Not What You'd Expect

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2004)

If I were forced to use one word to describe this movie, that word would have to be beautiful. Beautiful locations, beautiful swordplay, even the plot, as straightforward as it appears, is beautiful in its twists, subtleties, and poignant ending. This movie has some of the most powerful imagery of any I have ever seen. Though some may not like the high-flying wire martial arts (a la Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), no one can deny the grace of the combat. Though the movie was released under Quentin Tarantino's name, and is often compared to his Kill Bill series, the resemblance is only passing. Where Kill Bill revels in violence and excessive gore, Hero focuses on the thought and philosophy of combat, and blood is seen infrequently. Instead of relying on pools of viscera to affect the audience, Hero uses clever and artistic camera angles. Though the swordplay makes up a large portion of the film, at the end of the day Hero is a tale of emotions, motives and philosophy, sacrificing oneself for the greater good. The films most noticeable blemish is the pacing, some scenes are just too long, but this is a minor complaint. Based in history, and steeped in the Chinese mythos, Hero's real battle takes place in the minds of its viewers, challenging perceptions about what a martial arts film can be.