Genres:
Epic
Historical Film
Theatrical Release: 12/19/2002(China/Hong
Release Date: 01/01/2001
Sound: DTS/DD5.1
Run Time:
Flags: Violence, Not For Children, Sexual Situations, Suitable for Teens
Distributor/Studio: Miramax
Hero is two-time Academy Award nominee
Zhang Yimou's directorial attempt at exploring the concept of a Chinese hero. During the peak of their Warring States period, China was divided into seven kingdoms all fighting for supremacy. Most determined to dominate China was the kingdom of Qin, whose king (
Chen Daoming) was wholly obsessed with becoming the first emperor of China. Though he was an assassination target for many, none of his would-be killers inspired as much fear as the legendary assassins
Broken Sword (
Tony Leung),
Flying Snow (
Maggie Cheung), and
Sky (
Donnie Yen). In hopes of thwarting his death, the king has promised endless wealth and power to anyone who defeats his would-be murderers. No results come until ten years later, when a man called
Nameless (
Jet Li) brings the weapons of the three assassins to the Qin king's palace.
Nameless claims to be an expert swordsman who had defeated
Sky and destroyed the famed duo of
Flying Snow and
Broken Sword by using their love for one another against them. Once
Nameless comes face to face with the king, however, it looks as if the situation is more complicated than he had thought. Also featured in
Hero is actress
Zhang Ziyi (
The Road Home,
Crouching Tiger, Hiden Dragon) as
Broken Sword's devoted servant,
Moon. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
;)
