IMDb > Ying xiong (2002)
Ying xiong
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Ying xiong (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Ying xiong (2002) -- US Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Ying xiong (2002) -- A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.
Ying xiong (2002) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Ying xiong (2002) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Ying xiong (2002) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   70,612 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Feng Li (writer)
Bin Wang (writer)
more

Contact:

View company contact information for Hero on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (USA) more

Genre:

Action | Adventure more

Tagline:

Kono kuni wa mada, hontô no hero wo shiranai [Japan] (This land doesn't know a real hero. Yet.) more

Plot:

A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China. full summary | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 26 wins & 19 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(89 articles)

Kevin Spacey And Mos Def To Star In 'Buskers' Adaptation?
 (From MTV Splash Page. 9 November 2009, 9:49 AM, PST)

Zhang Ziyi Picks a 'Snow Flower'
 (From Get The Big Picture. 5 November 2009, 12:59 PM, PST)

User Comments:

Haunting beauty and provocative message more (801 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Hero (Canada: English title) (literal English title) (UK) (USA)
Jet Li's Hero (USA)
Quentin Tarantino Presents Hero (USA) (promotional title)
Ying hung (China: Cantonese title)
more

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality.

Runtime:

99 min | China:107 min (extended version) | China:93 min | Turkey:89 min (TV version)

Country:

Hong Kong | China

Language:

Mandarin

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Dunhuang, Gansu, China more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

In ancient China, when someone claimed that he killed his enemies, he needed to present their heads (tou zi) as proof instead of their weapons. Director Yimou Zhang modified this, mindful of the audience's stomachs, thus making the story less accurate. more

Goofs:

Continuity: When Moon gives Nameless the sword as he is in the horse-drawn cart, she initially approaches from the right, but later is seen to the left of the cart. more

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nameless: [voiceover] I was orphaned at a young age and was never given a name. People simply called me Nameless. With no family name to live up to, I devoted myself to the sword. I spent ten years perfecting unique skills as a swordsman. The King of Qin has summoned me to court, for what I have accomplished has astonished the kingdom.
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Luk lau hau joh (2003) more


FAQ

Is "Ying xiong" based on a book?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
What musical instrument was the old guy playing near the beginning of the movie?
more
135 out of 170 people found the following comment useful.
Haunting beauty and provocative message, 2 January 2005
10/10
Author: rserrano from universe at large

Hero is noteworthy on at least two counts.

First, there are scenes of haunting beauty("Duel in the yellow forest" and "Turquoise autumn" to site a couple) that, like the best of impressionist paintings, are so affecting that you will forever see the world in a slightly different way having once beheld them.

Secondly, the overall message of the film is a provocative one. The claim is that a degree of human casualties and suffering may be the optimal path to a better world, especially when the alternative is equally brutal chaos. This is not a popular theme. It has become much more fashionable to be anti-war in all cases. And understandably so, since variations of this logic have often been used in the past to justify atrocities. But the film provides a crisp litmus test for avoiding delusion: action be taken with a heart void of malice and an unwavering commitment to the broadest possible ultimate outcome of good for all. Can anyone live up to this standard? Several characters in the movie do, each in their own way. If the standard could be met, would the world be a better place? These are questions worth reflecting on that have not been dealt with, to this depth, in any film I'm aware of.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Ying xiong (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I'm dumb, I admit it ellzebub
The board has_no_pseudonym
What are the extra scenes in the 107 minute version? nobody_nameless
What a waste of great martial artists sammyjankis24
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