英雄們

英雄們

Hero is one of those great movies that can be viewed and enjoyed on many levels. Zhang Yimou, the director is this martial arts masterpiece, hit the jackpot with this movie. On a purely entertainment level, it encompasses many types of enjoyment. The cinematography is pure genius, with stunning scenes shot from clever angles, breathtaking scenery, and elegant costumes. It appeals to the martial arts enthusiast while also allowing the romantic to sigh at the right moments. Zhang Yimou also sneaks in social commentary in a smooth enough manner that the unobservant eye may not notice, but the seasoned critic would notice, but not be offended by it. My only complaint about the movie, is not even with the movie itself, but the cover. The cover places Zhang Ziyi’s character, Moon, right next to Jet Li’s character, Nameless, who is the hero, implying Moon plays a much larger part than she does.

Hero starts out with sweeping scenes of an intimidating, faceless army of black and red, followed by faceless councilors in black robes. A single man, also dressed in black, is walked down the aisle, surrounded by all these people, strip searched, and then presented to the emperor of Qin as Nameless. It is then that you discover it is set during the chaotic time in China’s history when there were 6 kingdoms, constantly attacking each other, appropriately named Warring States Period. It is also when you realize the emperor of Qin is the man who eventually united China under one name and one language. The story of Hero is actually the telling of a tale being told multiple times, each time with a different series of events that come to the same conclusion. Nameless is an assassin targeting the king, however, his particular ability requires he be within ten steps of the king, a feat only possible if he kills two other assassins. He does so, and when kneeling in front of the king, begins to tell him how he does so. Nameless’ story is told many times, each telling is differentiated by color theme. The king of Qin discovers Nameless’ intentions and is at his mercy, but is spared.

Throughout the movie, color plays an important role. The cold, impersonal king who tries to encompass and unite China under any means necessary is connected to the black and red masses of his subjects. Each story has a different undertone to them, and each color of the scenery and costumes of the characters match the tone. The fresh, innocent greens, passionate reds, clean whites, and calm, reflective blues all symbolize the stories they follow perfectly.

The constant struggle between the individual and the masses which is a dominate topic in all of Zhang Yimou’s movies, such as To Life and Not One Less, is also in Hero. Nameless is a single man fighting against an empire and the emperor is a man against his subjects. A question of contemporary views on ethnic background is also brought up in Hero by the reason behind why Nameless wants to kill the king of Qin.

The acting of the actors are just a bonus to the movie. Jet Li and Daoming Chen both play their parts as the determined believers of their philosophies well. Zhang Ziyi’s character is virtually useless and only added as a means to draw attention to the movie. The most impressive acting in the movie is done by Maggie Cheung, as Flying Snow, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, as Broken Sword. They both had to play parts with multiple different personalities, and did it well.

I have seen Hero twice now and each time I watch it, I see something new in it. Zhang Yimou has outdone himself in this movie, and it is a great site to see.