Before he left town for Christmas, Rick had rented Hero and asked me if I’d like to watch it before returning it to the store.  I wanted to see this movie when it was in theaters, so I gladly took it from him and watched it last night.

Originally called Ying xiong in Japan, Hero is a wonder-inspiring historical adventure set in pre-unified China.  This is truly one of the most achingly beautiful films I’ve seen.  It rivals Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (originally called Wo hu cang long) in the majestic beauty of its cinematography.  The fight scenes are a wonder to behold, the colors are breathtaking, and the cinematography is awe-inspiring.

The plot is built around a series of flashback accounts that shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.  Some critics of this film have suggested that the storyline is a bit plodding and portentous.  I found the movie to be neither but would have enjoyed it as much even if that had been the case.  This film is simply stunning, and I don’t just mean visually.

The tales and counter-tales which define the story may seem a bit confusing at first, but this is part of the movie’s allure.  The conspiracy and character dynamics wrapped inside the story are only best understood when all of the pieces have come together at the end, but it’s impossible to grasp the motivations of the characters without comprehending the intricacies of the stories which bind them together.

As a martial arts movie, Hero doesn’t disappoint.  The fight scenes are spectacular.  There is always that touch of metaphysical skill which gives the characters abilities beyond normal man, but these are not over-the-top fight scenes that cause us to laugh — they are instead fight scenes which draw us in and hold us breathless until the end.

If you enjoyed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you will surely enjoy Hero as well.  I assure you that this movie is well worth your time.  I’ll be adding this one to my collection.