Rating: 
Summary: Hero
Review:
This movie is alright. I think crouching tiger hidden tiger was better. But this movie is alright. Boring at times but still it is alright. The dvd has features they are
1.Hero defined
2.Storyboards
3. A conversation with Quentin Tarrantino and Jet Li.
4. Soundtrack Spot
There is over 42 minutes of special features on this 1-disc dvd!
Rating:
Summary: An intimate epic
Review: "Hero" is a very ambitious film, attempting to combine quiet introspective philosophy with visually stunning action and pageantry. It is like an intimate epic. The scope is grand to say the least, with full armies on the march as well as intense and magical personal duels, all of which serves as decoration to the Buddhist philosophy being put forward.It is very beautiful, and this is probably the first thing to be noticed. The various elements, actors, scenery and colors all combine to create a visual splendor. It is a very painterly movie, a feast for the eyes. Specifically, color is used to create moods and to differentiate the various storylines. If the visuals are painterly, then the Martial Arts are dancerly, along the same line as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," to which inevitable comparisons must be drawn. The actors are equally beautiful as well, and "Hero, truly a feast for the eyes, could probably be enjoyed in this manner, without any dialog. Storywise, it is a variation on the familiar "Rashomon" theme of "what is the truth?" The same story is told and re-told, each time moving closer to the purity of truth, and with truth comes enlightenment. This is an intimate tale, a quiet verbal duel between an Emperor, so fearsome and lonely than no human can approach within one hundred paces of him, and a nameless subject, who might just be a true hero. Between them, a story is told of epic engagements, artists and warriors, and what is actually worth fighting and dying for. I won't spoil too much of the story, as part of "Hero's" strength and insight lies in discovery. That is not to say that it is full of surprises and twist endings, but rather that, like all Buddhist insight, the answer of the movies riddle lies as much in the viewer as in the actors.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece - you will not forget this movie
Review: A movie of this complexity really cannot be described without the reviewer sounding like they think they are the next world famous movie critic. Plus, a movie of this calibur is tough to review without becoming too verbose. That being said, I do not fashion myself a movie critic by any means, and I will try to keep my review concise.
Summary? This movie is nothing less than a masterpiece.
I stumbled upon this movie quite accidentially. However, I am certainly glad I did. It is a simple story which is masterfully and flawlessly told. It unfolds before you like a carefully crafted series of chess moves, is very entertaining and engaging, and has a few twists along the way.
A point that must be made is that this is not a "kung-fu" movie. It has action scenes that will please any martial arts fan, but this movie is so much more.
Although I preferred the musical score of Crouching Tiger to Hero (it seemed as if Hero's music was heavily influenced by Crouching Tiger), the score is very enjoyable and perfectly suited to the movie.
What can I say about the other major components? Set design and shooting locations were almost flawless and in most cases absolutely stunning. It struck me that maybe Crouching Tiger's (ok, so I'm a big fan) outdoor lighting (effective use of time of day) may have been more dramatic than Hero, but Hero is still far and away better than virtually any other movie you are likely to have seen.
One of the main things this movie does more than any other movie I can recall was the effective use of color in costume and sets. Whoever thought of this and chose the actual color pallet (sp?) is no less than brilliant. It really is a visually beautiful movie.
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen at any and all levels. It's really not surprising that it's not a Hollywood original. I don't think they make them like this anymore.
Is this Communist propaganda like some have summized? I believe you need to view this film in it's historical perspective. Come on people! What was the set of ideals driving this part of the world during the era of the film? I believe it was one of self-sacrific and honor to the greater good. You don't necessarily have to agree with these principles to enjoy this movie! As a matter of fact, there are a couple of scenes (won't reveal them here) that on a personal level I certainly objected to. However, the characters actions were much like I would assume given their philosophies displayed.
Conclusion? You won't know what you're missing until you watch it. After you watch it, you will be forever glad you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated, but not bad
Review: After reading all the message board reviews and hype, I hate to admit that Hero doesn't quite live up to it's expectations. Like one reviewer wrote, you either love it or don't. First off, the visuals were simply stunning! From the colors, setting, lighting, use of CG... the entire movie should be appreciated for its beautiful cinematography and environments. However, I felt a little cheated after watching the first wonderful fight scene between Donnie Yen and Jet Li because IT WAS THE ONLY REAL FIGHT SCENE OF THE MOVIE!! Not to say that there weren't any other fight scenes, but they didn't compare to the first one. The story could've been better, but it wasn't too bad. The different points of view may leave some confused so you may have to watch it again to understand it better. Overall, if you are expecting an action-packed movie in an "Iron Monkey" way (like I did), then this movie isn't for you. But if you enjoy and appreciate "Hero" as a work of art, then you won't be disappointed. 5 stars for visuals, first action scene, and CG scenes
4 stars for the all-star cast
2.5 stars for story
2 stars for action
Rating:
Summary: Amazing film.. but takes some liberties...
Review: At the end of China`s warring states, the Kingdom of Qin is the most ambitious and ruthless of the seven states. Its` King is the target of assassins from all over China. Of all the would be assassins, Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk) and Sky (Donnie Yen) are the most dangerous. When Nameless (Jet Li) kills all three of them, he is offered a chance to meet the King. Nameless explains how he used their personal relationships to expose and attack their weaknesses, but - in a similar scenario to Akira Kurosawa`s Rashomon (1950) the King tells a different version of the same story.... There`s no denying a lot of care was put into this film, it is amazingly shot and beautiful to watch (what do you expect when Wong Kar Wai`s cinematographer Chris Doyle is at the helm?). I liked the clever use of the colour scheme (green/red/white/blue) that was used by Zhang Yimou to emphasise different things.
An all star cast was assembled for this film - and everyone performs well in their own ways I think. Tony Leung and Maggie especially are excellent, turning in a performance which draws comparisons with the Wong Kar Wai movie In The Mood For Love (2000). Playing the role of Broken Swords servant Moon, Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Road Home) is gorgeous, though her turn perhaps reminded me of Jen Yu in Crouching Tiger too much, as if she`d phoned her performance in. Donnie Yen`s part is sadly also little more than an extended cameo, though his fight in the rain with Nameless (Jet Li) is very impressive.
Of course, comparisons are bound to be drawn between CTHD and this film - Maggie`s/Zhang Ziyi`s forest fight reminded me of the sword duel of the earlier CTHD, as did the balletic walking on water or flying through the air. To top it off, the composer Tan Dun wrote a score for Hero that is not too dissimilar to the one in CTHD (particularly at the beginning and end with the drums and violins).
If I have any complaints at all, I would have liked to have seen more character development and backstory. I also wasn't sure about the way the tyrannical King is portrayed as simply a misunderstood man, ignoring what he was really like in Ancient Chinese history and what he did to his people. This doesn't show the whole picture.
Plot gripes nothwithstanding, bear in mind that what we have here is essentially a Producer`s Cut of the film, assembled by American company Miramax and missing about 20 minutes from Zhang Yimou`s original vision. One can only hope the rumored Extended Edition of the film gets a release on DVD in Hong Kong or the US someday.
Overall though, I think this is an outstanding piece of cinema.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Expect One Side
Review: Face it, either you love a movie or you don't. There's always something to pull the viewer in, or distract them with horrible disgust, but in this case, the movie's more black and white than of a distinction. "Hero," directed by Zhang Yimou, along with a cast including Jet Li and Chen Dong Ming, depicts the story of China before being united under one rule.
As told through the eyes of a nameless warrior, "Hero" centers on four assassins trying to rid the country of a supposedly power-hungry king, only later realizing that the king's intentions are that of harmony.
But this idea of harmony and unity is what ironically separates the movie into two perspectives. It's a simple two-sided case, where the movie style is wonderfully done, yet the plot is rocky, and off-center. As a director, Yimou displays this multi-faceted story amazingly well, although a few times overdone, with symbolism. From the color schemes of promoting peace to voicing the sorrow of betrayal, vibrancy can be found in every action sequence, and melancholy in the void of the desert scenes. Wire effects really help the action in presenting a gracefulness to the contradiction of the wild fury of fighting, reminiscent of those found in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and even digital effects add to the epic scale of the movie, as you'll understand in the arrow scene. Then there's the technique of perspective, as if viewing the movie from a shattered glass; the story is retold multiple times but with different ideas and actions, forcing the audience to piece their own truth.
But as aforementioned, that is only half of the experience. Of course it's visually stunning, but with such an upsetting plot, it's hard to appreciate the majesty of the film at times. The plot itself is not upsetting, but how it is told. Yimou portrays the first emperor of China as one who desires peace and shows that his means justify his actions. Although the movie notes that this is only one of the various myths of what really happened, it is still absurdity at best. The first emperor did build the Wall of China and did other great things, but his corruption outweighed the benefits he presented. He buried scholars because they held too much information, slaughtered countless innocent lives, and even burned books (the last ruler to do that was Hitler). Showing the better perspective of the emperor can be understanding, but that fact that they only showed one side and over glorified the man's ambitions made this a disturbing experience.
Of course, this is only a movie that is being talked about, and many can disregard the fiction and enjoy the visual aspect. But a film is an extremely significant medium that can speak to us and profoundly move us. By mixing the visual majesty along with an absurd glorification, this seems like nothing more than propaganda. It can be, as said before, excused easily, but the problem is that Americans will soon be witnessing this film, and let's face it, American culture centers its history lessons on America; not many Asian Americans will even know it's invalidity (being one, it took a while before I even realized what I was actually viewing).
Yimou's vision and style are stunning talents, but with storytelling as such an integral part in movie making, it makes it hard to both disparage and recommend a film that overzealously venerates what it shouldn't.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Greatness
Review: Hero might very well be one of the best martial arts flick you'll ever see. Mixing history with great action sequences, solid performances with striking visuals, it is a beautiful film that never ceases to amaze its viewers.
Told Roshomon-style, the same story is retold during the course of the film from four different point of views. Our Hero (Jet Li) is telling the emperor of China how he was able to defeat the four great assassin's that threatened the emperor's life. But as the story moves along, we soon realize that what we see and hear might not be what truly happened, and that Li might also have a hidden agenda.
The film is just amazing to look at. The colors are rich and breathtaking. The action sequences are filmed beautifully (American filmmakers take note : a great action sequence is one where you actually see what happens, not one where the editing is so fast and choppy that you can't register anything!). The performances are solid (especially from Ziyi Zhang and Li) and the story very touching.
This is a martial arts flick with a heart and soul. Based on historical events, Hero will surprise you at every turn. This one has taken a place in my all-time top 10 fave action flicks. Don't miss out on it.
Rating:
Summary: A Genuine Masterpiece. Not Only for Martial Arts Fans.
Review: I came to "Hero" expecting to see a critically acclaimed martial arts film. My attitude toward martial arts films might best be described as indifferent. I like some of them, but I'm not an enthusiastic fan. I only had to see the first few minutes of "Hero" to know that it was something special, though. The art direction and cinematography are so striking in the opening scene that I consciously thought that this film would be worth watching whether or not the story, characters, or fight sequences interested me. By the first sword fight, I was entranced by the film's beauty. When I saw the red and orange hues that followed, I thought "Hero" might be the most beautiful motion picture I have ever seen. And that was only the beginning. Director Zhang Yimou is one of the best directors in the world today...at making emotionally incisive, understated dramas. "Hero" is Zhang's first action film and, I think, his masterpiece. His characteristic depth and social insight are combined with the energy, history, and flexibility of the martial arts genre in "Hero". The result is larger than life story and characters in a film of uncommon beauty. Zhang has said that the audience will remember the images of "Hero" even if we forget the story. To say that he is right would be understating "Hero"'s visual impact. This may be the most beautiful film ever made, thanks in no small part to cinematography by Christopher Doyle and art direction by Huo Ting Xiao.
"Hero" is a fable that takes place two millennia ago, during the era of warring states just before China was unified under its first Emperor. Qin is one of China's 7 states, and its King's sole ambition is to unite China under one rule. The Qin army's constant attacks on the 6 other kingdoms have made the King many enemies, however. Three assassins from Zhao have harassed the King for a decade, and he has promised riches and an audience to whomever defeats them. The reward is claimed by a Nameless (Jet Li) prefect, who arrives at the Court for his audience with the King. The King asks Nameless how he defeated the 3 great assassins: Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword. So Nameless begins to tell the story of his battle with Sky (Donnie Yen), who visited his district, and his clever manipulation of Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) at the calligraphy school where they both studied.
Many of "Hero"'s scenes have prominent color elements -red, blue, white, or green- depending on who is telling the story and why. The cinematography has to be seen to be believed. The fight sequences were choreographed by Hong Kong action director Tony Ching Siu-Tung. And martial arts fans will be pleased to see Jet Li and Donnie Yen reunited onscreen. The sword fighting sequences don't propel the story, however. They are well-integrated with the narrative and character development. And like everything else in "Hero", they are absolutely beautiful. You don't have to care for action or martial arts movies to enjoy "Hero". This is just a great film by any standard. 2000's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was the first Asian film to find a wide American audience. Its US box office was more than twice that of "Hero". I attribute that to hype. "Crouching Tiger" is a good genre film, but "Hero" is far superior. If you liked "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", you'll love "Hero". If you were underwhelmed by "Crouching Tiger", you'll be overwhelmed by this film. Congratulations to Zhang Yimou for making a masterpiece that will be praised for generations. Don't be put off if you don't normally like martial arts movies. This is a sweeping drama that is punctuated by action. See "Hero" on the biggest screen you can find.
The DVD: Bonus features include a making-of documentary, storyboards, an interview with Jet Li, and a soundtrack spot. "Hero Defined" (23 minutes) is alternately narrated and subtitled in English. It follows "Hero" from pre-production through some of its 6-month shoot and includes interviews with director Zhang Yimou and the film's cast. I recommend it for Zhang's comments. "Storyboards" shows the storyboards for 4 action scenes next to the finished scene as it plays out. In "Inside the Action: A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino & Jet Li" (14 minutes), Tarantino interviews Jet Li about his career and martial arts in the movies. Subtitles for the film are available in English and Spanish. Captioning is available in English. Dubbing is available in English and French.
Rating: 
Summary: Hero
Review: I felt robbed and all i did was rent it where was my war epic its odd boring and simply just a bad movie
Rating:
Summary: Nice photography but awful movie
Review: If color coordinated fight scenes are your thing you'll love this movie. Other than that is and orgy of pointless slow motion shots and posing. The director made such efforts in getting a nice visual composition that the movie degenerated into one posed shot after the other. The esthetical measures reach such extremes that the heroes don't bleed into their robes, lest they ruin the color scheme.
As an old style Wang Yu movie fan this movie was a mayor disappointment. I for one couldn't wait for it to end.
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