House of Flying Daggers [Blu-ray] | ![House of Flying Daggers [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XnH9ZiB4L._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Zhang Yimou
Actors: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Ziyi Zhang
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $28.95
Buy New: $16.99
as of 2/9/2010 18:30 EST details
You Save: $11.96 (41%)
New (27) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $9.54
Seller: media-savvy
Rating:  336 reviews
Sales Rank: 5384
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (Original Language), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 119 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: HOUSEOFFL
UPC: 043396150225
EAN: 0043396150225
ASIN: B000EZ7ZYK
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: June 20, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
XANDER CAGE IS AN EXTREME SPORTS ATHELETE RECRUITED BY THEGOVERNMENT ON A SPECIAL MISSION.
Amazon.com
No one uses color like Chinese director Zhang Yimou--movies like Raise the Red Lantern or Hero, though different in tone and subject matter, are drenched in rich, luscious shades of red, blue, yellow, and green. House of Flying Daggers is no exception; if they weren't choreographed with such vigorous imagination, the spectacular action sequences would seem little more than an excuse for vivid hues rippling across the screen. Government officers Leo and Jin (Asian superstars Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro) set out to destroy an underground rebellion called the House of Flying Daggers (named for their weapon of choice, a curved blade that swoops through the air like a boomerang). Their only chance to find the rebels is a blind women named Mei (Ziyi Zhang, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who has some lethal kung fu moves of her own. In the guise of an aspiring rebel, Jin escorts Mei through gorgeous forests and fields that become bloody battlegrounds as soldiers try to kill them both. While arrows and spears of bamboo fly through the air, Mei, Jin, and Leo turn against each other in surprising ways, driven by passion and honor. Zhang's previous action/art film, Hero, sometimes sacrificed momentum for sheer visual beauty; House of Flying Daggers finds a more muscular balance of aesthetic splendor and dazzling swordplay. --Bret Fetzer
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 336
 Flowers and fighters February 9, 2010
Hannah Duff (Colorado, United States)
'House of Flying Daggers' combines two classic storylines: the wanderings of hero-outlaws, and love among enemies. The former is meant to showcase feats of strength and agility, the latter emotional nuance. Unfortunately, neither element of 'Daggers' is successful. Unlike such popular Wuxia films as 'Hero' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' 'Daggers' does not count any trained martial artists among its lead actors. To make up for this deficiency, the film employs many quick cuts and digital animations in its fight sequences. As a result, these scenes feel manufactured and fail to convince anyone who hasn't been raised on CGI-packed blockbusters. I thought the film might redeem itself with its climactic sword fight: a form of combat that need not rest on digital crutches. Alas, the filmmakers blunder to the last by throwing in a thoroughly computer-generated snowstorm.
Flaws on the martial-arts side of things could be forgiven if 'Daggers' offered a compelling love story as compensation. However, the romantic dialogue is full of cliches, and though Takeshi Kaneshiro (as Jin, a heartthrob double-agent) has some very fine moments, he lapses into cartoonish behavior in key scenes, such as his introduction to the beautiful Mei (Zhang Ziyi). Miss Zhang and Andy Lau (as Leo, Jin's partner) are superb, but none of the performances stands up to repeat viewings. Certain scenes at the Peony Pavilion, such as Leo's conversation with the madam or his fight with Mei by the reflection pool, make little sense in light of later revelations about the characters. In all, this is an entertaining film, but a weak one in comparison to other recent films in its genre.
Weak story, visually powerful January 4, 2010
Dale Miller (Ann Arbor, MI)
I watched this film because I found the director's Raise the Red Lantern to be a masterpiece. House of Flying Daggers shares many of the attributes of that film: opulent costumes and sets, and lavish use of color. Unlike Raise the Red Lantern, Flying Daggers falls into the Chinese martial arts genre and as a genre film it follows a more predictable pattern.
Set in the late Tang dynasty (9th century), the story is a love triangle played out against the backdrop of strife between the crumbling, corrupt government and rebellious clans that have arisen to fill the power vacuum. The most powerful of these, the House of Flying Daggers, has recently lost its leader, and a new leader has arisen.
Two police captains, Jin and Leo, are given ten days to kill the new leader. They devise a suberfuge designed to trick Mei, a blind dancer suspected of being the old leader's daughter, into leading them to the Flying Daggers. Along the way Jin falls in love with Mei, while Leo is revealed to be an undercover member of the Flying Daggers. Leo has also been in love with Mei (who in reality is not blind and is also a member of the Flying Daggers) for three years. The bloody resolution of this convoluted triangle is an ending worthy of Verdi.
Given a rather thin and formulaic storyline, House of Flying Daggers leans heavily on martial arts action for its appeal. There is plenty of this: swordplay, combatants turning somersaults while soaring through the air, outlandish feats of archery, and swords and daggers thrown for impossible distances with deadly accuracy.
For fans of Chinese martial arts cinema, this is undoubtedly a winner. I found the film visually ravishing, but prefer the more complex emotional terrain of Raise the Red Lantern. In any case, I will definitely sample more of Zhang Yimou's work.
 A Work of Art December 29, 2009
zapata1910 (Canton, OH)
What director Zhang Yimou has created with House of Flying Daggers is more than just a movie. It really is a work of art. The stories in the film are full of emotion which Zhang Yimou makes even more incredible with the usage of colors and special effects in the film. That is not an easy task and he should be commended for it. All the details in the storyline, the acting, direction and environment in this movie make it a work of art. The beauty is so intoxicating.
Blu ray quality December 19, 2009
David C. Feliciano (Miami)
I was very disappointed in the bluray transfer. With all the colors in this movie I thought it would shine like "what dreams may come" did but it didnt. If you have the standard version then dont bother "upgrading" to the bluray version.
"Real flowers bloom in the wilderness." December 18, 2009
AMP (Somewhere on Earth)
Blu-Ray Review
Movie: 4/5 Video Quality: 3.5/5 Audio Quality: 4.5/5 Extras: 1.5/5 Overall: 3.4/5 (rounded down in total star ranking)
Coming from Yimou Zhang, the director of my favorite wuxia film "Hero," "House of Flying Daggers" offers a similar visual flair and some fantastic fight sequences. I was rather pleased with the story; it's maybe not as deep as other works, but this film is a pretty fun and engrossing adventure. Characters are decent and emotional. But the most attractive feature is the production design, which features lots of ornate and vibrantly colorful sets and costumes, and some cool weaponry. Photography is strong. Music is very lovely, and accentuates the story in a couple of scenes.
This disc is not perfect. The video is generally sharper than the DVD. Color and contrast vary; some scenes look great while others are either a bit washed-out or a bit too dark. A couple of scenes appear overly saturated. It is not a grainy picture, but it does have some fuzzy noise in a lot of scenes. Sound quality is excellent (your choice between lossless Cantonese or Dolby Digital 5.1 English dubbing with optional subtitles). Extras include only a visual effects featurette and some storyboards; many additional featurettes and commentaries from the DVD have been omitted.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 336
|
|
|
![Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000MRA59C.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Warriors of Heaven & Earth [Blu-ray]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000MTOOXS.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Hero Special Edition (2-Disc Blu-ray with DVD + Digital Copy)[Blu-ray]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B002DYKP8S.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)