My Movie Review: Hero(2002)

The film Hero directed by Zhang Yimou and introduced by Tarantino Quentin was not only an impressive watch but has made a huge impact on me. It is not only an action movie but an artwork that includes narration, history and philosophy. I felt that it was not a normal martial arts movie ever since I watched the opening scene. The colors, the combats, the moods of the characters, and the profound message of unity and sacrifice made it one that was really memorable.

The film is presented in early ancient China, the time of the Warring States. The protagonist Nameless (Jet Li) narrates to the King of Qin how he was able to slay three deadly assassins, namely Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Sky. Initially, one would think it is an easy story of triumph and courage, but as the movie unfolds, the viewer comes to understand that the truth is not as straightforward as it might seem.

The manner in which the same story is presented using different colors; red, blue, white and green, provides an extremely unique experience of viewing the same events in varying perspectives. It was as though a puzzle before my eyes and it was being solved and it was being done.

As I was watching Hero I also got to know that the film is not merely about duels and mighty men. It is concerning sacrifice, peace and a bigger picture of life. Among the strongest lessons that I learned after watching the movie is that, at times, being a true hero is not about killing but sacrificing the needs of your self to that of a higher good.

This is evident in the character Broken Sword who comes to the realization that killing the King is not the best solution since that will bring further wars and misery. Rather he opts to choose peace at the expense of his own revenge. I related to this message as in life, I too have had times when I had to decide between me having to fight or consider the bigger picture. I learned through the movie that the real strength is control over oneself and prudence.

I also discovered that Hero also has a way of addressing life nowadays. The film helps me to remember that victory is not greater than being united in this competitive, prideful and conflict filled world. It may seem that the dream of the King of Qin of uniting China under one rule is egocentric, however, when addressed with a closer consideration, it was also about the end of centuries of war. I used the lesson in my life by understanding that there are instances in our lives when we need to forgo minor disagreements or personal egos in order to have peace in our families, neighborhood, or in society.

The acting of the actors in the film was remarkable. Jet Li portrayed the role of Nameless calmly and yet very strong. It was not necessary to shout and overact; by his silent appearance and mastery of the sword, he made his character credible. Broken Sword played by Tony Leung was, to my mind, one of the most powerful performances in the film. His face optimized his emotions that I experienced his pain and wisdom.

The Flying Snow, Maggie Cheung was so passionate in her performance that every scene she was featured in appeared violent and full of fire. Zhang Ziyi in the role of Moon was also very good, and he infused loyalty and emotion in her role. Even though his appearance as Sky does not last long, Donnie Yen left a strong impression with his graceful, yet powerful fighting scene. The mixture of such great actors made the movie extremely balanced and full of emotions.

Hero is spectacular when it comes to the visuals. One of the most original things that I have ever witnessed in a film is the use of colour. There are a color theme to each retelling of the story and this does not only bring the audience beauty but also symbolism. Red is the color of passion and anger, blue is the color of calmness and truth, and white is the color of purity and sacrifice. These colors helped in creating the impression that I was watching a moving painting not just a movie.

But though I loved the film a lot I think there are also certain points which could have been done better. The narration was at one point quite slow and there are a few viewers who can confuse themselves with the number of versions of the same story. Also, the King of Qin, though significantly important, lacked sufficient background, as I think.

Had the movie provided us with a better idea of his heart and struggles the audience would want to know him more and to relate to his dream of the unification. The other area which could be improved is the action scenes. They were beautiful, but some of them appeared too much like a dance and not enough like fighting. I enjoyed its artistic quality, although I can say that I would have used a bit more rawness and realism to make it even stronger.

The experience of Hero was all in all a very rich one. It was actually entertaining and thought provoking. The movie did not just leave me in the end appreciating the fighting and beautiful scenes but also thinking about my life.

The question I put to myself was: Am I engaging in small fights yet I ought to be working on a bigger purpose? Is it pride that I am permitting to come between peace and me? These are philosophical questions that the film made me consider.

In case I rate this movie in a scale of 10, I would score 8.5/10. It is a visual art and storytelling masterpiece that could have been made better with the help of an improvement in several aspects such as the pacing and the depth of the character. Nevertheless, it is still one of the greatest martial arts and philosophical movies that I have ever seen.

Eventually, Hero is not merely a movie of swords and men. It is the interpretation of what real sacrifice is, seeking peace, and the ability to abandon personal desires in favor of a larger vision. It is a film that not only entertained me, but it also made me inspired to have a different thinking towards life and the decisions I make daily.