Zhang Yimou on "HERO"

In the article that I found by Lisa Bear,written for indiewire.com, many different elements of the film Hero were addressed. While the article starts with a synopsis of the film, it branches out into a brief formalist look at the film, comparing both shots that were used and sounds featured in the film.

Memorable for its finely-judged performances, superlative sound design and stylized visual compositions, shot by renowned Australian cinematographer Chris Doyle, this is a martial arts film that contrasts orderly military formations in wide shot with lyrical close-ups. A volley of arrows fills the skies like a swarm of bees or plague of locusts rather than the tools of warfare. Lingering shots of gleaming metal, the sonorous hiss clang and echo of a sword being unsheathed or falling to the ground evoke harmonics and reverb rather than unsightly atrocities--torn limbs and membranes or screams of pain.

The article then goes on to recount an interview that Lisa Bear had conducted of Zhang Yimou. In the interview transcript, Yimou answers questions about the film, China, and some of the color schemes in the film.

IW: How did you come up with the color changes in the film: red, white, blue and green?

ZY: "Hero" is not a traditional martial arts movie. It's very structurally presented. I like Rashomon, and thought I could use different colors to represent different parts in the movie.

IW: Why those particular colors, red, white and blue?

ZY: There's no particular meaning to each color. I just needed the colors to represent...

IW: Points of view.

ZY: Yes, yes. Each color represents a different period and different [way of telling the] story...

Overall, it is a well written article which contains many different view on the film Hero. It gives the reader an insight into the mind of Zhang Yimou and how he wanted to make the film appeal to the audience.