Hero / 英雄 (2002 Yimou Zhang)

OK, not Wong Kar Wei, as I thought (not really his style). No, this is a wuxia film ('oo-sha' - a sort of chivalrous martial arts) of a dazzling kind, with an intriguing plot from Zhang (Raise the Red Lantern, House of Flying Daggers), Feng Li and Bin Wang. Nameless (Jet Li) comes to assassinate the King (great performance from Daoming Chen); tells of victories against Broken Sword Tony Leung and Flying Snow Maggie Cheung (both also great; from In the Mood For Love) and Sky Donnie Yen; involving the loyal servant Moon Ziyi Zhang (also very cool).

It is eye-melting beautiful and jaw-droppingly incredible, with what looks like armies of thousands, but also clever visual effects to produce many an astonishing scene, each colour-coded by cinematographer Chris Doyle and production designers Tinxiao Huo and Zhenzhou Yi. Very formal, symmetrical, straight on compositions. All battles are [fill in own superlative here] with rain, water, desert, and forest leaves used to spectacular effect (that fight between Cheung and Zhang in the leaves, which turn blood red, is one of those really special film moments).

Interesting lesson in calligraphy and its meaning. Also loved movements of king's candles, and the collapsing of those green silks.

Edited by Zhai Ru and Angie Lam, music by Dun Tan. 'Action director' is Tony Ching Siu-Tung.

I watched the alternative cut, whatever that is.