Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Oscar for 2002, Hero is just now making it to wide American release thanks to Quentin Tarantino. The Kill Bill director convinced Miramax that the film would do well in the States, even though it’s spoken in Mandarin with subtitles and the technique is a little different. Thanks, Q.T., because this picture is certainly worth seeing as summer winds down and the big popcorn flicks are now tiresome.

However, by the end of the movie I felt like I’d been hoodwinked into rooting for a Communist Chinese passion play. The movie could have been financed by the Red government in that the message ultimately is that the people of the land must unite by sacrificing ideals of freedom! Somehow I don’t think the cultures that end up being crushed feel that they’re better off for it. Of course, I’m coming at this from a conservative political prejudice and my “bias” antennae are prickling during this heated election period.

	Ah, Jet Li-san, man who catch fly and save empire with chopstick accomplish anything.

The story, if I must find a comparison, is Rashomon meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, told in flashbacks from different points of view, with fantastical sights and action. Set pre-China some 2,000 years ago, warring factions are fighting for control. All the while, only one, the king of Qin, is looking for unity but under his banner via force.

The Nameless Jet Li, orphaned as a boy, defeats three assassins and recounts his story to the king. The biggest name to American audiences due to his martial arts skills, Li has a simple goal, “My name is Nameless. You killed his family. Prepare to die.”

The rest of the characters just stare in awe of how swift the sword Li is, no doubt wondering “Who the *#$& is this guy?”

Actually, I'm told the cast is a Chinese Ocean's Eleven of star power. Besides Li, you’ll recognize Zyhang Ziyi from CTHD, joining a few heavyweights whom you won’t recognize unless you’re big into Asian films. I’m not, so I don’t see the point in listing all their names and previous movies that I’ve never heard of. But they’re very good, mixing in the different postures of the ever-changing story.

Not only that, they all rock with weapons. Every fighting scene is a dance, a rhythmic gymnastics not with balls and ribbons by swords and sticks. The masters take flight, spinning in midair several times, floating on trees and skipping across water like stones, traveling faster than possible in whirls of slow motion.

Hero is melodramatic and passionate, every scene dripping with infatuated importance. In fact, the unmistakable style is more vital than the substance. The colors make more of a statement than Jet Li’s blade. During flashbacks the colors and tint of the scene changes per storyteller, from reds to blue and green. When we get reality it's just that, actual colors of robes and wood and sand and water.

Because of all these transitions, the movie can be a bit confusing. I couldn’t figure out who was alive and who was dead at any given moment. Someone besmirches someone else’s honor and a brouhaha is set off.

The music is just as important to the style, emanating that unique Far East vibe that you’re familiar with from every other movie originating from the Orient.

Two unrelated notes. Apparently China is very windy, because the look involves violently whipping robes and flags the entire time, and Jet Li’s deadly aura even causes candles to flicker. Also, I liked the brief army shots of the archers unleashing their "storm" of arrows toward targets, either by hand or by fastening the bow around their feet for a stronger pull and longer and more accurate reach, I presume. The better to take over Taiwan if given the chance. Stupid commie pinkos.