aka YING XIONG
Movie Review by EDF
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Dao Ming
Director: Zhang Yimou
Asian cinema has come a long way. Since CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON hit the screens Asian movies have proved that they are a serious contender to Hollywood’s entertainment crown when it comes to excitement and originality. HERO is probably the most exciting visual movie that has been produced to date ever, with every visual being unashamedly eye candy.
While the plot is minimalist to say the least, the story does have unexpected twist and turns. Set in the 3 rd century BC China, the land is divided into seven kingdoms. The biggest and most powerful of the seven is ruled by the King of Qin (Chen Daoming). He has been the target of assassins from the other six kingdoms for the past ten years. During ten years of sleepless nights, waiting for death to reveal himself, Nameless (Jet Li) a sheriff, claims to have killed assassins that were known to the king – Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung Man Yuk) and Sky (Donnie Yen). Nameless’ reward is untold riches and an audience with the king. How is it possible for one man to defeat three deadly assassins that even armies could not defeat?
As I mentioned before, this movie is a visual treat. The last movie that made me sit up and want to figure out how scenes were shot was THE MATRIX. With each frame, colours and movement blend with astonishing ease. In fact, the action is like watching dancers communicating without words but with movement. The fight sequences are top rate and even when CGI and wirework are used, they have managed to come up with something special. A highly enjoyable movie that will raise the bar for Hollywood to match.
