Hero

I'm not sure if there's already been a thread about this movie, but since I didn't see it on the list, I'm starting one now. If it already exists, I guess a MOD can just move it. 😉

So, in typical fashion, I'm always catching up on things because I'm usually out of the loop, but at least this isn't some film that’s already been dragged through US theaters—which probably explains why there wasn't a thread. Usually, our filmmakers seem more interested in churning out stuff like "Jackass" rather than actual quality movies like "Hero."

Anyway, moving on to the film itself. I watched it tonight (shoutout to the smart people who actually own it on 😁 DVD) and I was honestly blown away.

Look, it's not like I'm a massive fan of anything from China or Hong Kong, but if every movie were made like "Hero," I might actually become one. 😁

Before sitting down to watch, I figured I was just in for another version of Tiger and Dragon, but man, this thing really caught me off guard.

Okay, the fight scenes follow a similar vibe, but I wasn't even focusing on them that much. What really floored me was the plot. I mean, taking a story that's relatively simple and somewhat predictable and turning it into a film like this... it's either pure artistry or just a massive stroke of inspiration. 😁 Plus, you've got those shots every few minutes, and then there's Jet Li—I mean, how do you beat that? 😁

But seriously, I was genuinely intrigued to see what Qin or Nameless would say after each fight, how the next part of the story would unfold, and how the whole thing would wrap up.

And that ending? It was truly great. Honestly, the ending alone earns the movie a higher rating in my book. 👍

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's one of the best films I've ever seen, but it is good. At the very least, it's one of the better ones I've watched all year.

IMDb

This is easily the Best Film I've seen all year. The cinematography is insane—I was hooked from the first frame. The colors, the lighting, the symbolism... just pure perfection.

An absolute masterpiece.
I’ve got a digital copy on my hard drive, but honestly, the quality is so abysmal that half the screen is practically unwatchable—it’s just a mess of pixels and shadows 😢
Even with those technical flaws, I actually sat through the whole thing, which, if you think about it, says everything you need to know about how good the story really is.

I watched Hero about three weeks ago and was honestly left stunned. Now that I've stumbled upon this thread, I wanted to jump in and share three quick thoughts:

1. I’ll be honest, I was starting to think big-budget production was just a gimmick—something used to drag us into theaters just to show off flashy technical specs that mostly serve as a glorified commercial for the studio. But Hero actually restores my faith in cinematic scale and why those massive budgets exist. The director wanted to convey the sheer, overwhelming power of an American emperor, and he did it by deploying thousands of extras, endless volleys of arrows, and massive cavalry charges. It’s a massive, imposing ruler. You wouldn't dare try to take him out; you couldn't even approach him unarmed without being within striking distance of a thousand arrows.

2. Lately, it feels like movies have been leaning too hard on convoluted plots, mountains of dialogue, and those forced end-of-movie twists that basically assume the audience wasn't paying attention. It’s like they're serving up a magician's trick instead of a well-told story. Hero, however, essentially tells the same story three different times, and we enjoy every single iteration (it reminded me a bit of the vibe in Run Lola Run), before finally being grounded back in reality. On top of that, they use these "beautifully dirty" tricks—stunning cinematography, vibrant colors, and a sense of deceptive simplicity and purity.

3. Is it possible we're seeing the birth of a new genre? You can't help but compare this film to Tiger and Dragon. Even though the themes differ, the storytelling methods feel strikingly similar at times. The martial arts masters aren't just experts; they're practically gods. They move faster than the eye can follow, with precision more accurate than an atom. They don't play by the laws of physics, not even close. That kind of exaggeration of combat prowess belongs right up there with old fisherman's tall tales. Plus, the characters are romantic again. Good and evil exist, sure, but the world isn't black and white. A seeker of vengeance might choose to let it go, and a mighty emperor might turn out to be a clever pragmatist. A student might sacrifice herself for her own mistakes, and a leader of a wild gang might throw his life away over a tragic love.

It feels like Hollywood has moved its headquarters to the Far East. To where kung fu lives.

I’d love to catch some Superman, but I honestly have no clue where to find it.

You'll be able to catch it on the big screen this year in Napa Valley.

ruggedmarlin15

Eric Jackson43 said:I’ve been really wanting to sit down and watch Hero, but I honestly have no clue where to find it. Any suggestions?

You can usually find this one in DivX format if you look around. If you're having a hard time downloading it online, try reaching out to some connections over in Canada. I actually managed to snag a copy while I was traveling through there. In those areas, you can still find places that rent out movies just like old-school video stores. Just make sure you're looking for a more recent release!

Caught it in theaters... honestly, pretty underwhelming. I was hoping for more drama, but since the whole thing is told through flashbacks—everything already happened—there’s really no tension. The movie spends the entire runtime just setting the stage for the finale, which turns out to be predictable and only feels intense for maybe five minutes at most. As for the cinematography... sure, the colors are nice, but Noah Harris50, if you've seen Samsara on the big screen, this doesn't even come close. The central conflict is also a mess. It's hard to tell when the fights are meant to be symbolic and when they should actually feel real, given that everything is presented in this "symbolic" style with shots of trees passing by and fighting against literal rain of arrows...
+3

ruggedmarlin15 said:You might catch it on the big screen. There's a festival happening in Napa Valley this year.

ruggedmarlin15

ruggedmarlin15, looks like you know your way around Napa Valley. Did they show Samsara there? That movie did pretty well in the indie circuit and at festivals...

Honestly, the only part worth watching in Break the Cat and Flying Snow is that final five minutes or so. Everything else is predictable from the jump, or at least once the emperor realizes what's actually going on—both the characters and the audience. The whole movie is basically a fake plot that unfolds into the real one, which just turns into more aerial combat... basically a repeat of the first half. Enjoy the flight.

Look, this movie isn't some complex puzzle you need to sit there and overanalyze to figure out what’s actually happening. The whole plot could basically be boiled down to two or three sentences: a guy's job is to take out the Emperor, he cooks up a few lies just to save his own skin, eventually backs out for other reasons, and ends up losing his mind because of the whole ordeal.

It’s honestly pretty chilling to realize that no matter how powerful an Emperor is, he’s still just a pawn in the hands of his own advisors. Even though he has genuine respect for the man who came to kill him—and even though he knows it won't happen and has essentially converted his greatest enemy to his side—he still has to maintain his dignity. He has to punish the person who thought they could actually take him down. The wind blows wherever the Emperor commands, but sometimes, the Emperor speaks exactly how the wind tells him to. It's just perfect.

I mean, aren't you basically just summarizing the whole movie?

That stuff with the Emperor was brutal... 😁

@shadowgardener12/">@@shadowgardener12:

I don't think so, but I can't say for certain. You might want to check the official website http://www.napa-valley-film-fest.com (I'm pretty sure they have an archive of all their past years listed there).

ruggedmarlin15

It's a shame. Honestly, when they're putting this much money into big commercial Hero projects, they could have included Samsara... which wasn't available in the US either.

It’s really not as straightforward as people think when you're running film festivals. You have to get a whole committee to agree on which titles actually make the cut, then there's the whole negotiation process for screening rights and rental fees, not to mention handling all the legal paperwork and making sure every bill gets paid... People tend to assume it just happens magically. But it doesn't.

ruggedmarlin15

Just one quick question:

For everyone who has seen Hero (regardless of how you watched it) — did you catch the 98-minute cut or the full 120-minute version?

I have this nagging feeling that when I saw it back in Napa Valley, I was watching the shorter 98-minute edit.

Richard Hernandez13 said:Just one question:

For everyone who’s seen Hero (any way you can find it)—did you watch the 98-minute version or the 120-minute cut?

I think I saw the 98-minute one back when I was in Napa Valley.

Honestly, I have no clue.

It was some Bootleg DVD, so I don't even know for sure. I'm guessing it might have been the 120-minute version.

I guess I'll ask the group; maybe someone (like the guy who actually owns the DVD) will know.

Melissa Moore32 said:It was some kind of Bootleg DVD, so I can't say for sure myself. I'm pretty sure it was the 120-minute cut.

I'm actually a little worried that it might be the 98-minute version—it probably just got ripped from an FYC DVD.

But hey, maybe I'm totally off base here...

So when is this finally dropping on DVD? I seriously need to get my hands on this and watch it myself.🙂

Lisa Walker7 said:When is this coming out on DVD? I really want to watch it!🙂

It’s hitting theaters soon—and honestly, trust me when I say it's worth seeing on the big screen (the bigger the better! 😉).