A visionary masterpiece!

Rating: 10/10 (1 November 2004)

Following the success and pure class of Crouching Tiger, there was a long wait for something as good to find its way over to the states, but now it has. Hero is an exceptional piece of film-making from director Yimou Zhang. The film is a lush and gorgeous piece of art that makes Crouching Tiger look like an ugly sibling, hidden away in the basement being chucked scraps of raw cow. Now this is quite something because Ang Lee's visionary epic was itself a very gorgeous film. Everything that Lee's film had going for it is right here with Zhang's film, from the gorgeous cinematography through to the wonderful production design, costumes, score and an engaging story full of philosophy, myth, religion and history. Which of the two films is better? Well it's a tough one to call. Both films have their strengths over the other but for me Crouching Tiger would narrowly pip this to the most because Hero's story becomes a little convoluted as it goes on. Also Crouching Tiger did have Chow Yun- Fat in it too.
Hero stars the one and only Jet Li. Li is not known as a great thespian and it was essential that, being primarily a martial arts star, aside from the ass kickery, he had to hold his own against some great actors, such as Tony Lueng. Li's understated performance is excellent. It's a very stoic role but it requires a performance to come from within. It has to have the same power hat Bruce Lee gave in Enter The Dragon and Chuck Bronson did in Once Upon A Time In The West. Li pull's it off, it's a performance of real restraint and inner power and he looks a far cry from his wooden persona in Hollywood pap like Cradle 2 The Grave and The One. He is almost a narrator in the story and is the centre piece and Li was not the initial choice for the film. A more respected actor was wanted for the part, like Chow Yun-Fat, but Li thoroughly rules his role and makes this part his own. Tony Leung steals the movie though. Leung is fantastic a really great performance adding the gravitas that Chow did in Crouching Tiger. He is a great actor, right up there with Chow and deservedly was recognised in the HK film awards. Also starring is Maggie Cheung. Cheung is fantastic as well and unbelievably gorgeous. She made me want to break down and cry at the glorious creation of womanhood, and simultaneously go at it with myself in the cinema screen, but the threat of arrest was just about enough of a deterrent. You can sit and merely marvel at her gorgeousness with the sound turned down. Not far behind in the yummy stakes is Zhang Zhiyi who also starred in Crouching Tiger, she is also superb in this.
The action in this film is brilliant including a fantastic martial arts fans' wet dream showdown between Jet Li and Donnie Yen. All the action scenes have a specific tone to follow and have certain colours affluent throughout the scene that will represent things like truth, courage and honour. The action looks amazing and beats that of Crouching Tiger in sheer imagination. At the same time this has a remarkably toned down Jet Li in the action, it's all very minimalist with his movements and doesn't utilize his fantastic kicking ability as much as other films have. The action shows Li as an ultimate fighter who does maximum damage with minimum effort. Also the action is far more weapon orientated than most of Li's other films. There are some great sequences here and understandably Quentin Tarantino was a big advocate for the film and whose determination almost solely got the film it's long awaited US release.
This is arguably the film of the year and is a joy to behold. It's another lesson to Hollywood about doing an epic with subtlety and an action film with heart, and a drama with true power on a fraction of those inflated budgeted American star vehicles. Not to be missed. *****