Review: Shi mian mai fu (2004)
Mark R. Leeper
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Beautiful to look at, Zhang Yimou's most
recent film from China has a cliched plot and a
little too much overripe melodrama. Rating: +1
(-4 to +4) or 6/10
Zhang Yimou made his reputation with serious historical films shot with a
beautiful visual sense and creative use of color. His films include RED
SORGHUM and RAISE THE RED LANTERN. With the success of Ang Lee's CROUCHING
TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, Zhang Yimou's style turned more to action and
entertainment blending with art with his film HERO. That film was an
international success, though slow to come to the United States, and he has
made a second action film, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS. Sadly his hand is not as
sure with this film. It comes off as a satire and even on occasion had the
audience laughing at, not with, some of the outrageous melodramatic excesses.
For example, at one point a spy gets a dagger in the back. His master tells
him to leave the dagger in his back because it makes his cover seem more
believable. So the character goes on with life in spite of the dagger sticking
in his back. It would be hard to take such an idea seriously in a James Bond
film. Here it seems even more outrageous. HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS will
probably be one of Zhang Yimou's lesser films.
The film tells how in A. D. 859 the government of China is less than popular
with the people. Among the groups resisting the government is a secret society
calling itself the House of the Flying Daggers. The plot mostly deals with the
journey of a young warrior of mysterious motives escorting the blind warrior
who may be a member of the secret society. They go on a journey while both are
being chased by the government's police. The plot of the corrupt government
and the people fighting back is a very familiar one. The blind woman is
herself a sort of female Zatoichi and her companion seems to have ninja-like
skills. Who are these people and are they good or bad? Are they even on the
same side?
Where HERO had a more approachable plot than previous Yimou films, the story of
this film goes further to being familiar and almost cliched. That may work
better in the director's homeland where people have had less access to film.
It feels like Yimou is reaching for a broader audience with more entertainment
and less edification. One thing that does remain the same is Yimou's color
sense. Though it is not as obvious in this film as in HERO the use of color is
very controlled. This HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS has some beautiful scenes of
seasonal foliage.
When I watch a martial arts film I distinguish between three kinds of feats.
Those actually performed as filmed. Those that would be possible with
sufficient skill but are enhanced for the screen, and those that could never be
possible with the current laws of physics. This film has a little too much
wirework that falls into the third category. For once Zhang Yimou has given us
a turn-your-mind-off sort of film.
It will be interesting to see how the international film market takes to Zhang
Yimou's HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS.
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2004 Mark R. Leeper
==========
X-RAMR-ID: 39082
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1342286
X-RT-TitleID: 10004142
X-RT-AuthorID: 1309
X-RT-RatingText: 6/10
Jon Popick
© Copyright 2004 Planet Sick-Boy. All Rights Reserved.
Okay, my socks have officially been knocked off. Zhang Yimou, whose Hero was
just released two weeks ago, is back with a vengeance with this gorgeous
stunner that made me race back to my hotel room so I could cry for a half-hour.
The chop-socky I expected. The swooning romance I did not.
Daggers is set in the 9th century, where a band of Robin Hood-esque rebels
called the Flying Daggers are pissing off an already weak emperor. Two of the
emperor's captains (Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro) are assigned to take down
the FD's new leader, who is rumored to have an agent working at a brothel (the
absolutely frigging radiant Zhang Ziyi). Sides are switched, roles are reversed
and crosses are doubled.
Most of Daggers takes place outdoors, in the most colorful forest you'll ever
see without the aid of LSD. It glows, as does Ziyi, who gets to wear all manner
of cute little hats. While there are a few great set pieces involving martial
arts (the Echo Drum made me hold my breath for about five minutes), it doesn't
take over the film, and there is no crazy wire-fu finale, either. Just the gut
wrenching, and the running back to the hotel (yeah, I'm a pussy).
==========
X-RAMR-ID: 39086
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1320366
X-RT-TitleID: 10004142
X-RT-SourceID: 595
X-RT-AuthorID: 1146
Laura Clifford
-----------------------
In 859, China's declining Tang Dynasty has become corrupt, but two police
captains are nonetheless determined to do their job and stamp out the
underground rebels known as the "House of Flying Daggers."
Director Zhang Yimou's (who again cowrote with Feng Li and Bin Wang,
"Hero") delivers the second of his one-two martial arts punches with the
gloriously melodramatic "House of Flying Daggers." While this film also
features twists and a love triangle, the plot of "Flying Daggers" focuses on
the love story and styles its kinks less like "Hero's" Rashomon-style
storytelling than star Andy Lau's "Infernal Affairs."
Captain Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro, "Fallen Angels") masquerades as a drunken
customer at the Peony Pavilion to investigate the rumored housing of fallen
Daggers leader's daughter as the new top showgirl. When the beautiful, but
blind, Mei (Ziyi Zhang, "Hero") is presented to him, he tries to have his way
with her, but house madame Yee (Dandan Song, "Family Ties") and her girls
intercede. Police Captain Leo (Andy Lau, "Infernal Affairs") arrests both Jin
and Mei. This turns out to be a ruse as Jin reinvents himself as the outlaw
Wind, who rescues Mei in order to get close to her and ferret out the new
Dagger leader. Jin, however, falls in love and when after many days on the run
together, he once again rescues Mei, the two are overwhelmed by Dagger members
and Jin discovers things are not as they seemed.
"House of Flying Daggers" is immediately given a distinct visual identity from
"Hero" with the brilliant Bollywood turquoises and teals of the Peony Pavilion
(production designed by Huo TingXiao, "Farewell My Concubine") .
As the action shifts out of doors, colors become more natural, although no less
striking. A field of 'flowers' is a neutral wash of beiges, yellows and
greens, more striking for its restraint. The film's climax is an extraordinary
three person battle that shifts from autumn to stark winter in one extended
scene. Cinematographer Xiaoding Zhao, graduating from "Hero's" cameraman,
finds Mei in the snow so magically, it recalls the poppy scene from "The Wizard
of Oz." He even finds beauty by his composition of a shot showing the rear view
of a horse and rider, still amidst a gathering of birch trees. Emi Wada's
costuming is noteworthy, not only for the beautiful robes of the Peony girls,
but the military wear of the captains and the highly mysterious garb of the
Daggers, whose bamboo hats hide identity. The breathtaking imagery is given a
highly romanticized score by composer Shigeru Umebayashi ("In the Mood for
Love") with a theme sung by opera star Kathleen Battle.
Ziyi Zhang gives a terrific performance that showcases her dancing ability in
an astounding scene where Captain Leo challenges her to a game of Echo Ghost,
where she is surrounded by a ring of drums and must reproduce the sounds he
creates by flinging dried beans with the extended sleeves of her gown. She's
believable as a blind woman and expresses washes of emotion over her face -
watch her when she realizes Wind has returned after they have parted ways.
Takeshi Kaneshiro is a dashing romantic hero, but Andy Lau displays a wider
range with his more complex character. All are adept with the wire work and
moves required by Tony Ching's action choreography, although a couple of
Zhang's landings are assisted by abrupt edits.
"House of Flying Daggers" is lush, poetic and soulful. Zhang Yimou has created
a real movie-movie to revel in.
A
For more Reeling reviews visit http://www.reelingreviews.com
==========
X-RAMR-ID: 39091
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1342734
X-RT-TitleID: 10004142
X-RT-SourceID: 386
X-RT-AuthorID: 1487
X-RT-RatingText: A
Harvey S. Karten
Reviewed by Harvey S. Karten
Sony Pictures Classics
Grade: B+
Directed by: Zhang Yimou
Written by: Li Feng, Zhang Yimou, Wang Bin
Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan
Screened at: Loews E-Walk, NYC, 12/4/04
My goodness. If a Martian visited the Earth and took in a good,
but low-key American film like "A Love Song for Bobby Long,"
then stepped into a theater playing "House of Flying Daggers,"
he'd likely be convinced that China is a far richer country than
the U.S. That's how gorgeous Zhang Yimou's movie is. The
costumes are lavish, the setting (which includes some dramatic
scenes in Ukraine) is like a series of fine oil paintings. Action is
everywhere. Daggers fly through the air, beans are flung by a
customer in a brothel, each bouncing off a drum and ricocheting
into others like billiard balls on a pool table. Principal
performers turn balletic somersaults, their plastic-like legs
smashing into enemies who, despite their possession of sword
fall like putty dropping from a cliff. A sizable American
audience, already introduced to wuxia, or martial arts filming
from watching Ang Lee's year 2000 blockbuster "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will probably turn out for "Daggers"
despite the need to read the bold, white English subtitles which,
by the way, are of such a high quality that they can be read
easily even when tossed out into the forefront of a snowstorm.
While relative few moviegoers would attend a wuxia screening
for the plot, Li Feng, Zhang Yimou and Wang Bin's script has an
intriguing complexity, playing ingeniously with such cliches as
"good cop, bad cop," and the one of the hoariest of all themes,
that of the bad man's chasing the virtuous woman with the intent
on bringing her and her organization down, but falling in love
with the putative victim instead.
"House of Flying Daggers" takes place in China during the
middle of the 9th Century as the corrupt Tang dynasty is on its
last legs. As though the government could not be trusted to fall
like rotting fruit, a sinister organization known as the House of
Flying Daggers is determined to force government soldiers and
police to fight for survival. When Captain Leo (Andy Lau)
believes that Mei (Zhang Ziyi), a blind dancer at a brother known
as Peony Pavilion, is the daughter of the old leader and is now
plotting revenge, he sets up a plan by which his colleague,
Captain Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro), would pretend to be a
customer at the brothel whereupon both he and Mei would be
arrested. The good-cop, bad-cop routine gets more complex as
Jin, pretending to care for Mei, is hoping that she will lead him to
the headquarters of the secret organization.
But there is yet another complexity. Both Jin and Mei are
fighting their own emotions, the two falling hopelessly in love
while any consummation of their desire would impeach their
separate political convictions. To top things off, Leo and Mei
are secretly lovers and Leo would stop at nothing–not even at
killing his best friend and rival–to keep Mei for himself.
The proceedings are filmed by cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding,
who is obviously aware that he is recording moments of pure
visual magic. In that he is aided by Shigeru Umebayashi's
music, with Cheung Long's editing adding lustre to fight
choreographer Ton Ching Siu-Tung's battle dynamics.
Not Rated. 110 minutes. © 2004 by Harvey Karten
@harveycritic.com
==========
X-RAMR-ID: 39097
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1343057
X-RT-TitleID: 10004142
X-RT-SourceID: 570
X-RT-AuthorID: 1123
X-RT-RatingText: B+
Robin Clifford
Set in 859 A.D., the once flourishing Tang Dynasty is in its waning years and
rebel forces are banding together to overthrow the corrupt Chinese government.
Two police deputies, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Leo (Andy Lau), are assigned
to put an end to the most powerful of the revolutionary factions called "The
House of Flying Daggers."
Chinese maestro filmmaker Zhang Yimou entered the realm of Wuxia Pien (martial
arts) filmmaking with his remarkable and beautiful 2002 masterpiece, "Hero." He
continues to delve into this most famous (to us
westerners) Chinese movie art form with his equally beautiful "The House of
Flying Daggers."
The police have had some success in their efforts to eliminate the Flying
Daggers faction by locating and killing its leader. But, his blind daughter,
Mei (Zhang Ziyi), is under suspicion and she is tracked down to the Peony
Palace, an exclusive brothel where the young woman performs as a dancer. Jin
goes undercover, using the name Wind, infiltrates the house of questionable
repute and insinuates himself with the beautiful blind girl. Leo arrests Mei,
giving his partner the chance to spring her from jail and have her lead them to
the lair of the Flying Daggers. Along the way, Jin's feigned romance with the
dancer becomes real and policemen's plans start to unraveled.
"The House of Flying Daggers" is much more than a Wuxia film. Besides the
incredible fight choreography, wirework and impressive effects, there is a
romantic triangle in the mix as we also learn the truth about Leo which lends
to the complexity of the story's intrigue, twists and turns. The triangle is
not as emotionally deep as the socio-political aspects of the story by helmer
Zhang, Feng Li and Bin Wang, but that's understandable. After all, this is a
martial arts movie. This isn't to say that the romance isn't interesting and
well handled by the stars, it is just takes a back seat to the copious action.
And, there is a whole bunch of action taking place and it comes in a variety of
guises.
There is, of course, the first-rate fight choreography, led by martial arts
coordinator Cai Li, which is captivatingly exciting to watch. But, there is
also the artistic quality when the action turns to dance. One striking scene
has Wind challenge blind Mei to a contest in a room of drums. He flings dried
beans with increasing speed at on after another drum and she must follow suit
with the long, flowing sleeves of her costume to duplicate Wind drum play.
Choreography, editing, camera work, physicality, production design, music and
sound all come together in a gripping scene of challenge, thrust and parry.
Techs are a marvel across the board. Cinematographer Xiaoding Zhao expertly
captures the excitement and action while using light to striking effect.
Colors, as usual in a Zhang Yimou film, are poke-you-in-the-eye vivid and used
effectively by art director Zhong Han. CGI and wirework are well integrated
into the live action and drama.
Acting, by the very nature of "Flying Daggers," leans more to the physical than
the emotional and, of the three stars, Zhang Ziyi stands out. The young actress
has only been on the international scene for a few short years with her debut
in Zhang's "The Road Home"
in 1999. Since then she has made two more films with the maestro, "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon" with Ang Lee, and "2046" with helmer Wong Kar-Wai, as
well as "Rush Hour 2" starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
The actress moves with grace and is a wonder to watch in both her dances and
battles. She also puts the greatest nuance on Mei.
Takeshi Kaneshiro and Andy Lau's characters, Jin and Leo, are not as fully
drawn as Mei and theirs is more cat-and-mouse game as the story twists its way
to its exciting conclusion. Both thesps are right up there with their co-star
with their physically impressive performances. There is not much going on with
support, though Dandan Song, as the madam of the Peony Palace (amongst other
roles), is mistress of her own space in the film.
There is much comparison being made between "The House of Flying Daggers,"
"Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and which is the better film. I
think it is a matter of taste since each has its own unique qualities. In all
cases, the incredible martial arts are tempered by thoughtful and empathetic
romances that make each a world-class film. I give Zhang Yimou's latest an A.
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
==========
X-RAMR-ID: 39101
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1344010
X-RT-TitleID: 10004142
X-RT-SourceID: 386
X-RT-AuthorID: 1488
X-RT-RatingText: A