Message from clockwood

The House of Flying Daggers is a beautiful movie that combines a love story, martial arts, strong women, and magical action. Like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there is a strong woman and incredible scenes where the fighters are battling in the tops of bamboo, etc.

I saw little that I would use in a classroom, however. If you taught cinematography or film, this movie would be a good one to include. The scenery is gorgeous, the action interesting, perspectives unusual, etc.

There is too little to gain in showing it in an English or history class. The setting and plot seem like they could be of value in school: the story takes place in China in 859 (apx), when the Tang Dynasty has become corrupt and hidden fighters are rebelling. But the story doesn't seem realistic or historically accurate. Some possible scenes that could be used:
* There is a short segment when an officer describes how he will torture a prisoner and shows the torturing machine.
* The young woman who is the main character says she is fighting to revenge her father's death (filial piety)
* There are beautiful photos of the Chinese landscape: vistas showing fall trees, bamboo forests, fields of flowers. However, the action of the people in these scenes would distract students from paying much attention to the scenery. (fighting, chasing, kissing, etc.)

In sum, it is an entertaining movie for private viewership, but I see little that could be used in a classroom.

Director Zhang Yimou also directed: HERO, JU DOU, RAISE THE RED LANTERN.