Ying xiong (2002)

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Feng Li (writer)
Bin Wang (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

Kono kuni wa mada, hontô no hero wo shiranai [Japan] (This land doesn't know a real hero. Yet.)

Plot:

A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.

Plot Keywords:

China | Sword | Assassin | Palace | King

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 26 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Jet Li	...	Nameless
Tony Leung Chiu Wai	...	Broken Sword
Maggie Cheung	...	Flying Snow (as Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk)
Ziyi Zhang	...	Moon (as Zhang Ziyi)
Daoming Chen	...	King of Qin
Donnie Yen	...	Sky
Liu Zhong Yuan	...	Scholar
Zheng Tia Yong	...	Old Servant
Yan Qin	...	Prime Minister
Chang Xiao Yang	...	General
Yakun Zhang	...	Commander
Ma Wen Hua	...	Head Eunuch
Jin Ming	...	Eunuch
Xu Kuang Hua	...	Pianist
Wang Shou Xin	...	Musician
Zi Hei	...	Qin Guard #1
Cao Hua	...	Qin Guard #2
Li Lei	...	Qin Guard #3
Xia Bin	...	Qin Guard #4
Peng Qiang	...	Qin Guard #5
Liu Jie	...	Qin Guard #6
Zhang Yi	...	Qin Guard #7
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Hong	...	King of Qin (English dubbed version) (voice)
Emil Lin	...	Nameless (English dubbed version) (voice)
Angela Oh	...	Moon (English dubbed version) (voice)
Elizabeth Sung	...	Flying Snow (English dubbed version) (voice)

Directed by
Yimou Zhang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Feng Li		writer
Bin Wang		writer
Yimou Zhang		writer

Produced by
Shoufang Dou	....	executive producer
William Kong	....	producer (as Bill Kong)
Philip Lee	....	line producer
Weiping Zhang	....	executive producer
Yimou Zhang	....	producer
Zhenyan Zhang	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Tan Dun

Cinematography by
Christopher Doyle

Film Editing by
Angie Lam
Vincent Lee		(documentary segment)
Ru Zhai

Production Design by
Tingxiao Huo
Zhenzhou Yi

Art Direction by
Qin Hong Bo		(supervising art director)
Zhong Han		(supervising art director)
Tingxiao Huo
Liu Yong Qi		(supervising art director)
Bin Zhao

Costume Design by
Emi Wada

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	chief hair stylist (as Chau Siu Mui)
Lee-na Kwan	....	chief makeup artist (as Lee Na Kwan)
Tam Ying Kwan	....	hair stylist
Shul Niu	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Tianhui Ge	....	unit manager
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shi Bin	....	assistant director
Xiaoyang Chang	....	assistant director
Liu Guonan	....	assistant director (as Liu Guo Nan)
Huan Qi	....	assistant director
Du Ming Xiang	....	assistant director
Jinzhan Zhang	....	director: battle sequences (as Zhang Jin Zhan)
Wei Zhou	....	assistant director

Art Department
Zhao Xiao Dan	....	property master
Gao De Zhong	....	set dresser
Liu Jin Guo	....	set dresser
Yi Hua	....	sketch artist
Zhongquan Hu	....	assistant set dresser (as Hu Zhong Quan)
Wang Xue Jun	....	draftsman
Li Yan Lai	....	sketch artist
Ming-Shan Li	....	property master (as Ming Shan Li)
Xiao Jun Min	....	assistant to sketch artist
Wang Jia Ren	....	assistant set dresser
Ming Wu	....	storyboard artist
Liu Yi	....	assistant set dresser
Yang Zhan Yi	....	assistant set dresser

Sound Department
Lai Jia Bin	....	sound technician
Steve Burgess	....	sound editor
Li Pei Gen	....	sound assistant
Yu Hou	....	sound assistant
Peng Jiang	....	second sound assistant
Tao Jun Jie	....	sound technician
Francis Ward Lindsay	....	sound editor
Si Guo Li	....	sound assistant
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound effects editor
Glenn Newnham	....	sound editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Savage	....	supervising sound editor
Jing Tao	....	sound
Jing Tao	....	supervising sound editor
He Wei	....	sound technician
Li Wen	....	sound assistant
Andy Wright	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Wang Yu	....	sound assistant
Zhigang Zhang	....	first sound assistant
Chris Goodes	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jance Allen	....	compositor
Charlie Armstrong	....	senior compositor
Kevin Baillie	....	digital artist
Aaron Barclay	....	lead compositor
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Chris Bone	....	R&D programmer
Dan Breckwoldt	....	digital compositor
Andy Brown	....	visual effects supervisor: Animal Logic
Alex Brownell	....	visual effects coordinator: Tweak Films
Ian Brown	....	lighting sequence lead
Sonia Calvert	....	digital compositor
Cedrick Chan	....	digital artist
YouJin Choung	....	visual effects
Sarah Cloutier	....	digital liaison
Fiona Crawford	....	visual effects producer
Francisco DeLaTorre	....	visual effects artist: Tweak Films
Jonathan Dixon	....	digital liaison
Dennis Dorney	....	digital lineup
David Dulac	....	visual effects supervisor
Wayde Duncan-Smith	....	3D animator
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital compositor
Stephen Evans	....	digital compositor
Arin Finger	....	visual effects coordinator: The Orphanage
Lindsay Fleay	....	3D lead
Howard Fuller	....	3D animator
Michele Gray	....	visual effects producer: Tweak Films
Matthew Hendershot	....	digital artist: The Orphanage
Jesse Ho	....	animator
Christopher Horvath	....	visual effects supervisor: Tweak Films
Jim Hourihan	....	visual effects research and development: Tweak Films
Sarahjane Javelo	....	digital paint/rotoscope artist
Krista Jordan	....	senior compositor
Keith Leung	....	wires artist
Justen Marshall	....	production programmer
Ian McCamey	....	visual effects editor: The Orphanage
Yvette Memory	....	visual effects coordinator: The Orphanage
Lori C. Miller	....	digital compositor
Saki Mitchell	....	digital compositor
Cliff Mueller	....	lead animator: Tweak Films
Luke O'Byrne	....	visual effects producer: The Orphanage
Scott Palleiko	....	technical director: Tweak Films
Guoyu Pan	....	visual effects supervisor
JaeWook Park	....	technical director/compositor
Ellen Poon	....	visual effects supervisor
Murray Pope	....	visual effects executive producer
Alex Prichard	....	digital artist: The Orphanage
Wang Shu Qing	....	model maker
Dane Rapaport	....	systems administrator
Jeff Renton	....	3D animator
Aaron Rhodes	....	digital compositor: The Orphanage
Michael Root	....	visual effects sequence supervisor: Tweak Films
Jonathan Rothbart	....	visual effects supervisor: The Orphanage
Danielle Rubin	....	visual effects coordinator
Marc Sadeghi	....	executive visual effects producer
Richard Schlein	....	visual effects executive producer: Tweak Films
Pheng Sisopha	....	compositor
Christa Starr	....	technical director: Tweak Films
Chris Swinbanks	....	film I/O supervisor
Ryan Tudhope	....	digital artist
David Valentin	....	visual effects associate producer
Ray Van Steenwyk	....	animator
Carl Walters	....	digital artist
Frederick Wolff	....	scanning and recording operator
George Zwier	....	digital compositor
S. Kai Bovaird	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Ben De Luca	....	systems administrator (uncredited)
Chris Godfrey	....	on-set visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Laurence Lok	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Kristi Valk	....	digital artist: The Orphanage (uncredited)

Stunts
Hu Wen Biao	....	stunts
Xia Bin	....	stunts
Shi Feng	....	stunts
Cao Hua	....	stunts
Wang Wen Hua	....	stunts
Wang Zhao Hui	....	stunts
Zhao Hui	....	stunts
Feng Iang	....	stunts
Li Fang Jin	....	stunts
Li Lei	....	stunts
Li Ou	....	stunts
Huang Tao	....	stunts
Li Wei	....	stunts
Zheng Xin Xin	....	stunts
Din Yong	....	stunts
Sun Yong	....	stunts
Bai Lin Yuh	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jasmine Yuen Carrucan	....	assistant camera (as Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan)
Wang Ji Chao	....	additional assistant camera: battle sequences
Song De Hua	....	assistant camera
Wei Guo Dong	....	generator operator
Yu Jian Dong	....	electrician
Guo Xing Hai	....	assistant camera
Yong Hou	....	additional camera operator
Dongsheng Jiang	....	electrician (as Jian Dong Sheng)
Zhang Hua Jie	....	additional assistant camera: battle sequences
Cao Jin	....	additional assistant camera: battle sequences
Li Wu Jun	....	generator operator
Zhu Al Jun	....	assistant camera
Baoquan Li	....	Steadicam operator (as Bao Quan Li)
Zhang Li	....	additional assistant camera: battle sequences
Brett Matthews	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Kong Yu Ping	....	camera grip
Cao Yong Qiang	....	electrician
Li Zu Rong	....	still photographer
Yoshio Sato	....	still photographer
Tian Lin Wang	....	additional assistant camera: battle sequences
Chao Wei	....	camera grip
Chen Zhu Xiang	....	assistant camera
Fusen Xu	....	camera grip (as Fu Sen Xu)
Jeng Zi Ying	....	electrician
Chuncheng Zhao	....	assistant camera (as Zhao Chun Cheng)
Xiaoding Zhao	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zeng Qing Chun	....	costumer
Jin-Hua Gu	....	costumer (as Gu Jin Hua)
Bao-Rong Huang	....	wardrobe supervisor
Zhu Ming	....	costumer
Zhu Run Sen	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Olivier Fontenay	....	color grader
Matt Garner	....	post-production executive: Miramax
Alan Hansen	....	digital grader
Antonio Mestres	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tan Dun	....	conductor
Richard King	....	music scoring engineer
Simon Leadley	....	music editor
Itzhak Perlman	....	musician: violin solos and fiddling
Tim Ryan	....	music editor
Katrina Schiller	....	assistant music editor

Other crew
Siu-Tung Ching	....	choreographer
Xu Ai Dong	....	production assistant
Xia Li Fu	....	production assistant
Wang Li Ge	....	script supervisor
Li Guang	....	script supervisor
Henry Hayashi	....	adr voice replacement
Yong Hou	....	location scout
Zhihua Hou	....	assistant to director
Zhong Hu	....	production assistant
Duang Xue Jun	....	cashier
Kodo	....	drumming
Ming Beaver Kwei	....	personal assistant: Jet Li
Stephen Lam	....	production coordinator
Roger Lee	....	chief accountant
Cai Li	....	martial arts coordinator
Maria Lo Orzel	....	creative consultant
Stanley J. Orzel	....	creative consultant
Ji Pei	....	script supervisor
Fellicia Pullam	....	assistant: Ziyi Zhang
Wei Ran	....	script supervisor
Zhang Rui	....	cashier
John Salvitti	....	assistant: Donnie Yen (as John Paul Salvitti)
Quentin Tarantino	....	presenter (US version)
Wei Tung	....	martial arts choreographer
Lao Li Ya	....	production coordinator
Li Yan	....	assistant: Ziyi Zhang
Wei Yan Yen	....	production assistant
Shi Ze Yi	....	production assistant
Lei Yu	....	production assistant
Jiang Zi	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Beijing New Picture Film Co.
• Elite Group Enterprises

Distributors

• EDKO Film (2002) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Beijing New Picture Film Co. (2002) (China) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2004) (Canada) (theatrical) (as "Hero")
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2004) (North America) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Miramax (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Moonlight Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2002) (non-USA) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Medyavizyon (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• Miramax Films (Africa)
• Miramax Films (Latin America)
• United International Pictures (UIP)
• Universal Pictures
• Warner Bros.

Special Effects

• Animal Logic
• Custom Film Effects
• Orphanage, The
• Tweak Films (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Soundfirm Beijing Co. Ltd.  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Trackdown Digital  music editing services

Also Known As:

Hero (Canada: English title) (literal English title) (UK) (USA)
Jet Li's Hero (USA)
Quentin Tarantino Presents Hero (USA) (promotional title)
Ying hung (China: Cantonese title)
Héroe (Argentina) (Panama) [es]
Герой (Russia) [ru]
Gibor (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Héros (Canada: French title) [fr]
Herói (Brazil) [pt]
Hero (Finland) [fi]
Hero (Italy) [it]
Hero (Spain) [es]
Hero (Poland) [pl]
Hero (France) [fr]
Hero (Denmark) [da]
Heroe (Mexico) [es]
Heroj (Croatia) [hr]
Hrdina (Czech Republic) [cs]
Hrdina (Slovakia) [sk]
Kahraman (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kangelane (Estonia) [et]
Sankari (Finland) (TV title) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality.

Runtime:

99 min | China:107 min (extended version) | China:93 min | Turkey:89 min (TV version)

Country:

Hong Kong | China

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:U | Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (bw) | Ireland:12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39290)

Filming Locations:

Dunhuang, Gansu, China

Company:

Beijing New Picture Film Co.

Trivia:

Jet Li reportedly insisted that the role of Sky, which had been tentatively filled by a different actor, be given to Donnie Yen. Li and Yen had not worked together on a movie since Wong Fei Hung II: Nam yi dong ji keung (1992).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: At the beginning of the movie, subtitles state that China was divided into seven warring states. At the end, the subtitles then state that "the King of Qin" unified China, without specifying which one. Historically, the king that was the one to unite all of the Chinese states was Ying Zheng (later changed name to Shi Huang Di) who inherited the throne from his deceased father at age 13 (as opposed to the age of the king in the movie). At the time, Ying Zheng began to rule China, the seven states were already reduced to two larger states (Qin and Chu) which was later dominated by Qin when Ying Zheng was 22 years old. It is therefore impossible for the same king shown in the movie to be the king that united all the Chinese states, although the end-note is semantically correct.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nameless: [voiceover] I was orphaned at a young age and was never given a name. People simply called me Nameless. With no family name to live up to, I devoted myself to the sword. I spent ten years perfecting unique skills as a swordsman. The King of Qin has summoned me to court, for what I have accomplished has astonished the kingdom.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Jakeob-ui jeongseok (2005)

Haunting beauty and provocative message

Hero is noteworthy on at least two counts.

First, there are scenes of haunting beauty("Duel in the yellow forest" and "Turquoise autumn" to site a couple) that, like the best of impressionist paintings, are so affecting that you will forever see the world in a slightly different way having once beheld them.

Secondly, the overall message of the film is a provocative one. The claim is that a degree of human casualties and suffering may be the optimal path to a better world, especially when the alternative is equally brutal chaos. This is not a popular theme. It has become much more fashionable to be anti-war in all cases. And understandably so, since variations of this logic have often been used in the past to justify atrocities. But the film provides a crisp litmus test for avoiding delusion: action be taken with a heart void of malice and an unwavering commitment to the broadest possible ultimate outcome of good for all. Can anyone live up to this standard? Several characters in the movie do, each in their own way. If the standard could be met, would the world be a better place? These are questions worth reflecting on that have not been dealt with, to this depth, in any film I'm aware of.