Good, but not great

Rating: 7/10 (1 September 2004)

PROS:
1. Good story and plot... there are a few layers here. Not the tired: "You killed my master, and I'm going to get you!" I'd say the story here is even better than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
2. Good costumes
3. Good acting
4. They are lucky to be riding on the coat-tails of the Kill Bill series that re-ignited peoples appetites for these types of films. Also, Passion of Christ was in a foreign language and subtitled. So people are more receptive to this type of film now.
CONS:
1. Sound - not in THX or anything CLOSE... lacked a big theatre feel. The style of music was OK.
2. Too unrealistic. e.g. arrows when they were doing calligraphy not hitting anyone. Tired of the running on water sequences. It really takes away from it. Some of the wire work could have been better.
3. Mediocre fight scenes. No epic fights. Everything I see here, I have seen in other martial arts films... some done even better. See works of Yuen Wo Ping for excellent fight scenes. (e.g. Yuen Wo Ping was action director for The Matrix.)
4. G rating... really took away from its potential content. Needed to be at least PG-13.
OTHER:
All the actors are solid. Ziyi Zhang (Moon) is a hot cutie. I've seen many of Jet Li's films and I'm afraid this film is too Crouching Tiger to stack up. If you want to see really great Jet Li films, see:
1. Tai Chi Master also known as Twin Warriors (with the sensational Michelle Yeoh/Khan) [See almost anything with Michelle Yeoh/Khan... she's worth it.]
2. The Defender
3. Fist of Legend
4. Romeo Must Die (with Aaliyah)
I would recommend Hero/Ying Xiong, but I can't give it more than 7/10. I think some people are being swept by the novelty of the film but if you have been following Jet Li or films of this genre for some time, you know he has done better movies.