Hero | | Cast : | Zhang Yimou, Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Daoming Chen, Donnie Yen | | Director : | Yimou Zhang | | Studio : | Buena Vista Home Vid | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | August 27, 2004 | | DVD Released Date : | August 02, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 15, 2005 | | Summary | Negative 5 Stars | Content
 | If this site allowed the reviewer to give negative stars, I would definitley give this movie a negative 5.
I like to think of myself as an intelligent human being, and anyone who says that I am too shallow or unsophisticated to see the beauty of this movie is out of their mind.
First, the plot is absoulutely awful. Almost nothing happens from start to finish, and when the ending finally does come after a gruelling two hours, the viewer is left completely unsatisfied.
Furthermore, the action is cheezy looking, and you either have to watch it in subtitles or dubbed into English (that is unless you can speak Chinese).
Do yourself a favor and save yourself money and time by not buying this junk. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 14, 2005 | | Summary | Beautiful But Hollow | Content
| This is a beautiful movie; visually stunning, outstanding choreography, good acting, and made with real attention to detail. But what is the point of all this genuine artistry? The dialogue is a lot of semi-mystical garbage. Much has been made of the Rashomon-like structure of the plot but without real human content this is just another piece of slick technique. Commentators who argue that this is a thinly disguised piece of Chinese nationalist propaganda are onto something. The first Qin emperor is an ambiguous figure in Chinese history; the first unifier but also a real tyrant. This film's argument is that individuals have to be sacrificed for the greater good and glory of a unified Chinese nation. There is no doubt that this message is congenial to the present rulers of China. This certainly wouldn't be the first time a historical fantasy has been used to support contemporary ideology (by either nominally communist or non-communist leaders). Nor is it the first time that a really talented film maker has exchanged their services for resources to make a big film. It wouldn't be fair to say that Hero is another Triumph of the Will, but its closer to that brilliant but immoral picture than to something like any of Kurosawa's best historical films. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 13, 2005 | | Summary | Way overrated! | Content
| This movie is way overrated. Firstly, it is mostly non-fiction, having been based on a true Qin story from China. Jet Li plays "The Hero," a name which he gets not for saving the kingdom from ruin or defeating 20 or 200 assassins bent on killing the emperor, but for simply not assassinating the emperor after he comes within 10 paces of him and sits there for the entire movie, relating a false story of how he killed three determined assassins.
Secondly, the "Hero's" story is retold again by the emperor and then again by the Hero, and each time the color scheme of the recollection changes, from red to blue to white. While this is very masterful on the director's part, it does get boring when you see three different versions of the same story back to back to back, with essentially the same outcomes each time. Jet Li's swordwork and martial arts moves are excellent, but they become repetitive since you are seeing them again and again and again. The movie ends when the Hero spares the emperor's life, and the emperor in turn orders about 50 billion arrows to be shot at the Hero the moment he leaves the palace. The Hero dies, and he is buried, well, as a hero.
Personally, I think the plot is rather boring, though the director's use of colors is quite skillful. If you're expecting great moves and new tricks from Jet Li and a masterful plot, though, don't bother with this movie! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 12, 2005 | | Summary | Two Stars only ! | Content
| Terrible movie to me , sorry Kung Fu fans.It was just to dry and alot of bla bla bla going on and on for an hour.The fighting was good and all ,but can't be awarded four stars out of 330 viewers.
Don't buy or rent it ! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 08, 2005 | | Summary | great | Content
| i like it a whole heck of a lot. that's all i can say. go see it cuz it's amazing |
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