Hero Rescues The Summer Movie Season!

Rating: Null/10 (27 August 2004)

**A few little spoilers I guess**
I went into Hero with low expectations at least in regards to the story, acting, and what-have-ya. All I wanted was some awesome action. Well, I got superb action along with superb everything else. I just came from the theater so I'm a bit jaded, but I'm certain that when I buy this on DVD and set it next to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on my movie rack and watch it a second time, I will appreciate it just as much if not more.
To like this movie one has to like Asian philosophy, Wire-fu, anime, pretty much anything eastern. If you don't like any of these things or simply don't understand them, then Hero is unfortunately not for you. This is really a shame because the technical aspects of Hero as well as the very simplistic story (which is told in a rather complicated way) is enough to wow anyone who sees it. However, those who can't get passed their belief in gravity or continually ask "why is there writing on the bottom of the screen?" won't be able to stomach this film.
Whether you're a fan of the style or not, or whether you are annoyed by Hero's flashbacks, retellings, and eventual open-ended ending, it is a great film, definitely one of the greatest of the summer, definitely the greatest action film of the summer, and thus far one of the few worthy of a best picture nod (though barely anyone would agree).
Asian-cinema has action sequences, particularly those involving sword-play, down to a science. The editing in Hero is unbelievable in regard to the fight sequences. Slo-mo is used to perfection, angles are always ever-changing yet long lasting so that we can actually SEE all that's going on, and the choreography is right up there with Crouching Tiger and The Matrix(because they're choreographed by the same man).
If I'm comparing Crouching Tiger to Hero, I'd have to say Hero falls short but not by much. Crouching Tiger has a complete story where every character is developed extremely well and we KNOW why everyone can flip around the way they can. In Hero, such backstory and explanation aren't really necessary but it is harder to become invested in a story that sometimes turns out to be a lie or where three or four different scenarios that may or may not be true play out before us. Those who already have a hard time following a movie with subtitles are going to find Hero a painstaking experience. However, I argue that showing a traditionally simplistic story in a complicated way, creates a new take on the classic revenge story. Sure, the film could be linear and we could see Jet Li progress one assassin at a time in a traditional chronological path, but then Hero wouldn't be Hero.
I really could go on and on about this movie because I haven't even talked about a lot of what I wanted to. I never expected this movie to be half as deep as it is. Almost every fight scene contains some kind of element or color of nature. And I really loved the final message of the film, one that I certainly wasn't expecting. I know it may annoy some that "To lay down your sword" is apparently a warrior's ultimate hope when we've seen that warrior using his sword for an hour straight in order to get what he wants, but "can't we all just get along" is a better message to spread than some of the tripe we're seeing on screens big and large these days. And to get such a message from such a film makes Hero unexpectedly meaningful and worthwhile. And add some of the best cinematography, editing, and sound among superb fight-scenes and you get something that doesn't happen enough: a good combination of art and entertainment.
Hero is the only movie that completely took my mind away from the world for an hour and a half this year. It's editing in fights is even better than either Kill Bill and the shots and colors in this film are, dare I say it, better than Crouching Tiger.
Worthy of your money. A solid good time. And if you don't like reading, don't. Just watch the fights. It's still worth it.