House of Flying Daggers

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. (02/06/2005)

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)

Eastern romanticism demands a special place in the heart, which I do not possess despite all my efforts and tolerance. House of the Flying Daggers is a technically inconsistent and narratively empty and simple film that will only interest an ordinary, uninterested viewer with its beautiful colours, costumes, and sets. The acting is dull, the emotions are annoyingly forced (the insanely stilted language may have played a role), and there is no final catharsis to speak of. The absence of gravity was somehow halfway there, and that bothered me the most. Some fights are properly intense, but then everything is ruined with poorly executed and absolutely unnecessary acrobatic stunts, tasteless slow-motion shots, and silly visual effects. (10/09/2006)

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)

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)