The original title of this movie is “lovers”, but english title is “house of flying daggers”. And the difference between them reflects how the viewpoint between Asia and Europe.
Director Zhang’s movies always make me anticipate that they are going to be fine and impressionable. So I think this movie fulfill my desire. And actually many reviews about “house of flying daggers” are almost favorable. This movie is dated back to Meng age. And an underground of this movie is based on the chivalrous story. Absolutely there are so many fabulous action scenes, but these scenes are so exaggerated that it keeps me from falling in movie. In my opinion Zhang zi yi’s beautiful dance is the best scene at the point of art or the composition of this movie.
As many Zhang yi mou’s aficionados know that he puts his consideration on the colour and composition. I thought some action scenes are similar with those in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. Surely the fight in a bamboo forest is stylish and fantastic, but it could be less realistic in depth. While “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” includes images of zen and philosophical messages, but this movie chases only foot steps of each character depending on camera walk. But I agree this movie is very good in facts of composition and screen usage. I occurred into the thought that entire action scenes have similarities with Mondrian. In other words, a main image is vertically or horizontally devided and combined by swords and bamboos.
And a background of this movie is nature, not urban scenery. Riding a horse against woods and fields, it means director’s propensity for naturalism. He prefers to see image of non-polluted nature or countryside like as “Red lamp” or his other movies. Love story is similar with that in “Jin-Yong(his another movie)”. I think there are some common facts that explain the director’s tenderness to love. He seems to think destiny and love are entangled each other. Particularly “Hero(his another movie)” has the same point which I said before-Country, Destiny and Love. These characteristics connect an ultimate point. It is a tragedy.
There would be another opinion against my glut. But in the past films, the director always shows the women is a sad existence who is dependent upon her sex. Every movie he made follows this tendency. A strong man suppress an weak woman. He defines the characteristics of man are tainted with snobbery, as you know it would be so excessive decision. But It’s true that Zhang zi yi’s provocative behavior is too hot to think that everything is innocent. But the most definitive weakness is an excessive exaggeration. In the fight between two men to get a woman’s love, we will see tremendous logical loopholes. I’m so bewildered and how to take and response to this logical leaps. Should I accept these as a road to the climax of destiny? My answer is “NO”. Obviously that’s a quarrelsome point. But in spite of some problems of the movie, I think that visual and audible effects will give you delight and enjoyment, especially at the beginning of this movie.