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Features: Blu-ray DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), Storyboard Comparisons, Featurette, English, French, Spanish Dubbed & Subtitled
Prepare your eyes for popping," in this "martial-arts fireball that throws in a lyrical love story, head spinning fights and dazzling surprises" (Rolling Stone). "A gorgeous entertainment" (A.O. Scott, New York Times). Mei is an exotic, beautiful blind dancer, associated with a dangerous revolutionary gang, known as the House of Flying Daggers. Captured by officers of the decadent Tang Dynasty, Mei finds herself both threatened - and attracted - to the most unusual circumstances. Here, her heart and loyalties battle each other, amid warriors in the treetops and dazzling combat - the likes of which have never before been seen!System Requirements:Running Time: 119 MinFormat: BLU-RAY DISC
Editor's Note
Following up his award-winning martial-arts drama HERO, director Zhang Yimou (JU DOU, RAISE THE RED LANTERN) tells an intricately detailed love story in the swordfighting epic HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, set during the final days of the Tang Dynasty. A mysterious group called the Flying Daggers is a dangerous threat to the government, so police captain Leo (Andy Lau) sends his right-hand man, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro), undercover to try to find the rebels' location. Jin, a notorious playboy, pretends he is a roving warrior called "Wind" and befriends Mei (Ziyi Zhang), a blind dancer who is believed to be the daughter of the former leader of the Daggers. As he leads her across the countryside, they are "attacked" by government soldiers--but these battles are staged by Leo in order to convince Mei that Jin is on her side. But when a general orders that Mei must be captured at any cost, the fighting turns real, and Jin must decide between his loyalty to his job and his growing love for Mei. Meanwhile, Mei battles her feelings for Jin as well, trying to hide her true self. Zhang's gorgeous, compelling film is filled with beautiful singing and dancing, marvelous costumes, and wonderful locations; the scene in the Bamboo Forest is unforgettable, as is the Echo Game, which Leo and Mei play in the Peony Pavilion. There are also twists throughout the film and by the time the end comes, audiences will be spinning their heads in awe and amazement at the neverending wonders of this special movie. The film is dedicated to Anita Mui, who was to have a starring role before her unexpected death.
| Features | Seamless Menu Navigation | | Creating The Visual Effects | | Storyboard Comparisons | | Widescreen Presentation | | Audio: English, French, Spanish, Chinese Dolby Digital (5.1); Chinese PCM (5.1) | | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
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| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Sony Pictures |
| Release Date: 6/20/2006 |
| Running Time: 119 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2004 | | Catalog ID: 15022 | | UPC: 00043396150225 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: Chinese/Mandarin | | Available Audio Tracks: Chinese/Mandarin, English Dubbed, French Dubbed, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew | Ziyi Zhang | | Takeshi Kaneshiro | | Andy Lau | | Feng Lu | | Song Dandan | | Yimou Zhang - Screenwriter | | Zhang Weiping - Executive Producer | | Bill Kong - Producer | | Yimou Zhang - Producer | | Zhao Xiaoding - Director of Photography | | Shigeru Umebayashi - Composer | | Cheng Long - Editor | | Emi Wada - Costume Designer | | Tingxiao Huo - Production Designer | | Yimou Zhang - Director |
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| | Professional Reviews | Premiere
"The action sequences are often joltingly spectacular..." 12/01/2004 p.24-6New York Times
"[A] gorgeous entertainment, a feast of blood, passion and silk brocade." 12/03/2004 p.E21 Los Angeles Times
"Zhang reveals bold finesse at pulling off an emotion-charged epic of style and sophistication that is exciting and at times humorous." 12/03/2004 p.E8 USA Today
"[A}n orgy of spellbinding visuals: dazzling acrobatics, mesmerizing martial arts, sumptuous settings and resplendent costumes. With its high drama and historical setting, it is more like an opera than a movie." 12/03/2004 p.1E Rolling Stone
"[With] a lyrical love story, head-spinning fights and dazzling surprises....Prepare your eyes for popping." 12/09/2004 p.190 Uncut
"Zhang Yimou returns with another beautifully wrought incursion into classical Chinese folklore." 01/01/2005 p.158 Entertainment Weekly
"[A]n outrageously gorgeous spectacle of balletic aggression....[With] a romantic passion that's woven into the very fabric of the action." 12/102/004 p.64 Sight and Sound
"HOUSE is lushly emotional, intimate and intricately tricked out....Zhang has always deployed colour and design with immense skill..." 01/01/2005 51-2 Movieline's Hollywood Life
"[T]he ravishing visual compositions add a magical note to this tragic tale." 12/01/2004 p.103 |
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