Film Review - Hero (2002)
Jet Li Stars in Beautiful Hong Kong Action Film Ying Xiong
Oct 15, 2008 Michelle Strozykowski
Hero (Ying xiong) is a film of such quiet power, such awe inspiring wonder, such sumptuous velvety opulence, it's hard to find words that do it justice. It is simply breathtaking. A film of exquisite, aching, sublime beauty.
Akira Kurosawa's Influence on Hero
Hero was released shortly after the critical and commercial success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It benefited from the appetite for more refined Chinese martial arts films Crouching Tiger left in its wake. The two films share a bacchanal joy in staging impossible aerial sword fights, but aside from gravity-defying wire work, they stand apart as very distinct pieces. Crouching Tiger may have laid the groundwork, but Hero upped the ante with a complex narrative, inspired by the master of Japanese cinema, Akira Kurosawa.
Use of Colour in Hero
The story of Hero is told, Rashomon style, using flashbacks and differing perspectives. The context of each scene is further accentuated by the use of a careful and selective colour palette. The director of photography Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love, Rabbit Proof Fence, The Quiet American), deserves all the accolades that could possibly be heaped on him for this. His cinematography captures sumptuous hues of red, green, yellow, blue, even white. Each scene radiates with elegance and wonder, accentuated with painstaking care by the costumes and set design.
Yimou Zhang and the Beijing Olympics
The film is awash with billowing fabrics, floating through the air in grandiose cinematic fashion. In fact everything featured on screen is somehow imbued with an epic scale. From a great army surging forwards into battle, to a single drop of rain swiftly deflected off a polished sword. The camera hones in and delivers without restraint. Watching Hero it's easy to see why director Yimou Zhang was put in charge of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies. He has a way of infusing scenes with subtle nuances, even when working with a cast of thousands.
Jet Li and the Elite Squad of Hong Kong Cinema
Hero also boasts performances from Hong Kong cinema's acting elite. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung resurrect the on screen love that smouldered between them in In the Mood for Love. Ziyi Zhang sparkles as the young apprentice who idolises her master, and Jet Li is an absolute revelation. Away from Hollywood, and speaking in his native tongue, Li is finally given the chance to prove his acting worth. As the nameless assassin, whose attempt to murder the King of Qin forms the plot of Hero, Li demonstrates his martial artistry to the best effect yet captured on screen. His clash with kung fu stalwart Donnie Yen, who plays Sky, kicks proceedings off with a bang. But by the time he reaches the King's palace, the quest has become more of a mind game than a physical battle. Viewing the story from several different angles has also drawn into question just who the hero of the title actually is.
The ambiguity of Hero does nothing to detract. Instead, it adds to the intricacy of the story, leaving the film with a legacy as complex and intertwined as filigree. Hero is a cinematic treat for all the senses, and one which continues to resonate long after the credits have rolled.
- Hero (Ying xiong)
- Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Donnie Yen
- Written by: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Yimou Zhang
- Directed by: Yimou Zhang
- Running time: 99 mins
- Year of Release: 2002 (China)
Further reading: This review of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon may be of interest.
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