Ying Xiong (Hero)

It is very easy to see why the Academy gave this Oscar nod to this production for to say it is truly visually stunning would be a gross understatement. What Yimou Zhang does here is not so much direct as much as paint this film with the results being an amazing feast for the eyes. Even if you are not a fan of the martial arts genre I strongly reccomend giving Hero a look....with one warning...the wire work here is presented in such a way as to resemble ballet rather than the fast paced style we are accustomed to in North America. The version I watched was in the original Mandarin without subtitles which, for me, only added to the enjoyment as the scenery and architecture in China mixed with the language gave me the impression of watching something shot on another planet. A wonderful treat from Jet Li and a great departure from how the American audiences are used to seeing him.