The House of Flying Daggers

Definately a much more enjoyable outing, House of Flying Daggers is the latest in our craving for Chinese produced gravity-defying kung-fu spectaculars. This one is a little less-preachy than the ideologically flawed Hero, even if the scope isn't quite as elaborate. Essentially, these ancient fables - with House of Flying Daggers included - are fantasy, which begs the question, what do you really want from two hours worth of super-human combat? Is that what we're here for, the fights? Or perhaps the beauty of the slave-labour forged of cinematography, levels of which could only otherwise occur from a $US100 million budget? Is it the almost indecipherable plot, driven by combinations of politically and romantically influenced twists of loyalty?

House of Flying Daggers is on a much smaller scale than the well-known Hero or Crouching Tiger. The whole thing takes place over what seems like a few days, and focuses on the the three main characters of Jin, Leo and Mei. Mei, a beautiful blind dancer is arrested by Leo due to suspected links with the House of Flying Daggers, an organization opposed to the ruling Tang government of the time. His deputy Jin, in league with Leo, breaks Mei out of prison in a ruse aimed at gaining her trust so that they can lead the army to the Daggers' new leader. However, as Jin and Mei travel together, their underlying loyalties are tested by their feelings for each other. You'll need to put your concentration helmet on for here, as there's plenty of twists and revelations ahead.

It's primarily a love triangle, with the political landscape only a background to the story. Pursued by government troops, Jin and Mei travel the countryside, pausing occasionally for a fight or three. As you'd expect, there's a level of creativity to the fights, especially the bamboo forest battle which is just beautiful to watch, it's violent, fast-paced and very engaging. There's time taken to examine the ideology of why the Daggers are fighting the government, but most of the time outside of the fights is devoted to the three main characters. That's all fine, however when it's time to resolve all the plot threads created in the film, we're given an explanation only for the relationship aspects of the these characters. Why they have the political motivations they do, and how the Daggers' struggle is progressing against the government, is left wanting.

In Hero, we get a ideological resolution, even if it is utter crap. In House of Flying Daggers, the political fight is far more interesting, but unfortunately, it's secondary to the love story going on. That's not to say what we're dealt in the film isn't digestible, on the other hand. In House of Flying Daggers we have a love story that's told slowly and purposefully. As an audience we're unaware, we don't know who really loves who until close to the end, and a gold medal for anyone who can confidently predict the love-triangle resolution. Each of the three main characters are very well rounded. You develop a liking for some and an intended distaste for others, which gives the final moments of the film some real power.

House of Flying Daggers resembles the middle-section of Crouching Tiger - there's even a similar bath scene - but the relationships angle is a little more credible than a girl falling for her kidnapper. To keep it from being just a chick-flick, or if your ADD is acting up on the night, the fight sequences in House of Flying Daggers validate the price of admission moreso than the repetitive Hero did. And they're not called the House of 'Flying Daggers' for no good reason! Check it out.


out of ten

Reviewed by Paul Boschen

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