I think this is what God invented light for

Rating: 10/10 (28 August 2004)

My mind is just so clouded with enthusiasm that I'm not sure I can judge Hero well, but I definitely had the feeling that I was watching a film that would instantly be one of my very favorites. I loved it, every damn second of it, to death. It can be compared to any number of films, directed by any number of directors around the world, but it comes out as something completely unique and amazing. The one reference I would like to emphasize, because I'm guessing that it hasn't been noticed (although I missed every previous conversation in the preceding two years surrounding Hero, and I'm doubtlessly wrong) is this: Hero reminds me a heck of a lot of Alexander Nevsky. Nevsky is a straight-out propaganda piece, aimed towards WWII audiences, and Hero veers late in the film towards a weird theme of Chinese national pride, which is certainly a kind of propaganda. But neither film is too interesting in that aspect, except from a purely historical point of view. Nevsky is constantly misunderstood by modern audiences; it feels archaic, and it's a deliberate archaism. Sergei Eisenstein invented an entirely unique style that, as far as I know, has never been copied. Similarly, Zhang's creativity explodes into something the likes of which I've never even imagined before. Hero is stylized beyond belief, with ridiculous theatrics in one corner, and visuals controlled with a color co-ordination controlled with an iron fist in the other. To me, the nationalist epic intention for Hero is moot. This is the invention of mythology, a mythology that we're never meant to believe anyway, but just to absorb. The complex narrative structure is reminiscent of Rashomon, but I think it's using its idealized, and often lying flashbacks in a different fashion. I'm guessing that some of the film's critics harped on this point, that many of these passionately told stories and miraculously eye-popping set-pieces are in fact invented by the characters on screen. This criticism, I think, is just when talking about, say, The Usual Suspects, but not with Hero. I haven't come close to plumbing the depths of this movie yet  just far too awed at what I saw  but I like the concept of these tragic, mythical heroes having story after story woven around them. For instance, the story of Broken Sword and Flying Snow is told at least four times. Each time, the plot differs slightly, with the events happening a bit differently, but always with the same results, and, more importantly, with the same emotions. It's like these characters are so well known, their story arises spontaneously from their character traits.
This film was obviously made on the heels of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I absolutely love Lee's film, but Hero surpasses it by miles. I love watching Lee's film, feeling its emotions, watching its startling action sequences, which were so new to me at the time (they still hold up, of course). When I watch CTHD, though, as much as I love the tragic romance and the story of the cocksure teenager, I anticipate the fight scenes. As good as everything else is, the action takes center stage. In Hero, the action scenes are even better, more beautiful, more startling, and more inventive. And they are just the icing on the cake. My one and only complaint about the film has to do with CTHD: the music. It's far too close to the beautiful score of CTHD, almost matching it note-for-note at times. It perhaps should have been much more Chinese.
Other than that, what is there left to say? A lot, I expect, but on subsequent viewings. I ought to say that I am in utter disbelief that I was able to catch this at my local multiplex. I was sure that it had been dubbed, though I had not heard that they dubbed it. As far as I know, it is the first foreign language film ever to play at that theater. I was sure I would have to wait for DVD. I wonder if it will stay there more than a week. I wish I had time to see it once a day. Hell, every showing. I haven't slept in 22 hours and I know I'm just babbling now, but I'm pretty sure that I have a new favorite for the current decade (and millennium, while we're at it). Perhaps it is the only recent film that may be able to break into my hallowed top 10. Okay, now I know I'm crazy! 10/10.