A modern fairy tale of grace and principles.

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2004)

I truly believe Hero is a masterpiece. I've seen it only on the small screen and it already blew me away. I can't wait till Miramax releases it soon. It's a film I've watched close to ten times now, as an asian friend brought me this film from china. First of all you have to put Hero in context. It is a fable. It is almost science fiction. Therefor, you shouldn't expect a simple realistic narrative. As the story jumps around in time, it keeps the audience guessing what is real and what isn't. Early on in the film where our Hero, Jet Li, does battle with the first 'foe', we already are introduced to war fare of the mind. This continues throughout the entire film. To get to the aesthetics of the film, it's quite simple. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful films you will ever see. The cinematography is unmatched by Crouching Tiger...! The music is of another world. The choreography will pass for ballet. The costumes, which change in every scene, as does also the decor, is stunning, but never distracting. The film has such powerful grace, it will simply turn any viewer into a zen master.
The story is about faith. It's about change. Where, this being a period piece, it tells ancient times should not fear change, as it might bring progress. It's a journey of an undefeated warrior, who is set to bring down a monarchy. But as the story unfolds, and the same journey is told from four different standpoints, the Hero and King are exposed to a truth that might result in an upsetting change of heart. As another critic on this site commented, some battles are highly imaginative. Nevertheless, there is truth of shifting perspective in the Hero in all of them. Every scene upsets the Hero's beliefs, and makes him question his task as he continues his journey. The result is that Hero becomes a tale of the ultimate sacrifice for the prosperity of an entire nation. All our internal or external victories should not only benefit ourselves but should also guide humanity. Hero is foremost a tale about unity, equality and the love of the human race. Go see it, and don't forget to adjust your everyday mindset to fully enjoy.