Magnificent Imagery Now Out on the Silver Screen

Hero, starring Jet Li. Utterly breathtaking from the first minute to the last. I'll betcha dollars to doughnuts that the cinematographer for this is an ULF devotee in his spare time. Anybody who takes photography seriously will be completely mesmerized by every second of this film.

I was so taken with the imagery that I missed a lot of the nuances of the story. Aw, Hell! I guess that means I'll just have to go and see it again.

A list of all the reviews, sounds pretty good..

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hero/

The Cinematographer, Chris Doyle:

http://www.sundancechannel.com/anatomy/interview.php?ixContent=3279&intnum=2

Yes. Very visual, very colourful. Superb cinematography and editing. But guess what? It needs to be 'cos the plot sucks!!! I watched it twice just to make sure I understood the story (what story?).

Francesco said:

Yes. Very visual, very colourful. Superb cinematography and editing. But guess what? It needs to be 'cos the plot sucks!!! I watched it twice just to make sure I understood the story (what story?).

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The way the story is told reminds me of Rashomon, with each different rendition of the story visually emphasized by taking on a different overall color. The kaleidoscopic description of some of the rottentomatoes reviewers is quite apt, and this effect was cleverly woven into the story.

Since my mind was often engaged in an internal battle about whether to just take in the imagery or read the subtitles, there are lots of things about the story I missed. But I'll be seeing it quite a few more times, so I should understand it better after that.

This is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. I like it even more than Cold Mountain, which I felt was superb, and for which I would have voted for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

c6h6o3 said:

...each different rendition of the story visually emphasized by taking on a different overall color.

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In a similar style anyone ever see "One hour photo"? (phycho mini-lab operator goes crazy and stalks family). When ever we see shots of the family house the have an Orange tint - Williams at that point has only seen the house through their negatives.

It's subtle but kind neat.

Ian

127 said:

In a similar style anyone ever see "One hour photo"? (phycho mini-lab operator goes crazy and stalks family). When ever we see shots of the family house the have an Orange tint - Williams at that point has only seen the house through their negatives.
It's subtle but kind neat.
Ian

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I don't remember the "orange tint", but the plot to that film is worth a discussion by itself.

I saw it as a man who was truly trying to do the best he could, at his job, at his role in this world as a human being... and the crashing down around him of the realities of the world... as a result.

I wound up envying him for his courage (albeit misguided) and his determination, --- and feeling sorry for him for the impossible task of dealing with an overinflated superego.