Hero (2002) (PG-13)
Directed by Yimou Zhang
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Daddy Says:
If you're ever asked "What the heck is Art Direction anyway?", you might try referring to this film. Hero is a joy to the eyes. Movies may be "motion pictures", but this film often looks amazingly like "motion art". Every scene is composed for maximum viewing pleasure. Director Yimou Zhang specializes in this type of gorgeous viewing experience.
But Hero is about more than just visual spectacle. Jet Li stars as the titular Hero, literally called Nameless. He has apparently done away with the three assassins the King fears the most. He arrives at the King's palace to receive his just reward, but not everything is as it seems. We're his actions motivated by an altruistic need, or does he have a darker motive? As in Rashomon, we get to watch as the same story of how Nameless was able to defeat the assassins, told several times from different points of view. Only in the end do we realize what did and did not actually happen.
Breathtaking choreographed fight scenes, emotion filled drama (my 9-year old son has seen this movie twice, once in English and now in Mandarin, and both times was moved to tears by the end of the film), this film is simply incredible. Don't let the fact that this is a "foreign" film dissuade you. Hero is not to be missed.
Grade for Hero: A
Daughter Says:
Hero is a breathtaking view of China, before China came to be. It covers the history behind the Great Wall of China, and two words that saved many lives and took many lives.
It wasn't just the powerful writing, but the colors that had me fixed to the screen. Every story is told in different colors. The actors robes and the scenery changes to match the person's interpretation of what happened.
This may be a foreign film, but you don't need the words to understand how emotional and gorgeous this movie is. You could never quite tell who the hero and the villain were. In the beginning it explains that in war, there is a hero on both sides.
Another amazing characteristic about this movie is the sounds. When every arrow is pulled, you can hear the bows creak. When every sword slices the air, you can hear the whistle of the wind. The only downer, would have to be the actors shouts when they're running. It makes me laugh every time. But you always need a good laugh, when it comes to serious movies.
I highly recommend this movie, for anyone who appreciates the arts and deep down emotions.I give Hero an "A+" !!
Directed by Yimou Zhang
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Daddy Says:
If you're ever asked "What the heck is Art Direction anyway?", you might try referring to this film. Hero is a joy to the eyes. Movies may be "motion pictures", but this film often looks amazingly like "motion art". Every scene is composed for maximum viewing pleasure. Director Yimou Zhang specializes in this type of gorgeous viewing experience.
But Hero is about more than just visual spectacle. Jet Li stars as the titular Hero, literally called Nameless. He has apparently done away with the three assassins the King fears the most. He arrives at the King's palace to receive his just reward, but not everything is as it seems. We're his actions motivated by an altruistic need, or does he have a darker motive? As in Rashomon, we get to watch as the same story of how Nameless was able to defeat the assassins, told several times from different points of view. Only in the end do we realize what did and did not actually happen.
Breathtaking choreographed fight scenes, emotion filled drama (my 9-year old son has seen this movie twice, once in English and now in Mandarin, and both times was moved to tears by the end of the film), this film is simply incredible. Don't let the fact that this is a "foreign" film dissuade you. Hero is not to be missed.
Grade for Hero: A
Daughter Says:
Hero is a breathtaking view of China, before China came to be. It covers the history behind the Great Wall of China, and two words that saved many lives and took many lives.
It wasn't just the powerful writing, but the colors that had me fixed to the screen. Every story is told in different colors. The actors robes and the scenery changes to match the person's interpretation of what happened.
This may be a foreign film, but you don't need the words to understand how emotional and gorgeous this movie is. You could never quite tell who the hero and the villain were. In the beginning it explains that in war, there is a hero on both sides.
Another amazing characteristic about this movie is the sounds. When every arrow is pulled, you can hear the bows creak. When every sword slices the air, you can hear the whistle of the wind. The only downer, would have to be the actors shouts when they're running. It makes me laugh every time. But you always need a good laugh, when it comes to serious movies.
I highly recommend this movie, for anyone who appreciates the arts and deep down emotions.I give Hero an "A+" !!
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