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woodfaceJust came back from Hero.
It's a beautiful film. The images are just gorgious. I wasn't sure what to expect as Roel van Bambost called it a beautiful movie while they promote it themselves as a action movie. You can't call it an action movie though. Sure, there is a whole lot of sword fighting in it but everything is just so poetic. Some of the scenes remind of the Matrix, the way of filming, moving the camera, the water drops in the first scene, the flying around defying gravity. But it all adds to a whole different feel of action.
It really is a legend they have visualised of the foundation of China. Nameless is welcomed at the court of the king as he has killed three assassins who were known to want to kill the king. They enter the Forbidden City and it's really impressive. Nameless meets the king and answers his questions on how he killed them. First comes the story how he defeated Sky. Then he talks about how he defeated Flying Snow and Broken Sword by playing them out against each other. He tells Broken Sword about how Snow had a relationship with Sky, Broken Sword takes revenge by sleeping with Moon. But as Snow sees it, she gets so angry she kills him. Moon tries to take revenge but is no match for Snow and is killed as well. The whole fighting scene with Moon is amazing. They are both wearing red robs and are fighting between yellow leaves that keep falling from the trees, just gorgious. Afterwards Flying Snow is so upset that Nameless is able to kill her.
The king listens to Nameless' story but starts doubting him as he finds that Flying Snow and Broken Sword would not let their feelings crowd their fighting skills. He points out to Nameless that he only could have killed Sky if he had willingly fallen down. The fight restarts, this time Sky is wearing white robes instead of yellow. The king assums that Sky offered his life so Nameless could meet him but in order to be able to kill him, Nameless needed to get even closer to the king which would only be possible if he killed Broken Sword and Flying Snow as well. So he went to see them. The scene replays this time in blue. Nameless shows how effective he is in killing and convinces them he is capable of doing what they want to do; kill the king. He then leaves Flying Snow and Broken Sword with the choice who of them will fight him to the death. The lovers agree and as they walk to the fight Flying Snow hurts Broken Sword just a second before he can do the same to her. She begs him to stay alive for her and then leaves to die at the hands of Nameless.
Nameless now confesses the king is right and that he does intend to murder him. Only that he has underestimate Broken Sword in the story. Nameless is such a capable warior that he is able to stab his opponent without killing them. This is what he did to Sky, he is now healed. But when he went to Broken Sword and Flying Snow, Broken Sword wishes to have no part in killing the king and says he will stand between them if they try. Flying Snow however wants to help Nameless and agrees with him. At which point Broken Sword attacks her, they start fighting, Nameless helps Flying Snow win and Broken Sword is wounded, but not dead. The stage fight happens and everyone thinks Nameless killed Flying Snow. As Nameless wants to return to the king, he is stopped by Broken Sword. They talk and Nameless asks him why he doesn't want to kill the king and why he didn't when he had a chance to so many years ago. Broken Sword says that when he studies calligraphy, he realised one thing and asks if he can write it down for Nameless. He then writes the word: "United under one sky" on the ground and explains that while Flying Snow is hurting because her father died at the hands of the king's troups, her pain is not as important as the pain of a people and he believes the king will be able to stop the suffering in the land. So he asks Nameless not to kill the king.
The king is surprised his biggest enemy was capable of understanding his intentions for the empire. He is so humbled by it that he gives his sword to Nameless and tells him that if he wants to kill him, he should do so. His enemy understands him so he feels he has achieved something. While Nameless tries to decide what to do, the king talks how he finally understands the highest skill of fighting. At the highest level, a warrior has no need for a sword in his hands or in his heart because he wishes not to kill but to save and help the people. Nameless is so humbled by the king's insight that he finds he can not kill him.
At the same time Flying Snow confronts Broken Sword and asks him why he wishes not to kill the king. Broken Sword repeats the words he spoke to Nameless but she doesn't understand and wants him to prove to her that she can still trust him. She challenges him to fight with her but as she strikes, he drops his sword and lets her kill him. He tells her how the only thing he wants was to go with her. Crying she keeps asking him why he didn't defend himself.
Nameless, having dropped his sword, walks out of the hall. There are soldiers all around him. The image is amazing. He and everyone around him is in black and the only colour are the red feathers on the guard's helmets. He walks to the door and turns around to look at the king. The archers are in position to shoot him and the counsellors demand the king sets an exemple. If he kills Nameless, he will set the law for his empire, he will be able to rule and bring peace. The king gives the signal and Nameless is shot. You never see him fall, only the thousands arrows in the wooden gate and at one point there are no arrow, the void forms a man.
The news arrives to Flying Snow that the king is not dead. She's sitting on the top of a mountain, Broken Sword in her arms, his back to her front, the sword in his side. Crying she whispers in her ear: "I'll still take you home with me" and then she pushes the sword further through him and in her side.
The last image are the guards carrying the body of Nameless on top of spears through the forbidden city and then the Chinese Wall. He died Nameless but was buried as Hero. The king united the seven kingdoms and became emperor, laying the foundations for China.
ETA: Added some more pic. If you want to see (these images are amazing) just click on the links without reading the text ;o)
It's a beautiful film. The images are just gorgious. I wasn't sure what to expect as Roel van Bambost called it a beautiful movie while they promote it themselves as a action movie. You can't call it an action movie though. Sure, there is a whole lot of sword fighting in it but everything is just so poetic. Some of the scenes remind of the Matrix, the way of filming, moving the camera, the water drops in the first scene, the flying around defying gravity. But it all adds to a whole different feel of action.
It really is a legend they have visualised of the foundation of China. Nameless is welcomed at the court of the king as he has killed three assassins who were known to want to kill the king. They enter the Forbidden City and it's really impressive. Nameless meets the king and answers his questions on how he killed them. First comes the story how he defeated Sky. Then he talks about how he defeated Flying Snow and Broken Sword by playing them out against each other. He tells Broken Sword about how Snow had a relationship with Sky, Broken Sword takes revenge by sleeping with Moon. But as Snow sees it, she gets so angry she kills him. Moon tries to take revenge but is no match for Snow and is killed as well. The whole fighting scene with Moon is amazing. They are both wearing red robs and are fighting between yellow leaves that keep falling from the trees, just gorgious. Afterwards Flying Snow is so upset that Nameless is able to kill her.
The king listens to Nameless' story but starts doubting him as he finds that Flying Snow and Broken Sword would not let their feelings crowd their fighting skills. He points out to Nameless that he only could have killed Sky if he had willingly fallen down. The fight restarts, this time Sky is wearing white robes instead of yellow. The king assums that Sky offered his life so Nameless could meet him but in order to be able to kill him, Nameless needed to get even closer to the king which would only be possible if he killed Broken Sword and Flying Snow as well. So he went to see them. The scene replays this time in blue. Nameless shows how effective he is in killing and convinces them he is capable of doing what they want to do; kill the king. He then leaves Flying Snow and Broken Sword with the choice who of them will fight him to the death. The lovers agree and as they walk to the fight Flying Snow hurts Broken Sword just a second before he can do the same to her. She begs him to stay alive for her and then leaves to die at the hands of Nameless.
Nameless now confesses the king is right and that he does intend to murder him. Only that he has underestimate Broken Sword in the story. Nameless is such a capable warior that he is able to stab his opponent without killing them. This is what he did to Sky, he is now healed. But when he went to Broken Sword and Flying Snow, Broken Sword wishes to have no part in killing the king and says he will stand between them if they try. Flying Snow however wants to help Nameless and agrees with him. At which point Broken Sword attacks her, they start fighting, Nameless helps Flying Snow win and Broken Sword is wounded, but not dead. The stage fight happens and everyone thinks Nameless killed Flying Snow. As Nameless wants to return to the king, he is stopped by Broken Sword. They talk and Nameless asks him why he doesn't want to kill the king and why he didn't when he had a chance to so many years ago. Broken Sword says that when he studies calligraphy, he realised one thing and asks if he can write it down for Nameless. He then writes the word: "United under one sky" on the ground and explains that while Flying Snow is hurting because her father died at the hands of the king's troups, her pain is not as important as the pain of a people and he believes the king will be able to stop the suffering in the land. So he asks Nameless not to kill the king.
The king is surprised his biggest enemy was capable of understanding his intentions for the empire. He is so humbled by it that he gives his sword to Nameless and tells him that if he wants to kill him, he should do so. His enemy understands him so he feels he has achieved something. While Nameless tries to decide what to do, the king talks how he finally understands the highest skill of fighting. At the highest level, a warrior has no need for a sword in his hands or in his heart because he wishes not to kill but to save and help the people. Nameless is so humbled by the king's insight that he finds he can not kill him.
At the same time Flying Snow confronts Broken Sword and asks him why he wishes not to kill the king. Broken Sword repeats the words he spoke to Nameless but she doesn't understand and wants him to prove to her that she can still trust him. She challenges him to fight with her but as she strikes, he drops his sword and lets her kill him. He tells her how the only thing he wants was to go with her. Crying she keeps asking him why he didn't defend himself.
Nameless, having dropped his sword, walks out of the hall. There are soldiers all around him. The image is amazing. He and everyone around him is in black and the only colour are the red feathers on the guard's helmets. He walks to the door and turns around to look at the king. The archers are in position to shoot him and the counsellors demand the king sets an exemple. If he kills Nameless, he will set the law for his empire, he will be able to rule and bring peace. The king gives the signal and Nameless is shot. You never see him fall, only the thousands arrows in the wooden gate and at one point there are no arrow, the void forms a man.
The news arrives to Flying Snow that the king is not dead. She's sitting on the top of a mountain, Broken Sword in her arms, his back to her front, the sword in his side. Crying she whispers in her ear: "I'll still take you home with me" and then she pushes the sword further through him and in her side.
The last image are the guards carrying the body of Nameless on top of spears through the forbidden city and then the Chinese Wall. He died Nameless but was buried as Hero. The king united the seven kingdoms and became emperor, laying the foundations for China.
ETA: Added some more pic. If you want to see (these images are amazing) just click on the links without reading the text ;o)
