What does it mean to be a Hero?

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2003)

There are many ways to ask this question, and many more ways to answer it. Although point of view would affect the answer in most circumstances, Hero does not present a circumstance in which the title of "hero" can be sullied by allegations of propaganda.
The problem is ideology: one's own, not the movie's. Without an open minded concept of the world, that is, an equally high minded ideology, one could misread the Zhang Yi Mou's intentions in Hero.
Hero does not glorify war, nor necessarily a country. The film focuses on individuals and how an individual can be a hero. If one is a hero for courage or strength, we have courage and strength in the film. If for undying love, we have love. If for benevolence or leadership, selflessness or sacrifice, loyalty, service, or whatever quality that one holds dear in standard morality, Hero manifests it with stunning poignancy.
I understand "hero" as greatness of mind and heart. A hero by this definition can encompass the needs of the world in his mind, and hold the pains humanity in his heart. The setting of Hero was a time warring countries and peoples -- as tumultuous and destructive as any in history. The movie dramatically depicts one with a rare greatness of mind and heart who can set aside his own burden, grievances, love or years or his life for the world
If you liked Zhang Yi Mou's previous movies, or the martial acrobatics in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you won't be disappointed here. I thoroughly enjoyed Hero even though it innovatively deviated from the Chinese martial arts series I'm used to. While I don't usually like artistic pieces, I enjoyed Hero nonetheless. This is a beautiful movie not only for the sheer artistry of its scenes, but also for grandeur of its scope. I'm not saying the Communist government will or won't benefit from this movie. Then again, just because every world government would benefit from it's heroes, hardly makes every hero story propaganda.