House of Flying Daggers
House of Flying Daggers

Movie spotlight

House of Flying Daggers

2004
Movie
119 min
Mandarin

In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic75/100
Google Users88%
Director: Zhang YimouGenres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, War

Plot Summary

In the turbulent Tang Dynasty, a legendary band of rebels known as the House of Flying Daggers fights against a corrupt government. When the authorities capture a suspected leader's sister, they send an undercover officer to gain her trust and uncover the rebel hideout. However, the officer finds himself falling for the enigmatic woman, leading to a complex web of deception, loyalty, and passionate romance.

Critical Reception

House of Flying Daggers was a critical and commercial success, praised for its stunning visuals, elaborate action sequences, and emotional depth. Critics lauded Zhang Yimou's direction and the film's blend of martial arts spectacle with a poignant love story, though some found the plot occasionally convoluted.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its breathtaking cinematography and visually spectacular action.

  • Appreciated for its compelling blend of martial arts, romance, and tragic themes.

  • Some found the narrative slightly convoluted, but the overall artistic merit was highly regarded.

Google audience: Audiences widely admired the film's vibrant and artistic visuals, the thrilling fight choreography, and the deeply emotional romantic storyline. The film's beauty and passion resonated strongly with viewers.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Won numerous awards including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA Awards and Best Film at the Golden Rooster Awards.

Fun Fact

The iconic 'bamboo forest fight' scene took over a month to film, requiring extensive choreography and safety measures for the actors.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Though the story isn't really very strong here the combination of beautiful visual effects and precision martial arts makes for an enjoyable depiction of Chinese mystical intrigue. "Mei" (Ziyi Zhang) is a mute dancer who attracts the attent...