Review - House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu)

[Sushi]

Review of House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu)

Rating - 15
Language - Mandarin (subtitled in English)
Running Time - 119 mins.


Following the stunningly beautiful Hero, Yimou Zhang is back again with his martial arts love story, House of Flying Daggers.

Set in 859AD at the height of the Tang Dynasty, a corrupt government faces social unrest with several rebel armies forming, the largest being the “House of Flying Daggers”. Local captains Leo (Andy Lau) and Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are ordered to capture its leader, and attempt to do so by manipulating Mei (Ziyi Zhang), a blind dancer.

As expected, the film is visually breath taking with fantastic action sequences, but ultimately feels hollow with clichés, characters lacking any significant depth and the impact of its beauty lessened from the release of Hero. Despite this, it is still an enjoyable film suiting all tastes with its visual richness, action and tragic love story.

4/5

[dynastygal]

HOFD is a worthwile watch if you liked Crouching Tiger, Hero, etc.

[Sushi]

I know I am probably in the minority for saying this, but enjoyed 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' and 'Hero' a lot more then this film. Not only in terms of choreography, but the storyline and more importantly the atmosphere...

[Deleted]

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was the first real wire movie released in the western world. Previously, they were severely overlooked. CTHD brought it to a mainstream level, and is the basis of which HEro, HOFD et al are judged, which is a it unfair. It was a good movie in it's own right, but just like Howls moving castle, it was judged on previous films, and not on it's own merits

[Sushi]

Perhaps, but the problem is that he actively recognises the impact Ang Lee had on him... and plus... you cannot help look at his previous work and the entire martial arts genre.

For me something was just missing out of House of Flying Daggers... Maybe it is because I despise the idealisation of the 'Romeo and Juliet' type love story... Also in never tells you what happened to the House of Flying Daggers... Personally, I feel you cannot introduce a political backdrop/storyline from the outset and not provide a resolution for it.

Even if the point is that it does not matter... even R+J had some sort of political resolution...

[offbeat69]

Harold's capsule review:
House of Flying Daggers is f**king shit.

[Sushi]

offbeat69 said:

Harold's capsule review:
House of Flying Daggers is f**king shit.

Thank God! Someone agrees with me! Well, I would not be that strong... it is just that I do not find it enjoyable to watch... I know I said that in the review, but I had to write that ages ago for the uni paper and I would rather encourage people to watch it to encourage more world cinema to be shown in... cinemas.