Hero, a sumptuous Chinese historical fantasy, boasts the most glorious use of color I’ve seen on screen since Vincente Minnelli's The Pirate. But that’s not all. In addition to its exciting martial arts action and swordplay, this gorgeous epic features mystery, romance and a moral/political dilemma just as timely today as it was 2000 years ago.

Color, color everywhere must have been filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s mantra while making Hero. With the help of cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Rabbit-Proof Fence), Zhang paints the screen with dazzling hues to emphasize each part of his story. Battalions of soldiers march through various scenes, their black uniforms reminding us of the darkness of war, the vibrant red feathers on their helmets symbolizing not only the blood that must be spilled but also the glory of victory. During one battle between two of the main characters, yellow leaves swirl around them faster and faster until they fill the entire screen. Are those beautiful yellow leaves more important and powerful than the conflict between two mere humans? These are but two examples in a movie filled with eye-popping color surprises. The whole film looks like a well-choreographed ballet or opera. Additional kudos go to production designers Tinxiao Huo and Zhenzhou Yi (Yi also worked on The Emperor and the Assassin) for their contributions to the visual appeal of this exceptional movie. 

The story told in Hero takes place in China before its unification in 221 B.C. It’s a time of war among seven provinces. Because he wishes to unite these areas, the tyrannical King of Qin (Daoming Chen) becomes the target of assassins. A man called Nameless (Jet Li) receives an audience with the King as a result of his claim to have killed three of the most dangerous assassins: Sky (Donnie Yen) and lovers Broken Sword (Tommy Leung Chiu Wai) and Lady Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). In flashbacks, various versions of how Nameless was able to accomplish this are presented in a somewhat confusing manner -- but, fortunately, everything becomes clear at the end.

Regarding those martial arts sequences where people fly through the air in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon style, I accepted them here, probably because they take place primarily in the combatants’ imaginations. I’m a purist when it comes to martial arts on film, so I usually dislike any computer-generated enhancement for these scenes. But it worked for me in Hero.

Morally and politically, Hero raises serious questions. Is it right to kill one man (or a hundred people) in order to save thousands? Should a leader use brutal force to unify a country? How far should one go to achieve a political goal? Is the true hero the one who puts down his sword? 

Color me very impressed indeed.

(Released by Miramax Home Entertainment and rated “PG-13” for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality. Unrated DVD bonus features include: “Hero Defined,” a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of this unique movie; side-by-side comparisons of storyboards and film scenes; and “Inside the Action,” a spirited conversation between Jet Li and Quentin Tarantino interspersed with exciting clips from Jet Li's previous martial arts movies.)