Pictures Gallery For House of Flying Daggers

Shi mian mai fu (2004)

Also known as "House of Flying Daggers, Ambush From Ten Sides"
Overall Score: 8 out of 10

Starring: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Ziyi Zhang, Dandan Song

Director: Yimou Zhang

Running Time: 119 minutes

US MPAA rating: PG-13
UK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Drama, Romance, War

Feng Tian County, 859AD, when the once glorious Tang Dynasty has become corrupt, and an underground army of rebels known as 'House of Flying Daggers' is gaining in popular support, despite the recent assassination of its leader. Suspecting that Mei (Zhang Ziyi), a blind showgirl new to the area, is in fact the dead leader's daughter and an accomplished assassin in her own right, local captains Leo (Andy Lau Tak Wah) and Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) hit upon a devious way to flush out the rebels. Leo arrests and imprisons Mei, only for her to be daringly rescued by the mysterious Wind - who is in fact just Jin in disguise. Leo engineers a series of fake perils for Jin to help Mei evade, in the hope that Mei will fall in love with 'Wind' and lead him to the rebel hideout. The imperial troops, however, are moving in, no-one is playing by the rules, everyone is hiding something, and within a few short days both the dangers faced by the fugitive couple, and the love that they now share, are alone proving to be real amidst the fog of stratagems, deceptions and betrayals.

'House of Flying Daggers' is Zhang Yimou's second foray, following the international success of his epic

It's Got: Beautiful sets (that shift from colourful autumn to stark winter), amazing fights (including a bamboo battle that outdoes 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'), deception, treachery (both political and emotional), and a tragic love triangle.

It Needs: A handkerchief for the final scenes.

Alternatives: Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 'A Touch of Zen'

Summary: A staggeringly beautiful martial romance which dazzles viewers with epic display before piercing them right to the heart. Overall Score: 8 out of 10

Review Date: 14th December 2004