| Hero (Ying Xiong) |
| 2002 (2004 in U.S.), Miramax. Directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Daoming Chen, and Donnie Yen. Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality. |
| Grade: A- |
| Capsule Review by Anthony |
| From the producer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon comes the extraordinary martial arts film Hero. While it may not be the fast-paced entertainment us Americans are normally accustomed to, Hero remains an artistic marvel. The films blends stunning martial arts with beautifully utilized color to create an amazing visual experience. There are problematic elements to the film's themes however. Mass violence and force are used in order to establish unity, a worthy end but with less-than-worthy means. Along with this, there is the use of suicide. Despite these issues, Hero is still well worth seeing, with the understanding that it is not your typical crowd-pleaser and that it takes place in a non-Christian society with its own ideals. |