[MOVIE] House of Flying Daggers (aka The Lovers)

[jayx8318x]

Just wondering what some people thought of this movie? It stars Zhang Zi Yi, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and directed by Zhang Yimou

I just saw it myself and have mixed feelings after seeing it. I think it had great potential, but whereas a movie should build momentum as it progresses, this movie seemed to do the opposite :/

And as much as I like Zhang Zi Yi, I'm getting kinda tired of her being casted in these types of movies, where are all the new actresses? But it was really good seeing her dance in the beginning since she's a trained dancer, and it looked natural to her.

<SPOILER BELOW - highlight to see>
But seeing her with Andy Lau wasn't easy, isn't he like 50 something now?
Not to mention, chinese love scenes are always difficult to watch, the actors seem so uncomfortable or something
</END SPOILER>

And what can I say about Takeshi Kaneshiro :drool:, and the daggers flying around was cool. But anyways, the movie was of course too formulaic...

<SPOILER BELOW - highlight to see>
And what the heck happened to the house of flying daggers? They kinda left that in the open, it showed the troops gathering around them, but who won?
</END SPOILER>

It did do well at the Cannes Festival, but like many have said, it's made for Western audiences, all the Eastern and wu xia devotees are gonna hate/laugh at it. Anyways, I kinda liked it, cuz I like sappy stuff. But it doesn't really teach a lesson or have one of those profound impacts on you, like CTHD or Hero, it's basically a love story. Unless I missed something :worry:

[rachelle03]

Basically, I watched the movie for Takeshi Kaneshiro. :love: esp with the bow and arrow. (Orlando Bloom in LOTR?)

Personally, I like the sound/music effects of the movie, esp, the dance rountine by Zhang Zi Yi, the beans beating on the drums. :thumbsup:

And what the heck happened to the house of flying daggers? They kinda left that in the open, it showed the troops gathering around them, but who won?

Totally agree! My group of friends were wondering when the credits starts to roll. A definite cliffhanger. Did they end up having dinner together?

Sad to say, Andy Lau seems to look old and haggard in the movie. :oops: I'm looking forward to his movie in 'Yesterday Once More' with Sammi Cheng.

The biggest flop in the movie is [Spoiler] When Zhang Zi Yi died in the snow field, and after Takeshi was so heartbroken, why did she have to revive again?!? I was laughing through the scenes. Sorry ~ [Spoiler End]

But the fighting scenes and the sound effects are definite a big plus point.

[ftlouiea]

Hmm yes. Although the sound effects were incredible, i don't think they make up for the lack of plot in the film...

as with all zhangyimou films, the colour and setting of the film is amazing. Even zhangziyi's costume when she was dancing, you could see the huge amount of effort to make it!

i rather though takeshi in the movie was a lil strange. his look is more modern, and somehow was very young and contemporary compared to andy lau... but his mandarin was perfect.

[en_en]

I saw it when I was in Taiwan...I thought it was a really good movie. Although I have to agree with your first spoiler. It always is really awkward -_-

As for SPOILERZhang ziyi dying at the end and them coming back up and all that, SPOILER ENDS...I thought that was really stupid. -_-

Do you know when the movie plans on releasing in the US? I think the movie was directed by the same guy that did Farewell, My Concubine, and his plot lines are always really simple, easy to understand.

So really, I thought that movie was really good cause I came out of the movie theatre crying my eyes out and the actors did great, but there was a few loose ends they needed to tie up.

[zhy378]

yea i also heard is gonna come to america too. heard that zhangziyi is tryin to get more famous cuz of it, hehe.

[kahel]

I thought I was the only one disappointed with this movie. My friend and I are big Yimou fans not to mention Takeshi Kaneshiro, so we went to the moviehouse planning to catch the screening twice. We want to see the movie's plot first and drool for Takeshi later but then we were so disappointed with the movie. We really can't believe we were laughing off some fight scenes too especially that part with the drastic weather change in the end which was so immediate.

and there was so much CGI things going on, that it doesn't feel like a classic wu xia film, I really hated the part where they show the daggers...it was like they're screaming "look, daggers! they're going fast! or look blood!" :rolleyes:

The only commendable part of the story is Takeshi Kaneshiro's back. omg! what a commendable performance. He's got he sexiest back ever. :drool:

anyway, part of my disappointment too is that they say that this was better than Wong Kar Wai's 2046 (the film I have been waiting for for years now), it this was better, whay am I to expect with 2046? :cry:

[roche]

well....i'll confess that i watched it ONLY because Takeshi Kaneshiro... :love:
he looked absolutely fantastic in there...!!

the movie itself - well, i think its just seems very typical zhang yimou-ish. i mean, the whole "vibrantly colored falling leaves" scenes and "slow motion flying ribbons to hit the drums" thing was so "Hero"....
at least, that's what it seemed like to me, though i know my friends who were big hero fans insist otherwise.

And i agree with you guys, andy lau looked really old and haggard, especially next to takeshi kaneshiro - that guy doesn't seem to age!!! or he does, but he just looks more delicious....heh
if i were zhang ziyi i would so go for takeshi kaneshiro rather than be with andy lau :-)

someone told me that the movie was very Infernal Affairs Wannabe-ish with all the twists and i gotta say i was rather surprised after each revelation....haha.

but lets just say that i enjoyed the movie overall...and would watch again, even if it was just to drool at takeshi kaneshiro... :angel:

edit
here's the bit torrent link if anyone's interested in downloading it.... :-)
House of Flying Daggers (http://aam-bt.dyns.cx:6969/torrent.html?info_hash=4ef4fa7d7cd0777fc9647a84d16 a3da024209138)
(the link works - its just a little slow to download....just wait! :-) )

[cloud77]

The cinematography in this movie was amazing. The colors were so bright... very beautiful. Especially in the first scene when Zhang Ziyi was dancing. The action was okay, a little to much CGI. The story line was okay. Somehow when it came to the emotional parts I didn't really feel anything for the characters. Andy Lau was a little too old for Zhang Ziyi. Not bad for an older dude, but he was very hot when he was younger. Takeshi is just awesome looking. :)

[pyre]

I totally fell in love with this movie! It had great cinematography and excellent choreography! I think the love scenes between Ziyi and Takeshi were more natural and easier to watch!

So sad how Ziyi died in the end! I wanted her to be with Takeshi, but you have to feel for Andy aswell...seeing the woman he loves who no longer loves him in the arms of another man...ouch!

But I loved the sequence where Takeshi and Ziyi were running through the woods when he took ehr away..The colours were great...and for once the costumes were nice!

[vashdestampede]

i liked the snow at the end...

everything goes white...
when everything was in colour before
greens and blacks and everything...

and the bamboo!
omg! i'm never gonna look at my friend's bamboo fence the same way ever again!

but i thought it was only half a story...
it just...stops...it looks only at a certain part of a larger story
i really thought there was gonna be some huge army vs rebel fight or something...

[p_ma02]

haha i bought that movie on dvd in some supermarket book store
its hecka good.
the wierd thing is that it says that it was legal.

[aDrena]

Andy Lau should be in his mid-40s, and I thought they made him look haggard on purpose, as a contrast to Takeshi Kanaeshiro's youthful persona.

As for the grouses about the House of Flying Daggers, I'm with all of you, but would you rather watch rebels vs troops, or Takeshi Kaneshiro making out with whats-her-name? (Only kidding, Zhang Ziyi's stunning in her own right too!) It's all about choices *nods sagely*

The theme of appearance vs reality was abit too in-the-face for me, from the head courtesan to Andy the mole. Maybe it's just me

[neena]

i want to watch it!!! :excited: i love Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi!!! i saw some pictures from the film, i loved the clothing and the scenes from the film. looks awesome!!!

[en_en]

Yeah that's weird..how are you able to get the movie? It it already out in Asia? I got the pirated version...really sucks, I'm waiting until it releases in the US, but I don't think it's even in theatres yet..

[vashdestampede]

i was wondering...

doesn't takeshi sometimes look like orlando bloom in that movie¿
there was one scene...i couldn't stop thinking about it...

and he also uses bow and arrow...like legolas...
it was full on screwing with my head

[insomniac]

it's coming out in the US in december...not sure about the date. but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it felt unfinished.

[beach gurl]

Gah, just able to watch yesterday, took ages for the legit vcd to come out here.

Wanna watch it because it's Yang Zimou's. Ok, he's great as usual in visual but lack in storyline. And what's the reason for casting Andy Lau vs Takeshi ? Trying to capture older market as well eh ?.

My favorite scene is the dancing (for Andy Lau) and the bamboo forest.
Yet, however beautiful is the dancing scene - it could never beat Hero's Jet Li fighting under the rain (grey scene) - jeez the most beautiful and dramatic scene.
Hahaha, I already complain yesterday that the bamboo didn't look real - it's like 2 meters apart of each other and too green, naturally bamboo grows closely like bunches. But the bamboo fighting scene is much more beautiful and real compare to CTHD ones.

I like *edit - drooling* for Takeshi's costume - don't care if it's a male costume, if it's available for a costume party I'll take it !.

Erm, the last nag ... the music; there's a part similar for "Time for Us", next one " Love Story", and the most weird one is the piano sound at the ending music. Puhleeasse !. I almost knew immediately that it's not Tan Dun - so I wait for the credit - voila, the music is mostly done by a Japanese name - seems like the one doing 2046.

[sweep]

I was disappointed as well. Not totally because I liked the action stuff. I don't know, just at the end, I was like "Ek, that's it???" I felt that the movie didn't evolve/ progress that much. I agree that Takeshi looked like Orlando Bloom in LOTR with the bow and arrow. I was in awe at that scene. It just reminded me of how cool Legolas was. :brows:

[neena]

i jus bought is too...its alright...i expected more out of the movie though. the plot was weak but the fighting scenes were awesome. :-) i really liked the scenes too and the clothing there so pretty. all in all i give the movie a 5 out of 10. :-) it sure isn't suitable for children.

[jAYcHOus#1 fAN]

that movie was ok...as in it preety good....omg!! kaneshiro is soo sizzle!! haha..yah but it was sad at the end wen she dies....too bad

[hisashiluv14]

I thought that the last thirty minutes were completely redundant. The plot was non-existent and yes, seeing Zhang Ziyi with Andy Lau was just weird.

I only like the film because of its breath-taking visuals, which was one of the few reasons I went to see it despite knowing that its story was crap. And I thought the acting was good too, for the most part, although Andy Lau was a bit wooden.

Still, I don't think it was one of Zhang Yimou's best. Hero was much better.

[princess`bobo]

lolz hisashiluv i agree that seeing Zhang Zi Yi with Andy Lau is weird too!

my bf loved it, he cried whilst watching it, the big sook...which is weird cos he's never cried over many movies b4.......

yes the snow at the end is nice and my bf was asking me, do all those flying dagger pplz get killed because there are so many soilders and stuff going to the house but never actually see any killing...?

*spoiler below*
i thought it was really sad when Zhang Zi Yi pulled the dagger out of her chest and tried to kill Andy and when she missed i just thought it was pathetic...for some reason..
*end spoiler*

[vashdestampede]

errr....






i don't think she tried to kill andy lau...if you follow the blood drop which is supposed to be where the dagger is if he had thrown it...she just threw the knife to protect takeshi...so that they'd both be saved and that she would die (so she wouldn't have to choose between the two i guess)

[flick]

Uh... lets see which bit did I seee of the movie.
THe bit that has Maggie Cheung vs. Zhang ZiYi and also ZZ's dancing and uh... Andy Lau demonstrating the torture equipment.
Frankly - out of the 3 scenes only ZhangZiyi's dancing was remotely passable oh and the torture equipment demonstration. I don't really have a clue what they hoped to achieve in the that fight scene (MC vs. ZZY) because there was ZZY trying to look angsty and everything merely by squidging her lips together and being painted very white indeed, and all MC was doing was well 'leaping' for the most of it. Yeah kung-fu is supposed great with wired work but this was taking it a bit far to be honest.
Cinematography was good though on the whole.

I personally prefered Kungfu/wired movies from the 90s ...

p/s: I was not a fan of CTHD (Crouching TIger Hidden Dragon) btw :P

[roche]

house of flying daggers opens in the US today!!!
i was reading the new york times online review, and wow, they completely neglected to mention andy lau at all!!! it was like a review of zhang ziyi.....
i think if her english iimproves, she'll definitely be getting more hollywood movie offers...!
and haha, they put a pic of takeshi kaneshiro and zhang ziyi there too.... :angel:

i would say though, that andy lau looked really old in the movie - i mean, zhang ziyi and takeshi kaneshiro both fall into my idea of "younger" generation of actors, whereas andy lau's old school.

oh, and flick maggie cheung was in house of flying daggers??? :hmm:
i dont seem to remember....which part was she?

[flick]

Drats! Sorry - just confused Maggie Cheung in Hero scene with House of Flying Daggers! :shy:

Watched parts of both movies back-to-back :p

[ropgurl]

i personally thought House of Flying Daggers was MUCH better compared to Crouching Tiger. The effects in Crouching Tiger just looked way too fake. All the flying around in the trees and stuff was just badly done. So I like House of Flying Daggers more because their effects look more realistic cept for the end with the whole dagger pulling out thing.
But I thought overall that it was a good movie. =]

[junnleenfaah]

i liked the beginning of the movie but by the end, even though all the twists to the story was cool, it was still kinda confusing because there was so many. i was watching it with my cousins and we were thinking that the two guys would just end up turning gay, lol. i didnt exactly like zhang zi yi in this movie though =/ they need to start getting more asian actresses besides her. i wish anita mui didnt pass away, i heard she was originally suppose to play zhang zi yi's role. that sucks =/

i must say though, takeshi kaneshiro was EXTREMELY HOT in that movie ;)

[Shanhaigirl]

I watched the movie a while ago, and since i'm not that experienced in all those wuxia type movies, i couldn't tell how bad it was compared to them. And actually i did like it a lot!
I can't say i was impressed by the ending, and sometimes it did feel kinda fake, but overall it was nice.
I just love Zhang Yi Mou's movie style! I love the colours, the music, the fights, everything.
And actually "House of Flying Daggers" is the movie that made me fall in love with Takeshi Kaneshiro and his acting! He is hot and i loved his charachter in the movie.

They just started showing it in Russia, so i'm planning to go to the cinema to watch it again =)

[twilighthush]

I saw this movie while I was in China back in the summer.

Artistically, House of Flying Daggers is a gorgeous movie. The cinematography was amazing. But the plot seriously could've used some work. It seemed to drag on and on and on -- seemingly without any end.

By the end, I was just wondering, "When the hell is she gonna DIE?"

[Jingle]

I had pretty high expectations going into the movie and I was pretty disappointed. First, I didn't really want to see it, but then with Takeshi Kaneshiro - who could resist, right? Anyhow, I heard that it had many nominations, so decided to see it. The first part was quite exaggerative, as with all those martial art type movies....just like crouching tiger....so ok, I expected that. Story line was so-so. In the end where they're like fighting....it took up what seemed like 20 minutes of the entire movie...and what was the result ....(well, i don't want to ruin it for other people who haven't watched it..but really, fighting for nothing). It was plain stupid. :dry:

The only thing which makes this movie worth watching is the scenery and good use of visuals....the scene with the bamboo sticks was the BEST...and that was the only best scene, in my opinion. The rest of the movie was just disappointing. :cry:

[Xi Xian]

I thought the story was really good, and could have been so much better, but it seemed like some things just didn't add up at the end of the movie. I am not a big fan of Andy Lau, but I thought he did a good job acting! Takeshi was wonderful as always! I love to watch his movies in all the languages he speaks, what a talented guy. Zhang Zi Yi was okay too, but sometimes she seems to have the same attitude in all her movies. . . The only movie I have really liked her in so far was The Road Home. At then end of the movie tho, I was really glad I watched it, the love story was just so beautiful and Takeshi did such a wonderful acting job!!! I will definitely get it when the movie comes out on DVD

[muzikanjel]

I saw the ad for this movie! i actually didnt really believe it was showing here in australia..well im not sure if it is, but it was on the website..i am so excited! i love takeshi kaneshiro! its just sad that not much people know who he is here...=[ well none of my fds for sure...

[lene]

Acting-wise, the cast was great :thumbsup: though Andy Lau's acting made me wince most of the time (sorry no offense but I still think he needs to work on his acting some more) :worry: I like the twist in the plot and how it was unfolded. And as usual, if it's a Zhang Yi Mou film, the cinematography was just spectacular. The fight scenes are all so fluid and smooth. The only problem for me was that it was a tad too dragging! The story had lots of potential; it was quite good but it wasn't meaty enough to sustain the movie 'til the end. But still, it was all worth it for Takeshi Kaneshiro - the ultimate eye candy :tongue: