 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hero
- Review Date: November 28, 2004
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Gorgeous martial arts movie for older kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mature movie is a meditation on the nature of heroism, the purpose of violence, and what it takes to live in peace. So if you go expecting Jackie Chan, your kids will be mystified. Kids younger than 12 are going to find the circular nature of the narrative very confusing since the story is told four different times in four different versions. Also, unlike Crouching Tiger, there's a lot of talking in the movie, which means a lot of subtitles. Unless you want someone tugging on your arm saying "What did he say?" we suggest teens and up age wise. There's one naked tush in the beginning, and a woman has her clothes ripped off in a lovemaking scene but otherwise, the only concern is the swordplay and the occasional blood.
What's the story?
Set in a time before the unification of China, HERO follows the story of a nameless warrior (martial arts star Jet Li) who plans to assassinate the ruthless ruler of the kingdom of Qin. He tells the king he has killed the king's three most feared enemies -- Sky, Snow, and Broken Sword -- but the king doesn't believe his story. Three further flashback stories ensue in scenes accented with reds, whites, blues, and greens.
Is it any good?
Hero is a very sophisticated movie. It's not Jackie Chan or even Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but a serious meditation on the nature of heroism. This may be one of the most beautiful movies ever shot.
There is some blood, a good deal of suspense and, in what is guaranteed to confuse younger kids, "nameless" tells four different versions of the story to the king. As one 10-year-old said, "It doesn't have a clear plot, but it does have a clear moral."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why the movie told the same story four different ways and why the nameless hero does what he does in the end.
Also, this movie is an excellent springboard to talk about what it took to make the modern nation states we have today.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Really Good
Not only was there some cool martial arts stuff, the story was great too
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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
An extraordinarily beautiful martial arts epic with a great score
"Hero" is much, much better than Crouching Tiger in every possible way. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.
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Teen, 16 years old
May 30, 2010
AGE
Very good
Such a great film about ancient China. Martial arts fights about honor and respect, and they are so much fun to watch. Blood is rarely seen, and you rarely see people actually die except for like, two or three scenes. There is sexual moaning, but nothing seen.
The first Emperor is first seen as an evil tyrant, and the hero Nameless seems rather distant and cold, but as the true meaning of the war is brought, you see the change and troubles in their lives. One who wants to kill the king, and one who wants to keep him alive to unite China. That, and both the Emperor and Master Nameless both said that the warrior's ultimate goal is to end all war and have peace. Well, Nameless didn't actually say that, but you can tell he agreed by his next action. The down side is, the story is so complex and it goes back and forth, it takes one skilled in subtitles and other complex movies to really understand it. I won't spoil anymore, but, martial arts fans, this is the movie to watch. And it's untainted by bad English actors and kept in Chinese to make it educational about Chinese culture and language.
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
See below
An overrated, artistic, overblown, turd. It's just Oscar bait.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Beautiful movie
The places in which the scenes take place are simply beautiful. There is good action, and lots of it.
The only setback is that the entire movie is in Japanese and you must read the dialogue. This does not bother most people, but some would rather watch something where they don't have to use their brains. If that is you, you will have a hard time enjoying this movie.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Beautifully Made
Hero is excellent eye candy, with great colorful visuals and some very well made action scenes. I liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Fearless alot better, but this is still a good film.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Zhang Yimou |
| Cast: | Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 99 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 27, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | November 30, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality |
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