A Man Called Hero (1999)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

This movie is best known in the US as "A Man Called Hero". It is based on the comic book by Wing-Shing Ma that follows the adventures of Hero Hua, born under the Star of Death and cursed to bring unhappiness to those he cares for. This adaptation tells the story from the point of view of several people that knew Hero, told to Hero's son, who is searching for his father. We follow the path of Hero from his early student days in Mainland China and up to his eventual migration to the US. There are many characters from the comic book making small cameos. The final battle between Hero and his nemesis Invincible (what's in a name!) takes place on top of the Statue of Liberty!. Best enjoyed by someone who has either read the comic book or likes Asian Fantasy/Martial Arts films. An overall great movie for a Friday Night with a group of friends.

The other reviews offer a complete enough picture about what this movie offers and fails to offer. However, potential viewers might want to be aware that at least in one version of this release, there are tiny, difficult to see, English subtitles. You may want to think twice about trying to watch the subtitled version with a group of people because many people will be asking what is being said throughout the film.Also of note, the famed Asian picture book model Hsu Chi plays Mu. Moving or still, she possesses the same unique magnetism.

Well first off let me say that I bought this movie because ekin cheng was in it.This is not his best.Good story, good acting,better the average special effects for a Chinese movie,they are getting better every year.It lacked good fighting sequences to much talk and gloom not enough action,still worth the 4 bucks I paid for it.

I actually saw "A Man Called Hero" before "Storm Riders", which came first - and subsequently is compared due to the fact that the same production company, director, and cast is used this time around.Regardless, I have to say that contrary to other reviewers, I enjoyed "A Man Called Hero" far more than Storm Riders. Don't get me wrong, Storm Riders is a great movie, but as far as pure entertainment is concerned, "Hero" does the job better. I just feel that the story, characters, and settings do a better job of drawing you in than the typical "Mystical Ancient China" backdrop that Storm Riders gives you.Sure, there are plot holes - but these are easily overlooked seeing as these holes are filled with amazing spectacle fights. The fight scene most people mention is the duel between Master Pride and Invincible. I have to say that this is the most visually impressive battle in the movie - and one of the best I have seen in HK movies to date. I have to say that the Ninjas in this movie look really cool. I think it's the fact that they look like chauffers makes them seem even MORE hardcore than they are to begin with. Either that or it's nice to see ninjas other than the way they're typically shown.Another thing is that I enjoyed seeing how the characters interacted with eachother and changed throughout the story. In Storm Riders, for the most part, they were just like "I am a warrior. I will fight you now and conquer your land... for the fire monkey!" There was really little depth in them. Hero, on the other hand, is "born under the star of death" which essentially means that whoever Hero has an emotional connection to is in danger of dying. This obviously has an effect on the man, and you can tell by Ekin Cheng's solemn performance. Most of the time he is intensely emotionless. Yeah, that doesn't really make too much sense, but I think you know what I'm trying to say! He seems like he doesn't care, but you know he could make you combust with the wave of a palm.Lots of people complain about the Statue Of Liberty duel. Why? It was far better than the Statue Of Liberty fight in, say, X-Men! Stop whining.As it is, A Man Called Hero is a movie you should definitely see if you're into SFX Battles, Turn of the Century Dramas, Ninjas, Ekin Cheng, or HK films in general. This movie is what woke me up to HK cinema. Go for it!