Zhang Yimou, for better or worse, has made another wuxia film. His sophomore effort at the genre is surprisingly lacking compared to his first kung fu movie, the almost perfectly executed "Hero". Thinking that what audiences need is better cgi and even more fighting, he goes about making "House of Flying Daggers". I'm just wishing that he threw a good script into that equation. Not to say that it's horrible, but it's just that there is nothing complex going on underneath the surface, unlike it's predecessor.
Fortunately Zhang Ziyi would not understand it anyway. Once the lovely Zhang's extremely good looks and those high kicks of hers wear off, i doubt we'll see much more of her. Despite the role of a blind girl sounding like it requires something more than just staring blankly all the time, Zhang unwittingly proves us wrong. As for the male leads, Kaneshiro is serviceable while Lau is completely wasted. They do earn their large salaries with the dramatic end fight, which is amazing with a truly epic feel. It was scenes like that which made me completely forget any frustrations I had with the script and acting, and just bask in Yimou's eye candy. Is it enough for a kung fu movie to just be completely beautiful and have great fight scenes? Yes, yes it is. So sue me, I'm vain.
7/10
Fortunately Zhang Ziyi would not understand it anyway. Once the lovely Zhang's extremely good looks and those high kicks of hers wear off, i doubt we'll see much more of her. Despite the role of a blind girl sounding like it requires something more than just staring blankly all the time, Zhang unwittingly proves us wrong. As for the male leads, Kaneshiro is serviceable while Lau is completely wasted. They do earn their large salaries with the dramatic end fight, which is amazing with a truly epic feel. It was scenes like that which made me completely forget any frustrations I had with the script and acting, and just bask in Yimou's eye candy. Is it enough for a kung fu movie to just be completely beautiful and have great fight scenes? Yes, yes it is. So sue me, I'm vain.
7/10