Jacob Cheung feels like an odd choice to direct
such a large film with the vast logistical planning needed and the ability
to show the large action set pieces in a way that makes sense to the audience.
His previous films have primarily all been very small intimate dramas of
which a number have received some acclaim - "Cageman" (1992), "Intimates"
(1997), "The Kid" (1999) and "Midnight Fly" (2001) - so what drove the decision
of the producers to chose Cheung is rather a mystery - but on the other hand
who would have thought Ang Lee, Xiaogang Feng, Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige
had the makings of being wuxia directors in them (o.k. it is still open to
debate whether Chen Kaige ("The Promise") has the makings of this or not!).
Therefore what is so surprising about this film is that though the action
is generally very solid (helped no doubt by the skills of veteran choreographer
Stephen Tung Wai), the dramatic elements of the film are sadly lacking in
emotional resonance. You never really care about any of the characters or
what happens to them because they are either cardboard cutouts, not particularly
interesting or simply not at all likable. Complicated relationships are what
Cheung has always based his stories on but here there is no time to develop
them in a meaningful way and the one serious attempt to do so in a romance
of sorts flounders like a dying fish on the shore.
The film is set in the historical period of the
Warring Kingdoms (5th century BC to 221 BC) in which a number of states were
in a constant struggle for power against one another. This was finally brought
to an end when the Qin Dynasty defeated them all and unified China (the setting
for "Hero"). The Liang army of 4,000 men is beseiged behind the walls of their
fortress facing the 100,000 man army of Zhao and time is quickly running out.
They have sent for the help of the Moxian clan - a fascinating school who
devoted themselves to philosophy and military strategy based on the teachings
of Mozi. They were experts on fortification and would assist any kingdom that
was being invaded as a means of bringing peace to the land - in a sense pacifist
warrior philosophers. Only one shows up - Ge Li (Andy Lau) - and he immediately
shores up their defenses and waits for the attack. On the other side is Xiang
Yan-zhong, the commander of the Zhao force (portrayed by Korean legend Ahn
Sung-ki - no doubt in an attempt to bolster the Korean box office as is the
inclusion of another Korean actor, Choi Si-won who plays the son of the Liang
Emperor), a forceful personality who becomes obsessed with defeating this
runt of a kingdom as all of his various attacks are stymied by the Mozi defenses
- thus turning the fight as much into a battle of wits as one of blood and
courage.
Two main factors cause the film to stumble badly
at times - the most glaring being a forced romance between Ge Li and the female
cavalry commander Yi Yue (Fan Bingbing). This was injected into the film
apparently over Andy's objection and is not a part of the Japanese manga upon
which the film is based. Audiences want romance was the thinking, but it
makes no sense in this situation and brings the proceedings to a dead halt
whenever it pops its ugly head up. Even more objectionable is that the character
of the woman begins as a tough cavalry officer but one look at Gi Li's manly
stature (and very modern haircut) and she quickly turns into this helpless,
swooning babe dressed in silk desperately trying to seduce Andy. It sets
Hong Kong film feminism back a hundred years.
The other issue is more one of choice - Andy
plays his character in such a stern faced, humourlessly one note performance
that it is impossible to see him as human - he is more a burning symbol of
philosophical thought and noble behaviour than flesh and blood. If Gi Li
was alive today he would be a GQ model, the Governor of California, head
the United Nations and in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing
harmony to Iraq (because only Gi Li has a chance of doing that). Angelina
Jolie would be knocking on his door asking for a blessing and a little nookie.
Gi Li would of course skip the nookie. Thus you never warm up to him and
without him being an object to root for there is no one else to turn to in
this film because almost everyone else in the film - high and low in status
- are treacherous (including the Liangs) or irritating (Yi Yue). Only the
honorable Liang archer commander played by Nicky Wu intrigues but his character
is never fleshed out.
In the end the film is one that you wish you could have liked more for its fascinating historical context and the enjoyable large realistic action set pieces but it never really connects on an emotional level - primarily only on a visual one.
A small pleasure for Hong Kong fans is the inclusion of Wu Ma as the conniving advisor to the Liang Emperor played by Wang Zhiwen.
From the Photo Book
To read more about Mozi, check out this link to Wikipedia: