Review of Hero (2012) by Daniel R — 20 Feb 2011

I vividly remember going to the theater to see this film several years ago. Being a Jet Li fan, I expected to see a really cool action flick with special effects akin to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I was in for a magnificent surprise.

It was true enough that the action was spectacular and in similar fashion to Crouching Tiger, but I had no idea that this film was to be a gorgeous, sweeping, and emotional epic of a kind rarely seen.

The story is about a man called Nameless (Jet Li), who has apparently taken out three would-be assassins who have long been feared by the King of Qin. The rewards for this task are to dine with the King and to advance into close proximity of his majesty. The details of the assassin's defeats are told much in the style of Kurosawa's Rashomon. As they are told, the King of Qin slowly begins to suspect that this Nameless may be part of a much larger scheme, and is perhaps in league with the three assassins, though it may already be too late.

The fighting scenes are spectacular in this film, particularly the fight between Nameless and Sky (Donnie Yen). The choreography and skill of the fighters is simply breathtaking. The story is also amazing, and left tears in my eyes by the end, not so much from sadness but rather awe. I have long loved Asian films, and think very highly of Zhang Yimou, the film's director. Not since the days of Akira Kurosawa has there been an Asian film as grand and beautiful as Hero. This movie should not be missed.