HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS - SECOND VIEWING
Some films get better with multiple viewings Fellini's 8-l/2 goes to mind, which I didn't even like until I had seen it four times' others get worse (I can's believe I alctualy thought Mark Robson.s PEYTON PLACE was a great movie- Maybe I had a crush on both Terry Moore and Diane Vars.) More recently, it was Almodovar's TALK TO HER, which I saw three times over a two month period. Each time I was more deeply moved.
The latest is that great visionary director Xiang Yimou's HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS. My favorite film at the Toronto Film Festival, for months I thought it was also the best film f the year. After seeing it last night, I still think it is an astonishing film. The cinematography is breathtaking, the color scheme more functional that that of his earlrlier HERO, and the sound design is amazing. And, althugh I had felt the human story was more compeling that the earlier two martial arts epics, I found myself less moved. Lots of people have commented on the last reel problems. But for a film that almost redefines "willing suspension of disbelief," one can make the case the over-the-topness that makes the "liebestod" of DUEL IN THE SUN seem like a model of restraint. Baz Luhrman move over.
Perhaps for a film like this, the freshness of the stylistics and the directors extraordinary vision made it a jaw-dropping first time experience. On the other hand, on a second viewing, that is to be expected, and the genius can be appreciated,, but, in terms of story, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS is neither WUTHERING HEIGHTS nor ROMEO AND JULIET. For me, now, it is an almost great film from one of the world's great directors.
The latest is that great visionary director Xiang Yimou's HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS. My favorite film at the Toronto Film Festival, for months I thought it was also the best film f the year. After seeing it last night, I still think it is an astonishing film. The cinematography is breathtaking, the color scheme more functional that that of his earlrlier HERO, and the sound design is amazing. And, althugh I had felt the human story was more compeling that the earlier two martial arts epics, I found myself less moved. Lots of people have commented on the last reel problems. But for a film that almost redefines "willing suspension of disbelief," one can make the case the over-the-topness that makes the "liebestod" of DUEL IN THE SUN seem like a model of restraint. Baz Luhrman move over.
Perhaps for a film like this, the freshness of the stylistics and the directors extraordinary vision made it a jaw-dropping first time experience. On the other hand, on a second viewing, that is to be expected, and the genius can be appreciated,, but, in terms of story, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS is neither WUTHERING HEIGHTS nor ROMEO AND JULIET. For me, now, it is an almost great film from one of the world's great directors.
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