Why Martial Arts? The Answer: Hero.

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2005)

How many times we have heard our friends and relatives asking us about our fascination with action-movies or films with martial arts? We always expect a film that could teach them how artistic could be Action and Kicks and Punches.
The Wuxia Genre is the perfect way to tell stories so deep, emotional and philosophical such as the stories told in Ying xiong (Hero), but in the past and due to the high amount of movies of Wuxia that deliver Hong Kong these aspects sometimes are deluded in stories that just deliver action and energy. This particular film could perfectly be the sole justification of the existence of cinema of martial arts. But is not the first and hopefully won't be the last time when Asian filmmakers teach us why the Adventure and the Action speak better about ourselves rather than other movies. There are many undiscovered Martial Arts Films that has similarities with Hero.
Slightly based in reality Hero is more a fantasy, at this point we should be careful with any accusations of wrong perception of history. The subtext and the moral that surround the plot are mature, intelligent and personal. Zhang Yimou view of heroism is superb. It's not a slow movie, but Hero leaves space for dialogue that has the same transcendence that the fights have. Hero not only dares to stretch the boundaries of storytelling also has and incredible visual style (Chris Doyle's cinematography), and colors also help to understand the story better. The final touch is the music of Tan Dun, a whole narration itself, Tan Dun give us a memorable score. Jet Li is probably the best martial artist alive and a good actor (two things that hardly are bond), and a rich story such as this one needed a talent like Jet's. Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Donnie Yen, a cast that is a mixture of dramatic actors and martial artist, all of them teaching us how the physical and emotional acting are one thing. Sorry for the super-stardom that believe in the use of a body double in almost every scene.
Enjoy it and watch it again, tell your friends about Hero.