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Amazon.co.uk Review
Director Zhang Yimou brings the sumptuous visual style of his previous films (Raise the Red Lantern, Shanghai Triad) to the high-kicking kung fu genre. A nameless warrior (Jet Li, Romeo Must Die, Once Upon a Time in China) arrives at an emperor's palace with three weapons, each belonging to a famous assassin who had sworn to kill the emperor. As the nameless man spins out his story--and the emperor presents his own interpretation of what might really have happened--each episode is drenched in red, blue, white or another dominant color. Hero combines sweeping cinematography and superb performances from the cream of the Hong Kong cinema (Maggie Cheung, Irma Vep, Comrades: Almost a Love Story; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, In the Mood for Love, Hard Boiled; and Zhang Ziyi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The result is stunning, a dazzling action movie with an emotional richness that deepens with every step. --Bret Fetzer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A foreign-language film with subtitles becoming No1 at the American box-office? Impossible, you may feel, but Hero managed it. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon had opened up a new market for Western audiences, and Hero was one of many films to benefit.
The plot? A lowly official (Jet-Li) is brought before the Emperor to be rewarded for killing three martial-arts experts who had previously attempted to assassinate the ruler; Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung) and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). The Emperor invites him to describe just how he managed to kill all three when his own army had failed. We then see in flashback the fights that took place, but the Emperor is dissatisfied with the explanation and offers his own interpretation...
This film is a visual work of art. The style is like to Crouching Tiger in that the abilities of the characters are beyond reality - they can fly through the air and walk on water - a wuxia film, but this has been taken to epic proportions - including using the Chinese Army as extras firing thousands of arrows into the sky! Colour is of particular importance here - as most of the fights are shown in flashback and are revisited to show another perspective, the characters and scenery are colour-coded and change with each version. The soundtrack too, from Tan Dun and Itzhak Perlman, is very haunting and memorable.
The director went on to direct House of Flying Daggers after this which is also a visual treat. That film seems to get more attention but out of the two, whilst I like them both, I would actually put this one first as, to me, Daggers seems to run out about two-thirds through whereas the non-linear narrative in this film keeps the interest in the story going. Try it and see.
Finally, in this edition, you can select to watch a dubbed version - instead of with subtitles if they're not your thing.
The plot? A lowly official (Jet-Li) is brought before the Emperor to be rewarded for killing three martial-arts experts who had previously attempted to assassinate the ruler; Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung) and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). The Emperor invites him to describe just how he managed to kill all three when his own army had failed. We then see in flashback the fights that took place, but the Emperor is dissatisfied with the explanation and offers his own interpretation...
This film is a visual work of art. The style is like to Crouching Tiger in that the abilities of the characters are beyond reality - they can fly through the air and walk on water - a wuxia film, but this has been taken to epic proportions - including using the Chinese Army as extras firing thousands of arrows into the sky! Colour is of particular importance here - as most of the fights are shown in flashback and are revisited to show another perspective, the characters and scenery are colour-coded and change with each version. The soundtrack too, from Tan Dun and Itzhak Perlman, is very haunting and memorable.
The director went on to direct House of Flying Daggers after this which is also a visual treat. That film seems to get more attention but out of the two, whilst I like them both, I would actually put this one first as, to me, Daggers seems to run out about two-thirds through whereas the non-linear narrative in this film keeps the interest in the story going. Try it and see.
Finally, in this edition, you can select to watch a dubbed version - instead of with subtitles if they're not your thing.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I will not review the film itself but will comment on the Blu Ray version
After I swapped my House of Flying Daggers DVD to Blu Ray I was very upset with the upscale to High Def and as Hero was the only one left of this type of film I wanted on Blu Ray I feared the worst. However i can bring you great news that the picture quality in High Def is jaw droppingly beautiful and great sound to match.
Subtitles in English, French & Spanish, Audio DTS 5.1-HD English
After I swapped my House of Flying Daggers DVD to Blu Ray I was very upset with the upscale to High Def and as Hero was the only one left of this type of film I wanted on Blu Ray I feared the worst. However i can bring you great news that the picture quality in High Def is jaw droppingly beautiful and great sound to match.
Subtitles in English, French & Spanish, Audio DTS 5.1-HD English
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Director Zhan Yimou is a great director of drama. But he has never directed an action film before. So I went into this with some trepidation. But he has shown with 'Hero', that he is an overall great director. This movie was very well cast and directed.
Jet Li plays a nameless warrior who presents to the Emperor of Qin the weapons of the three greatest assassins. All of who had sworn to kill him. We are taken on a trip through the stories of the Nameless and how he killed the three assassins. And then once again when the emperor tells us his interpretation of what he perceives happen. Ever perception of the story has its on emotions, visually displayed by its own primary color. The filming is also epic; they were able to use the Chinese army to fill in as extras for the emperor's army.
The conflict shows us the emotions involved with what that emperor was trying to do; unite the seven provinces under one rule. It does delve into both side's reasons and how one person's assassin is another's hero. And what we learn is both sides of any conflict have its heroes. But the main theme this movie tries to get across is that it is a great hero who thinks of his land before his own desires.
For the martial artist we are treated to Jet Li and Donnie Yen fighting each other. It is a wonderful fight. And I hope we do not have to wait years to see them paired up again. This fight alone is worth watching the movie for.
Jet Li plays a nameless warrior who presents to the Emperor of Qin the weapons of the three greatest assassins. All of who had sworn to kill him. We are taken on a trip through the stories of the Nameless and how he killed the three assassins. And then once again when the emperor tells us his interpretation of what he perceives happen. Ever perception of the story has its on emotions, visually displayed by its own primary color. The filming is also epic; they were able to use the Chinese army to fill in as extras for the emperor's army.
The conflict shows us the emotions involved with what that emperor was trying to do; unite the seven provinces under one rule. It does delve into both side's reasons and how one person's assassin is another's hero. And what we learn is both sides of any conflict have its heroes. But the main theme this movie tries to get across is that it is a great hero who thinks of his land before his own desires.
For the martial artist we are treated to Jet Li and Donnie Yen fighting each other. It is a wonderful fight. And I hope we do not have to wait years to see them paired up again. This fight alone is worth watching the movie for.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
refreshing change
A top film for somebody who is looking for something a bit different. Good plot - interesting the way it unfolds, visual treat, dubbed over nicely. Recommended to all.
Published 26 days ago by ash
Mmmm Maggie Cheung in Blu ray
I already had this film on DVD and loved the vibrant colours and epic scale of the film. On BluRay it looks fantastic. Read more
Published 1 month ago by I. Mcwilliam
Wrong Region
It should have said that it wouldn't play in the U.S. region. I was looking forward to watching the Hero DVD but it wouldn't play in my DVD player because it was for region 2.
Published 13 months ago by sandoo57
Glorifies betrayal of friendship and love for the politics' sake
Generally, kung-fu movies are like porn movies - if you have seen one, you have seen all. In that respect, "Hero" is clearly above average. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Printul Noptilor
NO, no, no, no. Great film, totally disappointing Blue Ray
Somebody wanted here to get some money without any work at all.
This, so called, Blue Ray contains scenes in resolution four hundred by something!!! Read more
This, so called, Blue Ray contains scenes in resolution four hundred by something!!! Read more
Published 14 months ago by W. Kozbial
Superb Movie
This is a very beautifully made movie.
The acting is superb and truly love this movie.
Superb story line.
The acting is superb and truly love this movie.
Superb story line.
Published 21 months ago by Mr. P. K. Smith
Strong message.
There is a very strong message shared in this film. Who really is a hero? Watch this film and you might find the answer. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. M. Storcel
Hero
I love the whole Chinese film scene e.g. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers and this film has wonderfully elegant fight scenes, the ladies are so graceful. Read more
Published 22 months ago by E
Mesmerizing from beginning to end.
It is surprising how undervalued Hero is. Maybe it is because it appeared so shortly after Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but it is a movie that is at least good. Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. P. J. Jansen
Stunning Blu Ray
Absolutely stunning. Excellent transfer visualy incredible, haunting music. And the story-line has alot of deeper meaning. Lessons which could even be applied to our day and age. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Volvi
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