Amazing techniques

Rating: Null/10 (8 September 2004)

When I saw the commercials for this movie I instantly wanted to see it. Quentin Tarantino's name comes up, I thought he was the director but soon found out that he more or less just introduced this film to United States, by placing his name with it I suppose people that respect his genius films like myself were compelled to see it.
The director realizes that people know one main fact of the storyline "One man that faces an entire army". He uses that knowledge to create a very effective suspense, the opening lines of the movie appear on a black screen with the words "People die for love, ideas and friendship. People kill for the same reasons" (I cant remember the exact lines but that's the idea). There were a lot of different techniques used in this film that remind me of a Quentin Tarantino film. For one thing, the main character (Jet Li) is simply known as "The Nameless Hero", and the other genuius idea behind this movie is the time lapse of the film takes place in about 20 minutes.
What's great about this film is the storyline allows flexibility, it's solid, yet flexible. The movie is based on the recent events in the way that The Nameless Hero tells it, the way that the King of Qin thinks it happened, and how it really occurred. The storyline goes in one direction and is easy to follow, but at the same time it gives the viewer the freedom to think about what is happened. You have to freedom to think to yourself if you think this King is a paranoid tyrant, or if you believe what he is saying.
As for the martial arts, swordplay and visual effects of the movie, I honestly do not see how it can get any better. The first fight scene sticks out the most when I try to describe how great it was. When Jet Li has a fight scene with Donnie Yen (Sky) the action is intense, I"m talking about the kind of action where you're afraid to blink, it's so intense that you actually need a break. The director actually does this. The two combatants pause so the old man can continue his beautiful music, he resumes his music and you watch the combat unfold in their minds. How they want to fight, how they see themselves fighting, defending and trying to kill one another. The visual effects in this scene show tranquility in the film. Incredible combat is being diplayed but at times the camera will focus on a drop of water to make the audience thirsty for more.
Nothing is perfect, there were a few scenes that did not go with the plot but had their purposes. It's just the film could have got along without them. The acting is fantastic, great martial arts, swordplay and an amazing storyline. Go see it.