Wednesday, February 25, 2015

F This Movie! - Hero (2002)

Patrick and Mark Ahn will stand by you forever.



Download this episode here. (66.9 MB)

Subscribe to F This Movie! in iTunes.

Listen to F This Movie! on Stitcher.

Also discussed this episode: The Search for General Tso (2014), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015), Coherence (2014), Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015), Catch Hell (2014), Tales from Earthsea (2006)

27 comments:

  1. great episode as alwys! keep up great job!! greetings from russia)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Mother Russia, movie F's you!

      Delete
    2. Welcome CityMoon! Hope Russia is warmer than Chicago.

      Delete
  2. Hey Mark!

    The interview with the Zhang Yimou quote was in a Chinese cinema magazine when Hero was released. I had a link to it but it no longer works. If I ever unearth that thing I will pass it on.

    Also Mark, I love your commentary and readings for this film. You really articulated your favorite points well and made interesting insights into the undercurrent meanings you took from the film. And allaying Patrick’s quibbles with the film.
    Comparing “Crouching Tiger…” to “Hero” is inevitable, but also really unnecessary and fruitless. They are just too different. Tiger does care more about its plot (very western of it).

    Additionally, comparing “The Raid” and its fight sequences to “Hero” is beyond “apples and oranges”. The fights in “The Raid” are purely for actions sake. The fights in “Hero” serve the same purpose as dancing in a ballet. The styles and sequences expose the personalities and motivations of the characters and add to the visual dynamic.

    Patrick did you have problems with “Rashamon” as well? (being non-linear etc.) Maybe Rashamon did it better?

    I had the same problems as Mark with “Curse of the Golden Flower”; my feelings for that film echo his exactly.
    I’ve gotta check out “The Search for General Tso” since I enjoyed the TedTalk with Jennifer 8.

    P.S, yeah what the hells wrong with you Patrick, go watch Fist of Legend, and House of Flying Daggers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only compared the two movies because I was asking myself why in one film I was responding one way but not in the other; I am the common factor, not the movies. I know they are different.

      I have no problem with a movie being non-linear. In the case of Rashomon, that's what the whole story is about. I didn't get the feeling watching Hero that it was about the search for one objective truth. But like I said a couple of times, maybe I just need to see it again.

      Delete
    2. "I didn't get the feeling watching Hero that it was about the search for one objective truth." Interesting, for me that is what I took one of the themes to be. The King seeing only his own autocratic view, (he shapes the kingdom by his will alone) not the objective truth beyond the self, of ruling and kingship, (He rules because his subjects allow it.)

      Delete
    3. Hey Tom-

      I would say that the story involves searching for the truth, but maybe isn't ABOUT objectivity, if that makes any sense. The king pretty easily uncovers the subterfuge, and that ends up being something that makes that character more sympathetic because he has to be that paranoid about everyone who comes to tell him anything. Maybe it's hitting up on that theme of the power of words and language, again.

      I would love to see that article you mentioned, if you can find it.

      Also, this reminds me that I need to lend Patrick my copy of House of Flying Daggers.

      Delete
    4. Mark,
      I found an interesting academic paper on globalization of culture as seen in the example of "Crouching Tiger..." which includes Zhang Yimou's dislike for the film. (As well as why the film did poorly in China as a whole.)

      From the paper, "One of the most extreme condemnations was from Zhang Yimou, a famous film director who also directed the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games. Zhang thought the film was made with 'a misunderstanding of the tradition of the genre and with the complacent
      desire of making a film for foreigners.'"

      Here is a link to the paper. It's a pretty good read.
      http://relevantrhetoric.com/Globalizing%20the%20Locality%20-%20Crouching%20Tiger.pdf

      Delete
    5. Thanks Tom. I didn't realize this was 13 pages!

      Delete
  3. Just after listening to the end of the podcast: I know it was an offhand joke, and I know it's not a good movie, but something in me responds so well to to American Ninja. I have no defense for this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great show, but tales of earthsea is definitely not the one studio ghibli film you want to start with. There best film by far is Grave of the fireflies but be warned it is a movie you can only watch once.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grave of Fireflies is some heavy stuff.

      Delete
    2. My recommendation for one to start with is always Spirited Away, but that's just because it's newer and it looks and sounds so amazing. My personal favorite is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

      If I had to recommend one Ghibli film for Patrick Bromley, though, it would be Princess Mononoke. Because violence. I mean people get decapitated with arrows in that movie.

      Delete
    3. I've seen Princess Mononoke, but not since the theater. I need to revisit it. But I appreciate you speaking my language!

      Delete
    4. PBroms...I'm new to the Ghibli movies too but I've seen Ponyo and The Wind Rises. I liked Ponyo a lot so you probably won't. Maybe start with The Wind Rises????? :-)

      Delete
    5. Princess Mononoke is probably my favorite Ghibli I've seen, but Howl's Moving Castle is worth a watch, also.

      Delete
    6. I look forward to hearing your reactions to some of the bright spots of Studio Ghibli. My favorites are Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro (which is very charming). I also agree that Howl's Moving Castle is worth a look. kiki's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky are also both good...basically all of Ohio Miyazazaki's work is worth your time.

      Delete
    7. Also, I second Grave of the Fireflies being the best, but soooooooo heaetbreaking, too.

      Delete
  5. Awsome guys. Great podcast.

    The movie not mentioned that I really feel needs at least a honourable mention here is the fantastic Kung fu Hustle. I think that is my favourite most enjoyable and totally rewatchable Kung fu movie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dennis-

      Kung Fu Hustle is pretty spectacularly awesome, as well as Shaolin Soccer (which isn't really a kung fu movie). I really thought that Stephen Chow was on the verge of being huge, but it didn't happen, and he's been sort of off the radar for a long time. Sad face.

      Delete
    2. Yeah that's a real shame it did not go that way for him, I am very lucky to of not seen Shaolin Soccer though, thanks for the recomendation, I literally just got the dvd from ebay for only £1.25 bargain for some more Stephen Chow action. I will report back once ive seen it
      Cheers

      Delete
    3. Didn't you guys get Journey to the West over there? It came out in Australia a year or two ago. It's not as good as Kung Fu Hustle or even Shaolin Soccer, but Chow is still doing some good stuff.

      Delete
    4. Journey to the West only got a limited release in the US; I don't remember it actually coming around here.

      Delete
    5. I saw it and did not love it. It's on Netflix Instant right now.

      Delete
    6. Yeah, there's some questionable "humour" in it. But I still liked the Tex Avery feel to the action.

      Delete
  6. Great podcast. I started listening to the podcast due to this episode. Hero is one of my favourite wuxia film. The film is quite divisive in east East Asia due to the political overtone and sometime viewed that the director Zhang Yimou who were once quite critical of the Chinese Communist Party, has been sold out as the film can be view as selling CCP idea of uniting Taiwan to China as one country. I don't really see it that way. Emperor Qin however is a historical figure and is also one of the most cruel and ruthless leader in China history even though he is credited for uniting China and standardising unit of measurement, language etc all at the expense of countless lost of lives, cultures and burning of books and literature. It is difficult to see him under any sympathetic light as the film is leaning towards. It is a great movie if I can put all that aside and view it just as a heavily stylised parable. It is a beautiful film and I love the many versions of the story being told. One of over the top passionate drama (red), one of romance (blue), white is the true account. Just wish it's not so heavy handed on the ending which seems favour towards the hero had made the right decision rather than making it question if the hero had made the right decision.

    ReplyDelete