A Review by Phil Calabro
2004, Sony Picture Classics, Dir. Zhang Yimou - Starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Ziyi Zhang,
Andy Lau, Dandan Song
Film can be defined as art through several different ways - perhaps from a brilliant screenplay, an enticing musical score, a definitive casting job, or a new form of cinematography. For Chinese director Zhang Yimou, the art of film is through its visual aspects, and now he has struck gold on his second film distributed this year. His film 'Hero' was one of the year's best because of its absorbing narrative and brilliant eye candy, and he has closely followed the same patterns to create an equally amazing film. I could go right ahead and say that even if our characters (which are not a lot) never talked once through the film, the effects would still suffice for everything. It's like watching a classical masterpiece in motion, with no necessarily boundaries or rules. It is a free-flowing work of art that will captivate everyone in the theater, with a metaphor-laden story that's just inches away from perfect. It's music to the eye, and a festival to the senses.
During the Tang Dynasty in China, a group of skilled assassins known as "The Flying Daggers" have caused great distress on the town around them. When it is found that one of the dancers at the new town brothel could be one of the members, police deputy Jin (Kaneshiro) starts investigating. Jin ravages over the young lady Xiao-Mei (Zhang) after she performs a dance number for him, and both of them are arrested. Then Jin and Leo make a plan to find the Daggers - Jin will break out of prison and help Xiao-Mei (who is blind, by the way) and act like he has fallen in love with her. They eventually get to know each other very well to the point that the whole setup has backfired - Jin has fallen in love with Xiao-Mei. But then the Chinese general has sent soldiers to stop them after the damage Jin caused in the prison - and the two must find the house of Flying Daggers or be left for dead.
One great aspect of Yimou's films is his very small cast - it creates a more intense focus on those who are very important without meandering off with silly supporting members. The character of Jin seems to be one very much like a swinger - a man who falls in love with so many women and eventually finds that the least likely candidate is the one true love. Takeshi Kaneshiro very intense and suave for the role, so it's no surprise that his personality fits the character itself. The chemistry between him and Xiao-Mei is similar to those of other foreign films, clever and passionate. Instead of breaking out quickly into a love affair, they slowly learn more about each other's qualities and concern for one another until they fall in love. Ziyi Zhang is also an interesting choice for the role of Xiao-Mei - because her character holds a lot of similarity with Flying Snow from Hero. Both are mysterious but cunning women, who know the male mind more than the males do themselves. Ziyi Zhang is quick, smart, and has a prophetic tongue that seems to drive substance into every scene she's in.
As I said before, there's nothing more spectacular in the film than its visuals. Like Pollock, Yimou takes a variety of colors and allows them to run wild on film - like a mystical rainbow with a dancing band. The scene which involves the blind Xiao-Mei striking drums surrounding her with nothing but her satin sleeves is nothing more than classic filmmaking. It's a combination of sensory delight and total genius to watch this. It's almost as hypnotizing as the optical-illusions backpage of a Highlights Magazine. Another scene that's just amazing takes place in a forest filled with nothing but bamboo plants. An ambush is sent to kill Xiao-Mei - with bamboo rods as their only weapons. The creative ways to stage a fight scene with such minimalistic qualities - and still kick some ass - is just another reason why movies like 'Hero' are given such hype. A common response to something like that is, "it's all special effects just to get money". Granted, money is generally the reason films like those are made, but an example such as 'HOFD' just proves that it is just a great story waiting to be told - and told beautifully, undoubtedly.
'House of Flying Daggers' features an extensive array of reasons to go see it - it's not an intellectual film, or one that you need a knowledge of Chinese film to see it - but just one to let your mind run free with the reels. Stunning graphics, a stunning storyline, and some great acting jobs are just a few examples waiting for you on this journey. It's a tale of passion, acting, and understanding that's just down-right top-notch.
