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[isamu]

O.K. here's the million dollar question.....

I have not seen either Hero or HoFD. So can anyone tell me if either of these films stands up to the masterpiece known The Stormriders?

 

[scorcho]

the atmosphere and cinematography (sp?) are top-notch, but as someone else mentioned the ending draaaaaaaaaaagsssssssssss ouuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttt. it's so overwrought and cheesy that it took blunted whatever good the film had for me.

 

[Zaptruder]

it's not that the ending drags out so much as it takes a complete and utter derailment.


Running on Karma was another asian film that took a sudden derailment in mood and tone and plot towards the end, but that at least was much more satisfying then the way HFD ended.

 

[Ghost]

Ok i just saw this film and i agree with much of whats been said but i still have one question.


What the fuck happened to the generals army at the end? we see them sneaking up to the HOFD 'camp' then nothing? what was the brilliant plan?


I liked the ending personally, im so fucking sick of happy clappy holywood endings that make films worse, though the lack of any kind of background to leo & mei's relationship did make me wonder as to what the fuck he was thinking.

 

[Uno Ill Nino]

Where can I buy this movie on DVD? I saw it in theaters maybe a month ago and loved it. I'm assuming the import comes with english subtitles?

n/m I just bought it on DVD for 6.95 off ebay.

 

[ScientificNinja]

It's been available on DVD for at least two months now from Region... whatever Hong Kong is

 

[Monk]

I havent seen the movie but:

Hero>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>CTHD

CTHD bored the hell out of me.

 

[Screenboy]

the atmosphere and cinematography (sp?) are top-notch, but as someone else mentioned the ending draaaaaaaaaaagsssssssssss ouuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttt. it's so overwrought and cheesy that it took blunted whatever good the film had for me.

Yeah I thought if the endings going to be this long we might see some cool-big-battle-field-ninja-action shit, but all we got the multiple death sequences of these now 3 whiney characters.

I lost respect for the characters in the end because they we so devtoted to what they did but so quick to be against that around the last 3rd of the film (yeah I know about the 'lovey dovey' crap).

 

[Timbuktu]

Funny you should ask - I'm Chinese so I watch quite a few Chinese films, and my recent favourites have been...

- Running On Karma
- Infernal Affairs (not counting any of the sequels, though)
- One Nite In Mong Kok
- Jiang Hu
- Elixir of Love
- Anna In Kung Fu Land
- Enter the Phoenix

I actually have very low standards for most Chinese films. All that I ask is that it makes sense. If it doesn't make sense, then at least be really funny. House of Flying Daggers is neither.

'One Nite in Mong Kok' is definitely one of the best last year, Derek Yee is one of the best directors there IMO. His 'Lost In Time' was also brilliant.

I didn't like HoFD, I still think that story is the most important part to a movie and a director shouldn't make everything else an excuse for the visuals. If you have nothing to say then it doesn't really matter how beautifully you can say it. I don't think Doyle's cinematograhy tops his work in Hero or in his films for Wong Kar Wai like 2046. The CG are rubbish and distracts. I agree that the film was good in the first hour or so, but there are too many twists in the plot for its own good. They undermine the characterisation and the ending is just ridiculous. The snow? And is it just me or does the film rip off Infernal Affairs with the whole undercover thing? I don't want chinese cinema to be boxed into this type of wuxia films in the west, there are just so much more. The chinese didn't like this film so I'm surprised when the west recieved it so well.

 

[jett]

Is House of Flying Daggers filled with more slow-motion than the entire Matrix trilogy together, like HERO? Goddamn that bullshit pretty much ruined Hero for me. CTHD destroys it.

 

[ScientificNinja]

I don't want chinese cinema to be boxed into this type of wuxia films in the west, there are just so much more. The chinese didn't like this film so I'm surprised when the west recieved it so well.

Count me amongst the most surprised at the Western praise being heaped on this steaming turd of a film. Honestly, the script defies common sense. The plot twists eventually render the entire story pointless!

Unfortunately it seems wuxia is the only genre that Western audiences respond to; they mistake color and cinematography for high culture. I wonder what would happen if all the characters were replaced with white people? It'll be interesting to see how people respond to Brad Pitt's version of Infernal Affairs... god I hope he isn't going to try to do the entire trilogy...

 

[Asbel]

Yimou does it again. Another movie with a misleading title. This movie is a Romance with action scenes, not the other way around.

Spoiler

Actually, it's a Romantic tragedy. There are similarities to Romeo & Juliet, though with a love triangle. The time period and events are just a setup for the tragedy.

The movie should have used it's Japanese name, Lovers, cuz the main focus of the movie is _not_ about The House of Flying Daggers secret organization or it's fate.

Spoiler

Much like how the fate of the Capulets and the Montagues weren't important at the end nor was the movie titled about them. I don't even remember if their conflict was resolved.

I'll have to watch it again but all the twist and lies does divert from the focus and makes it harder to feel for the lovers at the end. Yimou tries to do too much too fast but I still enjoyed the movie thanks to the visuals (though Doyle wasn't on it).

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Zhang Zi Yi I want to see a movie where she does not always end up - you know

I saw this tonight sorry for the bump but did not want to start another thread.

Hero >>>>>>> HOFD

but I loved the visuals still

I want another film like this one

 

[DJ_Tet]

Zhang Zi Yi I want to see a movie where she does not always end up - you know

Naked? I want to see her naked

I havent seen HOFD, but I loved Hero, will probably see this this weekend.