a confrontation between the good of one and the good of many....

Rating: 7/10 (1 January 2005)

If i had to give this movie a one word rating i would label it gripping. At times i felt that it did propel forward at a less then desirable pace, however this made what some might call a bit of exaggeration, seem more artistically refined. Definitely one great film with an excellent story so I understand why it's rated as high as it is here, (which i will admit was one of the larger contributing factors to me seeking out this film).
What i found particularly strange about this movie is that i really didn't care how it ended. I put that much trust in the goal of the main character. Ironically, at the beginning of the movie i found myself doubting its high rating because of some rather iffy dialogue and exaggerated fighting, but then i came to realize that the power of some lines were probably lost during translation so i couldn't fault the movie for that and the fighting is still acceptable. So as the story progresses it becomes so engrossing, that i stopped asking questions and picking it apart. I just wanted to truly understand the vision of "Hero" in it's entirety.
I will not try to pretend to understand the culture of ancient china or any of the symbolism in this movie, but i will say this. The director seemed to use colour to express certain theatrical emotions and I believe this idea was implemented most excellently. One particular scene that comes to mind is the fight with the King and Broken Sword during a flashback. As he approaches the kings palace,both him and snow are dressed in pale green garb and so are many silk drapes that decorate the area. This, plus the fact that the many soldiers that surround them are wearing dark colours allow for the effect to be well, quite effective. Just one example, but there still remain quite a few scenes like this, easily making Hero a very visually emotional accomplishment.
There are some things i didn't like about the movie. I wasn't simply astonished from the fight scenes like i would've liked to have been. I didn't like this "floating" fight style very much in Crouching Tiger and i don't really like it that much in this film, either. For some reason even though they really try to make you see it as graceful, blending so many mini angles to achieve a sense of motion does the exact opposite for me and i see the scenes in pieces and it bugs me. using wires i believe can and has been done better, but that's just one trade off i can deal with.
I noticed i didn't go into detail about the story but thats because many reviews here already have and i believe your should just watch the movie to determine whether or not you like it. I, personally think Hero is a great movie with a story that will draw you in, pick you up, and leaving you feeling emotions right along with the characters. I would recommend this to anyone interested in a movie with heart and a passion for honor, coupled with some good visual effects.