Twin Daggers

Usually in martial arts films, there is a weak plot supporting strong fight scenes; in "Twin Daggers", it's the other way around. The fight scenes, although they have their moments here and there, are spoiled by too many gimmicks, MATRIX ripoffs, freeze frames, speeding up, silly wirework, stunt doubling, etc. The characters themselves are colorful enough (especially "The Body", a bodacious female assassin with blades hidden in her boots, and "The Ghost", a sort of trickster/clown who prefers laughing to talking), but they are poorly served by the film's action sequences. What works much better is the plot, which manages to stay ahead of the viewer all the way and contains several surprising twists. There is perhaps one instance of cheating, but only if you can't accept the possibility that two events shown in parallel time don't necessarily have to be happening at the same time. This surprising script was deserving of better choreography, editing and production values in general. ** out of 4.

I just got around to watching this movie on DVD. The local Blockbuster closed down last year, and I bought 200 DVDs for fifty cents each. For fifty cents, I have no complaints about this movie.

The reason I say the other reviewers are all correct, despite wildly disparate scores, is because each score is based upon each reviewer's expectations. This, at first glance, appears to be an action - martial arts movie. Well, to be frank, it's below average in that respect. If you want amazing fight scenes, this movie is not for you.

On the other hand, if you prefer a movie with an interesting plot, you might consider this movie to be above average. From the very start of the movie, you realize that most of the main characters are bad guys. But, there are a lot of surprises along the way, and nothing is really clear until the last two scenes.

Because it is a mixed bag, I was going to score the film a 5. However, I gave it an extra point for one character - Ghost. A psycho killer who dresses up like a mime and laughs maniacally as he murders? That's worth an extra point in my book just for style.

Bought the DVD of this movie at an outlet store for just a little over an euro - because of the promising cover. I know this is a bad way to select your films, so still went in without much expectation but was pleasantly surprised! The movie seemingly starts out with a few unrelated scenes in which we happen to get to know four assassins, which turn out to have made up a secret governmental team before. Scholar, Body, Ghost and Lex find themselves reunited by Kay, who wants to hire them to kill her twin sister Sue. Despite their disliking of each other, they are lured in by the $400.000 on offer and agree on a winner-takes-all deal.

Nevertheless they find it hard to accomplish their goal, because Sue is rather well protected, while conditions are that there should be no witnesses or others harmed. Also, Scholar grows quite fond of Sue and this complicates things further... Lots of double crossings and plot twists later things end up being rather different than you would at first expect.

Surely there are flaws in this movie as pointed out by others, for a start we've all seen better kung fu and the stop motion is a bit too much. Also the character of Ghost will not be to everybody's liking, but for myself I found him passable as a nut case murderer. The cross dressing of Lex at a given point is also far from believable but might still work.

Although this movie will certainly not win any major prizes, I was entertained for a complete hour and a half. The script is strong and the acting was good, with production values exceeding what you'd expect from a straight to video release. With better martial arts direction and the cross dressing removed it would even have been great, but as it is still scores a 7/10 from me.

I like the storyline. I love the Chinese elements in it. Its surprising romance touched me. The ending a bit disappointing. I don't see that man is so bad if he wants to find out the truth that who kill the parents. I think the selection of supporting actors could be better and wiser.

Anyway it's different from other Kong FU movies. I don't like watch Kong Fu movies just for empty fighting.But there is meaning in this Kong fu movie. I like when they kiss, dance around the poles, writing poems. It does not remind me it's a kong fu movie.

Anyway I will watch certain parts again and again. I think the storyline should be changed that I don't think that man should be described as lier and end the romance in a tragic way

Warning all martial arts movie fans: Don't watch this! I wish there was a review or a clue to prevent me from renting this atrocity. I promised myself, I will not rate any movie with 1 out of 10, simply because somebody put time and effort into realization of such, and that alone deserves rating 2.

However how can you justify so much standing, sitting, dancing around in any movie let alone in martial arts or self proclaimed action film. Add to that: horrific acting, stupid script, terrible sound, fight scenes so hilarious for a good while I thought I'm watching a spoof, and editing at accelerated speed to cover up protagonists clumsiness in fighting skills. If they were to use any famous doubles you wouldn't had have hard time to recognize them at all.

I can only recommend this movie to Richard Roeper on the fact that he gave Ong Bak a thumb down in Ebert & Roeper at the Movies with reasoning that there was only 7 minutes of plot in excess to action. Well, Happy Birthday Richard, here is THE movie for you: Twin Daggers! All you can consume buffet of fable, followed by lengthy abeyance, to finish off with just a dash of engagement.