You know, I’ve encountered the Ras****n problem previously and forgot. I think it’s kinda funny myself. I mean really, how do you effectively censor the net?
I did not do the ball and sword test. I thought about it, but given my background and the fact that my wife is a Yoga teacher, we figured the logical class to enroll her in was trapeze school. She will find her path, no doubt.
The CTHD comparison will really hurt Hero. It’s sad because Hero is truly a magnificent work and a great tale of wude. CTHD was more of a romance with wude undertones. But I think the music and the presence of Zhang Ziyi will make the comparison inevitable and Hero will lose on the popular front.
One more thing I’d like to add to my review. In classic Zhang Yimou style, the women really shine. He can really direct women. Maggie and Zhang Ziyi turn in the best performances. Tony Leung’s work was engaging but somewhat helpless. Jet was so stoic Chuck Norris could have done that part. But Zhang Ziyi’s small part had some great emotion to it - she has such beautiful neck muscles that flair right on cue. And to think that she’s done fights scenes now with all the big martial stars. As for Maggie, well, I’ve been in love with Maggie since when she was Jackie’s helpless girlfriend. I even loyally sat through Irma Vep. It’s great to see her get past the cute girl (almost kogal if she were Japanese) role and take on more mature women. Her performance was the most powerful.
I just got the Miramax and Chinese production “HERO” which has Tong Leung, Maggie Cheung (both famous HK actors known for in Wong Kar Wai’s flims), Jet Li, and Donnie Yen. It is an awesome kung fu movie much like Couching Tiger and Hidden Dragon in terms of budget, beautiful dresses, colors, and landscapes, and of course flying type kung fu. It is out on VCD and there are bootlegs DVDs, but much more intellectual than Ang Lee’s flim.
I highly recommend that you go to your local chinese video stores and purchase this VCD, it does have english sub titles. The fight scene between Jet Li and Donne Yen is nice. Tong Leung and Maggie Cheung were beautiful actors and I always loved their body of work when they work together.
I think viewers need to understand who Qin was and what he did. That’s a critical part of the plotline, as well as the myth that Hero was retelling. With that knowledge, we know pretty much what is going to happen from the introduction. For those familiar with Chinese legend and history, it’s a lot like watching a retelling of Arthurian legend.
seriously though, the colours were superb, the cinematography was lush and crisp.
the swordplay choreography was excellent and the dream sequence fights were some of the best wire work I’ve seen. (prolly cuz da folks on teh wires are pretty good at it )
the story was very well told.
Overall, I’d give this flick a 9 out of 10. Cause, noones perfect.
The Emperor was Qin xi Huang Ti is that correct or is it a later period emperor qin?
anyway, no matter, you don’t need to know anything about chinese history to enjoy this flick. It is definitely one of Li’s better ones.
Shame about the nomination last night. Somehow, I was really skeptical that Hero would get anything, again under the shadow of CTHD, but I was still hoping…
Originally posted by hakka mui The political aspect of it all left a bad taste in my mouth though - the unification of China through military force.
Agreed!
Hasn’t Zhang Yimou had kind of a reputation of being aginst the regime? This movie can only be interpreted the other way around. But, maybe it should not be interpreted.
This is why I think you DO need to know China’s history - it’s not about military might, it’s about emperor Qin, the first emperor and China’s founder. If you don’t understand the context of Qin, you might interpret it all as military might. All the dynasties begin with a military overthrow, then collapse under the weight of their own opulence. Such is the history of China.
Anyways, we got Hero for you now, on DVD, for region 1 (USA & Canada DVD platform. Hero - $19.95 Get 'em while the last!
OTOH, it is quite possible to tell things about modern times without shouting them out too loudly, if you set your stories in ancient times. It was my impression that Zhang Yimou has done this a few times. But, maybe not in this one.
I just saw Hero again - this time on DVD on a fat widscreen TV with the full on surround sound hook up (my initial viewing was off a bootleg VCD.) It was an extraordinary experience. Hero is becoming my pick for the most beautiful martial arts film of all time. Unfortunately, I still think it will go past most people. It doesn’t have enough martial arts to satisfy fight scene junkies and it’s a bit complex for the average viewer. But in terms of the over all message and the spectacle, it is beginning to rival The Seven Samurai as one of my all time favorite martial movies.
I think Hero is alot better than CTHD. It has a better flow in the movie and it’s story is more complex but really quite simple. Dare I say, more beautiful than CTHD? yeah I do
The only thing that I liked better about CTHD was the music…
Coco Lee - a love before time (chinese version)
Musical poetry :o
Originally posted by GeneChing I just saw Hero again - this time on DVD on a fat widscreen TV with the full on surround sound hook up (my initial viewing was off a bootleg VCD.) It was an extraordinary experience. Hero is becoming my pick for the most beautiful martial arts film of all time. Unfortunately, I still think it will go past most people. It doesn’t have enough martial arts to satisfy fight scene junkies and it’s a bit complex for the average viewer. But in terms of the over all message and the spectacle, it is beginning to rival The Seven Samurai as one of my all time favorite martial movies.
It’s not there yet. Mind you, I’ve seen Seven Samurai on the big screen several times and I have yet to see Hero there. I’d have to see Hero a few dozen more times before it gets close to Seven Samurai, but I might do that.
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