Kung Fu EPIC

Rating: 9/10 (8 September 2004)

Zhang Yimou has taken the Kung Fu action genre to new heights with his film Hero (Ying Xioung). While an action film may seem out of place in Zhang's amazing body of work, Hero is nothing short of an Epic in the Kung Fu genre. Like Shane, Gone With the Wind, or Chinatown before it, Zhang takes an existing format and brings a wider breadth to the genre and an artist's view to every aspect of film making. With an eye towards history, myth, legend, life and death, truth, and the perception of many truths; Zhang masterfully melds them all with a familiar genre and a story line that is nothing short of a creation myth for Imperial China.
With amazing locations unique to China, flawlessly incorporating vast vistas with the inner vistas of the mind, Zhang takes us along on a spiritual journey in the life of the perfect assassin (Jet Li). Using a twisted flashback reminiscent of Rashomon, with the addition of the lush use of vibrant colors and imaginative sets, Zhang unfurls the enlightenment of the soul of a vengeful Nameless assassin in his single minded pursuit of his quest.
This film is a revelation and an impeccably crafted masterpiece. Zhang perfectly balances the campy, physics defying, tradition of wire work Kung Fu films with a deeply philosophical story of rebirth and personal sacrifice. While some political overtones may distress some viewers, these should not stand in the way of appreciating the masterful crafting of one of the best films ever made in this genre or I dare say any other.
I most strenuously recommend this film as utterly entertaining, deeply moving and surprisingly thought provoking. I hear that Miramax may have butchered the American version a bit as well as changing the interpretation of a rather important two symbol phrase that holds a key to a deeper understanding of the films subtext, but the Director's cut is already available on DVD and lets just say that I have the DVD on order now.
Enjoy.
9/10