Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4756 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: Mandarin Chinese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 119 minutes

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 splendour and dazzling swordplay. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Following up his award-winning martial-arts drama HERO, director Zhang Yimou (JU DOU, RAISE THE RED LANTERN) tells an intricately detailed love story in the swordfighting epic HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, set during the final days of the Tang Dynasty. A mysterious group called the Flying Daggers is a dangerous threat to the government, so police captain Leo (Andy Lau) sends his right-hand man, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro), undercover to try to find the rebels' location. Jin, a notorious playboy, pretends he is a roving warrior called 'Wind' and befriends Mei (Ziyi Zhang), a blind dancer who is believed to be the daughter of the former leader of the Daggers. As he leads her across the countryside, they are 'attacked' by government soldiers--but these battles are staged by Leo in order to convince Mei that Jin is on her side. But when a general orders that Mei must be captured at any cost, the fighting turns real, and Jin must decide between his loyalty to his job and his growing love for Mei. Meanwhile, Mei battles her feelings for Jin as well, trying to hide her true self. Zhang's gorgeous, compelling film is filled with beautiful singing and dancing, marvellous costumes, and wonderful locations; the scene in the Bamboo Forest is unforgettable, as is the Echo Game, which Leo and Mei play in the Peony Pavilion. There are also twists throughout the film and by the time the end comes, audiences will be spinning their heads in awe and amazement at the never ending wonders of this special movie. The film is dedicated to Anita Mui, who was to have a starring role before her unexpected death.

Customer Reviews

Disapointed !
If you love Yimou Zhang from Rise the Red Lantern or Ju Dou, do not watch this movie. It's waist of time.

You are missing the point
This is one of my favourite films of all time. I have watched it many times and it breaks my heart each time. Is it me or are people not watching it properly. In contrast to many reviewers I find the last half hour or so the best of the film. The photography has to be amongst the best ever put on celluloid. You must watch this on as large a screen as possible. The colours of the leaves and fields is simply stunning. Then as the sky darkens and the weather changes, the snow begins to fall as the fight carries on, this is a different visual feast. This film is a complete package, the story is interesting with a couple of not very difficult to see coming twists. The ending is tragic if you are as soft as me. Throughout the film the scenes are awash with stunning set pieces of glorious colour but the final part of the film the director, cameraman and editor really go to town. As another reviewer remarked, worth watching just to watch.

Stunning
Stunning isnt a word i would like to use when reviewing a martial arts film, yet this one is. They clearly went all out on the eye candy, the colours are dazzling. On top of that the story line is top class with an ending that shocks and is the defining moment that will remain in your memory. Definately worth buying and watching many times, it has everything you would want from a film of this genre. 5 stars.