IMDb > Ying xiong (2002)
Ying xiong
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Ying xiong (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Ying xiong -- Hero starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation.
Ying xiong -- US Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Ying xiong -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   98,423 votes »
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Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Yimou Zhang
Writers:
Bin Wang
Yimou Zhang
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ying xiong on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 August 2004 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Adventure See more »
Tagline:
Kono kuni wa mada, hontô no hero wo shiranai [Japan] (This land doesn't know a real hero. Yet.) See more »
Plot:
One man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 27 wins & 19 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(172 articles)
Top 10 Swords In Film History
 (From Obsessed with Film. 2 August 2011, 3:19 PM, PDT)
Fantasia 2011: ‘True Legend’ is a step above most forgettable Kung-Fu films
 (From SoundOnSight. 24 July 2011, 11:54 PM, PDT)
Bodyguards And Assassins Trailer & Comic-Con Screening Info
 (From GeekTyrant. 22 July 2011, 4:08 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
The best martial arts film ever made See more (815 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order)

Jet Li ... Nameless

Tony Leung Chiu Wai ... Broken Sword (as Tony Leung Chiu-Wai)

Maggie Cheung ... Flying Snow (as Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk)

Ziyi Zhang ... Moon (as Zhang Ziyi)
Daoming Chen ... King of Qin

Donnie Yen ... Sky
Zhongyuan Liu ... Old scholar
Tianyong Zheng ... 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)

Bruce Locke ... Sky (voice)

Angela Oh ... Moon (English dubbed version) (voice)

Elizabeth Sung ... Flying Snow (English dubbed version) (voice)
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Directed by
Yimou Zhang 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Feng Li 
Bin Wang 
Yimou Zhang 

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
Zhongquan Hu .... assistant set dresser (as Hu Zhong Quan)
Yi Hua .... sketch artist
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
Wei He .... sound technician
Yu Hou .... sound assistant
Peng Jiang .... second sound assistant
Tao Jun Jie .... sound technician
Si Guo Li .... sound assistant
Francis Ward Lindsay .... sound editor
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
Blair Slater .... foley mixer & editor
Blair Slater .... foley recordist
Jing Tao .... sound
Jing Tao .... supervising sound editor
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
Ian Brown .... lighting sequence lead
Alex Brownell .... visual effects coordinator: Tweak Films
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
Robert Sullivan .... video operations supervisor: Animal Logic
Chris Swinbanks .... film I/O supervisor
Ryan Tudhope .... digital artist
David Valentin .... visual effects associate producer
Ray Van Steenwyk .... animator
Sandeep Vengsarkar .... digital compositor
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
Lihong Wang .... best boy electric
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
Al Hansen .... digital colorist
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
Kerry Dibbs .... post production assistant
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 CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Hero" - Canada (English title) (imdb display title), International (English title) (imdb display title)
"Ying hung" - China (Cantonese title), Hong Kong (Cantonese title) (alternative title)
"Jet Li's Hero" - USA (promotional title)
"Quentin Tarantino Presents Hero" - USA (promotional title)
"Herói" - Brazil, Portugal (imdb display title)
"Герой" - Russia
"Bohater" - Poland (informal title)
"Gibor" - Israel (Hebrew title)
"Hős" - Hungary ( (imdb display title))
"Héroe" - International (Spanish title) (imdb display title)
"Héros" - Canada (French title)
"Hero" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Hero" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Hero" - Sweden (imdb display title)
"Hero" - France (imdb display title)
"Hero" - Denmark (imdb display title)
"Hero de Zhang Yimou" - Spain (long title)
"Heroj" - Croatia
"Hrdina" - Slovakia
"Hrdina" - Czech Republic
"Iroas" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Junak" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Kahraman" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Kangelane" - Estonia
"Sankari" - Finland (TV title)
"Varonis" - Latvia
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for stylized martial arts violence and a scene of sensuality
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
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 See more »
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, ChinaSee more »
Company:
Beijing New Picture Film Co.See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Jackie Chan was offered the role of the King but turned it down.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Nameless comes back to Broken Sword after helping Flying Snow fend off arrows (as they comment on each others calligraphy and swordplay), close-ups of Broken Sword shows he has a piece of hair over his face. In the wide shots, his hair is swept back.See more »
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.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Mini (2007)See more »

FAQ

What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?
What is "wuxia"?
Any recommendations for movies similar to "Ying xiong"?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
190 out of 268 people found the following review useful.
The best martial arts film ever made, 24 February 2004
Author: rcropperUK from Leeds

Rarely have I been so astounded by such a magnificent, awe-inspiring film. If you have not yet placed your eyes on this masterpiece of Chinese cinema then I cannot recommend this film highly enough. 'Hero' is by far the best Chinese film I have ever seen, and already a firm favourite of all time.

The imagery is unparallelled, simply draw-droppingly near perfect scenes, with bold and vibrant use of colour, symbolism and scenery. The fluent flow of the storyline, the delicate direction of the sword slicing action, the Chinese cultural concepts and the emotionally charged scenes between characters combine to produce a simply remarkable achievement.

This film has a few elements from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but is far, far superior in every way. The sleek direction from Yimou Zhang is so perfectly done, just imagine two martial arts experts ensuing in battle against each other, defying the laws of physics as we know it, and yet following them in 360 degrees in slow motion as one deflects a droplet of rain from one sword to the other, at the same time spinning and leaping over water... simply beautiful. The attack sequences are also superbly set, with hundreds of thousands of the King's warriors in formation, simultaneously firing enough arrows into the city which literally cover the sky, in addition to the viewer being able to watch the journey of a single arrowhead aimed during this event. The build up to the attack along with the unnerving tune of a Chinese stringed instrument help you, as the audience, to become firmly engrossed in your seat.

The individual martial arts is also second to none, for myself particularly to see the distant shots of the whole battle sequence showing the true skills involved with fighting, such as footwork, perfect timing,aggression, counter attacks and defence. Jet Li shows he is truly the grand daddy of martial arts. I cannot stress enough how much you need this film in your life.

The colourful imagery imposed by the director will take your breath away with luscious, vivid, bright, wind-blown,draped backgrounds as the setting for the important progression of the story. Even the story itself is brought to the audience in such a way which ensures your undivided attention, as there are twists in the tales and hidden plots which do not develop until the end of the film.Even short individual scenes are memorable due to their sheer awesome display of skill and speed.

This film even holds a political message which is relevant to all times, especially in today's American-lead world dominance. This film has absolutely everything - including an extremely sexy young Ziyi Zhang who simply is the biggest hype to come out of china since SARS.

This film was released in 2002, but this is certainly one of my all time favourites and will probably be the best film I see all year. I have never been more enthusiastic to pursue films in this genre in my life. For more action type enthusiasts who like more gore and violence check out 'Ong Bak', but for people who appreciate a fuller, visionary piece of martial arts filming, this will leave you speechless.

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