"Hero" Critical Article that covers almost all the perspectives

I found this article in the journal Film Quarterly. Everyone should have access-just click on the PDF link or PDF Plus.

This article touches on almost all the different perspectives when it comes to writing about film and how they are portrayed in Hero. There is slight auteur analysis in the introduction of the article followed by a detailed summary on the plot. The remainder of the article analyzes Hero through the formalist, ideological, national, and historical perspective.

The formalist approach studies the infamous color use in Hero. It describes how the characters are each seen in a different colored lighting, for example, the author notes, "In the entire film, the king is the only character presented in a bluish tone." The meaning of the colors is then discussed, such as the blue possibly meaning profundity. Other than colors, certain symbols are analyzed, such as the sword hanging behind the emperor which is "indicating that is his wisdom is troubled by conflicts." The author also points out certain long shots and pays special attention to the films last shot with the sun and The Great Wall.

Nationalism is mentioned as well as historical. The historical perspective is interesting because the author researched and notes the only true, historical figure from the movie is the King of Qin, however, this movie is most likely not representing him properly. The events in Hero are also noted as being fictional. However, the majority of this analyses is through the formalist approach, as the others aren't examined as thouroghly.