Hero

I'm thinking all the critics are starving for a picture just like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which is why they're giving this film such high ratings. It's not that the film isn't good because it is -- a moving tale of assassins, lovers, sacrifice, honor and doing the right thing even when it seems wrong. And it's one of the most beautiful films ever made, with vistas, flowing fabrics and colors leagues beyond Technicolor. But it's not a great film because the tale and the beauty aren't married. Each scenario told in a different color is eye-popping, but is it necessary to the story line? And too much of the sword fighting in the air and on the water was too reminiscent of CTHD, and repetition is never good. (Think sequels to The Matrix.) Still, the ending redeemed the film for me. It's a rare martial arts film that will make such a strong case for personal sacrifice instead of triumph, as a means to a more universal triumph. Whether the story of China you see in the last moments of the film is true or not, the film packs a big moral punch. Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung star as two of the assassins, which surprised me as I'm familiar with them from Wong Kar Wai's non- martial-arts Hong Kong films (chief among them In the Mood for Love). Jet Li is one of my four favorite martial arts actors, and it's a relief to finally see him in a film worth his salt after so many duds. And, this is an interesting departure for Zhang Yimou, after so many of his serious dramas starring Gong Li, so I'll be keeping an eye out for his next one. Perhaps a musical? (Kidding; it seems to be a drama again.)

original title: Ying Xiong
year: 2002
length: 96 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299977/combined