Hero

A beautifully film storyboard. But not a script with characters who have anything between them. (03/06/2003)

A captivating film that combines a peacefully flowing (an almost harmonious tempo) oriental legend of the emergence of a unified China and a riveting visual style ala The Matrix. Unlike a spectacular Western production, however, the battle scenes are only one of many components, and the battle in the story has multiple levels. This is not a deadly ballet in which the hero combats evil, but a kind of spiritual dialogue in which weapons are merely a means of knowing that the most powerful weapon is no weapon. Zhang presented his picture in an artistically riveting way, emotions appearing in colors and elements rather than mythically rigid characters (fire, water, air and earth seem to be expressing feelings for the heroes). I really like the "yin-yang" tuning of the story, where evil and good are inextricably linked in "The World" and the hero is not the one who defeats evil in the name of good, but one who understands the World and undergoes a sacrifice. With its overall tuning and atmosphere, Hero is an oriental balanced spirit, and with precise play with symbols, it ranks among the films which are not only a matter of the fast sword, but also a matter of thought. It's a pity that, after an overly straightforward introduction, it's too knotty in retrospectives and versions of past events, but its point comes just in time and comes off just as it's supposed to... Clear and genuine. Although Hero is a very Western film in some aspects (at times it may have exceeded good measure), the overall tone is very exotic and Eastern... And I'd be happy to watch it again later. (06/04/2004)

You will never see prettier and better Chinese movie containing everything you imagine about their medieval culture. (08/04/2016)

A beautiful film that simply captivates you with its poetry and the beauty of its imagery more than with its storyline. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is better in this respect because its story is also about something, or rather it is very interesting. Hero is just okay in that regard. But it's kind of irrelevant when you're watching those incredibly beautiful fights, the gracefulness, and the creativity. The raining arrows are unreal. (27/03/2015)