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| House of Flying Daggers |
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  (4/10)
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Runtime: 115 |
| Public Rating: 8.50 (206 votes) |
Director: Zhang Yimou |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Action |
Year: 2004 |
| Writer(s): Li Feng, Wang Bin & Zhang Yimou |
| Distributor: Sony Pictures Classic |
| Reviewed by: Le Apprenti |
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There is one word to aptly describe Zhang Yimou's follow-up to Hero - almost. This could not be more clearer than the film's series of 'almost happened' situations, a premise that almost became central to the story, and an almost unmuddled finish. In short, House of Flying Daggers is almost decent.
So where did it go wrong? Anita Mui's passing - on December 30, 2003 - before her role in this film could be filmed (reportedly) certainly had a lot to do with it. Out of respect for her, Master Zhang did not recast her but made last-minute changes to the script to accomodate her absence. It may also be the commercial success of Hero going to his head and he wanted to top it in all areas. It may yet also be that his affection for leading lady Zhang Ziyi has clouded his judgement. Whatever the reason is, House of Flying Daggers has had a chance to be promising but in the end is set upon by its own blades.
The premise is the underground title alliance group with a Robin Hood modus operandi - stealing from the rich to give to the poor, and fighting a Tang Dynasty government (859 AD) that has grown weak and corrupt. Two county captains Leo (Hong Kong pop star Andy Lau) and Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are charged to apprehend a blind dancer Mei (Ziyi) at a brothel on suspicion of being the daughter of the Flying Daggers' old departed leader. When she refuses to divulge any information, the two captains hatch a plan where Jin undercovers as lone warrior Wind to earn her trust so that she can lead him to the secret hideout of the Flying Daggers.
However, the actual plot spins off from the premise, at its expense. An unexpected romance develops between Jin and Mei. Jin the flirtatious Wind puts his moves - and risks his life - on Mei, who slowly reciprocates. They brave many battles against the soldiers sent to kill them until they meet the Flying Daggers. Like many screen saviors, they show up just as the two distressed lovers are about to be killed. Unfortunately, the plot starts coming apart from here on. The monogamous romance turns into a love triangle when Leo is not only revealed to be Mei's fiancee but also a mole in the government. Then there is an incoherent angle of Mei's mission to kill an important officer that defeats the purpose of Leo, who being the mole makes him more accessible to the intended target.
The plot twists are designed solely for our cerebral digestion, the "Echo Game" scene between Mei and Leo for our enjoyment, and Mei's blindness to lead us to believe she is blind. It may be far-fetched for a blind person to have such an acute sense of hearing to hit the drums in the correct order to replicate a drum melody. But how else can Zhang Ziyi display her flexibility and acrobats - how many accomplished actresses do you know can do a 180-degree split? Master Zhang must be deeply fond of her, from the amount of attention and close-ups she gets. Her two leading men Lau and Kaneshiro seem wooden next to her.
Even though Ziyi's character is supposed to be blind, her acting does not convey that satisfactorily. Not only do her eyes look healthy but they also respond as a pair with 20-20 vision do; visually-impaired eyes cannot make any kind of responses (because they cannot see). The slight smile at Leo during the "Echo Game" sequence is another dead giveaway. She cannot do that unless she can see him and respond to his reaction with her own. Despite her best efforts, this is not one of her better works. Whether it is Master Zhang's intention or not, it is an almost successful Zhang Ziyi vehicle.
As the love triangle is pushed more and more into the spotlight, the premise becomes less significant until it is finally dropped out of sight. Along with that is a great battle between the Tang general's troops and the Flying Daggers spoken about at great lengths by the characters. The last shot of that shows the troops marching quietly towards the Daggers' hideout. Whatever happen to them and the fighting that could have been shown - even for guilty pleasure - are not important to Master Zhang. He prefers to drag the love triangle at an excruciatingly slow pace, have Mei make out with Jin after two failed earlier attempts, then subject Mei to two attempts at death, and have snowfalls out of the blue to convey Jin and Leo's determination in fighting each other to the death.
As for the Flying Daggers, only the female division is shown. Its members are decked in the color of enlightenment (green from Hero) and represented by the brothel's madam Yee (Dandan Song) in the guise of the Daggers' unseen new leader Nia. They are deadly with blades and oppose the government, but their Robin Hood MO is neglected. Speaking of Nia, who played the real McCoy in her very brief apperance (her face covered by her hat)? It can't be Anita Mui, can it? All hints in the script point to her: both Mui and Nia are conspicously absent.
House of Flying Daggers has tons of fight sequences, a lot more than in Hero and just as fluid. But too much of them can bring the plot's dramatic action to a standstill, and that is exactly what happens in this film. Like Ang Lee in last year's summer bomb Hulk, mainstream action genre, even a wuxia, is not Master Zhang's forte.
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