'House of Flying Daggers' has vivid and colourful cinematography and sets, attractive leads, some visceral - if incredible - fight scenes and critically-acclaimed director Zhang Yimou. Yet I found it deadly dull (after the intriguing Peony Pavillion opening scene). For a film-maker who earlier in his career delivered powerful films such as 'Raise the Red Lantern' and 'Ju Dou', this film, as well as the previous 'Hero' must rank as low points in his art.
Even when taken as a straight-out action/'chase' thriller, the thrills diminish with each succeeding stylised action set piece. The problems are an absolute absence of suspense, a lack of character development, implausible plot twists crammed into the second half, and that bane of modern film-making: the overuse of CG effects. 'Matrix'-like effects and obvious CG just don't sit well with a period martial-arts extravaganza. It doesn't help either that the brooding soundtrack keeps sign-posting what's about to happen.
Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon' remains the best recent example of this genre.
Rating: 4/10
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1 comment:
Shelvia:
Hmm.. I haven't watch it yet but I guess now it would be better for me to avoid watching it. Especially because I didn't even enjoy the movie 'Hero'...
Eddy!! Don't put such a long entry, now nobody can see my entry :P haha
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