Little Tony DeFranco
08-26-2004, 06:06 AM
I need to know (http://www.browntownjohnny.com/modules.php?name=MReviews&op=show&rid=190)
Review : Hero http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php
If you see "Quentin Tarentino Presents" on the marquee, this could mean that it's a revival of some 'grindhouse' old flick but "Hero" (real title 'Ying Yiong') is a 2 yr old epic from China starring Jet Li. It is so far from a grindhouse movie as it can get, as a matter of fact I would call it a true arthouse movie. Director Yimou Zhang is a passionate movie stylist that has made the silver screen his canvass for beautiful strokes of color and landscape, an artist. "Hero" is the most beautiful martial arts film ever filmed, but not the greatest because it's not what the kung-fu fan wants. They want hard edged kickass anger, this is a Buddhist message movie about non violence and I liked it because it's a tough movie to make.
The characters are classic in this simple fable (with an epic look) about a nameless assassin (cool Jet) that comes to the ruthless emperor with the swords of his latest kills, the arch enemy of the ruler. As thanks to his valor, Nameless is allowed to come close to the emperor (no one is allowed within 100 paces). The ruler wants to hear his tales of heroism, but the ruler is on to his real intentions. Flashbacks to his friendships and their plot to kill, a love story about revenge and tolerance.
The action is very cool (in a PG way) but it's the same level as Crouching Tiger, and seeing Jet Li and Donnie Yen in a spectacular fight is way cool. Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung and Ziyi Zhang (little pretty lady from Crouching) round out the cast well but the real star is the cinematography by Christopher Doyle (Aussie does a lot of work in China) and the mystic 2nd unit work. More arrows fly in this movie than all 3 LOTR's movies. Which was my favorite fight scene? The yellow one! (see the movie to get the joke).
Heartbeat is a Love Beat
Review : Hero http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php
If you see "Quentin Tarentino Presents" on the marquee, this could mean that it's a revival of some 'grindhouse' old flick but "Hero" (real title 'Ying Yiong') is a 2 yr old epic from China starring Jet Li. It is so far from a grindhouse movie as it can get, as a matter of fact I would call it a true arthouse movie. Director Yimou Zhang is a passionate movie stylist that has made the silver screen his canvass for beautiful strokes of color and landscape, an artist. "Hero" is the most beautiful martial arts film ever filmed, but not the greatest because it's not what the kung-fu fan wants. They want hard edged kickass anger, this is a Buddhist message movie about non violence and I liked it because it's a tough movie to make.
The characters are classic in this simple fable (with an epic look) about a nameless assassin (cool Jet) that comes to the ruthless emperor with the swords of his latest kills, the arch enemy of the ruler. As thanks to his valor, Nameless is allowed to come close to the emperor (no one is allowed within 100 paces). The ruler wants to hear his tales of heroism, but the ruler is on to his real intentions. Flashbacks to his friendships and their plot to kill, a love story about revenge and tolerance.
The action is very cool (in a PG way) but it's the same level as Crouching Tiger, and seeing Jet Li and Donnie Yen in a spectacular fight is way cool. Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung and Ziyi Zhang (little pretty lady from Crouching) round out the cast well but the real star is the cinematography by Christopher Doyle (Aussie does a lot of work in China) and the mystic 2nd unit work. More arrows fly in this movie than all 3 LOTR's movies. Which was my favorite fight scene? The yellow one! (see the movie to get the joke).
Heartbeat is a Love Beat