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Stars:
Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, and Donnie Yen
Writer:
Li Feng, Zhiang Yimou, and Wang Bin
Based
On A Story By: Zhiang Yimou, Li Feng, and Wang Bin
Director:
Zhiang Yimou
Feature
length: 99 minutes
Extras:
Hero Defined Featurette, A Conversation With Quentin Tarantino and Jet Li
Featurette, Storyboard Comparisons, and Audio CD Spot
Languages:
Mandarin DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Sound, and English and French Language Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and English and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 14
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Original Theatrical Release: 2002/DVD Release: 2004
Theatrical
Distributor: Miramax Films
Home
Video Distributor: Miramax Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG-13
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Hero”
is an interesting mix of legend, history, romance, martial arts action and
fantasy told with epic scale by Co-Writer and Director Zhang Yimou. Set over two
thousand years ago, the story examines the actions of a group of legendary
warriors who set out to assassinate a warlord whose marauding armies are
destined to unite the nation states of their land into the union we now know as
China. International martial arts action movie star Jet Li delivers in my
opinion one of his finest performances as the lead warrior assassin who faces
the cunning Emperor to be at his vast, but heavily guarded palace. I have never
felt that American filmmakers have used Jet Li to his full potential and now I
know why – I think it is because most American filmmakers do not know how,
except maybe Quentin Tarantino, and that’s just because he’s an aficionado
with a gift at mimicking certain genre while making them seem original by
putting his own spin on it. This is not at all meant to be an insult toward Mr.
Tarantino because filmmakers and other artists do the same thing all of the
time. It’s all about the presentation and even here in “Hero” I was
reminded a little bit of Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon,” which I cannot go
into more specifically because of the spoiler factor involved as well as some
other films produced in both Asia and the United States.
The
film also features the beautiful Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as
well as Maggie Cheung, Chen Dao Ming, and Donnie Yen, who shares an excellent
martial arts fight with Li early on in the film. It is the first time both
performers have appeared onscreen together in at least a decade. Actually though
my favorite scenes are the conversations between Jet Li’s character who is
referred to as being “nameless” and the King, who is destined to become the
first Emperor of China and fortify China by having the legendary great wall
built. The King is no fool and despite whatever reasons we hear about the amount
of death he will bring upon the lands, it is easy to understand how he still
might represent the lesser of two evils.
The
film is a visual treat with compositions that emphasize the colors gold, blue,
red, green, white, sepia, and charcoal. Unfortunately much of this visual beauty
is hindered by the soft and often uneven anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1)
transfer. One wonders if the available source materials used to make this DVD
transfer were somehow hindered because at times the grain is really more than
just noticeable. It gets pretty overt sometimes. What ultimately saves the DVD
aside from the compelling story is the above average 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
options. “Hero” is presented with a choice of Mandarin DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Optional English
and Spanish Language Subtitles are available along with English Captions and
Closed Captions for the hearing impaired. In addition there is an English
Language and a French Language Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. The
English Language Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is actually not
too bad in part because Asian Actors are providing the voices so it does not
look and sound and appear as unnatural as some dubbed films imported to the U.S.
There
is an EPK style featurette entitled “Hero Defined” (24:02), which features
cast and filmmaker interviews and explores the film’s development, production,
and the challenges that occurred in bringing the fantastic martial arts
sequences and amazing locations to fruition. The creation of the King’s palace
is the largest movie set ever-constructed in China and it is nothing short of
mesmerizing to behold. Then there is also a short interview segment with Quentin
Tarantino talking to Jet Li about his previous films and background as a martial
artist as well as worldwide action star (13:56). This features clips from some
of Li’s previous films as well as “Hero.” Storyboard to completed scene
comparisons detailing the “Golden Forest,” “Library,” “Ring of
Iron,” and “Lake” sequences are presented with the storyboards on top and
the actual scene as it appears in the film on the bottom. These scenes can be
viewed individually or as one reel (5:24) using the Play All feature accessible
through the interactive DVD menus. An audio CD soundtrack spot (: 42) wraps up
the extra value materials included on this DVD. The interactive menus are well
rendered and easy to navigate.
Though
the picture quality on “Hero” is a disappointment, I still really enjoyed
this film so much that I find it hard not to recommend. So if you are still
unsure, “Hero” is definitely worth a rental at the very least when it debuts
on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 courtesy
of Miramax Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2004 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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