Has anyone else caught "Hero" the Jet Li Movie? Some DU'ers have

[KoKo]

liked it and been pushing it...myself, included. The initial DU reviews were not good...but later ones have been more favorable.

Did you get the "Peace Message" hidden? Did you get the "Pragmatic Peace" message hidden? :shrug: Or, was it just too boring...with little action?

[Dookus]

1. I thought it was great

visually, it's just stunning. The action is great.

I don't overthink "the message". It's based, evidently, on an old Chinese legend. It just tells the story.

[WilliamPitt]

2. It was visually stunning

but I'm a little bored with the flying-invisible-wires-fighting thing.

As for the message, I got the distinct impression that the movie was all about the positive nature of military authoritarianism. It celebrates the leader who united China by the sword.

[DrWeird]

3. Not really, not anymore then the Bible celebrates Pilate.

The "Hero" of the film is the nameless man who sacrifices himself for the ultimate good of the Chinese people.

[KoKo]

5. Maybe...but I got more a message of sacrifice especially the "Christ"

imagery at the end where the "arrows" leave the place untouched where the hero is killed so that the "King of the Provence" (who becomes the unifying emperor) can "save face." I saw the figure of the body being carried as a hero in the last scenes as Christ with the Shroud being carried through the streets...then the "flashback" to the spot where he stood with the "arrow firing squad" shows an empty spot where the arrows didn't pierce.

I thought the movie showed an allegory for "War and Peace" and a story of how "individual actions" could prevail over "War is the Answer" folks.

The "motive for revenge" over "compromise" and in the end the "pragmatic" approach.

It was held from release after 9/11 because it was felt to be too controversial led me to believe the message was not about "unjustified war."

There was alot of sacrifice of principles about the philosophy of when "war is justified" or when it's for "revenge and hate" in that movie. But, I confess, I loved it so much..I had to see it twice because I felt I missed much trying to read the subtitles and watch the beautiful cinematography and action scenes. I could see it a third time...but hubby says...rent it FGS!

It won't be the same renting it...it needs to be seen on "Big Screen."

Maybe some of us saw it more seriously than the producer intended. And have put our own subjective spin on it.

Still...I think it's a masterpiece that will come back one day as a classic.. :shrug:

[Chovexani]

4. I saw a free preview way back in August

Awesome movie. I don't get the bad reviews some folks were giving it.

Too boring? Whatever. Maybe they ought to stick with Jerry Bruckheimer movies.

[LynneSin]

6. I loved the movie

saw it 2 weeks ago

[Thew]

7. Enjoyed the story...

But I've also had it with "wire-fu" - it just looks silly. Especially knowing what amazing things these folks can do naturally or with minimal effects.

[KoKo]

8. The "wire thing" was more sophisticated than "Crouching Tiger/Hidden

Dragon" though...I thought, anyway. I love ballet...so maybe I thought the scenes were really very balletic and like poetry...I'm not a guy so I like that kind of thing. I know folks in real life "Kung Fu" or whatever can never move like these folks in the movie, but how they put it all together was mind blowing to me and the scenery with the blowing leaves and colors...but still loved the vengeance and the parrying going on the scenes. And, loved that the "spirt and will" might make males/females go into a "higher mode" and be capable of feats that go beyond physical boundaries.

If you look on it as them moving without the wires..and accept that they were using "higher power energy" it might make sense in the context of the story..that mere mortals can rise to a higher level. Or, one could look at this as just "stunts" to enhance the story.

I thought it was no more "contrived" than "car chases/burning buildings/ bombs/destruction" in most "Action Adventure" movies today, though...and yet no one complains about "stunts or wires and rigs" in those movies. :shrug: To each his own..