HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS

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HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS / Malcontent's Mark: A-

December 3, 2004

Jin: Takeshi Kaneshiro
Mei: Ziyi Zhang
Leo: Andy Lau
Yee: Dandan Song

Directed by Yimou Zhang.
Written by Feng Li, Bin Wang, and Yimou Zhang.
PG-13

House of Flying Daggers was directed by the internationally renowned Chinese director Yimou Zhang. His films aren’t like the action-fueled sagas of John Woo, the Chinese director of Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2. And his movies aren’t like the culture-hopping set pieces of Ang Lee, the Chinese director of Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Hulk. Zhang’s films are often more intimate and more solidly rooted in Chinese history and culture. Most importantly, Zhang has avoided immigrating to Hollywood.

Daggers is set during the decline of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and rebel armies are rising up against the emperor. Ziyi Zhang plays Mei, a member of the rebel group named the Flying Daggers. It should come as no surprise that the group is known for their proficiency in throwing daggers. Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro play secret agents working for the emperor. Both try to fool Mei into leading them to the House of Flying Daggers. Eventually, double-crossing occurs and, of course, there’s the inevitable love triangle.

The main draw of Daggers, however, will be the fight scenes. Since director Zhang has mostly directed melodramas, I assumed the kung fu wouldn’t mix well with the dramatic material. But not only do the fight sequences blend seamlessly with the drama, they raise the bar of martial arts battle previously set by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Zhang actually outdoes Ang Lee – the bamboo forest fight scene in Daggers makes the bamboo forest fight scene in Crouching Tiger look like little shoving match. In fact, it looks like Zhang may have borrowed the fight choreographer from The Matrix for many of the fight scenes. Since I’ve referenced Crouching Tiger and The Matrix, you’ve probably already guessed that the characters in Daggers are somehow ordained with the ability to fly when they fight.

Another draw will be Zhang’s impressive cinematography. He’s become world renowned for his use of color. In Daggers, he demonstrates again how he uses the natural environment - pastures filled with the green of spring, forests filled with fall foliage - to accentuate the emotions of the characters.

Despite Daggers’ appealing aspects, the reviews from Chinese movie critics have been mixed - the Chinese are often the harshest critics of their own movies. Though international audiences have always applauded Zhang’s efforts, his most recent films, including the Jet Li's Hero, have been panned in China. In Daggers, the Chinese critics disapprove of the film's digressive plot. I'd have to agree, the plot does have a few tangents, but the digressions often serve to deepen the characterizations. And of course, you need to let the plot idle long enough for the fight sequences.

While the plot meanders, there are a few subplots that are never resolved. During the final sword fight, there is set-up for a climactic battle scene between the Flying Daggers and the emperor’s army – but the battle is never shown. We see the army descending upon the House of Flying Daggers, but that’s it. I’d at least like to see its outcome.

If you liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I highly recommend Daggers. And even if you didn’t like Crouching Tiger, any Matrix fan will appreciate Daggers’ fight scenes. But audiences from every continent will agree that Yimou Zhang’s cinematography is his crowning achievement in Daggers.

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