Hero USA/China, 2004

This film tells a traditional epic story set up in imperial China, at a time when the country was divided into different kingdoms. I will spare the story because it may not be that interesting without the action and visuals that the film has. The fighting scenes are nicely coordinated, the visual effects are subtle and rythmic, and the colors used in several scenes look rich and vivid, making the whole a visual feast. A lot of emphasis is put on calligraphy, the art of writing. The actors compare this art to that of sword fighting (go figure!). My favorite scene is the sword fighting on a lake. You know it's a Chinese movie when the actors float above the water, barely touching the surface. I learned that in order to film this on location, the crew had only two hours per day, because after that the water in the lake would start moving with a strong current. What you see in the movie is just a beautiful calmed lake. Advice: look for the biggest TV or screen to watch this film.