Beautiful but no masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (30 October 2004)

It seems that Hero has really appealed to many people in the west, which is not so strange considering this is a very "western" take on Chinese cinema. Zhang Yimou was already a famous and successful director before Hero, but this is sure to bring his work to a bigger audience.
I was fortunate enough to see Hero on the big screen which is really the way it ought to be seen. This is simply the most beautiful film i have ever seen, the photography is magnificent. Also the attention to detail is quite magnificent, every scene is as carefully composed as a classic painting. In the end, the visuals alone make Hero worth experiencing.
The story in Hero revolves around a couple of assassins and their attempt to assassinate the king of Qin. In the early days of China several kings fought for control over the land, and the king of Qin was the mightiest and most aggressive one. In the end he would be the one to unite the whole of China under one ruler. The story is told in segments as the local magistrate "Nameless" (Jet Li) tells the king of how he thwarted the assassins who would try to take his life.
The story in Hero is by no means unique, it is a story told in quite many films and the tale of the emperor who united China is a common one (see for instance "The Emperor and the assassin" from 1999). What makes Hero rise above is the stylish and beautiful way the story is told. Also, many of the actors do a commendable work.
When it comes to comparisons my first (and obvious) choice is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" which also has a style very well suited to western audiences. When i compare the two i find Crouching Tiger to be the superior one. This because of the one true flaw in Hero; the way the surface becomes more important than the depth. While there was more depth, emotion and warmth in Crouching Tiger, there is less so in Hero despite the love story. In the end it becomes too much of a style-study more than a complete experience which somewhat lessens my appreciation for the film. More heart and less polish is what i would have wanted for the grade to rise a couple of notches.
However, Hero is a rewarding experience and a must-see. For the amazing visuals if not for anything else. I rate it 6/10.
(I have refrained from commenting the often discussed "political message" in Hero, simply because i feel there is none. This is a legend filled with nationalism just like any other legend about a nations birth. Get over yourselves.)