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Movie Review - Hero (2002) by rekishika
rekishika's Rating: **** out of *****
MPAA Rating: PG-13; martial-arts violence and some sexuality.
Genre: Wuxia
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: Zhang Yimou
Cinematography: Christopher Doyle
Screenplay: Li Feng, Wang Bin, Zhang Yimou
Soundtrack: Tan Dun
Cast:
Jet Li - Nameless
Zhang Ziyi - Moon
Maggie Cheung - Flying Snow
Tony Leung - Broken Sword
Donnie Yen - Sky
Chen Daoming - King of Qin
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Zhang Yimou's Hero is a masterpiece of film-making. Yimou, along with Christopher Doyle, create a film full of beautiful color, camera-work, and martial arts action. It keeps you rooted to your seat, even if you don't know what's going on.
Zhang Yimou has previously done a number of arthouse films that I'm familiar with, especially Raise the Red Lantern, The Road Home, To Live, and Shanghai Triad. This is his first wuxia film...and since my exposure to that genre is limited I cannot compare it to other wuxia films. However, every frame of Hero drips with Yimou's creative personality. The only part of Yimou's creative vision I didn't care for was his liberal use of slow motion...but that's just me. Tan Dun's music highlights the fight scenes much better than in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in my opinion.
The story starts with the King of Qin, who attempts for the first time to bring all the warring states of China into one unity. Nameless, a relatively low standing warrior, has defeated the three most dangerous assassins of the warring states and is brought before the King to receive his rewards. As he does so, he begins to tell the King the story of how he brought the assassins Flying Snow, Broken Sword, and Sky down. It turns out however, to be anything but a simple story....
The narrative is complex and twisting, and sometimes it is almost ludicrous. Depending on how well you keep up with subtitles you may or may not catch all of what is going on. This is one of the film's weak points as it may be confusing to the average movie goer on the first viewing. Making the complexity of the story more streamlined would have gone a long way in making this movie even better.
Although Jet Li is promoted prominently in the American release of Hero, all of the actors involved to a great job of bringing their characters to life. I especially enjoyed Maggie Cheung as Flying Snow, which I think was a great role for her.
And now for the Zhang Ziyi factor: Personally, I think Zi is excellent in her role as Moon. It is a relatively small role, but one that is definitely different from her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She is not a kick-ass sword goddess, but a rather abused character. She's used, beaten, and humiliated at different points in the story. For someone who's not been able to see her in a great variety of films, this is a great change. I can't wait to see her in Shi Mian Mai Fu.
Even considering that I'm probably one of the few people on CSC who hasn't seen Hero until now, I definitely recommend it for those that have not yet seen it. It's a movie for those who like Chinese culture and mythology, martial arts, action, drama, and Zhang Ziyi despite her small role--which should just be about everyone. 
-J
4 out of 5 stars.
Discussions
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