Z-Reviews || Movies || Review

Before I delve into this review about the film “Hero,” directed by Yimou Zhang, I want to make one thing clear: YES, I realize that this film is two years old. I had seen this film two years ago while in college upon insistence from my friend. This movie is what started my whole Asian movie fetish. So I was most shocked when two years later (present day) commercials to see “Hero” in the movie theater were airing on TV. It’s a shame that it has taken so long to make it to the US. While there are many good Asian movies out there that I don’t feel would do very well here, I do think that there are a handful that would be quite successful here and wonder, therefore, why they haven’t been marketed here. Anyway, enough rambling and let’s get on to the review!

Having been a fan of Jet Li’s work, especially his non-American flicks, I was sure that Hero would meet and surpass my expectations and boy did it ever. “Hero” is a story told mostly in flashback form, of a nameless man who defeats three assassins in order to protect the most powerful warlord of ancient China. While Jet Li’s performance was pretty good, I must say that the supporting cast was even better, particularly Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, both of whom I recognized from another great Chinese film, “In the Mood for Love.” Both actors are able to speak volumes while saying very little, and sometimes, unbelievably, while keeping their faces frozen in one expression or another.

The story is deceptive; what you think is simple really isn’t, and therefore made “Hero” stand a bit above other films in the “samurai” genre. What is truly the star of the film is the unparalleled beauty of the film itself. The use of color is astounding; vivid blues, reds, greens, and stark white – every color is intended to mean something different; it is up to the audience to discern their significance. Fight scenes are more like intricate ballet dances than the classic definition of “fight scene”. The actors fly through the air and fight in improbable positions, none of which is new; we’ve already been intricately schooled in this technique since 2000’s “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” (and probably before), but the difference lies in the presentation and class with which these scenes are presented in “Hero.” Zhang was able to employ a technique that is teetering on the brink of overuse and give it freshness by providing such beautiful surroundings. The water soaked fight between Nameless and Sky is a study in Honor. The duel in the forest between Flying Snow and Moon is so lush with its vivid red costumes and thousands of bright yellow swirling leaves that I literally gasped for breath because I had been holding my breath in awe. Maggie Cheung is the other standout in terms of breathtaking beauty. There were many times, particularly during the scenes at the calligraphy school, where I was held absolutely captive by her beauty and grace. This is due to the masterful way in which Zhang frames his subject. I also noticed a heavy anime influence in “Hero”, mostly in the fight scenes; a person is pushed into a wall and the wall crumbles but the person is fine, and particularly one scene involving a duel between Nameless and Flying Snow – there is a shot of Flying Snow that is pure anime; I have seen it in several series… and it is compelling and beautiful.

“Hero” is obviously not going to be for everyone; die hard action film people are going to find it too boring, and it’s going to be too much of a samurai film for those in the romantic comedy crowd. However I do believe that “Hero” will be a big success here and that it can be enjoyed by enough people that hopefully more flicks from overseas will find a home here.