Hero (2002)
Reviewed by: Chungking_Cash on 2008-02-28
Mainland China's most accessible director (Zhang Yimou) tries his hand at martial arts; blending Ching Siu-tung's metaphysical choreography and Christopher Doyle's metaphorical photography with a powerhouse trio of actors (Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung Man-yuk) and the director's own well-established artisanship. The sum is close to perfection though nearly everyone involved is guilty of acting ostentatious in one form or another and the dubious historical record of events in "Hero" have justly been taken to task since the film's premiere. Still, audiences will find this rather lovely flying swordsman epic either a dexterous antidote to Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or its worthy successor.
Reviewer Score: 9