Crouching Copy, Hidden Treasure

Rating: 9/10 (13 September 2003)

One word summary: Wow! Why? Well, first I thought this was going to be a shameless copy of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The really strange thing is that it in some ways is, but that doesn't make the film bad. Hero makes use of some of the same scenery, it has a very melodramatic story, the music is very similar, and not least they have flying sword fights, but here is where similarity largely ends. Take acting, for example. It is much more "iconic" in style. It looks more like an ongoing choreography than real acting, but that doesn't hurt the film. In fact it only supports the very symbolic use of color and the fact that the film is about one of the greatest legends in Chinese history. Yes, Hero uses many of the same techniques as in "CTHD," but goes way beyond in the use of symbolism - and it works. It has a much more thoughtful use of style, and unlike "CTHD" it seems to try to differentiate between "reality" and "fantasy" inside the premise of the genre. The only thing I really have against such a heavy use of stylistic tools is that it where "CTHD" gets warmer, Hero gets more stylish - or cold, if you will. So, in conclusion, Hero is definitively a film worth a second or third look, but sadly, because of its many similarities, will never really get away from the shadow of its forerunner, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (which bye the way is itself a pure remake).