Hero
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Movie Reviews of Hero
Movie Review: Objectively speaking, this movie is daring, beautiful, intelligent, and hard to find fault in
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read many reviews on this and heard many opinions... now it is time for me to interject. There are some things that absolutely must be addressed.
The action in many contemporary Eastern movies is often hard to grasp. Myth, legend, and history would (and did) have us believe that ninja, samurai, and other practitioners of martial arts were capable of superhuman feats, and this is clearly represented in motion picture form. Surely, we cannot stand on water. Granted, we cannot fly either. That being said, this movie does not gratingly or jarringly demand that you suspend your disbelief. In fact, action can hardly be said to be the focus of the film, though the main characters are virtuosos of combat.
What IS the focus of this movie is the storytelling. Though the combination of the music and the scenery are consistently breathtaking, they are simply a backdrop to a well-woven tale that may challenge you intellectually and philosophically. There are twists abound, but they are not the gimmicks or cliches that we are growing accustomed to in the films of recent years. The movie does not build up to a single scene wherein the actors figuratively shout "Surprise!" and the credits roll while we are either left in shock or in disappointment depending on whether the twist was thought-provoking or just insulting. Though the story is for all intents and purposes told three times, it maintains a level of tension and invites the viewer to engage in internal dialogue to a much greater extent than just to ponder what will happen next. We are led to feel the losses or the successes of what we are watching unfold only to realize it was merely a deception, not only to the characters we are watching but to the audience as well! There are timeless questions of sacrifice, love, truth, happiness, politics, etc. etc. the themes that will strike close to home as we are all humans and our lives are made of such.
My only minor disappointment while watching with this movie was the refusal to offer a truely "loose ends tied up" ending, seemingly typical of many Eastern movies of late. While I much prefer this to the Western "Hollywood ending", I have trouble not proposing more logical endings. The thing that I have come to realize is that movies are about people, and that people do not always act logically. If you cannot deduce the reasoning and the emotion behind the decisions made by the characters, that is your problem and not that of this movie. There is plenty of source material to provide multiple ample explanations.
To sum it up, this movie is written, choreographed, filmed, acted, and scored with such loving attention that it is hard not to appreciate it. It is no stretch to realize the qualities which led Tarantino to attach his name on it it so prominently, though with all due respect not many people know what, if anything, he may have contributed (though you can find out in a few minutes if you search these reviews for his name).
Movie Review: A "Hero" is born!
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite being billed as being from Quentin Tarantino, Zhang Yimou's "Hero" (original title: "Ying Xiong") is more "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" than "Kill Bill." Visually rich, stunningly action-packed, and beautifully made, "Hero" is a unique film that takes the soul and senses on a rollercoaster ride.
Ancient China (third century B.C.) was divided into seven kingdoms, and the most powerful lord was the King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming). He wants to unite China under his own rule. But he lives in fear of his life, most particularly from a trio of deadly assassins: "Broken Sword", "Flying Snow" and "Long Sky" (Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Donnie Yen).
Then a man called Nameless (Jet Li) arrives, announcing that he has somehow killed them. How could he have killed three incredibly powerful warriors? Not just by his impressive martial arts skills, but through his cunning as well. He uses jealousy, calligraphy, and his wits to defeat them. But the king is not convinced that Nameless is telling the whole truth, and concocts a version of his own. A game of wits starts to form between the mysterious warrior and the wily king. What is the truth behind Hero's story?
"Hero" follows in the footsteps of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon." And while it doesn't cover much new ground in the fantasy martial arts area, it's a magnificent and awe-inspiring film. But despite all the wire-fu, "Hero" dips into an area that "Crouching Tiger" didn't -- it draws heavily on Akira Kurosawa's classic "Rashomon," by giving us different versions of the same story. What is the truth? That is left blurred, and eventually the people who tell the stories are more important than the truth.
Zhang Yimou creates a film where style overcomes the realistic, full of color and scenery and beauty. People slash off hundreds of oncoming arrows and leap through walls of droplets -- just try doing that in the real world. The fight scenes are, simply put, balletic. They fight while suspended over a lake as their swords dip through the water, fight to music, battle in a swirl of fallen leaves. But none of this jars the viewer if they remember that in this film, the style and beauty of the action is what makes it effective.
Jet Li and Chen Dao Ming give the best performances of this film -- they both portray intelligent, suspicious men who are playing a strange game of truth and deception. Their back-and-forth conversations are entrancing. The three assassin actors, as well as the wonderful Zhang Ziyi, are given secondary roles, but do an excellent job of imbuing them with little hints of humanity.
Zhang Yimou's first foray into the martial arts genre is a roaring success. It lacks the freshness of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," but it stands firmly on its own feet with a beautifully intricate story and amazing action scenes. A must-see.
Movie Review: This Is Why We Go To The Movies
Summary: 5 Stars
With the largest budget ever for a Chinese film and an all star cast directed by Zhang Yimou, you don't expect something mediocre. With all the factors above, it seems fitting that this film is one to remember and cherish. Large budgets for movies don't exactly mean 'quality filmmaking', but in this case, the film didn't suffer, but only added the perfection that could have been missing if on a smaller budget. Yimou went all out on this one, and you must see it to believe it, when it reaches American movie theaters in the winter.The story is fairly simple, I do not want to give away too much in this review, but the most obvious connection to this movie and 2 others would be Kurosawa's "Rashomon" and Kurosawa's "Ran" Many others say "The Emperor and the Assassin" which is more on the obvious side.
Many perspectives are shown, much as the basis for Rashomon. Each story that is retold has a distinct 'color' towards who is telling the story, which brings in the "Ran" comparison.
Emi Wada, who did the maginificent costumes for "Ran" also did the costume design for this movie, obviously using her greatest asset, colors bright and bold. The color coding in the movie almost serves as a seperate character, as she did with the 3 brothers in Ran.
The fight sequences, especially between Jet Li and Donnie Yen are nothing less than breathtaking. Very much taking the wire-flights in the style of Yuen Wo Ping, and using them to the full degree possible (which you know must be a lot of fun for the actors).
Some people that reviewed the movie here might have complained about the story not being 'full' enough, but there is a small explanation for that. The original running time was actually around 110 minutes long, but Miramax (or MiramAXE to some people) thought the movie was too long for 'international' audiences, so the film was cut to 98 minutes. What was cut is unknown to me since there is no Director's Cut available anywhere, even in Hong Kong or China. I did feel that the first fight scene coming in around the 10 minute mark was a little sudden, but the cut material might have explained things better. Let's all hope for a Director's Cut when finally issued in the US.
This film is the reason why we go to the movies. It is a visual delight, along with a strong storyline that keeps you interested and intrigued. Yimou scores again with this one, you must see it to believe the hype.
Best shot/sequence:
It would be so much easier if i could divide it by the best sequence by way of color coding, but to choose one, it would have to be the first fight sequence, with Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Switching for dream sequence black and white to reality color, this fight scene in their minds was breathtakingly beautiful. This is the scene I show people to convince them this movie.
Movie Review: Excellent film, if you avoid the Tarantino version anyway
Summary: 5 Stars
I shall avoid the repetitive plot retellings and focus on what worked for me.
1. I found the use of different color pallettes for different scenes breathtaking. It helped to convey mood and set the scene. Not something we see a lot of in Western cinema. Innovative, original, and worked very well to move the story along and set each scene. It was almost as if the colors became characters in the film.
2. The fight scenes were very well-choreographed, but not the meat of the film. The characters interacted with the world around them wonderfully. The scenes on the lake and in the forest with the leaves were excellent. Also watch the Jet Li/Maggie Cheung arrow scene. The ability of both actors to move the way they do (accepting that wires were involved, I'm not totally naive) is flawless. I still command Maggie Cheung and Ziyi Zhang; for non-martial artists, they can move as a fighter very well.
3. Speaking of actors, I cannot fault any of them. An all-star cast without a doubt. I love Maggie Cheung, and it is obvious that Jet Li makes better Asian films than American films; for some reason, American filmmakers cannot get past the "hack and slash" martial arts film. Asian filmmakers can, and they really showcase Jet Li's depth. The acting alone could make this a five star film.
4. The ability of the crew and writers to put different spins and subtle nuances on each version of the story was a high point of the film. While the non-linear storytelling had the potential to be distracting, and on a certain level was the first time around, the writing, cinematography, and acting made each version different, unique and it's own.
Ok, the beef: Tarantino needs to leave his hands off these films. Period. I have the original Chinese Special Edition, and although even the menu is in Chinese and I have to guess how to turn on the English subtitles, I find it to be a far superior film. The subtitling was better, there was about 10 minutes of extra footage. Little things, but they made a difference, especially by the end of the film where the Nameless has to make his decision. Especially the subtitles.
One other issue I want to address. A number of reviewers have complained about this being a "propaganda piece". All I can say is "so what if it is?" It is also a visually stunning film with a great deal of emotional depth. American cinema can only hope to be this good!
Oh, I lied. One last issue. If you're thinking this is just another "chop-sockey" flick, please read the reviews (and the dvd box) before complaining that it isn't. By now, unless you've been living under a rock, you should know there's more to this than just a few good fight scenes.
Movie Review: People just don't get the story....
Summary: 5 Stars
It is really frustrating reading the reviews on this movie.
**SPOILERS**
If you haven't watched the movie, go watch it. If you don't get it because the translations are so bad, then you can come read this and watch it again. IF you still don't get it, email me...
**SPOILERS**
First of all, this IS a martial arts movie. For anybody who has spent any serious time study martial arts, martial arts isn't just about kicking and punching. With particular attention to Chinese martial arts, martial arts is very much more about the lifelong pursuit of peace. There is a graduation from being the fastest, strongest, most able to destroy, focusing on the narcissistic self, to being a sacrificial humble person who seeks to spread morality through influence rather than the sword.
The first "mind" fighting scene should be a HUGE clue into what's coming. That martial arts is performed more in the mind than with the body.
Next, I read a lot of people talking about the "fantasy" like aspect of the movie. This is in tradition of many of the literary novels of this period. The whole movie is about what is going on in the minds of people. It is the perfect for that purpose.
As far as the "Dances" and all this, it is so frustrating what I read on the reviews here. The characters who are fighting with each other, if nothing else, have deep respect for each other. As the stories are retold, they are being retold with admiration and respect for their peers. The point of the sequences are one to be a retelling of a story, and two, to speak of those that they respect. They aren't supposed to be "real".
And for those that hate the ending, well, I guess you haven't seen too many asian movies... Asian movies don't use Disney endings. The movies are meant to have impact, not give you a good feeling.
Further, for those that think that the last guy standing is the "good guy" in the movie, you need to start being able to see something and make your own decisions about what is right or wrong despite what you see or is told to you.
This is not a propaganda movie either, as history did show, a lot of good did come from this temporary unity, however its cost was terrible. Further, the asian audience, for whom the movie is made, know too well the history of this Emperor. Besides most already know about the real life account on the attempted assassination of the Emperor and know that this is not really what the story is about.
I really enjoyed this movie, not just because it is pretty, but because of the message it is trying to show. I mean, who is the real hero? Who was the most powerful? Who never got it? Who DID get it?