Hero (2002/2003/2004) (AKA Ying Xiong,
Jet Li's Hero, Quentin Tarantino presents Jet Li's
Hero)
Note: Some spoilers.
It's hard to tell if this will be
the next "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" but it really
should be. In many ways it is even better than that
film. Certainly, it is much more beautiful and visually
stunning than that film. The action sequences are
quite creative and cool as well. And while the story
elements of "Hero" may be a tiny bit weaker than "Crouching,"
causing one to wonder if the action sequences may
overpower the film, one has to admit that there is
still a very satisfying story here. While not as empowering
to females as "Crouching," the film is nonetheless
suitable entertainment for both genders, making it
the best film buff date movie since "Kill Bill."
Those who are interested in a stunningly
beautiful and visually captivating film will love
"Hero." It is gorgeous, the proverbial feast for the
eyes. Filmmaker Yimou Zhang bathes his sequences in
color, like a less perverted, more accessible, Asian
Almodovar, giving each new segment a new hue on the
palette. First gray, then blue, then red, then white
and finally green, the film's bold and audacious imagery
will leave the viewer utterly amazed and captivated.
(These colors, by the way, represent themes as will
as acting as cool visual stimuli).
The story is set many hundreds of
years in the past and begins with Jet Li coming into
the palace of a great warrior leader, one whom wants
to unite all the countries surrounding his in order
to create one gigantic superpower. This outlandish
idea is met with great criticism from surrounding
nations and numerous war-like battles occur. Li plays
a warrior who has killed the leader's three greatest,
most adept foes and finds himself in the suspicious
and paranoid king's palace, being rewarded for his
victories. As he is compelled to tell the story of
how he defeated such imposing adversaries, we see
his story in flashback. But the film has much more
going on in the story than this. It has numerous plot
twists that are quite surprising and interesting making
it a film that captures our imagination and always
keeps us guessing.
But overall it is the gorgeous colors
in the film, the stunning visual images, and the perfectly
choreographed and tightly filmed fight sequences that
make "Hero" well worth watching. This is a film that
will remain a powerful favorite of many viewers for
years to come and one that will prompt many discussions
among its viewers.
Notes:
Also with Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung,
Donnie Yen, and Ziyi Zhang.
Released in China in 2002, the film
was finally released to U.S. arthouses in August 2004.
The film has played many film festivals
and been nominated for many awards and won several.
It was nominated as Best Foreign Language Film for
both an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2003.
Viewed at a press sneak at the Gateway
theater in Austin in May 2004.
