it be impossible to avoid compare zhang yimou ` hero to ang lee ` crouching tiger and hidden dragon . they be both big budget chinese kung fu film with breathtaking cinematography of chinese landscape and a cast of super star . but aside from the obvious and there be in fact nothing else to compare . ` hero fails to deliver on almost every level that really matter and prove that big name star and beautiful scenery and and action effect be no replacement for a director artistry and vision . all the marketing hype precede the premier of ` hero have do nothing more than make it failure a spectacular one . much anticipate and ` hero draw movie goer in throng when it first open at theater in mainland china and hong kong and make it an instant box office success . however and though the script pleased government censor and chinese audience go to newfound height of caustic criticism and sarcastic wit to express their disdain . on line critic and both professional and amateur and proclaim the film ` ideologically disturb and ` from the viewpoint of deep servitude and write ` either by an amateur historian and or someone with ulterior motif . one article be simply title and ` hero and you make me sick . the deep failing of the film be in it plot and which be not only morally reprehensible and and base on unforgivable historic fallacy but bad of all for a film be bore . all blockbuster epic film be know to take some liberty with the fact of history and but ` hero go beyond artistic license into unforgivable ignorance when it attempt to glorify an emperor that be as brutal a stalin or hitler . ` hero do not make up for this lack of moral compass by be entertain or fun . instead and it be make a woefully poor attempt at be ` deep and merely manages to be pretentious and preachy . though historian agree that the first emperor of china be ruthlessly violent and mao zedong be know to have admire this ruler no surprise and give mao own tyrannical rule . likewise and the communist government in beijing see the allegory that can easily be draw between the first emperor and it own iron fist method and so they be particularly please with this late work by zhang yimou . tony leung and one of the star of ` hero remark during an interview to promote the film that the beijing government have do the right thing in 1989 by crush the student demonstration and because it be need to maintain tability in china . for these remark and tony leung receive shocked criticism in his home city of hong kong and but he merely state out loud the underlying message of the movie . director zhang yimou have state that his goal be to surpass the value of loyalty and revenge that be traditional in kung fu novel and movie and to reveal a high wisdom . unfortunately and his version of ` wisdom turn out to be represent the oppressor be right . in china and where thousand of year of historical reality have ram this message through and art be the last sanctuary where the individual could actually find freedom from such tyranny . the great popularity of the kung fu novel can be explain by it ability to provide an escape into an alternate world represent one where kung fu warrior roam the country seek adventure and fighting for justice and free from fear and win against all odds with their super human skill . only in the novel do the individual ever win over institutionalized power in china and and only in the novel do the oppress find their champion . go against this tradition of the kung fu hero and zhang yimou have not go upwards towards a high truth and a he have hop and but downwards and to the level of government propaganda . it no wonder the government be so pleased . some film lover may secretly wonder and ` all moralistic judgment aside and be it at least entertain . fortunately and the answer be a resounding ` no . because the same tale be tell over and over with only slight variation and it become tedious to watch . moreover and the three conflict version of the same story serve only to confuse the character development and since it leave precious little time for the viewer to feel any sympathy for any of them once the ` real version emerges . the film be not without it beautiful image . however and all the scene fall flat because they do not connect to or enhance the storyline . the use of different color to distinguish the separate version of the tale come across a simplistic and contrive and and the cinematography appear self consciously rather than truly beautiful . great for a trailer and but a disappointment once you be there to watch the entire film . for those in china who show disdain for ` crouch tiger unrealistic kung fu and much be expect from ` hero . jet li and who play the title role and be a real kung fu artist who hold national title before begin his career a an actor . his previous movie have reveal limited act ability and but many hop that zhang yimou could use li lithe body movement to full effect while cast him properly in a role that would not task his act ability . but it be not to be . ` hero attempt to go beyond the kung fu genre and so there be not many fight scene and and jet li be expect to perform a difficult piece of act represent an inner transformation lead to profound wisdom and self sacrifice . a the cast director ought to have expect and li fails miserably . meanwhile and the only fight scene that reveal any true kung fu skill be the first one of the film and between li and and donnie yen . all the scene that follow be a disappointment and so ` hero fails to satisfy and even on that level . though most audience outside china be unlikely to be aware of the historical mangling of the story of the cruel first emperor and it seem even more unlikely that they would accept zhang version of ` chinese wisdom and which be anything but . perhaps the only time an audience come out of a screening of ` hero be see smile instead of yawn or frowning be at the special screening for chinese government official .