House Of Flying Daggers
Joe's Corner
If this film had been released back in the late 70's/early 80's, directed by one of the anonymous martial arts directors who were churning out films back to back in those days, maybe I wouldn't have found it to be a disappointment. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. As it is, it's directed by the world-renowned Zhang Yimou, and sorry to say, it's not up to his usual standard.
"House Of Flying Daggers" purports to be a historical drama: a group of rebels known as the House Of Flying Daggers, repelled by the actions and policies of the tyrannical emperor, are doing their best to depose him, while a pair of imperial police played by Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro (who recently co-starred in the much more interesting "Infernal Affairs") are out to stop them. They plan to do this by finding the Flying Daggers agent who it's said is working in the brothel The Peony Pavilion, and applying torture until she talks. But constantly shifting loyalties and hidden secrets will very definitely complicate matters.
Now, doesn't that sound like the makings of a terric historical epic? Plenty of sweep, pagentry and martial arts action? Something that someone like Zhang Yimou could make a near-classic out of? If only.
When all is said and done, what this movie ultimately comes down to is two jealous men fighting over a woman. And I mean two macho men who, as much as both might profess their love, seem more worked up that the other is trying to take what's his, than they are about possible harm coming to their alleged beloved (and if you doubt that, wait until you see the final scenes!). "Mine!" "No, Mine!" (Okay, so that dialogue doesn't actually appear in the film... but it might as well have!)
Well, okay, you might be thinking, but the visuals are amazing, right? Well, yes, they certainly are... up to a point. There are scenes in this movie the likes of which you've never seen. Words can't do justice to the incredible action choreography and incredible look of many scenes... and the "Echo Game" is genuinely astonishing. But two things: One, there's only so far great visuals can carry a film that has uninteresting characters and not much of a plot. And two, you know those Hollywood comedies that seem to feel that if a joke is funny once, it'll be even funnier the fifth time? This movie is like that... if you miss the flying daggers doing an amazing trick, don't worry... you'll get to see them do it at least three more times. By the fourth, it's not quite as mind-blowing.
Good acting can sometimes salvage a movie? Well, yes... unfortunately "House Of Flying Daggers" doesn't have that, either. All three leads have done much better work elsewhere, and as time goes by, it gets a little harder to remember how amazing Zhang Ziyi was in "Crouching Tiger. Hidden Dragon" and Zhang Yimou's "The Way Home", and how it felt like she was going to be the next superstar. Her acting lately seems all very one note, and this film is no exception.
So, what does this film add up to in the end? Some of the absolute best, most unbelievable stunts, visuals and martial arts even a veteran action movie watcher will have ever seen... all of it repeated until you grow a little tired of it, with a not really terrible but not particularly good movie at the center. If you want to see a great film from Zhang Yimou, you can see "Raise The Red Lantern" or "The Way Home" or many others. If you want historical drama with lots of martial arts there's the first couple "Once Upon A Time In China" films. Maybe Zhang's heart just wasn't in it, and he really wanted to be doing another personal film and character study. Let's hope he gets to do that next time.
If this film had been released back in the late 70's/early 80's, directed by one of the anonymous martial arts directors who were churning out films back to back in those days, maybe I wouldn't have found it to be a disappointment. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. As it is, it's directed by the world-renowned Zhang Yimou, and sorry to say, it's not up to his usual standard.
"House Of Flying Daggers" purports to be a historical drama: a group of rebels known as the House Of Flying Daggers, repelled by the actions and policies of the tyrannical emperor, are doing their best to depose him, while a pair of imperial police played by Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro (who recently co-starred in the much more interesting "Infernal Affairs") are out to stop them. They plan to do this by finding the Flying Daggers agent who it's said is working in the brothel The Peony Pavilion, and applying torture until she talks. But constantly shifting loyalties and hidden secrets will very definitely complicate matters.
Now, doesn't that sound like the makings of a terric historical epic? Plenty of sweep, pagentry and martial arts action? Something that someone like Zhang Yimou could make a near-classic out of? If only.
When all is said and done, what this movie ultimately comes down to is two jealous men fighting over a woman. And I mean two macho men who, as much as both might profess their love, seem more worked up that the other is trying to take what's his, than they are about possible harm coming to their alleged beloved (and if you doubt that, wait until you see the final scenes!). "Mine!" "No, Mine!" (Okay, so that dialogue doesn't actually appear in the film... but it might as well have!)
Well, okay, you might be thinking, but the visuals are amazing, right? Well, yes, they certainly are... up to a point. There are scenes in this movie the likes of which you've never seen. Words can't do justice to the incredible action choreography and incredible look of many scenes... and the "Echo Game" is genuinely astonishing. But two things: One, there's only so far great visuals can carry a film that has uninteresting characters and not much of a plot. And two, you know those Hollywood comedies that seem to feel that if a joke is funny once, it'll be even funnier the fifth time? This movie is like that... if you miss the flying daggers doing an amazing trick, don't worry... you'll get to see them do it at least three more times. By the fourth, it's not quite as mind-blowing.
Good acting can sometimes salvage a movie? Well, yes... unfortunately "House Of Flying Daggers" doesn't have that, either. All three leads have done much better work elsewhere, and as time goes by, it gets a little harder to remember how amazing Zhang Ziyi was in "Crouching Tiger. Hidden Dragon" and Zhang Yimou's "The Way Home", and how it felt like she was going to be the next superstar. Her acting lately seems all very one note, and this film is no exception.
So, what does this film add up to in the end? Some of the absolute best, most unbelievable stunts, visuals and martial arts even a veteran action movie watcher will have ever seen... all of it repeated until you grow a little tired of it, with a not really terrible but not particularly good movie at the center. If you want to see a great film from Zhang Yimou, you can see "Raise The Red Lantern" or "The Way Home" or many others. If you want historical drama with lots of martial arts there's the first couple "Once Upon A Time In China" films. Maybe Zhang's heart just wasn't in it, and he really wanted to be doing another personal film and character study. Let's hope he gets to do that next time.
posted by Joe Bunce at
4:48 PM
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