Review of Hero (2012) by Mouhannad S — 14 Jun 2011

This movie is so utterly impressive as it manages to include so many aspects of great plot and meaning woven into some of the most superb martial arts and cinematography ever. On the surface is a beautiful film with stunning action, brought together with unique and innovative tools of cinematography, such as the use of colour themes to reflect the motif of the scene. Going deeper is a powerful drama in the tragic love triangle of the central characters. Going to the true core of the film is a superb political story with profound philosophy, delivering one of the most powerful and significant messages/meanings a film has ever given.

The film takes place 2,000 years ago when China was split into seven feudal kingdoms. The tyrannical but shrewd and insightful King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming) who wants to unite seven kingdoms in one powerful country, is the target of three legendary assassins: Sky (Donnie Yen), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung), accompanied by Moon (Zhang Ziyi), his devoted servant. The titular Hero, the man without the name (Jet Li), who defeated the assassins, receives as an award a unique private audience with the King of Qin in his Royal Palace...