Hero of China
“Hero” stars Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Daoming Chen, and Donnie Yen. Jet Li is the nameless hero, who at the start of the film is being given an audience with the King of Qin. Over the course of the hour and a half film, Jet Li recounts his journey that has earned him this opportunity to speak to the King alone. Most of the film is told in flashbacks, and with each feat, Jet Li is allowed to move closer towards the King who sits on his throne at the end of a long hallway. His intentions are unclear until the very end of the film, and even then you’ll be surprised at what happens.
The action is epic, and the visuals unforgettable. It’s easy to see why “Hero” has garnered so many awards and praise over the years. It’s one of the few films that I can honestly say has very little to nothing wrong with it, although repeated viewings may be slowed down by the film’s deliberate, but distinguished pace. Some may find trouble enjoying the “Matrix” like abilities that the fighters have, similar to “Crouching Tiger,” but as with that film, the unrealistic movements are just a visual form of the drama Director Zhang is trying to express.
Few films provide such a potent mix of story, actors, characters, locales, and direction. The combination is simply outstanding and should not be missed.
Special Edition DVD
The Special Edition release boasts a remastered presentation that I can’t argue looks and sounds great. Truthfully it’s been several years since I’ve watched my original “Hero” DVD and it’s not currently with me as I write this so I cannot compare the two — but suffice it to say that this Special Edition has been remastered and the video and audio are crisp and vibrant. You’ll love the soundtrack by world renowned composer Tan Dun.
Extra features include the following:
-Close Up Of A Fight Scene – This runs nearly ten minutes and feature lots of behind the scenes and making of footage of several of the major fight scenes in the film. A breakdown of the chess room fight, the fight at the lake, and the fight between Maggie and Ziyi’s characters. Interview bits include comments from Tarantino, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, and Ziyi, as well as several others.
-Hero Defined – This is a well put together twenty-four minute making of feature with your typical array of interviews, narration, film footage, and making of footage.
-Storyboards – A collection of several storyboards running about five minutes. This feature shows the storyboards and actual film playing simultaneously, picture-in-picture style.
-Inside The Action: A Conversation With Quentin Tarantino & Jet Li – An interesting chat between these two as they talk about the industry and Jet Li’s past. Runs about fourteen minutes.
-Soundtrack Spot – A forty second promo regarding the soundtrack.
To the summary…