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GAFots, YOU DECIDE: House of Flying Daggers?

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T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
Okay folks. It's sitting here in front of me, and I could watch it; but I'm indifferent - leaning more towards EFF THIS!

I was really put off by the overwrought artsy-ness of Hero. This strikes me as Hero sans RESPECTABLE TALENTED MARITAL ARTISTES! Sort of like an Oriental take on the Matrix if you will, lets get all the trappings of a martial arts movie; sans the martial artists.

Is it all Hotdog and J-Pop wankers in wanna-be arthouse cinema, or are there RESPECTABLE TALENTED MARITAL ARTISTES to be found?

If it's truly awful, I'll be able to rinse the awful taste from my mouth courtesy of Kung Fu Hustle this weekend.

So, as a fan of Fong Sai Yuk, Master of the Flying Guillotine, and that sort of awesomeness - would this be worth my while?
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
It's like a Drano Milkshake Catch-22.

I liked the story of Hero.

I just had an allergic reaction to the presentation. The pompousness of it all. The slow motion all the damn time, the mood ring colors, etc. etc.

For my money Ang Lee is the better arthouse twat martial arts director. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was very well executed without beating me over the head with symbolism - like Donny Yen going out like a bitch in Blade 2 / Highlander IX, etc. etc. :p

Play DOA3 or DOA Volleyball instead.
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Error: Xbox not found.
 
D

Die Squirrel Die

Member
Put HoFD down and move away from the box. Especially if you are going in with preconceived notions of what a martial arts film is (other than a film with martial arts in it).
 
A

Azih

Member
Dude it's the prettiest movie you'll ever see. If you can turn off your brain and drop all preconceptions then you'll be treated to some pretty pretty pictures and fancy shmancy camera angles that make the most out of the flouncy costumes and awe inspiring scenery.


It's a pure eye candy flick man. With some amazing use of colour.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
Thus far the complete lack of mention of martial arts in regards to this film has tipped my scales in favor of - Fuck no.

Thanks folks.

Especially if you are going in with preconceived notions of what a martial arts film is (other than a film with martial arts in it).
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You make it sound like expecting to see physically skilled and awesomely talented martial artists beating folks up for 90 minutes is a bad thing. I certainly hope that's not what you're implying, because if you are - I got some Razorblade Bran breakfast cereal I can mail you. :p
 
D

Die Squirrel Die

Member
The Take Out Bandit said:
You make it sound like expecting to see physically skilled and awesomely talented martial artists beating folks up for 90 minutes is a bad thing. I certainly hope that's not what you're implying, because if you are - I got some Razorblade Bran breakfast cereal I can mail you. :p
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Nah I enjoy a good, pure martial arts film. Just I don't expect every film to be a pure martial arts film, just 'cause it has martial arts in it. The same way I wouldn't expect a film to be a laugh a minute righteous comedy, just 'cause it has some comedic bits in it.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
Don't bother saying you don't know anyone who owns a Xbox, that excuse won't fly.
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Actually, I don't.

More importantly the PS2 provides more for me than I can manage. There's no need for an Xbox when my GC barely got any love.

And Namco has me covered for the shitty fighting game category with Tekken 5. :lol

Nah I enjoy a good, pure martial arts film. Just I don't expect every film to be a pure martial arts film, just 'cause it has martial arts in it. The same way I wouldn't expect a film to be a laugh a minute righteous comedy, just 'cause it has some comedic bits in it.
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I need a couple more shots of Cuervo before that makes complete sense.

For as long as I've lived, martial arts movies have been about martial arts. If I wanted a Chinese period piece, I would rent one. Perhaps that's the problem here? Stuff that clearly isn't martial arts being marketed to folks like Solidsnake X under the guise of martial arts, when it's truthfully secret pants handshaking over Zhang Ziyi.
 
H

heavy liquid

Member
I loved House of Flying Daggers. Beautiful Movie.

If you're expecting a typical martial arts movie, no... this isn't for you. But if you're willing to go with something a bit different and are open to something new, you should watch it.

From the New York Times review by A.O. Scott:

I think he hit the nail on the head here as to why some people didn't like the movie.

But realism is as irrelevant a criterion here as it would be in an Italian opera. The movie is about color, kineticism and the kind of heavy-breathing, decorous sensuality that went out of American movies when sexual candor came in. Occasionally, Ms. Zhang bares one of her lovely shoulders. If she showed any more, the projector might catch fire.
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And the movie DOES have some great action sequences described here very well:

It might anyway, from the sheer audacious heat of some of the action sequences. Two in particular - the "echo game" set piece that takes place in a brothel and a later battle in a grove of whispering bamboo - are likely to become classic reference points, cherished like favorite numbers from "Singin' in the Rain." It is a commonplace that action movies are closely related to musicals, and few directors prove the point with as much discipline and flair. The bamboo-forest scene is not just a bravura exercise in vertical and horizontal choreography. It is also a heroic feat of sound design, with the whistle of the bamboo fronds played in counterpoint to the impact of cudgels and spears.
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Hey, I'm a huge fan of Fong Sai Yuk and lots of other "martial arts" movies, but this is a much different type of movie and I have no problem liking both. I really think comparing these is apples and oranges.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
You know what kind of brainy pseudo-martial arts flick I'd like?

Romance of the Three Kingdoms!

Do it Peter Jackson style epic, spread across several movies, with all the baditude of any given Dynasty Warriors game, and chock full of the important and intriguing historical stuff absent from the games. That would rock my house all day, every day.
 
A

Ash Housewares

The Mountain Jew
The Take Out Bandit said:
Error: Money not found.
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look harder, I'm pretty sure I've got some money stuffed down my pants, reach in and have a go

and they made a miniseries of RoTK which I would love to see... if it were possible to find and imagine what the dialogue means in english

it would make a fun movie, even if it's scope is problematic

whats the story here anyways, can they not localize a movie unless it has a Ziyi Zhang love scene in it?
 
N

Nostrildamus

Member
Possibly one of the worst movies I saw last year. It had promise but turned into a complete "WTF were they thinking?!" sort of mess. The action, story, characterization, and direction all left me baffled at the "rave" reviews it got. Aside from a couple of semi-pleasing to look at scenic shots, the movie is a total waste of time and completely un-redeeming.

FWIW I thought Hero was about 100 times better, though I only consider that movie to be slightly above average as a whole.
 
Shouta

Shouta

Member
Total waste of a movie. While it does indeed look pretty it doesn't redeem the fact it doesn't have anything else to it. Action was terrible, story was terrible, characters were terrible. I'd avoid it Bandit.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
Total waste of a movie. While it does indeed look pretty it doesn't redeem the fact it doesn't have anything else to it. Action was terrible, story was terrible, characters were terrible. I'd avoid it Bandit.
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Done deal!

Instead I will watch Shota-Mania, aka Birth.

Ignoring the 4Chan awesomeness; this one has the potential to be a really interesting and very unsettling movie.

One view will tell!
 
W

weehomer

Member
House of Flying Daggers got 88% at Rotten Tomatoes?? Yeah, terrible score. James Beradinelli, Time, Roger Ebert, The New York Times, Variety, Washington Post, New Yorker, Newsday, The New York Post and everyone else must be crazy. Whatever.

It's a great movie.
 
T

The Take Out Bandit

Member
This movie is fucking awful.

It's Hotdog and Idol all day night!

Let's pose, because we ain't be gots no fucking martial arts skills.

Donnie Yen rapes this movie in the front, and Jet Li rapes it from the rear. Hero > House of Flying Daggers, and that's choosing the lesser of two evils as I'd rather hammer my wang to a tree than endure another f'ing Yimou Zang movie.

This is a damned disgrace.

If I wanted drama I'd watch Univision. It has better tits.
 
S

Sumidor

Member
To me, one word describes this movie. Pretty. Everything in it was just amazing eye-candy. The story was good, but not great. Same with the fight scenes. I enjoyed watching it, and i'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10.
 
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