WATCH PARTY: Hero (2004) dir. Zhang Yimou @ Mary Pretlow Library

We'll have the big screen in Meeting Room 2 at Pretlow Library for one of the most visually ravishing movies I've ever seen, starring a who's who of Hong Kong action cinema royalty. (RE: the plot, I have thoughts.)

From the director of Raise the Red Lantern, The House of Flying Daggers, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony.

RATED: PG-13 for “stylized martial arts violence and brief sensuality”

RUNTIME: 93 minutes

SYNOPSIS: In this visually arresting martial arts epic set in ancient China, an unnamed fighter (Jet Li) is being honored for defeating three of the king's most dangerous enemies. When Nameless recounts his battles with the assassins -- Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk) and Moon (Zhang Ziyi) -- the king begins to question some of the details. As Nameless goes on, the king challenges the tales, interjecting his own take on these perhaps suspect version of events.

BLURBS:
"A visual poem of extraordinary beauty. [...] Demonstrates how the martial arts genre transcends action and violence and moves into poetry, ballet and philosophy." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Led by director Zhang Yimou and dazzling cinematographer Christopher Doyle, the unseen Hero production team has made what just might be the most artistically sophisticated, most formally beautiful martial arts film the genre has seen." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"See Hero on the biggest screen you can find, and sit close enough for all that spiraling silk to tickle your nostril hairs." - David Edelstein, Slate