Hero (1997)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Ostensibly a remake of the '70s Shaw Brothers flick BOXER FROM SHANTUNG, HERO doesn't really follow that film too closely, instead going off in its own direction. Thankfully it is a lot better because of that. The film is nothing new, yet another variant on the old and tired YOJIMBO plot line, but it succeeds through the sheer talent involved in the production. Not only are superb actors involved in front of the camera, but sure hand director Corey Yuen – whose martial arts scenes always bring excitement – keeps things moving along at a fine pace and with plenty of excellent action scenes to keep the momentum going. The film is set during the same type of period as Jackie Chan's MIRACLES although things are kept relatively low key, because the budget doesn't seem so big on this one.The lead is taken by the young, occasionally charming Takeshi Kaneshiro in one of his biggest early roles and he does an okay job with it. However, Kaneshiro is overshadowed by genre veteran Yuen Biao who is definitely the real star of the show in this one. Biao takes the role of a mob boss by the name of Tam See; despite his high status as a gangster, he's an honourable man who quickly strikes up a friendship with our youthful hero. Biao is excellent in this film and it's a wonder he isn't more used in recent Hong Kong flicks. Once again he creates an immensely likable persona while at the same time excelling in the fight scenes.As for the battles, they're plentiful and always fun, although sometimes the speedy camera-work gets a little headache-inducing. An early fight for a watch atop a galloping horse really pushes the laws of gravity to their extremes and it's amazing to see how the cameramen manage to film all the different angles so well. Things then quieten down before becoming really violent in the last half hour. A staged assassination attempt on Kaneshiro is one of the most painful things I've witnessed in Chinese cinema (especially the horse – poor horse) and recalls the ending of BOXER OF SHANTUNG as our hero is impaled, blinded, and burnt. However the film goes on for another twenty minutes, offering a nice twist ending and a massive gun battle at the movie's climax which is top-notch stuff. The image of a machine gun-toting Yuen Biao rising from a coffin has to be one of the most iconic cinematic images of all time.Finally, things move to a yard full of bamboo-scaffolding for a three-way battle which is so gorily over-the-top, you'll think you're watching a horror film instead. Eyes are gouged out, bodies repeatedly impaled and blood sprays all over the place in this splatter battle which really has to be seen to be believed; as a horror fan I loved it and it certainly succeeds in being dramatic. Megavillain Yuen Tak – whose appearance seems to be styled on Jet Li in ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 3 – doesn't really get a look in in the martial arts scenes until this last battle but he's really phenomenal and it's the best action of the film. To add to the entertainment value, Yuen Wah is also on hand, and anybody who's seen DRAGONS FOREVER and EASTERN CONDORS will remember this little moustachioed guy as a real ass-kicker. Unfortunately he's relegated to a comic role here and doesn't get to do any actual fighting, but it's great to see him nonetheless, especially in the sympathetic part he has. With lots of twists and turns and innovation and style, HERO is a highly enjoyable film that certainly blows the Jet Li-starrer of the same name right out of the water.

Well it was kind of surprising watching heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro performing martial arts,which he did a decent job of.But it was still a great movie on the aspect of the rags to riches story gangster martial arts style.The movie could of been better if there were more intricate martial arts sequences,along with Yuen Biao showing sexy Takeshi Kaneshiro some new moves.Also,as charming as Takeshi Kaneshiro always is.He just wore too much clothing in this movie.This movie also comes with some little nice twists to the plot,along with a great emotional action packed climax.It was'nt a 10,but the drama,martial arts action,especially towards the end,& humor won it an 8.

HERO (Ma Yong Zhen)Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: MonoCorey Yuen's period adventure HERO marked an impressive return to the action movie fold by Shaw Brothers, following a long period in which the studio had concentrated almost exclusively on TV production. A remake of the Chang Cheh classic BOXER FROM SHANTUNG (1972), HERO follows the adventures of a courageous country boy (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who flees rural poverty and relocates to Shanghai circa 1911, where his impressive fighting skills bring him to the attention of a benevolent gangster (Yuen Biao) who agrees to mentor him. Thus emboldened, Kaneshiro rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld, until he's challenged by a powerful rival (Yuen Tak) who plots against him. Tragedy ensues.The concept is old-fashioned, but director Yuen energizes proceedings with New Wave fervor, employing thousands of extras in a bid to recreate the majesty of old Shanghai, whilst filming the combat sequences in a defiantly modern manner, pitting hordes of axe-wielding assailants against lone protagonists who are forced to use acrobatic manoeuvres and everyday objects to fend off a potentially horrific death. Yuen's script (co-written with Kay On) is eventful and melodramatic, and the sweeping visuals (by cinematographer Tom Lau) are further highlighted by a sumptuous music score, co-written by William Hu, Raymond Wong and Lincoln Lo. But while the film delivers on action and spectacle, it fails to establish the characters as anything more than stock figures, which essentially limits the narrative's dramatic impact. For all that, however, the performances are uniformly excellent, and HERO's all-star cast is divided squarely into the beautiful (Kaneshiro, Valerie Chow, Jessica Hester), the bold (Yuen Biao at his most virtuous), and the beastly (Yuen Tak as the villain, lacking only a top hat, cloak and twirly moustache).NB. Shot in mainland China, the film was consequently subject to strict Chinese censorship laws which curtailed some of the gorier violence (a Shaw Brothers trademark). These scenes weren't restored for the HK theatrical/video release, though a more complete version turned up later on DVD in the UK.(Cantonese dialogue)

This movie (German title:"Shanghai Hero") is one of the best HK- movies I´ve seen for a long time. It has cool fighting action a clear plot and dramatic and funny moments. It has everything a good HK-movie needs. I mean there is nothing bad or ridiculous about this movie. I will give that movie 8 1/2 stars.