“House of Flying Daggers” (Sony Classic Pictures)
“House of Flying Daggers” is a nice companion piece to the previously released “Hero.” Both movies were made by Shang Yimou, and both combine amazing cinematography with an intricate plot. The beauty of some scenes in “Daggers” is breathtaking and you will find yourself swept up in the tale of a blind girl who is a member of a gang fighting the current government in ninth century China.
Jin and Leo (Takeshi Kaneshero and Andy Lau) are both police officers. The government for which they work has been in a war with the notorious House of Flying Daggers group. They have information that a blind girl who works at the local brothel is a member of this organization. Her name is Mei (Ziyi Zhang) and they soon have her arrested.
Later Jin breaks her out of jail and leads her into the forest to escape. He tells her he is sympathetic to her cause, but in reality he is trying to get her to lead the police to the “Flying Dagger” leaders. Along the way these two also fall in love but they know their path will be difficult because they are in different camps.
The story is a tragic one and has the overtones of an opera, full of dramatic flourishes and situations. What really distinguishes the film is the beauty of the cinematography. Some of the visual aspects of this movie are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It is like a painting come to life with characters inhabiting the scenery that is so rich in color it blinds the eyes.
Then there are the fight sequences that are like choreographed dances. Some of the moves are shot in slow motion and have a grace that we have not seen in film before this time. It sounds too good to be true but it all is up there on the screen and ready to amaze you.
The actors play their roles and do the physical requirement of the movie, be it a dance sequence or a strenuous battle. They fly through the air and they glide through the trees, and they do it all beautifully.
The movie is rated PG-13 for violence.
Although this is a Chinese film with subtitles, don’t let that stop you from watching it. You will find yourself quickly caught up in the story of a doomed love, and you will be absorbed by the visual splendor of the film.
“House of Flying Daggers” is an experience that should not be missed. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” started me on my way to enjoying this type of movie and now I am totally hooked. “House of Flying Daggers” is the best experience of this type yet.
I scored “House of Flying Daggers” a sharp 7 out of 10.
