Review: Hero (1997)
Power corrupts. This simple fact has been the theme of countless movies that showcase how the rise to power is so often followed by a fall from grace. Money, power, and corruption are the subjects of 1997's Hero, which is not to be confused with the 2002 Jet Li movie of the same name. The film takes place in 1897 Shanghai and chronicles the rise of Ma Wing Jing (played by Taiwanese/Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, an actor that video game fans may recognize as the star of Onimusha ), a determined-but-poor working-class tough guy who impresses local mob boss Tam Sei (Biao Yuen) when he refuses to back down from a fight. The standard organized crime story follows as our protagonist grows in power and influence while becoming a target for rival, hatchet-wielding gang members as he ascends the ladder to the top. Sound familiar? Hero is a remake of Chang Cheh's 1972 epic The Boxer from Shangtung , but with an entirely different aesthetic that fundamentally changes...
