Hero
is a glorious work of visual splendor and after watching it, I'm really surprised
Miramax didn't release it sooner. They opted to sit on the picture for a while
until--allegedly--Quentin Tarantino convinced them to put the film out. The Kill
Bill director was so in love with Hero that he even suggested the studio put his
name on it so that it might give the movie the proper push it deserves. Way to
go Quentin. Once again, you prove that you are not only an amazing film maker,
but that you have a great eye for other talent as well--in this case director
Yimou Zhang (Raise the Red Lantern).
The
stunning Hero takes place in ancient China and features Jet Li as Nameless, a
mighty warrior who, after defeating three assassins, tells the story of his victory
to an eager Qin, a mighty ruler hellbent on uniting China no matter what the cost.
Nameless's defeating of assassins Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Sky is of particular
interest to Qin because of various assassination attempts made on his life in
this most turbulent time.
At
a glance, many will be quick to point out that Hero is similar in style to Ang
Lee's gorgeous Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. While the numerous fighting sequences
are certainly reminiscent of those on display in that picture, Hero is much different
in terms of story. And in fact, those who don't pay attention may find themselves
lost as this picture unfolds in a series of Rashomon like flashbacks. This technique
lends a dramatic weight to Hero.
Jet
Li is silent, intelligent, and graceful as Nameless, but it is Tony Leung Chiu
Wai and Maggie Cheung who really carry the movie as Broken Sword and Flying Snow,
two devoted assassins with a deep passion for one another.
Yimou
Zhang has fashioned a vibrant, awe inspiring adventure that I can honestly say
blew me away with visual imagery I've never seen before. The fight choreography
is absolutely stunning. When these warriors go to battle, the end result is brutal
but incredibly graceful. It's like watching ballet. While clearly, much of these
enormous sequences were done with wires, they're seamless and an absolute marvel
to behold.
There
are other incredible moments in this picture to speak of including an unforgettable
sequence in which two of the film's major characters deflect thousands of arrows
that soar into a village, courtesy of enemy archers. This is breathtaking stuff,
and I can't even begin to describe it in words. You really need to see it.
What's
more, the fighting sequences never get boring because each one occurs in a new,
distinct location. There are desert battles, a spellbinding duel atop a lake (in
which two characters literally walk on water), and a mesmerizing sequence in which
two warriors sword fight in a forest, with beautiful yellow leaves falling in
the background.
Cinematographer
Christopher Doyle is to be commended for perhaps the most stunning camera work
of the year. The colors, lighting and various vistas on display in this movie
have to be seen to be believed, and Doyle never takes the easy way out. Hero is
theatrical to be sure, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. This is outstanding
work.
If Hero
has any flaws at all, they lie in the screenplay, but they are minimal. I suppose
I felt that towards the end of the picture, things got a tad melodramatic, but
not enough to distract me from the overall beauty of this magical movie. And I
have to say, I was surprised by Broken Sword's revelation near the end of the
movie. I was expecting something over the top. A kind of grand twist in the tradition
of say, The Empire Strikes Back. This doesn't happen though, and I'm glad because
it would have felt false in a picture like this. Hero takes a more restrained
approach, and I was really fooled by it.
This
summer has seen it's share of big budget, large cast, war films (i.e. Troy, King
Arthur etc.), but this flick is the cream of the crop. I even prefer it to the
dazzling Zatoichi. Hero moves at a quick pace, and features dozens of stunning
fight sequences, but it's also brimming with romance and drama, and that above
all takes this beautiful piece of work to a higher level.
