Movie Review :: Hero

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:22 pm Post subject: Movie Review :: Hero

Movie: Hero
Written by: Ricky (Nightwatchman)
Genre: Drama/Action/Romance
Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Daoming Chen, Donnie Yen
Rating: 9/10

Hero is a very enjoyable Chinese drama filled with amazing stylized action sequences and a very developed and intricate story plot. The story is told through a series of flashbacks and even though three quarters of the movie is in flashback sequences, the pace of main story line and overall movie is not lost. In fact, the flashbacks actually add to the overall excitement of the present time scenes.

The movie starts out with the arrival of Hero, or Nameless (Lee), at the castle of the Emperor of Qin, one of the seven warring nations in China at that time. He has been summoned by the Emperor of Qin because he has killed the top 3 assassins in all of China who had been plotting to kill the Emperor for a number of years. What leads from there is the story of how Hero traveled around the seven warring nations in amazingly well choreographed fight scenes with the most beautiful cinematography in any movie ever made. I cannot stress how beautiful the landscapes are, the director not only chose excellent backdrops for every scene in the movie but he also incorporated the characters clothing and fighting style into the backdrop making for some of the most beautiful fight scenes in history of film.

The reason this movie didn't get a complete 10/10 is because I believe the director was aiming to be a little bit too artistic by making some scenes not as intense or believable as they could have been. Just because Hero is "presented by Quentin Tarantino" doesn't mean it's a gore-fest. Hero is actually more of a drama/love movie than you might think. Hero is a solid movie to see with the kids, I brought my 9 year old brother along, and all I had to watch out for is a sex-scene that lasted not more than 30 seconds tops. The scene isn't necessarily explicit, but you are able to hear most of what is happening (moans, etc.). Be sure to check out this movie if you liked Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. On a side note, Jet Lee is actually a very good actor when speaking in his native tongue of Mandarin, who would've thought?

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:37 am Post subject:

i was pondering over whether i should see this movie earlier because i saw commercials for it. ill have to see it sometime, it looks pretty good.

Posts: 120 · Sub-Modder Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 120

I have to agree, that movie ruled HARD. I think that the action sequences make more sense once you start considering the storyline...as the story comes closer and closer to the truth the sequences have less impossibilities.

The cinematography was godly and original - kudos to that whole production team.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:47 pm Post subject:

Posts: 1736 · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:53 pm Post subject:

Clockwork- was the cinematography like Crouching Tiger in any way?
thats one of my favorite movies

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject:

i just got back from the movie and i am amazed. the fight scenes were like none other, and the director also managed to get romance in the plot as well along with some thought provoking qoutes and ideas.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:15 am Post subject:

I really want to go see this.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:45 am Post subject:

go see it, haggs. like right now.

Posts: 336 · Modder Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 336

heh, ya presented by quinten tarentino (sp is bad but hey).
i was watching some late show the other night and they had him on there and talked about that. apparently he is sticking his name on some movies that he doesnt really direct now.

Posts: 166 · Sub-Modder Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 166

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject:

Posts: 3258 · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:13 am Post subject:

ive heard good things about the movie... might have to go see it..

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:47 pm Post subject:

As awesome as the movie looks, I think I'll wait for it to hit the 2$ or campus theaters. I can't really get out to see movies anymore without paying extra money for transportation. It's definitely on my "want to see" list of movies.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:58 am Post subject:

actually, i think its already out in the 2$ theaters, because im pretty sure that movie isnt a hollywood thing. just a guess.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject:

I'll have to look into it. Thanks Kompact.