Ying Xiong (Hero) [2002]
Director: Yimou Zhang
Actor: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Daoming Chen, Donnie Yen
Namless (Jet Li), a swordsman of unimaginable power has killed three of the kingdom’s most feared and dangerous assassins and is granted with an audience of the man they vowed to kill; the emperor. There he recalls the story of his victories. His stories are that of unbridled passion and sacrifice.
Not since Feng Yun Xiong Ba Tian Xia [Stormriders] has there been such a beautiful, fulfilling traditional Chinese martial art film. It’s heavy on wire-action and mythical Kung Fu, so beware of that if that’s not your thing, but the sheer beauty of the film will more than make up for it. The story is powerful enough to help you suspend your disbelief if the beauty of the film won’t be enough.
Oh, and Donnie Yen should get more screenplay, even if he is an arrogant bastard in real life.
