Quick Review: House of Flying Daggers
Ah, Chinese Kung fu movies. In fact, not just Chinese Kung fu movies, but Flying Chinese Kung fu movies. I dig em. Maybe not quite as much as Japanese samurai movies, but I dig em all the same. So, with that bias in mind, what's my opinion of the newly released on DVD "House of Flying Daggers"? Not bad, not bad at all.
The plot involves two central characters, Mei, a young, blind Dancer/Martial Artist who is also a member of a Robin Hoodesque anti-government group known as the House of Flying Daggers, and Jin, a skilled Martial Artist and Government Agent who is attempting to use Mei to infiltrate the House in order to destroy it once and for all. Sounds simple? Not hardly, as an almost continuous series of plot twists keep you on your toes throughout the film. In addition, the slow build up of the relationship between Mei and Jin is also well handled, and characterization is solid throughout, despite the numerous twists and turns.
Obviously, the visuals are to die for. The director and cinematographer don't know the meaning of the words "bland scene". Everything is bold and beautiful in this film, even a snowstorm becomes a madcap flurry. The handful of action scenes are typically balletic, and Flying Daggers ain't just a clever name, as Knives, Swords, and Arrows dart across the screen, seemingly with an intelligence all their own.
If you're not into the relative absurdities of Flying Kung fu, then this film will annoy you in the same way other of these types of movies probably annoyed you. For example, in one scene, a seemingly endless army of Government Soldiers bound, monkey like through the treetops of a bamboo forest while hurling makeshift bamboo spears. A lotta people can't hang with that level of absurdity, so be forewarned.
Despite all the seeming praise, I gotta admit, something's missing from House of Flying Daggers. Maybe it's that the film feels a little too short, or maybe that the fight scenes lack a certain degree of impact, or maybe the multiple plot twists hurt the characterizations more than I'm letting on. Regardless, House does seem to fall a little short compared to other Flying Kung fu films I've viewed. Still, it is definately worth checking out for the dazzling visuals and the artful fights. Reccommended. Are there two Cs in recommended?
The plot involves two central characters, Mei, a young, blind Dancer/Martial Artist who is also a member of a Robin Hoodesque anti-government group known as the House of Flying Daggers, and Jin, a skilled Martial Artist and Government Agent who is attempting to use Mei to infiltrate the House in order to destroy it once and for all. Sounds simple? Not hardly, as an almost continuous series of plot twists keep you on your toes throughout the film. In addition, the slow build up of the relationship between Mei and Jin is also well handled, and characterization is solid throughout, despite the numerous twists and turns.
Obviously, the visuals are to die for. The director and cinematographer don't know the meaning of the words "bland scene". Everything is bold and beautiful in this film, even a snowstorm becomes a madcap flurry. The handful of action scenes are typically balletic, and Flying Daggers ain't just a clever name, as Knives, Swords, and Arrows dart across the screen, seemingly with an intelligence all their own.
If you're not into the relative absurdities of Flying Kung fu, then this film will annoy you in the same way other of these types of movies probably annoyed you. For example, in one scene, a seemingly endless army of Government Soldiers bound, monkey like through the treetops of a bamboo forest while hurling makeshift bamboo spears. A lotta people can't hang with that level of absurdity, so be forewarned.
Despite all the seeming praise, I gotta admit, something's missing from House of Flying Daggers. Maybe it's that the film feels a little too short, or maybe that the fight scenes lack a certain degree of impact, or maybe the multiple plot twists hurt the characterizations more than I'm letting on. Regardless, House does seem to fall a little short compared to other Flying Kung fu films I've viewed. Still, it is definately worth checking out for the dazzling visuals and the artful fights. Reccommended. Are there two Cs in recommended?
2 Comments:
One c
I haven't seen House of Flying Daggers yet. But I have seen Kung Fu Hustle and Ong-Bak:Thai Warrior. Those are some excellent movies.
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