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Hero

7.3

35,190

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Original title

Ying Xiong (Hero)

Year

2002

Running time

99 min.

Country

China

Director

Zhang Yimou

Screenwriter

Li Feng, Zhang Yimou, Wang Bin

Cast

Music

Tan Dun

Cinematography

Christopher Doyle

Producer

Co-production China-Hong Kong;

Sil-Metropole Organisation, China Film Group, Beijing New Picture Film, Elite Group Enterprises, Zhang Yimou Studio Production

Genre

Action. Drama | Martial Arts. Wuxia. Magic Realism

Synopsis

2003 Foreign Language Oscar nominee. At the height of China's Warring States period, the country was divided into seven kingdoms: Qin, Zhao, Han Wei, Yan, Chu and Qi. For years, the separate kingdoms fought ruthlessly for supremacy. The Qin King was obsessed with conquering all of China and becoming her first Emperor. He had long been the target of three legendary assassins.
To anyone who defeated the assassins, the King promised great power, gold and a private audience with the King himself. For ten years no one came to claim the prize. So when the enigmatic county sheriff, Nameless (Jet Li), came to the palace bearing the legendary weapons of the slain assassins, the King was impatient to hear his story. Sitting in the palace, only ten paces from the King, Nameless told his extraordinary tale. But then something unexpected happened - the King had a different story to tell of how Nameless really came to sit there.
In the center of the intrigue sits Nameless and the ruler of the Kingdom, with only ten steps between them. Within those ten steps holds an earth-shattering tale of love, honor and duty, a story that moves beyond the reaches of history.

Rankings Position

#11 Best Hong Kong Movies of all time
#13 Best Chinese Movies of all time
#64 Best Action Movies

Awards: 2002: Nominated for Oscar: Best Foreign Language Picture

2002: Nominated for Golden Globe: Best Foreign Language Picture

2002: New York Circle of Critics: Best Cinematography

2002: Festival Toronto: Best Foreign Language Picture

2003: Berlin Film Festival: Official Selection, Alfred Bauer Award

2004: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Best Cinematography

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Critics' reviews

"A film like "Hero" demonstrates how the martial arts genre transcends action and violence and moves into poetry, ballet and philosophy (...) a visual poem of extraordinary beauty (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"If 'Hero' proves to be less than the sum of its attractive parts, it's nonetheless generally pleasurable"

Manohla Dargis: The New York Times
"The most artistically sophisticated, most formally beautiful martial arts film the genre has seen"

Kenneth Turan: Los Angeles Times
"Swooningly beautiful, furious and thrilling, Zhang Yimou's Hero is an action movie for the ages"

Michael Wilmington: Chicago Tribune
"One of those pictures in which the hypnotic visuals are the movie, and the viewer has to decide whether this is enough (...) Rating: ★★½ (out o 4)"

Mike Clark: USA Today
"As a technical achievement, Hero finds Zhang at the height of his powers, effortlessly expanding into complex genre filmmaking without losing his command"

Scott Tobias: AV Club
"Just don’t expect another Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (...) Ravishes the eye without quite touching the heart (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
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Ranking Lists Position

2 My Favorite Chinese & Hong Kong Movies (87)
6 My Favorite Asian Movies (308)
19 My Top 10 Movies from 2002 (176)
57 Movies with Amazing Cinematography (64)
91 Movies with Impressive Art Direction (25)

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Hero

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