A great film, but not the best

Rating: Null/10 (21 April 2003)

I had such high hopes for this film. Nothing could possibly satisfy them.
WARNING -- SPOILERS
I do not think, even considering this, that Hero is a truly great film. It is very good, and probably better than any other movie nominated for an Oscar, but it is not one to go down for all time as a great film.
If there is anything more annoying than a Bicycle Thief rip-off, it is a Rashomon rip-off. The original was very good, I just don't think that technique has so much lengevity that one can rip it off whenever one pleases.
My main problem with this film was in trying to distinguish between Chinese history and film history. While I was swayed towards admiring this film at around minute 24, when Jet Li and Maggie Cheung deflected arrows, I did feel that "film history" was the major force behind this film.
It feels like a parable. It really does feel like a live-action version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms sometimes. It just doesn't rationally play out that way.
I felt that, when I really thought about it, the story made no sense.
I also was disappointed by the action sequences. Especially at the start, it just was not very engaging. I wondered how Donnie Yen could be involved, but then his character disappeared and I didn't have to think about him anymore. There were no more serious fight scenes, only "artistic" fight scenes. Those artistic fight scenes were, fortunately, absolutely stunning (though I wonder what stabbing the water really does).
I have never considered myself a kung fu fan. I have seen a lot of Shaw Brothers movies, and the like, but it was not until now that I realized there really are right and wrong ways to present martial arts. It's not just about skill. Sometimes even the most badass sword fight can look lame.
All that said, I think Hero was a great movie, just not the best.