House of Flying Daggers

Over half of the running time is a standard developing love story, intertwined with more (withered meadow) or less (Peony Pavilion) fascinating scenes, as well as a jaw-dropping fight - Bamboo Forest. However, there are shocking twists, floods of emotions, and above all, a brilliant snowy ending. But this game with the audience is definitely not for everyone. (10.01.2006)

After the politically cold Hero, Zhang Yimou focuses on love, feelings, intimacy and poetics along the lines of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Visually and musically, his work is beautiful and emotionally compelling. What is debatable, however, is the theatrical tinge of the dialogue and, mainly, the poor design of the identities of all four characters, in which you lose your bearings after the second plot twist. But the overall impression of the viewer being enthralled by the beauty of the film’s poetry survives. Respectable cinematic relaxation. (03.06.2005)

If Hero possessed the special charm of polygonal storytelling and only a slightly implied but impressive point, then House of Flying Daggers is a linearly-narrated love story with an overly obvious calculated ending that exaggerates the aspect of playing to the viewer's feelings. It is nothing more than a wonderful visual essay in which Zhang, for his desire for absolute beauty, has completely neglected what is beneath it. In Hero, beneath the gloss of colors and brilliant choreography, there was a very interesting story about the beginning of the Chinese state and also about the nature of heroism and tyranny, but in the House of Flying Daggers there is only a very faded love story beneath, which is not even saved by the surprising twist at the 3/4 mark of the film. If Yimou Zhang had paid more attention to the characters the entire time and given them some kind of interior, then perhaps the ending would have been emotional, but this does not go beyond the mere depicted fascination. All I really have left is a feeling of refined aesthetics coupled with the rancid aftertaste of self-purpose, schematicity and emptiness. Yet it is precisely through its visuals that the House of Flying Daggers is one of the films worth seeing – also because, unlike Hero, it is more connected to reality – both the battles and the scenery seem somewhat more from this planet, since CGI and wire-fu have clearly declined, which is not a bad thing at all. The camera and choreography are a triumph. On the other hand, the soundtrack is too conventional in places. The result? Slightly disappointing for me, but also an interesting film. (10.12.2004)

This movie is nothing short of a work of art to me. It doesn't matter that there is almost zero story, or that the plot is easily predictable, because the visuals are absolutely perfect. Romance abounds here, but the fight scenes were still the biggest spectacle for me. For example, the one in the bamboo grove is one I won't soon forget. A feast for the eyes with fantastic music. Beautiful colors. 5 stars. (22.09.2011)

A beautiful love story with breathtaking scenery, perfectly mastered fights and a captivating atmosphere. Story-wise this part is much better than the preceding Hero, but at the end it does get a little too overcomplicated. But what really took my breath away was the perfect harmony of the colors. Maybe even more than in the above mentioned Hero. The fight in the bamboo forest was breathtaking. (24.04.2007)