Hero

I went to see Hero yesterday, which has rocketed to #133 in IMDB's Top 250 movie list. Now, I'm not an afficianado of kung fu flicks or Hong Kong-style action films. I've never even seen any of Kurosawa's work. Rather, I was just hoping to kick back and enjoy some elaborately choreographed, highly stylized butt kicking, in the mode of Kill Bill. I got so much more than I bargained for.

Whereas Kill Bill was merely an excuse for flashy action sequences, this film transcends the genre. The plot outline is simple: a lone man defeats an infamous trio of assasins and earns an audience with the king. But all is not what it seems, and through a series of flashbacks, the film explores the characters' motivations and their respective paths to enlightenment. It touches upon themes of war and peace, love and honor, loyalty and deception.

There are no simple answers. The king wages war in the pursuit of peace. Is he a tyrant or a visionary? And what about the warrior who lays down his life for such a man? Is he a hero or a fool? Can death be an expression of love?

As if that's not enough, the movie was also visually stunning. Major scenes took place against a backdrop of hyper-reality: desolate desert vistas, crystal mountain lakes, and a heart stoppingly beautiful grove of trees shedding their autumn leaves. At times, it pained me to drop my eyes to read the subtitles. The actors struck just the right chord, as well. The nameless warrior's dignified humility. The king's righteous authority. The assassin's relentless pursuit of justice. The lover's anguish.

So, this film just seemed to fire on all cylinders: a captivating story, stunning visuals, masterful action sequences, and nuanced acting. Not bad for eight bucks.