Hero Blu-ray offers solid video and audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
From acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou comes this film set during the 'warring states'
period in Chinese history when the country was divided into seven kingdoms. A low–ranking
sheriff comes to the court of the king of one of the most powerful regions to claim a prize for
killing three legendary warriors – Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Sky. But just how much of
what the sheriff says can be trusted?
For more about Hero and the Hero Blu-ray release, see the Hero Blu-ray Review
Gorgeous. Magnificent. Breathtaking. Graceful. Solemn. Mesmerizing. Grandiose. These are but a few of the many words that have been used to describe Chinese director Zhang Yimou's Hero, an internationally acclaimed cinematic masterpiece that has united critics, divided audiences, and left many a filmfan in absolute awe. Relying on deliberate pacing to set a tone to which most martial arts enthusiasts are unaccustomed, and offering meditative swordplay in place of more traditional action beats, Yimou's film is no mere Jet Li vehicle, nor was it bred for awards and nominations (even though it earned its fair share of both). Hero is as much an expression of artistic elegance and poignant storytelling as it is a feast for the eyes and ears; as much a meditation on life and death, purpose and duty, and truth and perception as a clever tale of deception and revenge. While some will continue to scoff at its exceedingly deliberate pace and lyrical plotting, I plan to watch it again and again for years to come. It may not be an outright crowd-pleaser or a pulse-pounding martial arts extravaganza, but it is a wonderful film in its own right, leaving little doubt as to its filmmakers' talent, its performances' power, or its cinematography's brilliance.
The nameless warrior squares off against his first opponent...
What begins as a seemingly simple tale of a nameless warrior (Jet Li) who earns an audience with a reclusive emperor (Chen Daoming) after defeating three deadly assassins quickly becomes a sharply written Rashamon-esque exploration of the warrior's identity, motivation, and mental dexterity. As he spins his story for the king, he describes a fierce physical and psychological battle with a spear-wielding strategist named Sky (Iron Monkey's Donnie Yen), the trickery he employed to bring about the demise of a master swordsman named Broken Sword (Infernal Affairs' Tony Leung), and the manner by which he took advantage of Sword's confidant and lover, Flying Snow (In the Mood for Love's Maggie Cheung). However, the emperor soon starts to suspect that the nameless warrior hasn't been entirely forthcoming. As the king reveals the details of his own encounters with the legendary assassins, both men are forced to face their own pasts and their own destinies; each man has to make a difficult choice; each one has to contemplate the possible consequences of their every decision.
Having watched Hero more than a dozen times since its 2004 US debut, I can safely say it isn't for everyone. Expectation will dictate how passionately viewers react to the film (be it positive or negative) while a willingness (or lack thereof) to experience the story as presented will determine their satisfaction with its multi-pronged plot and twisting narrative. Some newcomers will accuse Yimou of pretentiousness, others will label him a visionary. Some will call the film dull and monotonous, others will declare it to be a revelation. Three guesses as to which camp I call home. Make no mistake, while Hero has proven itself to be a divisive film among certain circles, I consider it to be a thoroughly rewarding cinematic experience; one that will continue to resonate with anyone and everyone enamored by its majestic artistry and weighty themes. Color and shadow are employed as readily and effortlessly as character and story. The actors are somber yet magnetic; their performances understated yet undeniably strong; their deliveries subtle yet resounding. The plot meanders at times, but never drifts off course, deftly infusing each and every chance encounter, desperate embrace, and veiled threat with palpable tenacity and unexpected humility. No character vies for audience attention, no subplot begs for screentime, no message is dropped on the unsuspecting masses. Instead, the entire film exists as an extension of its narrative -- much like a sword exists as an extension of its master's arm -- rising and falling as needed, surging and waning as required.
Slow? In a manner of speaking. Uneventful? Not at all. Hero has a definite momentum simmering just beneath its surface, even when little seems to be happening. Every detail in the nameless warrior's story, truth or lie, offers a hint as to his methods and motivations. The film's visuals are even more telling. The searing reds that swarm Broken Sword and Flying Snow's romance reveals the nature of their spirits, while the crisp greens that undergird their failed attack on Qin's palace showcase the conflict raging in their souls. In fact, clues to Hero's central mystery can be found everywhere: in Christopher Doyle's cinematography, Tingxiao Huo's production design, Angie Lam's editing, even Tan Dun's musical score. It all comes together to produce a complex, oft-times labyrinthine tale that functions practically and in service of the film's hyper-realistic depiction of the Qin Dynasty era. By the time the film reaches its sobering denouement, every piece has fallen into place; not by chance, mind you, but by near-impeccable design. Nothing in Hero is a coincidence, nothing is a waste of celluloid, nothing is chained to the conventions of the genre or the clichés of martial arts filmmaking. More often than not, those who despise the film are those who judge it long before it's over, evaluating each scene without having glimpsed the bigger picture.
Hero remains as remarkable today as it did when I first sat wide-eyed in the theater soaking in its every frame. An unforgettable fusion of beautiful visuals and riveting story, Yimou's tour de force is a stunning piece of period filmmaking that will continue to sit proudly on my shelf. If you've never had the opportunity to see it, erase your expectations, approach it with an open mind, and hold off all judgments until the credits roll. If you're a casual fan with one viewing tucked under your belt, give it another spin and see how quickly it worms into your brain. If you despise every minute, well... I suppose Disney's Ultimate Force of Four collection probably includes something that will appeal to your sensibilities. Me? I'm already itching to watch it again.
Hero has been forced to endure a rough stint on home video; one plagued by horrid transfers, murky colors, and maddening technical deficiencies. Thankfully, Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded high definition encode looks far better than anything that's come before and, despite a number of persisting issues, should please anyone who's been desperate to toss out their inadequate DVD. Christopher Doyle's palette has received the most noticeable boost -- reds surge, blues sing, and taut greens pierce the eyes -- while contrast and black levels have been significantly improved in their own right. The image is brighter, warmer, and more engrossing than it's been on previous releases, and primaries are far richer and sumptuous than I expected. Detail is soft overall, but textures are fairly revealing (albeit inconsistent), object definition is quite clean (minus a few errant mishaps), and close-ups are impressive. Granted, the use of intermittent noise reduction interferes with the integrity of several key scenes, and sudden bursts of heavy grain pepper the proceedings more often than I would have preferred, but many of the film's most iconic shots feature an attractive, film-like appearance. If anything, the persistence of faint artifacting and other compression anomalies is cause for some concern. Even though the transfer is reasonably proficient, particularly when compared to earlier releases, it still suffers from too many oddities to warrant any exuberant praise.
Is this Hero's definitive transfer? I hope not. While diehards will scoop it up regardless of its shortcomings, stringent videophiles may struggle with its apparent issues. Does the Blu-ray transfer offer a substantial improvement over the film's previous home video releases? Most definitely. All things considered -- the disc's sonic snafu included (more on that in a bit) -- videophiles and audiophiles may want to rent this one before making any pricey decisions.
In a decision sure to baffle more than this flustered purist, Disney and Miramax have blessed Hero's English dub with a hearty DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, yet scorned its original Mandarin mix with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track (640kbps); one that hinders the impact of Tan Dun's haunting score and the film's rousing sound design. But while the margin between disappointment and satisfaction will largely depend on the listener's ability or inability to get past such a disheartening oversight, fans of the film will nevertheless be able to enjoy the sonic majesty of Zhang Yimou's masterpiece regardless of which track they choose. Sure, vocal lucidity, LFE output, and soundscape clarity are noticeably better on the lossless mix, but that doesn't mean its lossy counterpart is a worthless waste of disc space. Dialogue is bold, intelligible, and nicely prioritized, and lighter effects -- arrows, spear thrusts, and sword clangs -- are clean and stable. Ambience and interior acoustics are strong as well, lending a distinct legitimacy to Yimou's various tales and dreamscapes. Still, LFE support may be resonant, but it's slightly pudgy; rear speaker activity may be aggressive, but it's a bit more shrill and shallow than it is on the English track; dynamics are impressive, but only for a standard Dolby Digital mix; pans are smooth but cushioned; and directionality is accurate but somewhat uninvolving (again, compared to its big lossless brother).
As it stands, those who enjoy dubbed tracks will be smitten by Hero's lumbering DTS-HD giant. However, those who prefer the pairing of an actor's performance with his or her original delivery will be saddened by Disney's failure to capitalize on the film's sonic potential. That being said, avoiding this release based on tech specs and audio options alone would be a mistake. Disney's lossy track is a solid one that rarely falters. Anyone who can get past their initial disappointment will find it's both capable and competent; a honorable contender worthy of consideration.
The Special Edition Blu-ray release of Hero arrives with the same supplemental package that appears on the concurrently released 2009 DVD. Unfortunately, the word "special" in Special Edition is a complete misnomer. While an exclusive featurette has been tacked on, the feature list is identical to that of Miramax's 2004 DVD. Worse still, it takes less than an hour to plow through all of the material, the video content is presented in standard definition, and little insight is offered into the film's production and artistry.
Hero Defined (SD, 24 minutes): The closest thing Miramax provides to a meaty behind-the-scenes documentary is an overblown EPK that sidesteps a legitimate exploration of the production in favor of talking heads and film clips. It's certainly better than nothing, but not by much.
Inside the Action (SD, 14 minutes): A poorly conceived conversation between Hero star Jet Li and Kill Bill auteur Quentin Tarantino. The acclaimed director's love of Zhang Yimou's Hero is apparent, but his appearance on the disc is odd and distracting.
Close-up of a Fight Scene (SD, 9 minutes): The coverart touts the addition of this exclusive featurette, but it provides little more than a glimpse into a handful of Hero's action sequences.
Storyboards (SD, 5 minutes): Several scenes are compared to their corresponding storyboards.
Soundtrack Promo (SD, 1 minute): A quick commercial for the film's soundtrack.
I could drone on and on about Hero's visual punch and thematic power, but I'll spare you the hyperbole. Suffice to say, Yimou's masterpiece is just that: a masterpiece. Sadly, the Blu-ray edition is a bit of a letdown. While it certainly bests every previous release of the film, it still struggles with a problematic video transfer, the limitations of a lossy Mandarin audio track, and the inclusion of a slim supplemental package. Granted, none of these issues should keep fans away from the finest release of Hero to date, but more frugal readers may want to rent this one before sliding too much cash across the counter.
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