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Hero

I have always enjoyed movies like The Last Samurai, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and now Hero. Asian culture is very interesting to me, in that everything is based on honor and respect (at least that’s how it’s portrayed in movies). Asian films are always refreshing to me, because they aren’t all about big tits and tons of gore like most American action films. Not that that is always bad or wrong, but it’s definitely nice to have a break once in a while and see something that tries to actually have a point and let you leave the theater with something other than an empty wallet and slimy butter fingers.

Hero is basically one big flashback, or “illustrated conversation” between the Nameless Hero (Jet Li) and the king of Qin. I don’t pretend to understand all of the philosophy and “zen” in the movie, other than sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for what you believe in. There is actually very little speaking in the movie anyway. Instead, much of the story and feelings of the characters is expressed in the brilliant cinemaphotography, and the excellently choreographed fight scenes. The swords themselves are almost treated as characters in the movie as well.

The cinemaphotography and choreography in this movie is really what makes it great. I’m no kung-fu aficionado, but this movie has some of the most beautiful and interesting fight choreography that I’ve ever seen. The sets are beautiful, and the use of color plays a very prominent roll in many of the scenes. Most of the backgrounds and landscapes are very desaturated or monotone, and the characters are dressed in very bright contrasting colors, which really makes them the focus of the film, even though all the landscapes are so breathtaking. There are quite a few special effects in the movie, but they are all very subtle, which was really nice. They are artfully and tastefully done so that they completely blend in with the rest of the scene.

As I said, I don’t pretend to understand all of the philosophy in the movie, but if you enjoy kung-fu, cinemaphotography, or just pretty pictures, you definitely need to see this movie.

Rating: 4/5

sssh… don’t wake the blog. it’s sleeping…

Yeah, I just haven’t had anything to say recently. :-/