking for gimmicks and schticks.
Audrey wrote on Sat, 12/11/2004 - 10:42am
I also saw an advance screening of House of Flying Daggers last month. I thought it was visually stunning but the only thing (other than cinematography) that kept me in my seat was Takeshi Kaneshiro.Oliver and I had a great laugh about how sappy/melodramatic the film was. But I admit, I would go see it again... Someone else would have to buy the ticket, though.
eva wrote on Sun, 12/12/2004 - 9:36am
In rely to joyce-- it never ceases to amze me--how, all ones who criticised ZZ death scenee obviously didn't get it.If anyone was truly paying attention ? one will see why-- she was able to get up ! it's all explained up on screen.As for the continual comaparison with CTHD & it's story ? Tiger came from a series of Chinese folklore-- Ang Lee read as a child .He said, it fascinated him. why tiger had a built-in story line, all Ang lee had to do was structure a script from it. Whilst, Daggers was specifically written for the screen. All it's components deliberately done-- as backdrop for all it's fight scenes & drama.I immensely enjoyed Daggers for what it is-- instead of comparing it with other films. it stands on it's own merits.
Arnold wrote on Sun, 01/02/2005 - 5:06pm
Good film. Not Zhang Yimou's best, but better than Hero imo.
Zhang Ziyi Fan wrote on Sat, 06/25/2005 - 10:48pm
"This movie is a farce and an insult to the great tradition of Chinese cinema. Zhang Yimou fetishizes Oriental beauty and neglects to realize that good cinematography alone does not equal a good movie. His script is ludicrous and the acting subpar to say the least. When I watched it 6 months ago in Hong Kong, the entire cinema erupted in laughter when Zhang Ziyi got up with a dagger stuck in her chest. Oh yeah, that was AFTER fall turned into winter in a space of thirty seconds. "It's fantasy, take it for what it is.