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House of Flying Daggers |
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This topic contains:
Overall comments and recommendationsThe House of Flying Daggers is spoken in Mandarin with subtitles, and is rated M. It is an action, drama, adventure, love story that contains adult themes, frequent stylised martial arts violence, some bloody violence, discreet sexuality, low level sexual assault, and some intoxicated behaviour. While most adults would probably find the movie entertaining from start to finish, it is most suited to the sixteen year onwards age group. It contains intrigue, a spectacular dance sequence, martial arts sequences that go beyond simple fight and into the realm of modern dance, and stunningly elaborate costumes, sets and scenery. People who enjoyed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon will probably enjoy The House of Flying Daggers.
About the movieThis section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.
YMA reviewThis review of the movie House of Flying Daggers contains the following information:
A synopsis of the storyThe House of Flying Daggers is set in the dying days of the Tang Dynasty 859 A.D. The film begins with two government guards, Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Leo (Andy Lau) investigating a blind dancer, Mei (Zhang Ziyi), whom they believe to be a member of the Flying Daggers. The Flying Daggers are a Robin Hood type resistance movement waging a guerrilla insurgency against a corrupt and decadent government. When Jin visits the brothel where Mei works, he happens upon one of its patrons attacking Mei. He saves her from the attack, but arrests her and puts her in jail. Shortly after her arrest, an unknown assailant, who turns out to be Jin, breaks into the prison, overpowers the guards, frees Mei and the pair escapes on horseback into the surrounding countryside. Jin, who is regarded somewhat of a local playboy uses his charms in an attempt to convince Mei that he really opposes the corrupt government and only wishes to see Mei to safety. But when Mei sleeps, Jin sneaks off to secretly rendezvous with Leo and report his progress in getting Mei to reveal the secret location of the Flying Daggers. A romance between Jin and Mei develops, and they continue to escape from pursuing government guards across fields of flowers and through forests of whispering bamboo. They are finally rescued by the Flying Daggers, who are revealed to be all women. After they have reached the headquarters of the Flying Daggers, the film takes a number of twists and turns and the end of the film see a climactic unfolding of jealousy and betrayal culminating in a bloody confrontation between Mie and Leo and a death battle between Jin and Leo.Use of violenceResearch shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another. Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world. The House of Flying Daggers contains stylised martial arts violence throughout. The violence is glamorised by both male and female heroes who appear young, attractive and extremely proficient in employing violence to overpower their enemies. Most of the violence, rather than being senseless or brutish, promotes visual elegance and choreographed ingenuity. An example of stylised violence is when government guards run across the tops of the bamboo trees while hurling bamboo spears at the two heroes, then using the supple bamboo to swoop down, in pole vaulting fashion to surround Jin and Mie. At the same time the sound of the whispering bamboo forest and the whooshing of bamboo spears plays like an orchestrated piece of music. The film also portrays acts of violence that are bloody and gruesome, including:
For the most part, and in keeping with the genre, the film does not portray violence realistically. Characters have superhuman powers that allow them to move at superhuman speed, bend their bodies at unrealistic angles and run through the air. At times the film portrays real life physical consequences of violent acts, such as government guards dying as a result of the injuries they receive and Leo and Jin receiving injuries from their final battle at the end of the film such that they can barely walk. At other times, however, the heroes absorb blows that would normally debilitate. For example, in one scene a dagger is embedded in Leo's shoulder; however he does not appear to suffer any of its painful effects, and several hours later, it is as if the wound had never occurred.Material that may scare childrenUnder eightChildren under eight are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations, the death of a parent or child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters. In addition to the above-mentioned scenes, the following could disturb children under the age of eight:
Aged eight to thirteenChildren aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened. Some of the above mentioned scenes could also disturb children aged between eight and thirteen. Over the age of thirteenChildren over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult. While the on-screen violence is continuous, the graphic showing of blood and gore is infrequent. Children over the age of thirteen years will probably be less fearful of the on-scene violence; however, caution should still be applied to children between the ages of thirteen and fifteen years. Sexual referencesSeveral sexual references are made:
Nudity and sexual activitySexual activity in The House of Flying Daggers is implicit and mostly consists of an undercurrent of eroticism. Examples of such scenes are:
Use of substancesThe scene involving the drunken nobleman in the brothel has a number of elements:
Coarse languageThe film contains no coarse language. The movie's messageThe main take home message relates to people's willingness to uphold their beliefs and ideals even at the expense of their own lives, love or happiness. Parents may wish to discuss the price that Jin, Mie and Leo paid to uphold their beliefs and ideals. All three had to continuously use violence, lie, cheat, deceive and betray, all which were done under the pretence of higher moral reasoning. Parents may wish to discuss the real life consequences resulting from violent acts such as the long term physical and mental effects, and the mental pain and anguish suffered by those indirectly affected by violent acts.
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05-Oct-2006