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IMDb > Ying xiong (2002)
Ying xiong
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Ying xiong (2002) More at IMDb Pro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   63,223 votes
Director:
Yimou Zhang
Writers:
Feng Li (writer)
Bin Wang (writer)
more
Release Date:
27 elokuu 2004 (USA) more
Tagline:
Kono kuni wa mada, hontô no hero wo shiranai [Japan] ("This land doesn't know a real hero. Yet.) more
Plot:
A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 21 wins & 19 nominations more
User Comments:
Excellent more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Hero (USA)
Jet Li's Hero (USA)
Quentin Tarantino Presents Hero (USA) (promotional title)
Ying hung (China: Cantonese title)
Hero (Finland) [fi]
Sankari (Finland) (TV title) [fi]
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality.
Runtime:
99 min | Turkey:89 min (TV version) | China:107 min (extended version) | China:93 min
Country:
Hong Kong | China
Language:
Mandarin
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
Dunhuang, Gansu, China more
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 6% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Miramax originally acquired the U.S. distribution rights in 2002 after the film's huge success in Asia. However, the film did not receive its U.S. theatrical release until 2004. Before the release of the official U.S. version, the film gained a cult following in the States via "official" copies of the DVD from other countries. more
Goofs:
Miscellaneous: On numerous occasions, it is possible to see the glue that molds the sides of Jet Li's wig to his head (it casts a plastic-like reflection in certain light). It's most noticeable during the fight with Zhang Ziyi ("Moon"), when he traps one of her blades with his sword and there's a close-up of the side of his face, and at the very end, when he's reached the palace gate and turns towards the camera. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Nameless: [voiceover] I was orphaned at a young age and was never given a name. People simply called me Nameless. With no family name to live up to, I devoted myself to the sword. I spent ten years perfecting unique skills as a swordsman. The King of Qin has summoned me to court, for what I have accomplished has astonished the kingdom.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Mini (2007) more

FAQ

A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
Is this movie based on a novel?
What is "wuxia"?
more
90 out of 126 people found the following comment useful:-
Excellent, 22 January 2003
9/10
Author: mrwiseguy from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

While i enjoyed this movie very much, i believe Hero will get the kinds of reviews and responses that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (CTHD) did, and still does, ie. either you liked it very much, or you couldn't see what the fuss was all about. This dichotomy of opinions makes for interesting study because it seems to cut across cultural and intellectual differences. Everywhere the film is shown, there will a segment of the audience that will love and rave about it, and another segment that will be wondering if they had been watching the same movie. I can't explain why this is so, but i suspect it has a lot to do with a viewer's initial expectation of the movie, and then his perception and appreciation of the nuances in the telling of the storyline.

Hero is a film that is beautiful in many aspects. The direction and photography is artsy without being pretentious. Every shot is worthy of being a work of art in itself. The language spoken is traditional mandarin, but oh, so easy to the ear, even though i couldn't understand every word. (I don't think Tony's and Maggie's voices were dubbed, but i could be mistaken). The main characters were very well acted out, especially that of the role of the Qin Emperor. Zhang Ziyi's character was largely insignificant though, so i think she's been put in to add some star power to the production. The fighting scenes are unusual by most standards, employing an interesting combination of CGI and real action. Some of the powers that the characters possess appear too amazing to be true, but remember that some of the fights only took place in the fighters' imagination. The music, though quite similar to that in CTHD, is appropriate, and sticks hauntingly to the back of your mind long after the movie is over.

I went to the cinema having heard some of the hype leading to the movie, but with no real knowledge of the storyline, and not expecting a lot. I think that helped me enjoy the movie more, because the way the story unfolded actually set me thinking and anticipating in a manner that i could not have had i known more about the storyline. The message at the end of the movie is simple, but certainly open for debate. In fairness, i don't think the director attempted to provide an answer, as to whether the decision made by the Nameless One was the correct one or not, but rather to ask questions. I'd better not give out too much here, but it certainly set me thinking about things for a little while after the show had ended. These days, any movie that can get me pondering after the credits go down has got to be pretty good.

Overall an excellent movie. I'm sure some areas could be better, but i can't think of any right now. Highly recommended.

Score: 8.5/10

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Stupid Comunist Propaganda paul_tutzu
Why is it not called 'All Under Heaven'? psychoric
Best way to die! pedrowasabi
Please, vote a 10! Hero deserves to be at least in top 150!!! nebular-2
please hollywood action films, stop with the... rebelz
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