Hero

Hero by Zhang Yimou is a sweeping epic of a martial arts film. It tells the fictional tale of the hero Nameless, and his plan to attempt to assassinate the Emperor of Qin. Featuring an intricately woven narrative, beautifully stunning cinematography, and high flying martial arts action, this film seems to have everything. It also demonstrates the conflict between the individual and the collective; the Emperor wishes to unite the land for the greater good, and the assassins of other tribes resist him.

The narrative, while possibly somewhat confusing for a first time viewer, is a finely crafted one. The majority of the story is told through a series of three flashbacks, as Nameless and the Emperor discuss the events that lead them to confront each other. This does lead to some sense of repetition as the same story is told three different ways, but each retelling has enough differences to justify it. The use of colors to link the stories together also adds a great deal of beauty to them; of particular note is the climactic battle in the first story between Snow and Moon in the falling leaves, which makes for a scene of near unparalleled beauty. The fight sequences are also masterfully shot in breathtaking detail.

Over the course of the film, the characters' motives and desires are revealed, and are all generally sympathetic. The assassins wish to continue their clans independent way of life, while the Emperor wishes to unite them all under the Qin banner to stop the endless feuding. This develops one of the central themes of the movie; that of the conflict between the individual and the collective. While at first glance, the movie seems to support collectivist ideology, and indeed, even to be an apology for the Communist government, closer inspection reveals this to be not entirely the case. This is perhaps best demonstrated in one of the final scenes of the movie, where the Emperor orders Nameless to be executed, despite Nameless' belief in the Emperor's ideals, and the Emperor's own reluctance to do so. Urged on by the faceless hoard of his bureaucratic advisers, the Emperor, as an individual, is trapped by his own ideology.

Even with the possible controversy regarding the film's message, the brilliant cinematography, excellently crafted narrative, stellar action scenes, and well portrayed and sympathetic characters, the movie is well worth watching.