Comments on: House of Flying Daggers and face-stabby narrativism http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/ Just a quiet corner of the Net where I will come to sit and think and write. Maybe you will find that I have something worthwhile to say. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:34 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Seth Ben-Ezra http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/comment-page-1/#comment-51646 Seth Ben-Ezra Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:22:59 +0000 http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/?p=949#comment-51646 Yeah, in the end, the politics are really almost a MacGuffin, like the Green Destiny sword was the MacGuffin for <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>. Everybody looks like they are motivated by the political situation, but really they are motivated by other things. Yeah, in the end, the politics are really almost a MacGuffin, like the Green Destiny sword was the MacGuffin for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Everybody looks like they are motivated by the political situation, but really they are motivated by other things.

]]> By: jon http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/comment-page-1/#comment-51635 jon Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:23:51 +0000 http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/?p=949#comment-51635 i think i understand what you're saying and why it's good... But that still doesn't remove the fact that i'm more interested in the politics of what they're involved with more than I am in their stories by the end of the movie. (i don't remember the name of the lady in green and the other characters, etc.) and perhaps that's another theme... that war and conflict is going on all around, and yet the love they're involved with is bigger than any of their causes - but i just couldn't get into it. Maybe i'll give it another look. i think i understand what you’re saying and why it’s good… But that still doesn’t remove the fact that i’m more interested in the politics of what they’re involved with more than I am in their stories by the end of the movie. (i don’t remember the name of the lady in green and the other characters, etc.)

and perhaps that’s another theme… that war and conflict is going on all around, and yet the love they’re involved with is bigger than any of their causes – but i just couldn’t get into it. Maybe i’ll give it another look.

]]> By: Seth Ben-Ezra http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/comment-page-1/#comment-51612 Seth Ben-Ezra Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:34:26 +0000 http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/?p=949#comment-51612 Oh, another thought about the love triangle. The Arthurian legend has a love triangle at the core of tragic ending. So, again, it's another classic theme. Oh, another thought about the love triangle. The Arthurian legend has a love triangle at the core of tragic ending. So, again, it’s another classic theme.

]]> By: Seth Ben-Ezra http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/comment-page-1/#comment-51611 Seth Ben-Ezra Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:33:32 +0000 http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/?p=949#comment-51611 See, the love triangle is great. That's the kind of thing that makes the genre. And I liked the ending because of the subtle nuances. Ahem. *SPOILERS* So, Mei threatens Leo that she'll throw the knife in her chest if he throws the knife at Jin. Of course, that will kill her. Now, each of the characters makes choices. Jin starts moving towards Leo to make it impossible for Mei to throw the knife. Why? Because he loves Mei, and he would rather see her alive with Leo instead of being dead. Then Leo fakes his knife throw. Why? Because he is testing Mei's love, and he doesn't really believe that Mei will throw the knife at him. Then Mei throws his knife...to block Leo's fake knife throw. Why? Because she loves both Jin and Leo, so she moves to save Jin without killing Leo. In some ways, it reminded me of Solomon dividing the baby. Which one *really* loved Mei? In the end, who is grieving by her side? See, it wasn't a meaningless ending. Rather, the ending is all about the characters' love for each other. Love and obsession, you might say. In the end, they are tested. Some pass the test; others do not. I also thought that the revelations made towards the end of the movie had interesting reverberations through all that came before. Leo's constant urgings to Jin to avoid falling for Mei have additional meaning. And what about Leo's consistent violence towards Mei earlier in the movie? Was he too deep in his cover? Or was that an indication of the truth of his feelings for her? See, the love triangle is great. That’s the kind of thing that makes the genre.

And I liked the ending because of the subtle nuances.

Ahem. *SPOILERS*

So, Mei threatens Leo that she’ll throw the knife in her chest if he throws the knife at Jin. Of course, that will kill her. Now, each of the characters makes choices.

Jin starts moving towards Leo to make it impossible for Mei to throw the knife. Why? Because he loves Mei, and he would rather see her alive with Leo instead of being dead.

Then Leo fakes his knife throw. Why? Because he is testing Mei’s love, and he doesn’t really believe that Mei will throw the knife at him.

Then Mei throws his knife…to block Leo’s fake knife throw. Why? Because she loves both Jin and Leo, so she moves to save Jin without killing Leo.

In some ways, it reminded me of Solomon dividing the baby. Which one *really* loved Mei? In the end, who is grieving by her side?

See, it wasn’t a meaningless ending. Rather, the ending is all about the characters’ love for each other. Love and obsession, you might say. In the end, they are tested. Some pass the test; others do not.

I also thought that the revelations made towards the end of the movie had interesting reverberations through all that came before. Leo’s constant urgings to Jin to avoid falling for Mei have additional meaning. And what about Leo’s consistent violence towards Mei earlier in the movie? Was he too deep in his cover? Or was that an indication of the truth of his feelings for her?

]]> By: jon http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/2008/09/10/house-of-flying-daggers-and-face-stabby-narrativism/comment-page-1/#comment-51605 jon Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:34:35 +0000 http://greatwolf.blogpeoria.com/?p=949#comment-51605 interesting perspective. I disliked the movie when i saw it. I love the genre (in general), i love the choreography, the larger-than-life characters. I was frustrated, however, when the characters all started acting like jr. highers caught in a bizarre love triangle.... with knives and ninja skillz. ...and the ending?! I don't like that they leave you to pick up the pieces. I WANT to see redemption. I DON'T WANT to go away thinking that i'm alone in the world and none of it makes sense. interesting perspective.

I disliked the movie when i saw it. I love the genre (in general), i love the choreography, the larger-than-life characters. I was frustrated, however, when the characters all started acting like jr. highers caught in a bizarre love triangle…. with knives and ninja skillz.

…and the ending?! I don’t like that they leave you to pick up the pieces. I WANT to see redemption. I DON’T WANT to go away thinking that i’m alone in the world and none of it makes sense.

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