Hero DVD Review:

A nameless warrior (Li) returns to the kingdom of Qin claiming that he has defeated the King’s (Chen) three greatest enemies, Broken Sword (Chiu Wai), Flying Snow (Cheung) and Sky (Yen). He regales the monarch with his tale of discipline, cunning and swordplay that led to these three legendary assassins falling by his sword. As he presents the King with the weapons of his enemy, his Majesty starts to question the nameless warrior’s motivations, thinking he might not be telling the entire story.

In the same vein of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, Hero brings the majesty of ancient Chinese folklore and legend to the screen but you have never seen a movie as visually stunning as this.

Almost two years after its Chinese release in 2002, it’s Oscar nomination for Best Foreign film and a lot of pressure from director Quentin Tarantino, Hero finally makes it to Western cinema screens and it has well worth the wait. This is one of the most beautiful films you will ever see. Each frame is a master class of cinematography, set design, costume, lighting and visual effects, all bathed in a glorious colour palette that reflects the essence of the story.

Fight chorographer Wei Tung brings out the best in the six main actors to produce some of the best wire-based martial arts to grace the silver screen. Jet Li has always excelled in fights scenes but in this movie he takes it to another level. His skill with the sword is extraordinary, using the blade as an extension of his hand and with a precision that shows total control. The opening confrontation with Donnie Yen’s sky sets the tone for the movie but the fights just keep getting more extravagant and complex. Just wait until you witness the revenge driven fight between Maggie Cheung’s Flying Snow and Zhang Ziyi’s Moon is the autumn forest, as martial arts and stunning visuals combine to produce a breathtaking spectacle.

Martial arts do play a pivotal role in the film but it isn’t the most important component. It is the story that takes centre stage and it is one that draws you in from the start. This is a tale of revenge, deception and truth that plays out over three tellings as the nameless warrior and the King converse about how he came into the possession of the three weapons. With colour making the different versions of the movie stand out, it is also the performances that make the three tales individual. While Jet Li’s character remains the same throughout, it is the performances of Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi that show the different aspects of the story and the reasoning’s behind each version of the tale. In essence it means that the three actors playing Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Moon had to play three different versions of the same character and it is the skill of the performers involved that make each of them suitably different.

Director Yimou Zhang has brought together a cast and crew to produce on of the most beautiful movies you will ever see. While the story me be slight, in essence it is three variations of the same theme, it is engaging enough to grab you attention and be more than just a way of connection together the gloriously choreographed fight scenes. Hero is a must for all fans of the genre and lovers of film in general. The film is a merger of art, film and martial arts that has a story to tell and performances to watch.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, this is an excellent transfer. Director Zhang Yimou visual feast is vividly brought to life via outstanding picture quality. The sumptuous colours and astounding sets and locations look absolutely stunning. The sound quality is also first rate, highlighting Tan Dun’s haunting score and filling the speakers during the unbelievable fight scenes. There is also an English language dub of the movie, which is of a good standard for those of you who struggle with subtitles.

BONUS FEATURES

Hero Defined (24.02 mins)

Director Zhang Yimou, director of photography Christopher Doyle, composer Tan Dun, action director Tony Ching Siu-Tung and stars Jet Li, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming and Donnie Yen take you behind the scenes of the production of ‘Hero’. Looking at the backstory, the action, the challenge of making the film and the magical combination of action and intense drama, the featurette takes use through the process of bring the film to the silver screen. Covering the writing of the script from an original story, training the actors and designing the unique action sequences to finding remote and visually stunning locations, the featurette offers a fascinating insight into the production of a large scale movie outside of the Hollywood system.

Storyboards (5.18 mins)

View storyboard and final footage comparisons for the ‘Golden Forrest’, ‘Library’, ‘Ring of Iron’ and ‘Lake’ sequences.

Inside the Action: A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino and Jet Li (13.56 mins)

Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino interviews martial arts legend Jet Li about his career in movies and his participation in ‘Hero’. Covering his early career, highlighting roles in ‘The Legend I & II’ and ‘Fist of Legend’, the filmmaker and the actor discuss the impact of the martial arts movie and their love for the genre.

OVERALL

Miramax has produced a good DVD package for ‘Hero’. The featurette, interview and storyboard montage are well above average and offer a fascinating insight into the making of a movie outside of the Hollywood system. The movie itself is presented beautifully and the inclusion of an English language dub means that more people can enjoy this stunning movie.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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