NationStates Jolt Archive

... And I thought it was brilliant. I thought the cinematography was beautiful, the acting was some of the best I've seen out of Jet Li in a while since he's been acting in Hollywood action films (I still enjoy him no matter what movie he's in though), and great martial arts cheorography. I think it makes Hollywood look even more crap than usual compared to Chinese cinema. Comments from anyone else who has seen it?

Agree

I've not yet seen it, however I look forward to doing so more by the day. It looks like a great film -- but then again, I agree with your statement, that all Hollywood-made films are crap and it doesn't take much to overcome them.

I saw Hero quite some time ago, and was frankly refreshed by the plot devices and cinematography. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that sometimes the fight scenes went on a bit longer than I thought necessary. Fortunately, it was quite moving, and the minor nitpicking that I do didn't change my high opinion of it.

Excellent film, beautifully shot and it just sped by, couldn't believe how quick it went. Shot straight to the top of my fav films list. Can't wait now to see House of Daggers which is out very soon now :)

For me the fight scenes were great and a good length, but then I am a martial artist so I always enjoy fight scenes.

I agree 100% completely with you. When i was going into the theater, i expected the standard blowing up/cool swordfight jet li movie with the same plot over and over again, but i was just blown away mostly at the cinematography more than anything else. the fight in the leaves ROCKED!

I agree 100% completely with you. When i was going into the theater, i expected the standard blowing up/cool swordfight jet li movie with the same plot over and over again, but i was just blown away mostly at the cinematography more than anything else. the fight in the leaves ROCKED!
Definately the most originally shot and beautiful fight sequences I've seen.

It was probably oneof the most beautiful films i've ever seen. The way the story wast told in 3 (or 4, i can't remeber) different ways was very creative too. My fav fight seen was the one at the chess place when it's raining.

Dammit every time someone mentions a different bit I remember it and it becomes the best ever for me. Basically I think this is going to be a classic film that will influence many more. I hope it gets the Oscar for Foreign Language fillm. Hell, it should get more than that but that might be unlikely.

It was a great movie... but I'm getting kinda tired of the whole "crouching tiger hidden dragon"/"the matrix" fight scenes.
What really set me off was the fight in the leaves, was she throwing air at her or something? And how does that make sense??

I agree 100% completely with you. When i was going into the theater, i expected the standard blowing up/cool swordfight jet li movie with the same plot over and over again, but i was just blown away mostly at the cinematography more than anything else. the fight in the leaves ROCKED!

I also agree. It's amazing what they've accomplished with the cinematography. Another favourite for me is when Nameless is fighting Sky and he crashes through the water. That was really good as well

It was a great movie... but I'm getting kinda tired of the whole "crouching tiger hidden dragon"/"the matrix" fight scenes.
What really set me off was the fight in the leaves, was she throwing air at her or something? And how does that make sense??
No it is her skill with the sword that creates winds (I think). Matrix fight scenes are a rip off of this kind of film and there are many, many more (Barefoot Kid for example, stunning) that I would rank as having better fight scenes. Anyway these are only part of the film and I think that if you focus on them only you miss some great stories that are beautifully told.

No it is her skill with the sword that creates winds (I think). Matrix fight scenes are a rip off of this kind of film and there are many, many more (Barefoot Kid for example, stunning) that I would rank as having better fight scenes. Anyway these are only part of the film and I think that if you focus on them only you miss some great stories that are beautifully told.

Yeah, theres no doubt that Hero is a great film, and done very very well.

It was a great movie... but I'm getting kinda tired of the whole "crouching tiger hidden dragon"/"the matrix" fight scenes.
What really set me off was the fight in the leaves, was she throwing air at her or something? And how does that make sense??

It was a symbol of the very powerful energy you can sense in certain martial artists. I have seen an experienced Chen style Tai Chi teacher do the Chen style form and you can see the energy coming out of him as he moves his waist in certain ways to generate the movement in his arms.

It was a symbol of the very powerful energy you can sense in certain martial artists. I have seen an experienced Chen style Tai Chi teacher do the Chen style form and you can see the energy coming out of him as he moves his waist in certain ways to generate the movement in his arms.
Very interesting, did it actually manifest itself or was it something you felt? Oh and I take it this was an eye witness thing and not on a tv?

Very interesting, did it actually manifest itself or was it something you felt? Oh and I take it this was an eye witness thing and not on a tv?

No this was actually a VCD. You can just tell by watching him move, and you think to yourself "Shit I hope I never get hit by that". Chen style is a verpy implosive/explosive style of Tai Chi. Most Tai Chi moves very slowly in the form but Chen style has sudden bursts of speed in the form and it was incredibly impressive to watch.

No this was actually a VCD. You can just tell by watching him move, and you think to yourself "Shit I hope I never get hit by that". Chen style is a verpy implosive/explosive style of Tai Chi. Most Tai Chi moves very slowly in the form but Chen style has sudden bursts of speed in the form and it was incredibly impressive to watch.
I see. It is the outward visibility of Chi that is impressive. I know when I do Qi Gung I can experience Chi and I am beginning to be able to feel it when I practise my art but I am a long way from that :) I think Chen style is probably still closer to an actual fighting art than "classic" Tai Chi, hence the bursts of speed that are used in the practice.

I see. It is the outward visibility of Chi that is impressive. I know when I do Qi Gung I can experience Chi and I am beginning to be able to feel it when I practise my art but I am a long way from that :) I think Chen style is probably still closer to an actual fighting art than "classic" Tai Chi, hence the bursts of speed that are used in the practice.

Not really, they all have different ways of training, like all internal styles. Take Ba Gua for instance. It's style of train is a circular pattern, and then compare it to Tsing Yi which is a totally straight line of attack. Tai Chi in it's pure essence is all the same, but technique and training styles do vary

Not really, they all have different ways of training, like all internal styles. Take Ba Gua for instance. It's style of train is a circular pattern, and then compare it to Tsing Yi which is a totally straight line of attack. Tai Chi in it's pure essence is all the same, but technique and training styles do vary
Yes I know this, but I think that the importance is in how it is applied. Ba Gua doesn't just train in a circular patern, it fights in a circular pattern, Hsing Yi (alternate spelling, not a comment on yours I am just used to that one) fights in a straight line. Differences in training lead to basic differences in application. I don't think we really disagree here I think we are just coming from different directions, also we've gone a bit off topic :)

Yes I know this, but I think that the importance is in how it is applied. Ba Gua doesn't just train in a circular patern, it fights in a circular pattern, Hsing Yi (alternate spelling, not a comment on yours I am just used to that one) fights in a straight line. Differences in training lead to basic differences in application. I don't think we really disagree here I think we are just coming from different directions, also we've gone a bit off topic :)

True. Anyone want to comment on the communist influence in Hero?

is any one here from hong kong???? reply back

I'm not from Hong Kong sorry.

I'm not from Hong Kong sorry.Iam

Iam
What, Birmingham in Hong Kong?

What, Birmingham in Hong Kong?I live and i was born in Birmingham

I live and i was born in Birmingham
Doesn't that make you from Birmingham? I'm not having a go, I'm interested in your answer.

Doesn't that make you from Birmingham? I'm not having a go, I'm interested in your answer.iam chinese

iam chinese
But you can still be from Birmingingham if you were born there can't you?

But you can still be from Birmingingham if you were born there can't you?yes

yes
OK, thanks for letting me be a bit nosey :)

OK, thanks for letting me be a bit nosey :)doesnt matter

is any one here from hong kong???? reply back
I live in Hong Kong, if that's any help. But I'm not from here (or there for you cause you're there. Or here, to you. I think)

I haven't seen Hero yet (I must remember to get a copy next time I head into China), but the best Jet Li movie I've seen to date is 'Fist of Legend'. That one rocks. It has some of the best cheorographed fight scenes I've ever seen. There's a good fight between Li and an old Japanese dude, and it's one of the few fights where you can see a definite difference between two Martial arts.
Also you'll get to see where where they ripped off every fight scene from for the 'Matrix'.

I live in Hong Kong, if that's any help. But I'm not from here (or there for you cause you're there. Or here, to you. I think)

I haven't seen Hero yet (I must remember to get a copy next time I head into China), but the best Jet Li movie I've seen to date is 'Fist of Legend'. That one rocks. It has some of the best cheorographed fight scenes I've ever seen. There's a good fight between Li and an old Japanese dude, and it's one of the few fights where you can see a definite difference between two Martial arts.
Also you'll get to see where where they ripped off every fight scene from for the 'Matrix'.

I haven't seen that one but I understand it is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection" (or Fist Of Fury) and that was a decent film for it's time.

I live in Hong Kong, if that's any help. But I'm not from here (or there for you cause you're there. Or here, to you. I think)

I haven't seen Hero yet (I must remember to get a copy next time I head into China), but the best Jet Li movie I've seen to date is 'Fist of Legend'. That one rocks. It has some of the best cheorographed fight scenes I've ever seen. There's a good fight between Li and an old Japanese dude, and it's one of the few fights where you can see a definite difference between two Martial arts.
Also you'll get to see where where they ripped off every fight scene from for the 'Matrix'.I like the kiss of the dragon , Defender i think the man with the baton is cool and Romeo must die

A president asked Jet Li a long time ago to be his body guard but he refused

I haven't seen Hero yet (I must remember to get a copy next time I head into China), but the best Jet Li movie I've seen to date is 'Fist of Legend'.
Class film, a must have I think. Have you seen Barefoot Kid? Another film with excellently fimed sequences and a well told story. Also more of a martial arts fim than Hero. Has some great fight choreography, and now you mention it some stuff in Matrix are slightly similar. Lets face it the matrix (and as a film I do quite like it) is completely ripped off when it comes to the fight scenes.

Class film, a must have I think. Have you seen Barefoot Kid? Another film with excellently fimed sequences and a well told story. Also more of a martial arts fim than Hero. Has some great fight choreography, and now you mention it some stuff in Matrix are slightly similar. Lets face it the matrix (and as a film I do quite like it) is completely ripped off when it comes to the fight scenes.
Well, you also have to remember that the guy they used for choreographing the fight scenes in 'Matrix' is the same guy who has choreographed most of Jet Li's movies. He's some old (like 70 something) Chinese Master - can't remember his name sorry. So of course the scenes would be similar.

And yes, I've seen Barefoot Kid. Cool movie.

One movie I've seen this year that was awesome is 'Ong Bak' - a Muay Thai martial art movie. The main actor could kick both Jet Li and Jacky Chan's arses at the same time. Some of the stunts will have you laughing in amazement. Like in one scene where he does the splits to slide under an SUV driving past.
Ultra cool movie.

Hero? It was okay. Cool fight scenes, beautiful surroundings, and cool effects. But overall the story was too pretentious for my liking. Somehow the storyline could have been better though.

Yeah. Fist of Legend rocks! I was watching it a few days ago. Another one of Jet Li's series I like watching is his 'Once Upon A Time In China', Wong Fei Hong. And Tai Chi Masters.

Anybody like Chou Sing Chee? :D

(Sorry, europeans and Americans might not know him, never acted in US i think, comedian actor, probably if you want to know, try and rent "Shaolin Soccer".)

(Sorry, europeans and Americans might not know him, never acted in US i think, comedian actor, probably if you want to know, try and rent "Shaolin Soccer".)
Shoalin Soccer has to be the wierdest film ever. I really laughed through it :D

Personally my all time favourite martial arts film is Prodigal Son.