Wuxia films don't get better than this.

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2010)

Hero is one of the most stunning martial arts epics ever. I was somewhat disappointed by recent releases like Curse Of The Golden Flower (2006) and House Of Flying Daggers (2004). That's not to say that they were bad because they were filmed well and were sometimes thrilling. But their stories didn't pull me in. Hero, however, is a triumph. It really touched me with its story of revenge, war, politics and devotion. The first thing I noticed while watching it was its superb use of color. The cinematography is gorgeous, and often scenes are dominated by only one color. China rarely looks this good in films. The martial arts fights are elevated to graceful and artful. The backdrops of these fights are stunning. The fights obviously have elements of fantasy. Thus, even special effects were used. None of them look fake, however. Even the fight on a lake was filmed without errors or missteps. In the acting category famous actors from Hong Kong were cast as the assassins. It was good to see them in one film. They're middle-aged now but this is fitting because they play wise and experienced fighters. The real surprise is Chen Daoming, playing the King of Qin. He's a tyrant but Daoming turns him into a likable persona, just what the film requires. He hardly moves during the film, but just the way he talks is interesting. The film's message is definitely thought-provoking. Hero is one of the most expensive films in Chinese history, and also the highest-grossing. There are many extras, big imposing architecture, and incredible martial arts fights. It's definitely a must-see film, one of the best martial arts films ever. I highly recommend it.