HERO

Click poster to view trailer

What a beautiful, stunning film HERO is.
The sort of movie you'll never see get made here, not in a million years, and not just because of the obvious parallels it draws from its subject matter to the inherent questions of honor and sacrifice in war and how they relate to our own post-September 11th politics; but more fundamentally, it is a morality tale that the modern Western mind is largely unconcerned with. Would that we over here gave ourselves over to such matters more often, more seriously, and with one tenth the passion with which the Chinese exemplify.

There is much thoughtfulness and wisdom to be drawn from the story of the King of Qin, whose aim in feudal-era China was to put an end to all War by conquering all the land and uniting it underneath one banner.

The problem of course arises in the blood of his enemies, shed necessarily as a sacrifice for the greater cause of putting an end to nation's wars once and for all. As one might imagine, many assassins driven by vengeance wish to kill this King for having slain their families during his visionary campaign.

Jet Li plays our hero who is referred to only as the "Nameless" warrior. He has been granted audience with this King in his own court for having slain these most deadly assassins.

HERO is the quintessential "SWORD" movie. If you are into swords and swordplay at all -- this movie is for you. I personally consider Jet Li to be the only martial-arts mega-box-office movie star to have nicely filled Bruce Lee's shoes. His martial arts style is a natural follow up to Lee's unique hybrid style, and he is unmatched in his discipline and prowess.

I won't give away any of the movie's unfolding charms, but believe me when I say that the ideas expressed in this film would be considered far too "dangerous" for it to have ever been made here, much less released. I'm not sure if that is one of the underlying reasons for its having been delayed -- this movie has been out several years, and I can see how Homeland Security would not be wanting their faithful bleating Sheep to flock to such a powerful work of art that forces the mind to dwell upon such serious matters as honor, integrity, and sacrifice in times of war.

As such, I feel HERO should be mandatory viewing for all American citizens to dwell on these burning questions. The movie was so beautiful and powerful it left me speechless, and humbled.

I am not worthy to rate such a work as that. I myself could only hope to warrant a "2-and-a-half-star rating" as a mere mortal being; whereas such a work of cinematic art so wholeheartedly devoted to it's ideals as HERO is beyond my qualifications to engender with a rating. I can only urge everyone to see it with an open heart and mind.