Hero REVIEW
Hero REVIEW: A
I have seen a few of Zhang Yimou's films in the past -- none of them surpass the incredible, awesome visuals in this movie -- the imaging and framing of visuals, landscapes, use of color are virtually unparalleled for a dramatic as opposed to landscapes movie, like say Baraka or Koyaaqatsi
As I hit on it my take on TROY, does the action move the plot along, does it add to the emotional quotient of a movie with so little dialogue -- the answer is neither, but it should add BOTH intangibles to a movie -- this movie really finds the correct balance given its own limits and boundaries
Memorable sequences? -- where most movies have one or two -- this one has several -- and all of them are memorable, because of the use of color, the use of action, the use of facial and movement acting/drama -- this is what separates this movie into something unique, something groundbreaking
The only problem that I have with this visually stunning, well acted, well framed, well captured, well designed -- utterly brilliant movie -- is the composition of the narrative -- it feels a little bit disonant to me
Where there is so much harmony otherwise, and elegant simplicity in a movie that is epic in all respects -- the narrative gets a bit bogged down in its attempt to take a subconscious lyrical, unbound exposition in addition to that which is real -- it's almost too brilliant for its own good -- because there are layers to the perception here -- the imagery is enough to overload a viewer, combine that with the effective use of movement, facial expressions, activity -- some of the subtlety of it all ...
well, is lost on me -- maybe some got it the first time through -- I think that there are layers to it that can only be experienced with multiple views of it -- at the end of the day, it is an amazing film --
We highly recommend this movie, even if it might take a few views to embrace the tempo, the visuals, the subtlety, and the interplay between all the elements of it