Underplayed Gems

Hero (2002)

Hero poster
Original title
英雄
Directed by
Zhang Yimou
Cast
Huang Hai Bing, Ning Jing, Zhang Jing Chu, Liu Wei, Zhao Yang, Miao Hao Jun
Genre
drama film, action film, martial arts film
Country
People's Republic of China
Runtime
1h 39m
Rated
PG-13
Rating
7.5 of 10 from 2,530 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

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How it feels

In ancient China during the Warring States period, a nameless warrior claims to have defeated the three assassins who threatened the King of Qin. The story unfolds through shifting perspectives, revealing the sacrifices and honor behind each fight.

epicvisually lushmelancholiccontemplativestylizeddramaticmythicstately

What happens

Hero (Chinese: 英雄; pinyin: Yīngxióng) is a 2002 epic wuxia film directed, co-written, and produced by Zhang Yimou, and starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen and Chen Daoming. The film is a Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, with cinematography by Christopher Doyle and musical score by Tan Dun. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards. The historical background of the film refers to the Warring States Period in ancient China, when China was divided into seven states. In 227–221 BC, the Qin state was about to unify the other six states, assassins from the six states were sent to assassinate the king of Qin. One of the most famous incidents was Jing Ke's attempted assassination of the King of Qin. Hero was first released in China on 24 October 2002. At that time, it was the most expensive project and one of the highest-grossing motion pictures in China. Miramax acquired American market distribution rights, but delayed the release of the film for nearly two years. Quentin Tarantino eventually convinced Miramax to open the film in American theaters on 27 August 2004. The film received positive reviews from critics. It became the first Chinese-language movie to top the American box office, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks, and went on to earn $53.7 million in the United States and $177 million worldwide. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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