House Of Flying Daggers (Special Edition) [2004]

Amazon.co.uk Review

No one uses colour like Chinese director Zhang Yimou--movies like Raise the Red Lantern or Hero, though different in tone and subject matter, are drenched in rich, luscious shades of red, blue, yellow, and green. House of Flying Daggers is no exception; if they weren't choreographed with such vigorous imagination, the spectacular action sequences would seem little more than an excuse for vivid hues rippling across the screen. Government officers Leo and Jin (Asian superstars Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro) set out to destroy an underground rebellion called the House of Flying Daggers (named for their weapon of choice, a curved blade that swoops through the air like a boomerang). Their only chance to find the rebels is a blind women named Mei (Ziyi Zhang, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who has some lethal kung fu moves of her own. In the guise of an aspiring rebel, Jin escorts Mei through gorgeous forests and fields that become bloody battlegrounds as soldiers try to kill them both. While arrows and spears of bamboo fly through the air, Mei, Jin, and Leo turn against each other in surprising ways, driven by passion and honour. Zhang's previous action/art film, Hero, sometimes sacrificed momentum for sheer visual beauty; House of Flying Daggers finds a more muscular balance of aesthetic splendor and dazzling swordplay. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Truly Beautiful.......2008-01-18

There are few films that make a real impact on the filming industry, but this is one for the ages, the first things youll notice about this film is the stunning use of colour, in the brothel, Bamboo Grove, Forest and Fields. All the destinations used in the film,(Mainly China and Ukraine) have a real spiritual feel to them, and whats more is that there are fight scenes in each place, with one on one bloodbaths, vicious soldier ambushes, deadly traps and bamboo spears and a classic battle between 2 of the main characters with the use of instruments, machetes, chinese swords, and oddly enough, sleeves. But its not just the fighting and choreography that make this a spectacle, there is a brutally deep storyline with sensational plot twists that you just couldnt see coming.

Even the muscial score is breathtaking, alongside the visual effects and exuisite acting, that meld together to make a mouth-watering, eye-popping, jaw-dropping beauty, that is House of Flying Daggers.

A Veritable Spectacle.......2007-06-24

The second of Zhang Yimou's trilogy of martial arts films set in historical Chinese periods, "House of Flying Daggers" is the most intimate of the three. This is because it does not rely on large set-piece battles, nor is there a grand historical sweep lying behind the action. Instead we have a three-way love story between the dancer-cum-assassin, played by the ever-beautiful Zhang Ziyi, and her two suitors, captains in the local militia played by the handsome Andy Lau and the striking Takeshi Kaneshiro. Both men learn of the other's love for Zhang Ziyi's character as the film progresses, as they all battle against the forces of the region's government, the two men eventually battling each other in a wonderful snow scene for the love of Zhang Ziyi.

There is a common link, though, between "House of Flying Daggers" and Zhang Yimou's other films in the trilogy, "Hero" and "Curse of the Golden Flower". The key words are `colour' and `spectacle'. Yimou is famed for his stunning use of colour in his films. "House of Flying Daggers" is no different, although the choice of colours in this film has produced a more muted show. Since most of the action takes place in the open, we have gorgeous greens, blues, silvers and browns, many of which are enhanced by the choice of amazing locations: silver birch woods, bamboo groves, grass meadows. As mentioned above, the element of spectacle is more intimate in this film but no less stunning. The choreography of the fights and the use of weapons unleashed from a distance are rightfully praised. Zhang Yimou openly admits in the accompanying commentary to his homage to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but in his own movies he increases the `wow' factor to new levels.

The two disc version includes the commentary with the director and Zhang Ziyi, as well as interesting documentaries about the making of the movie and other usual features such as galleries and biographies and trailers. The commentary is interesting, for we learn how Takeshi Kaneshiro seriously damaged a leg in a riding accident whilst making the film (hence the adoption of certain poses) and how it was more a matter of luck than design that winter (thankfully) came early to the shoot in the meadow: it was not originally meant to be a snow scene. It was a shame that the many seeds of wild flowers sown the year before did not produce the meadow full of colours that he intended, but the amazing photography involving the silver birches in the forest is a scene I will always remember.

This is the most human martial arts film I have seen and is to be warmly recommended as an outstanding example of successful cross-genre films I know. It has action, it has love, it has beautiful costumes, cinematography and music. It fully lives up to the time-worn adjective `spectacular'.

Chinese art.......2007-04-21

This Chinese/Hong Kong martial arts film has most things you could ever want from a movie: Theres a classic love triangle, some brilliantly choreographed martial arts, and its all beautifully photographed. This is a great cinematic experience, with many scenes you will never forget. Where the film also scores highly is in its basic story. It wouldn't surprise me if the director Yimou Zhang had seen "Mou gaan dou" (Infernal Affairs) and decided to remake it in a martial arts context.

Perhaps the best scene in the film is the one shot in the Bamboo forest. This looked absolutely breathtaking and on my 42" widescreen TV, sadly I never saw the film at the cinema but it must have been stunning. The use of colour in this scene, and throughout the film is another amazing aspect of the film, and even if you don't have a special interest in martial arts, you may well enjoy this in the same way as you might enjoy looking at a great painting.

I'll admit this won't be to everybodies taste, but on first viewing, its certainly one of the best films I've seen this year, and it won't be long before I have to watch it again.

Fly like a butterfly.......2007-04-01

Here's one word that sums up this film: Beauty. The plot of "House of Flying Daggers" (original title: "Shi mian mai fu") is lacking, but in a way it's made up for with the intoxicating sets, costumes, and exquisite love story. Zhang Yimou backs away from the grandeur of "Hero" in favor of a more intimate story.

It's 859 A.D., near the end of the corrupt Tang Dynasty. A guerilla rebellion called House of the Flying Daggers (who are able to throw knives at great distances) has sprung up against the government. Despite the loss of their leader, the rebels are thriving. Deputy Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) decides to go undercover to infiltrate the House, and he tries to get the trust of blind courtesan Mei (Zhang Ziyi), daughter of the House's dead leader.

But soon he begins to fall in love with Mei, which jeopardizes his loyalties while Mei herself is experiencing confusion. But government officials want Mei dead because of her sympathies -- and even worse, they don't realize that Jin is undercover. To make things worse, Jin is not the only rival for Mei's love -- his best friend is as well.

Director Zhang Yimou apparently said that "Hero" was the warm-up to "House of Flying Daggers." It does seem more polished and fully realized, without the "Rashomon" storytelling. Instead of a war movie, it's a mixture of fairy-tale romance and beauty, and spies and guerilla warfare. The final half-hour is the stumbling block, where some plot threads come unravelled. Things get pretty confusing, and.

Zhang doesn't drop the ball as far as stylism goes -- color and exquisite details are in every frame. They have an almost intoxicating effect, and so do the action sequences. One of the most memorable scenes is Ziyi performing the "echo game," where she strikes drums in a particular rhythm with her flowing clothing. Not to mention a balletic, dreamlike fight in a bamboo forest, with the participants soaring and dipping like Cirque de Soleil dancers. It's all completely unreal, but there lies its beauty, like a painting of the sky that focuses on the sun and not the clouds.

This is entirely Zhang Ziyi's picture -- since her debut in "The Road Home," Ziyi has proved herself a wonderful actress. "House of Flying Daggers" focuses mostly on Ziyi, and she gives a truly exquisite performance, particularly as a blind woman -- watch her face. The two supporting actors, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, do a solid job in their roles, particularly Kaneshiro, who brings plenty of life to what could have been another cliched bad-cop-turned-lover.

"House of Flying Daggers" is worth seeing just to see -- it's visual ecstacy packed around a fairly typical love triangle plot and a slightly disappointing final half hour. But the sights alone in this intimate love story are exquisite.

Amazing.......2007-03-23

I'm not really fan of martial arts films as I find them rather cliched and kind of 'seen one seen them all' but this film really blew me away!
One night I couldn't find anything I liked in my local DVD store and saw this film. I would never have normally rented it in a million years but something about the cover drew me to get it.
The cinematography is beautiful and the charisma between the actors is really what makes this film. The music is beautiful too! One for the guys and girls I think!
I bought it from Amazon sraight away.
I highly reccommend it.

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