A not so quite weekend had just drawn to a close and I decided to seal it with a movie at night…as usual. I picked up this DVD, of a movie I had so often heard, Hero. This was no Jackie Shroff-Meenakshi Sheshadri romance, but a martial arts classic, at least that’s what my friend said when he hesitantly lent the DVD from his priced collection! Whatever!
The only reason I decided to watch it; I heard that this movie impressed the likes of Quentin Tarantino, to an extent that made him release it in US. Reason enough for me to watch it. The movie began playing. The scene opened on a close up shot on Jet li..but wait, the language is Mandarin! Gosh, how on earth do I watch it? All that hard work in smuggling this one out of my friend’s cupboard gone down the drain huh?! I desperately searched for the subtitle option; praying every moment that it had English subtitles, Chinese, Thai, German…oh Lord…no! English…ha..life saver!
Five minutes into the movie I realized that its far better to watch the movie the way it was originally made, without the actors mouthing heavily accented English words and speaking in a way only the Hongkong movie stars could…its not a bit irritating and gives an original feel. I’d rather prefer to read those little white English letters!
Ah, let me come to the movie now. It is a period film, stars an array of talents, the international ones being Jet Li and Zhang Ziyi of the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon fame. But the really impressive performances are turned in by Tony Leung Chiu Wai and
Maggie Cheung. Set in the ancient China, the movie tells the tale of a Nation split into 6 warring states, the Qin Kingdom, being the largest and most powerful. The plot focuses on the ‘elimination’ of the three assassins trying to murder the ruthless Emperor of Qin by one man, the Nameless (Jet Li). I would stop there without giving away anything more of the movie. What unfolds on screen is a breath taking, colourful, intriguing spectacle.
The narrative is the most unique feature of this movie. It views an account of happenings in different perspective, of what it could have been, of what it was made to be and what it actually was. The final one takes one by surprise. It reminds me of a technique of story telling employed quite marvelously in an old tamil classic starring Sivaji Ganesan, Andha Naal, in which one event is presented in different versions. But that’s where the similarities end. Ranging from cold vengeance to sublime romance and culminating finally in a moral, righteous climatic sequence, the narrative has involved every emotion known to mankind. What good is such an impeccable narrative if it does not have equally stunning visuals? The exotic locales of ancient China and the vibrant colours are a treat to watch, rivaled only by the elegant, flowing robes of the protagonists; the red fight between Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi with the yellow leaves swirling around them being an excellent example.
Special mention to the special effects and cinematography, from the gliding over the lake a la Crouching Tiger…to the Magnificent shower of arrows in the climatic and red sequence; a treat to watch. The story though set in ancient China, could very well be juxtaposed to the present times, may speak of utopia, but hey…that’s something that the Chinese did achieve didn’t they?
Er…there has to be something bad about this movie, and there is. The movie sags a little bit and sways off course somewhere between the second and third narrative, with some scenes dragging longer than usual. And the fact that Maggie Cheung’s character remained indifferent to Tony Leung Chiu Wai’s Broken Swords ideals is a mystery. The conversation between the protagonists could have been more emphatic, because the conclusion drawn eventually leads Maggie Cheung’s Flying Snow to be the mildly reckless, hot headed heroine, the fact that another character in the movie declines to accept. The only flaw in the characterization? That apart, I find none!
A martial arts treat, it’s a must for every movie goer.
An excellent movie. I don’t blame Tarantino!

P.S: I did not worry returning that DVD to my friend; I have one of my own now in my personal collection, pity that I wont be able to see it on the big screen!

Posted by Sat at 5:11 PM
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