House of Flying Daggers (2004)
84%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
26 wins & 74 nominations total
The visual splendor of the movie makes up for the weak story
House of Flying Daggers is a visually stunning martial-arts fantasy that will leave you breathless. The film is a perfect blend of action, romance, and political intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat. While some critics may find fault with the love triangle, it’s hard not to get swept up in the grandeur of it all. Plus, who doesn’t love a good game of love, sacrifice, ruse, weapon, and betrayal? Overall, House of Flying Daggers is a must-see for anyone who loves a good action-packed romance with a political twist.
Production Company(ies)
Fox 2000 Pictures, New Regency Productions, Linson Films,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Kossiv National Park, Ukraine
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sequences of stylized martial arts violence, and some sexuality
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):Mandarin
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Country of origin:China, Hong Kong
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2005
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Dandan Song, Hongfei Zhao, Jun Guo, directed by Yimou Zhang, written by Feng Yi, action, PG-13, Chinese, William Kong, Yimou Zhang, box office, $11.0M, reviewed by Nell Minow, Nick Schager, Kimberley Jones, Roger Moore, Rene Rodriguez, Tom Long, Rachel Wagner, Miles Fielder, Steve Biodrowski, Joe Lozito, Jason Gorber, Oz, House of Flying Daggers, Tang Dynasty, rebel groups, police deputies, Mei, martial arts violence, sexuality, Sony Pictures Classics, Surround
Worldwide gross: $92,863,945
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $141,523,104
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 861
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,433,272
US/Canada gross: $11,050,094
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,840,159
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,465
US/Canada opening weekend: $397,472
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $605,741
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,360
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): CN¥100,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Andy Lau – Leo
Zhang Ziyi – Mei
Dandan Song – Yee
Hongfei Zhao – Performer
Jun Guo – Performer
Director(s)
Yimou Zhang
Writer(s)
Feng Yi
Producer(s)
William Kong, Yimou Zhang
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
26 wins & 74 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (171) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (149) | Rotten (22)
Gorgeous, but also very violent.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Wonderfully conveys how the act of loving another can be a game, a sacrifice, a ruse, a weapon, a betrayal, and, most of all, a political act.
May 4, 2005 | Rating: A
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
January 16, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A dazzler — and almost as exciting as its title promises.
January 14, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
One of the most visually astonishing martial-arts fantasies ever made.
January 14, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
About as viscerally and visually exciting as film can get, and yet it is also fully, ripely romantic in a way that few modern films would dare.
January 14, 2005 | Rating: A
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It reminded me of a Chinese version of Twilight to be honest with this horrible love triangle
August 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
None of Daggers’ ménage á trios of characters is developed… It denies the drama audience sympathy.
April 23, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Miles Fielder
The List
The studied, artistic affectations may prevent this Mandarin-language art house effort from being as kinetically potent as the films it emulates, but it more than compensates by offering up deeply felt emotions played out on a grand scale more than adequa
July 4, 2008
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
A gorgeous film in all respects, both accessible and artistically satisfying. Excellent.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: A+
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts
Moments of astonishing greatness followed by yawn-inducing romance.
January 10, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Oz
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
In a battle for control over China, two police deputies fall under the charms of a dancer rumored to be working with the House of Flying Daggers, a rebel group stealing from the wealthy and giving to the poor. Instead of investigating her, they decide to help her escape.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
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