Nameless meets the Emperor.

Broken Sword and Snow duel in Hero.

Need a hero?

Hero
Stars: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, Donnie Yen, Liu Zhong Yuan, Zheng Tian Yong. Rated: MA

Reviewer: Lt Simone Heyer

Rating:

With character names like Flying Snow, Broken Sword, Sky and Nameless, you can be sure you’re in for an interesting movie. And though Hero could be described as a martial arts movie (would you exect anything less from Jet Li?), it is so much more.

Set in 220 BC in various parts of the ununified China, Hero is the story of one man, alone in the world, and his plight to gain identity and a name for himself.

Nameless (Li) is granted an audience with the Emperor after killing China’s infamous three top assassins.

He tells the Emperor how he managed to outwit and outfight each opponant to ensure the Emperor’s safety. The Emperer has plans to unite the warring states of China, only the three assassins – Sky, Broken Sword and Flying Snow, stand in his way.

After each story of assassin’s defeat, Nameless is allowed to move physically closer to the Emperor, until he is only 10 paces away.

The Emperor is spellbound until he realises Nameless isn’t the gracious county prefect he pretends to be.

Hero is captivating. It uses colour and delicate movement to help tell the story.

Brightly-robed characters duel in spectacular landscapes and understated, ancient buildings.

It has its fair share of aerial fights, suspended-above-the-trees gliding and far-from-believable arrow dodging, but the movie also has a graceful, enchanting quality that will keep you glued to the screen.

It not only explores the stylised martial art culture, but the emotions of revenge, bravery, honour, love and cunning.
Hero is a beautifully made movie and a credit to the Chinese film industry.

It easily produces an honesty and integrity that so many movies can’t capture – a must see.