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House of Flying Daggers

 
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House of Flying Daggers

This got good reviews and the trailer looks good. Perhaps I need to rent out Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon again to see what this genre of film is about.
The first time viewing, the film went right over my head. And I wasn't particularly sorry that it did.

Any pointers in understanding these films greatly appreciated.
[ December 18, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]
 
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Dear Helen, you don't want to waste your time. This might be the most expensive crappy film from China in year 2004. You see fancy visual effects only, nothing else. Nothing. Guys in the film are okay, but the female leading horrifies me.
[ December 18, 2004: Message edited by: Ellen Zhao ]
 
Helen Thomas
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Thanks, Ellen. I appreciate your advise and wisdom.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to much to choose from in 2004

Xmas at Mr Kranks
The Forgotten
The Grudge
 
Ellen Zhao
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Wisdom Helen you don't scare me It was just my drivel.

Well if you really want something entertaining and don't care about how ridiculous it is, hause of flying daggers is not a bad choice. What's really funny is, this film takes itself way too serious. Mindless is mindless, it strives to appear like ultimately meaningful. I don't like it. Here is another good review of this film, and I think it is fair. Enjoy reading it.

The plot of HoFD is copied from the very successful Infernal Affairs. Infernal affairs has three films, I watched all of them. Very decent films, solid plots and impressive characters and many more, you cannot miss it. Infernal Affairs I is the best one among the three. But the HoFD is plain ridiculous. It was intended to make people cry, but people burst into laughters in the theatres once every 10 minutes.

There's a good Chinese release of year 2004: Warriors of Heaven and Earth. I watched in August merely for Vicki Zhao (Zhao Wei), but it turned out a pretty decent film overall. I was satisfied. Here's a review from amazon:

If you see only one foreign film this year, make it this one. Let me make this really simple. If you like Western's you have a chance of liking this film. If you like sword fights, you have a chance of liking this film. If you like gorgeous scenery you have a chance of liking this film. If you're interested in the Tang Dynasty, you will like this film. Having said that if violence in the movies bothers you then this is not your kind of film. This film is rated R. Zhao Wei is in the film too, so if you like her, you'll like the movie. As an added bonus the soundtrack is great. So that should the all you need to know to figure out if you will enjoy Warriors of Heaven and Earth.

- Dale Smith (Sterling Heights, MI USA)



What to expect in 2005:
Title: To the eternal Shakespeare: A Time to Love.
Release Date: Feb 14th, 2005.

By watching Warriors of Heaven and Earth, you won't get emotionally attached. But the "To the eternal Shakespeare: A Time to Love" is a love film, based on a touching true story happened during early 1980's to 1990's in China and Germany, I haven't got any chance to read the story, but the director of this film is extremely good at love films, has won a dazon of international awards on films of this kind. It will be released internationally.
[ December 18, 2004: Message edited by: Ellen Zhao ]
 
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Ellen, I hear a lot about Infernal Affairs, and I even saw it (or one of them, if there's more than one) at the movies last summer - hmm, I just didn't get what�s so good about it - I thought it was a complex plot, realistically shot and thats it, it didn't really appeal to me, it reminded me of 1980's good-cop-bad-cop bollywood flicks though!

Meanwhile, I agree 'House of Flying Daggers' is talking itself a bit too serious, I did enjoy the visual treat - the colours and the grand scale of frames. Most impressive of all was the bamboo forest, where everything was so refreshingly green! I agree its no 'Zatoichi', but its not a bad movie, IMHO!
 
Helen Thomas
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Originally posted by Ellen Zhao:



What to expect in 2005:
Title: To the eternal Shakespeare: A Time to Love.
Release Date: Feb 14th, 2005.
By watching Warriors of Heaven and Earth, you won't get emotionally attached. But the "To the eternal Shakespeare: A Time to Love" is a love film, based on a touching true story happened during early 1980's to 1990's in China and Germany, I haven't got any chance to read the story, but the director of this film is extremely good at love films, has won a dazon of international awards on films of this kind. It will be released internationally.

[ December 18, 2004: Message edited by: Ellen Zhao ]



Thanks for the info. I'll certainly be watching out for the Shakespeare one.
Romantic, huh? I was blown away by the BBC drama North and South based on Elizabeth Gaskill's book, though they completely ruined the ending. The romance in the last part was overdone for the time, Victorian England. Depends what you want to believe of the Victorians. Some stories show Victorians as being pretty louche.

Anyway this weekend have to be content with The Forgotten starring Julianne Moore.
 
Helen Thomas
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Due to time constraints ended up watching American History X. Thought provoking film on racism and of events that happen in most countries. Not sure it was very educational and kind of stereotyped racists. What was depicted was the scum end. The really big racists who pull the strings wear suits and work in every organisation.

During the film, really enjoyed the ethnic food that the local Tesco sells.
Highly recommend the Dhokla, Wada and Dhosa with accompanying condiments, all priced at 2.99, followed by glasses of the M&S Christmas spiced mulled wine. Beats any Indian take-away in recent memory.

[ December 20, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]
[ December 20, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]
 
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Originally posted by Helen Thomas:
Due to time constraints ended up watching American History X. Thought provoking film on racism and of events that happen in most countries. Not sure it was very educational and kind of stereotyped racists. What was depicted was the scum end. The really big racists who pull the strings wear suits and work in every organisation.

I hate those string-pulling suit-wearing organanizational racists. The only good one is a dead one. I've seen them in plenty of other movies, so I know just what they're like.

:roll:
 
Helen Thomas
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Originally posted by Frank Silbermann:
I hate those string-pulling suit-wearing organanizational racists. The only good one is a dead one. I've seen them in plenty of other movies, so I know just what they're like.

:roll:



Really ? Name some.
Matthew McConaughey in the John Grisham adaptation? A Time to Kill
Tom Cruise in ... can't remember the name.

Actually, I meant boss men/women in offices... They are the biggest psychopaths..
 
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