Hero - A Classic?
If there is ever someone who can be compared with the legendary Bruce Lee in terms of sheer speed and finesse in execution of martial art sequences, Jet Li comes the closest. After seeing the previews of Hero, I was looking forward a great deal to watch Jet Li's new movie. I had wanted to see it right on the first day of release, but I couldnt. But got to watch it the next day, August 28th.
Considering its a Chinese film as well, and also has a good dose of martial arts in it, I couldnt help but draw parallels with Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. In all honesty, it is not fair to compare any work of art with classics, and I consider Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to be one. Its not fair. But, I just couldnt help it.
Zhang Yimou, who is considered among the finest directors in China (I know who he is now - ignorant me.), has attempted something close to a classic. Fantastic martial arts sequences, great music (Tan Dun, who, along with Yo Yo Ma composed the Oscar winning music for Crouching Tiger..., ), and stunning photography by Christopher Doyle make it a must watch movie.
This movie is based at a time, when today's China, was a land of 7 kingdoms, with Qin being one of them. Nameless(Jet Li) gets an audience with the King of Qin , since he has eliminated 3 of the deadliest assasins - Flying Snow(Maggie Cheung), Broken Sword(Tony Leung), and Sky(Donnie Yen) who have made unsuccessful attempts on the King's life in the past.
From there, the movie takes on a journey of Nameless's portrayal of events, till the point where he is seated 10 paces away from the King himself.
Hero, is the story of love and sacrifice. Love for the other person, and love for the land, and the sacrifices these great characters are willing to make in the name of love.
Beautifully picturized, and great story telling, make it a movie you cannot miss.
But more than Nameless, the character of Broken Sword (Tony Leung has done a fantastic job ), has more depth in it.
Maggie Cheung, (who IMHO looks deliciously cute and hot), has done a great job too.
Zhang Ziyi (more popular for her portrayal of a cute li'l one whom one doesnt mess with, in Crouching Tiger...), is wasted in this movie. Her role, is reduced to some extra fight sequences, one erotic scene (if you can even call it that), and one scene, where her character comes of some use, when she askes Jet Li to consider what her master Broken Sword says.
But all said and done, the movie, and also the characters of the movie, dont have the depth of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Chow Yun Fat's portrayal of Li Mu Bai, and Michelle Yeoh's performance as Shu Lien, are powerful and just fantastic. Sadly, I couldnt find such depth of characters in Hero. The characters are great, but they just dont run as deep.
But nevertheless, Hero, still is a great movie.
Do not make the same mistake that I did - watching the movie with an expectation that it might be as good or better than Crouching Tiger...
Will Hero, rise to the heights of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Time will tell.
Considering its a Chinese film as well, and also has a good dose of martial arts in it, I couldnt help but draw parallels with Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. In all honesty, it is not fair to compare any work of art with classics, and I consider Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to be one. Its not fair. But, I just couldnt help it.
Zhang Yimou, who is considered among the finest directors in China (I know who he is now - ignorant me.), has attempted something close to a classic. Fantastic martial arts sequences, great music (Tan Dun, who, along with Yo Yo Ma composed the Oscar winning music for Crouching Tiger..., ), and stunning photography by Christopher Doyle make it a must watch movie.
This movie is based at a time, when today's China, was a land of 7 kingdoms, with Qin being one of them. Nameless(Jet Li) gets an audience with the King of Qin , since he has eliminated 3 of the deadliest assasins - Flying Snow(Maggie Cheung), Broken Sword(Tony Leung), and Sky(Donnie Yen) who have made unsuccessful attempts on the King's life in the past.
From there, the movie takes on a journey of Nameless's portrayal of events, till the point where he is seated 10 paces away from the King himself.
Hero, is the story of love and sacrifice. Love for the other person, and love for the land, and the sacrifices these great characters are willing to make in the name of love.
Beautifully picturized, and great story telling, make it a movie you cannot miss.
But more than Nameless, the character of Broken Sword (Tony Leung has done a fantastic job ), has more depth in it.
Maggie Cheung, (who IMHO looks deliciously cute and hot), has done a great job too.
Zhang Ziyi (more popular for her portrayal of a cute li'l one whom one doesnt mess with, in Crouching Tiger...), is wasted in this movie. Her role, is reduced to some extra fight sequences, one erotic scene (if you can even call it that), and one scene, where her character comes of some use, when she askes Jet Li to consider what her master Broken Sword says.
But all said and done, the movie, and also the characters of the movie, dont have the depth of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Chow Yun Fat's portrayal of Li Mu Bai, and Michelle Yeoh's performance as Shu Lien, are powerful and just fantastic. Sadly, I couldnt find such depth of characters in Hero. The characters are great, but they just dont run as deep.
But nevertheless, Hero, still is a great movie.
Do not make the same mistake that I did - watching the movie with an expectation that it might be as good or better than Crouching Tiger...
Will Hero, rise to the heights of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Time will tell.
posted by Hifzur at
6:55 PM
2 Comments:
I used to adore Bruce Lee as a child growing up.. it was the only thing dad and I had in common.. and we’d watch every movie religiously.. he’d never cared that I was only 7 and going to a PG-13 movie… but he used to say “this is what movies should be like.. not like your mom’s desi movies where Amitabh Bachan shots 2 bad guys with one bloody bullet”…I personally luved the sound that he would make right before he would strike a blow… it’s a pity that he died at such a young age he had great potential… I think he was as good as it can get…
By
kRiS, at 5:45 PM
Thanks for your comments peeps.
Salman -> Yeah, the cinematography and the story telling were absolutely first rate.
As for the commercial success comment, it reportedly has surpassed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, many times over, in China. Whether if that will be repeated in the US of A, remains to be seen.
Kris -> Yeah, Bruce Lee was the best ever. And it is indeed sad that he died so early. And the only one who could have carried his torch, his son, wassisname Lee died under mysterious circumstances as well.
Its pleasantly amusing to know that a girl actually liked Bruce's cat calls when he used to fight. I personally found them funny. Do other girls like Bruce's cat calls as well?? Female readers, do leave your opinion.
By
Hifzur, at 10:01 PM
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