Well, I went and saw the movie last night and was very impressed. There was only like 6 people in the whole theater with me, but I'll tell you, I thought it was an excellent movie. This movie was one of the most artistically done movies I have watched in a long time. Everything from the Music, to the Army Chants, to the Color Schemes, to the swordfights., ect.. This was an all around great movie. I give it 2 thumbs up. The movie had subtitles and there were times that I wanted to see what was happening, but I was busy reading the sub-titles, but for the most part, the sub-titles didn't really take away from the movie.

Did anybody else like or hate this movie? Was this a Tarantino flick?

I haven't seen it, but the ad in the theatre looked good. Until they showed the chop socky flying through the air bit. I lose all interest in a movie when they start levitating. It stretches my credibility to the breaking point, and ruins the whole thing for me. Once they started doing that in Crouching Tiger, I turned it off.

The movie is really good. I´ve seen it last year (yes, it was in cinemas last year in Germany) and I was impressed.
Wait, subtitles... I think it had a German synchro, anyway, if there were subtitles, they did not harm the atmosphere of the film, else I would remember.
The fights were really good, a great choreography.

I would agree, two thumbs up. And it is finally available on DVD now. I have to buy it sometime soon.

And of course it is not credible, I do not think that it is the point of the movie to actually be realistic. It strives for surrealism.

I usually can't stand when they don't have credible stuff going on, but in this movie, that kind of stuff was done more to draw your attention to the character and to the different artistic elements in the movie than anything else. It is kind of hard to explain.

I loved the movie, for all the same reasons mentioned. I think one of my fave scences is when the two women (I forget their names) are fighting in the forest with all the leaves.

At first I was disapointed that it was subtitled, but I soon got over it. It actually makes the movie feel more authentic.

About the 'over the top' scenes: A lot of the scenes were not intended to look realistic. Recently, a lot of Oriental-style fighting movies (like Hero, Kill Bill 1 & 2) seem to have a stong anime influence - people jumping extremely high, flying through the air when kicked, ridiculous amounts of blood, etc. Like Dreamwalker said, "It strives for surrealism."

Unfortunately, this can be a hard thing to do. If it's not done exactly right it can end up looking fake (yes, 'fake' is different than 'unrealistic'). For example when someone is flying 50 feet through the air after being kicked, their momentum/path must feel like it still obeys gravity, despite the fact that to fly 50 feet is unrealistic.

As far as Quentin Tarantino's involvement with the movie, he didn't do any of the writing/production/direction. The movie is actually a few years old; Tarantino saw it at a film festival in Europle somewhere (the Venice film fest I think) and was so impressed he prompted Miramax to pick it up and distribute it in North America. Miramax used the heading "Presented by Quentin Tarantino," which is kind of misleading - it seems like it was just a way for Miramax to slap his name on the movie to get Kill Bill fans to go see it. I was kind of disapointed to hear QT would do something like that, but...$$$...

Anyway, if you haven't already seen it, go see it. It's one of the few movies I've seen this year were I didn't walk about of the theater feeling ripped off.

Hey, so I saw the movie when it was not yet commercial, makes it even cooler. :D (no, I am not entirely serious)

This movie was fantastic. It surpassed Crouching Tiger in every way. Visually, it was one of the most brilliant films I have seen in a long time. It was simply incredible the way colour was used.

The thing most people have to understand, is the history and culture behind this movie (and Crouching Tiger). It is a Chinese movie, so it has Chinese legend and mythology as a basis for it's story and effects, and for the abilities of its characters. In China, warrior heroes were almost untouchable, and had super-human abilities.

If you don't like watching it, then I guess you have your opinion, but it's more cultural than anything. These are artistic films though, not action films. Think what you will, I loved it.

All the flying around and special moves dates back to old chinese theater which in turn is based on Chinese legends and mythology as Idle Mind says. You can say its there form of ballet. Saying it is unrealistic is a bit mute, as this is how they are and have always been, talking about unrealistic, see any hollywood movies lately.

Regarding subtitles, I prefere to watch movie in there original language, so reading subtitle is no problem for me, also Danish tv does not synchronice movie and stuff, so it's second nature anyway.

the archers were my favorite part. It was amazing to watch and the color scheme was great.

Some dumb fuck got up in the theater and yelled at the theater "bullshit" at the screen...so it was a great movie.

Loved the ending and especially loved how color played such an integral role in the movie. The music fit to a T and is pretty amazing to listen on it's own. The imagery itself was just gorgeous....China really has some of the most beautiful locales in the world to shoot.

The most important part: The plot.....didn't disappoint one bit.

You're correct sargentlard, the plot didn't disappoint. Simplicity is beauty.

It strives for surrealism.

Yes, but what I loved about it is that it realizes that it still has to be entertaining.

The movie strikes the balance between artistic liberty and entertainment quite well.

The fight scene between Moon and Sky is a good example. It is clearly not one your normal kung fu fight scenes but it never gets annoying at any point. Also when the audiences are shown the enviorment through dying Moon's eyes is very creative. All the yellow turns blood red and the falling leaves almost become blood drops and the whole scenes fall apart into darkness as Sky stands there with her back turned to Moon.


The most impressive scene for me, aesthetic wise, was the fight scene between Broken Sword and the emporer of Qin. The giant dark blue/black room adorned by huge Lime Green curtains was beautiful, expecially when they started to fall.....just incredible.

I'm willing to admit that this was an excellent film.

Directed by Tarantino, correct?

'Twas certainly influenced by Kurosawa, specifically Rashoman.

The common theme is the relativity and elusiveness of truth, and this theme was given a subtle and impressive showing in Hero, especially in the noticeable changes of color that accompanied each paradigm shift or revelation in the story.

Directed by Tarantino, correct?



No, he only brought it overseas. His name was added to draw an audience.

That's interesting. I had no idea.

Actually, Tarantino was the one who presented, he was who brought it overseas. Like a recommendation.

Repo Man :

Flying through the air is very much commonplace in chinese stories and tales, this isn't new. They fly through the air to make it a much more legendary type of tale...

Repo Man :

Flying through the air is very much commonplace in chinese stories and tales, this isn't new. They fly through the air to make it a much more legendary type of tale...

Hey, that's great. It doesn't change the fact that I do not enjoy films that portray this legendary ability.

Many people enjoy musicals. I cannot stand films where people suddenly start singing and dancing. I doubt those who enjoy those sort of films allow my distaste for said films to diminish their enjoyment of them.

"Our Land."

I just saw it, and loved it, like a really amazing dream. One of China's more interesting and enigmatic exports, and maybe a harbinger of many more awesome productions from China. I doubt that we in the USA will be permitted to approach a rival power capable of releasing a film like that in the same way as we did the Soviet Union. And I don't mind, at all: Watching Hero, this notion has struck me like a swarming volley of arrows from 1.2 billion cupids.

As in all Chinese Kung Fu flicks, the fastest way between two points is spinning.

This movie was a lot of spinning. Like the scene where they were over the lake? OUTRAGEOUS! Outrageously silly.

The three different versions of the story had some kind of message about human behaviour. Did anyone see the subtle communist messages?

Despite its relative inaccuracy on historical facts, I think this movie did a great job. BRILLIANT use of color and setting. The whole movie was shot in different parts of China.

I liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon better
I have a feeling that Hero was a bit bleak-copied from the above mentioned one.