Review of:Hero (2004)
Director:Zhang Yimou
Rating:PG-13 for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality
Starring:Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Donnie Yen, Maggie Cheung
I am hoping this film is the beginning of a trend. First the world was beset with a film titled “Crouching Tiger‚ Hidden Dragon” that brought all the wonders of filmdom together to the genre of martial arts film. What it accomplished in it’s quest was something grand‚ a film that was inspired both in storyline and in the fluid movements of its combatants. With the film Hero‚ starring Jet Li‚ the trend towards a newer‚ better type of martial arts film has been continued.
Let Li stars as Nameless (I imagine this is because he could represent you or me). Nameless is out on a mission to stop a ruthless warlord from uniting a fractional China. To accomplish this task he must find a way to get in the presence of the Warlord who is always protected from his enemies by a vast army. Through the use of flashbacks we are shown how Nameless finds a way into the heart of enemy territory‚ and his battles against three other assassins who are out for the same thing.
I remember the first time I had the opportunity to watch Crouching Tiger‚ Hidden Dragon. I was amazed at how they put it all together‚ and the fluidity of the fight scenes. Upon viewing Hero ‘directed by Yimou Zhang, ‚ I must say that Dragon was only a beginning. If the tree scenes in Crouching Tiger‚ Hidden Dragon were awe inspiring‚ then the many battles in Hero eclipse it both in beauty‚ and in style.
It is amazing that this film‚ which was actually released two years ago in China‚ took so long to make it to the states. But it finally did it bringing along credentials hard to ignore. Imagine a Martial Arts film having the backing of Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill‚ Kill Bill 2). The success it was already bound to have probably tripled. On top of that‚ within the film lies a match up that Martial Arts fans have been seeking for some time. No it is not Jet Li vs. Jackie Chan‚ but Jet Li (Nameless) vs. Donnie Yen (Long Sky). While Jet Li might already have a huge following in America, it is Donnie Yen who has choreographed some of the most memorable fight scenes on screen‚ and in the Matrix films.
But with all that said let me issue this little warning. There were times when it will leave you confused. Unlike Crouching Tiger‚ Hidden Dragon the scenes are put together in such a way that you really do not know the truth behind any of the characters actions. This might have been the only thing I had a problem with in the film.
Even with that minor glitch I applaud the fact that the film strives to be more of a thinking man’s Martial Arts film‚ than the fight first‚ revenge films of the past.
This is definitely a must see film if you love good fight films.
