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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    House Of Flying Daggers

    Featured In Issue 112, September 2006

    Picture3.5
    SoundNR
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    15022
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG13
    (Rating Reason):
    For sequences of stylized martial arts violence, and some sexuality
    (Retail Price):
    $
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    119
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    No
    (Regional Coding):
    1
    (Theatrical Year):
    2004
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/20/06
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Zhang Yimou
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Mei (Ziyi) is a beautiful blind dancer, associated with a dangerous revolutionary gang, known as the House Of Flying Daggers. Captured by officers of the Tang Dynasty, Mei finds herself both threatened by—and attracted to—one of her captors. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Special features include a four-minute Creating The Visual Effects highlight, six storyboard comparisons, and high-definition previews.

    While the 2.35:1 Blu-ray Disc picture can look stunning at times, the overall quality is very inconsistent. In general, the entire picture looks very soft. At times, the Blu-ray Disc release does not look any better than the standard-definition DVD, which often looked slightly soft as well. Colors are more vibrant in this high-definition release, and shadow delineation is superb in its few dark scenes. While the picture is not terrible, it is a disappointment that such a visually stunning film was not presented better in high-definition. (Danny Richeileu)

    At times brilliant, the uncompressed 5.1-channel PCM soundtrack is very good, with incredible detail and superb dynamic range. Reviewing the original DVD's soundtrack, I was very impressed with the level of detail in the loudest scenes, but using the lossy compression formats masked that same level of detail and care that has been given the quietest effects, which come out beautifully on Blu-ray Disc. Once the fantastic dynamic range is combined with this very good mix and deep, penetrating bass, you have much of what is needed for a reference-worthy release. (Danny Richelieu

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