There is nothing like the anticipation of watching a film of this magnitude. It is true that hype can be a killer, but at the same time, a blessing as well, mainly because I love over-hyping things for myself. The fact that anyone can attempt to imagine what anything would be like is so innocent and endearing that it can be beautiful when those things do not live up to expectations. Of course, if you see it that way. But when something surpasses your imagination (and imagination is limitless no less) you put yourself in a state of worldly inspired pleasure. Sometimes it is a risk to take, but well worth it. At the PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, I was able to watch the American premiere of Zhang Yimou’s Chinese masterpiece, HERO, a film that definitely exceeded my expectations.

Warning: rave, spoiler-free, review coming.

The plot of HERO unravels itself in different stories of the same account, in the sense that as each new perspective is told, the truth becomes more evident; even lies add up to the reality and development of the arc. Each scene is represented by a different color therefore various emotions and meanings are displayed and laid out for interpretation. Even when you discover that certain occurrences were false, it is difficult to dismiss the events all together, as they will already be part of your understanding of the characters, drenching those first impressions vividly. It is this type of stylistic storytelling that gives the simple premise a complex and meaningful form.

While the fighting and action sequences were most impressive, thanks in part to Siu-Tung Ching’s illustrious eye for choreographed kinetics, the overall look of the film will shimmer the most for audiences. Almost like having 3-D glasses without the 3-D glasses, the colors become so real and distinct, like cinematic acrylics painted and thrown over, splish splashed and dipped in what you would imagine the tint for Beautiful would look like. From the tea house to the calligraphy school, each scene truly is a moving painting. It is quite insane when you think about it, simply because the film is devastatingly rich and affluent.

The cast, as always, was amazing. Maggie Cheung, with her forlorn eyes and lush eyelashes was so stunning and gorgeous, that it is almost hard to stare at her straight on. Tony Leung, in absolutely the coolest role ever, played the calligraphy master with equal parts sensitive beauty and rough toughness. There are not enough superlatives to describe Zhang Ziyi as her portrayal of Moon. Finally Jet Li and Donnie Yen set the tone and feel of the film with their rematch, the first fight of the film. And let me tell you what that tone is: AWESOME.

HERO is like watching a dream, one that is awash in vivid color and splashed in liquid imagination. And like most dreams, it almost feels a little off center, left of the middle, mainly for its tremendous, overpowering scope. It is awe inspiring in the sense that you would not think a cast that consists of Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi would ever let you down. Not that it has, but being a film fanatic that devours anything and everything these actors do, well, it can be daunting to truly comprehend the expectations the film has set for itself simply by existing.