Review of Hero (2002) by Alexander Z — 01 Mar 2011

OK, I know that Hero glorifies a controversial ruler who was ruthless. Perhaps he was working for the greater good, but does that excuse all the death he caused? Is violent unification the only way to avoid years of future conflict?

However, I tend to forgive films that take artistic license, as long as I enjoy it. I'm smart enough to take such things with a grain of salt, and honestly, it never felt like propaganda. The beliefs of the characters exist solely within the movie's warped fictional world. Unlike a film like A Time to Kill, I never felt that it was trying to convince me of a flawed philosophy and appeal to emotion. It simply presents a reimagined history. And it is a beautiful movie, with appropriate plot twists that don't insult the viewer. Unlike the later House of Flying Daggers, it engages the viewer well and has good character development. If there is one problem, it's with the character of Snow, who is revealed to be a bit inconsistent in her characterization.