Hero (2002)

Hero (2002, HGK/CHI) C-99m. SCOPE *** D: Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Daoming, Donnie Yen. In ancient China a nameless warrior comes with great news: he has defeated the three most feared assassins and thus safeguarded the life of the ruler. He is invited by the despot to tell his story - but is it true? Visually astounding, highly aesthetic martial arts epic that often resembles a ballet. Unfortunately, the story is not as compelling as one would like it to be, despite some references to Akira Kurosawa's classic RASHOMON (1950). Watch this one for the intoxicating direction and photography (by Christopher Doyle). The fine score features violin solos and fiddling by Ithzak Perlman. Choreography by Ching Siu-Tung.


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© Ron Altman