This is what Epic heroes are supposed to be like - Jet Li's "Hero"

[Ei]

Looks like a remake of kill bill (has to beat the best assassins....).... Still it has jet li in so I might see it....

It is not a remake of kill bill, the two movies are different in pretty much every way.

Then there is also the fact the movie was actually made in 2001...

 

[WizarDru]

Not fair? Well, I dunno. What I find most deplorable is the state of the acting in Hong Kong these days. The Storm Riders and The Twins Effect both suffered from sub-par performances, I thought. I mean, plotwise, it's pretty hard to defend something like Swordsman II -- I've seen that film a zillion times and I'm not sure I really know 100% what's going on. But Brigitte and Jet and everyone else in it are so absolutely committed to whatever it is they're doing that you end up not caring. Ekin Cheng has a great look, but he's no Chow Yun-Fat or Tony Leung (either one). I think we got lucky for a while there -- Hong Kong had a startling combination of fearless director/producers, creative choreographers and cinematographers, and immensely talented actors -- which combined with just the right economic conditions resulted in a period of really intense creativity and productivity. Many of those people have left, or gotten too old to maintain their former levels (God love you, Jackie Chan, but you'll never make Supercop again), or just aren't doing those kinds of films anymore (I'm thrilled Maggie has a Best Actress at Cannes, but I sure wish she was going to be in Police Story IV) and new blood hasn't filled the vacancies.

Oh, I dig. Heck, if you'd dropped that extra 'D' out of my name, I'd agree with that paragraph 100%/ Ekin Cheng is mostly just a pretty face, for sure, but I mean...who is a Chow Yun-Fat, other than the man himself? I long for the day when he finds an American vehicle both worthy of his talents and supported by marketing (though I have a fondness for Replacement Killers and Corruptor, both).

As for Jackie Chan, well, he may not be making the Supercop, but I think this is a pretty good thing. On the other hand, we've got someone like Tony Jaa (I forget his proper Thai name, Pharoon something) to fill the void.

Personally, I think that Hong Kong just no longer goes full bore because they can't, given the current political climate. Some folks, like John Woo, have left for good. But I don't think Hong Kong has gone completely south. Plenty of good stuff is still being made, but it isn't all just kung-fu smackdowns. I'd like to see To's "Breaking News", Wong's "Jiang Hu", and "Warriors of Heaven and Earth", for example.

I also think that part of it is that HK is no longer the center of the Asian film universe, any longer. Thailand and South Korea are getting films made that evoke HK of a previous era. And that's good, as long as it doesn't result in another "Ecks versus Sever". Ow.

 

[Sorren]

Like what?

Now I've seen a group of monks do this thing where they raise thier body temperature enough to dry out wet sheets while squatting in below freezing caves. You could actually see the steam begin to pour off them not long after the sheets were draped over thier otherwise naked forms. That was wild.

What unexplainable martial arts stuff are you referring to?

Perfect example. I saw a thing a few months ago where they put a thermal camera on a monk. His palm was radiating over 200 degrees.

You ever seen some of these guys walk on rice paper? They stretch it across something and then walk across it. Another guy, untrained, tried it but it ripped before he could put any considerable weight on it.

With the understanding of physics and biology that we have to day, these things should not be possible.

And let me reiterate what Joshua said: there's doubt. I doubt, Johua probably doubts. So, thee's doubt all over.

You can doubt the earth is round, but the fact is some people can do things that are not explainable by science. You doubt what has already been proven. The problem is, it can't be explained. And as it turns out, the western world doesn't like to talk about what it can't explain.

 

[SubMensa]

Aargh, i just found out that my local theatre wont be playing Hero this weekend. Instead thy'll be holding over the plotless Open Water.

 

[reanjr]

For those of you who've seen it, I'm curious. How would you say it measures up to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?

I unfortunately have not seen it, but I do know it was much more popular in China than Crouch...

 

[Truth Seeker]

i don't like the epic level rules and i really don't like 'epic level' movies.
no fighting class should be able to fight a whole army even at high level, he might kill lots, but he should never be able to win.

Erm, not to spoil ( not a spoiler, I think) it for you...He didn't kill or fought an entire army, the promo is a bit misleading on the scene.

But it is a eye-catcher though .