Mythic storytelling and sweeping martial arts action come together in Zhang Yimou's "visually spectacular" Hero. Universally applauded by critics, it's one of very few foreign films to have topped the US box office, pushed along by big names like Jet Li and Quentin Tarantino (who championed the film in the west). Li takes centre stage as a famed swordsman in this epic exploration of what it truly means to be a hero.

Kicking Back

Quentin Tarantino and Jet Li share a passion for martial arts movies, which translates into an engaging conversation on this DVD. On receiving the script for Hero, Li confesses, "After reading it, I just cry." But Tarantino keeps things from getting too touchy-feely, paying special interest in Li's much-anticipated rematch with co-star Donnie Yen ten years after their big showdown in Once Upon A Time In China: Part II. Also, QT isn't shy about his initial reservations concerning Zhang Yimou's ability to direct an action film (he made his reputation with slow-burning drama). "I just didn't know whether it was a good idea," he says, "But you see the film and all questions are answered."

A Man Apart

Even Yimou had doubts about taking on a martial arts movie, which he reveals in Hero Defined - an unusually in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary that was filmed on location. "This is a new discipline for me," he admits, "Directing action scenes is my biggest challenge." Key to the investigation is how Yimou set about blending emotional drama with epic action and political intrigue. All of the cast are on hand to lend their opinions on the matter, while cinematographer Christopher Doyle explains how he achieved the stunning look of the film and choreographer Siu-Tung Ching divulges the secret of those ethereal fight scenes. Yimou sums it all up, saying, "It's a perfect film, not that I'm patting myself on the back."

Completing the bonus package are four scene-to-storyboard comparisons, including Zhang Ziyi and Maggie Cheung doing battle in the Golden Forest and Donnie Yen and Jet Li crossing swords on the mirror lake. While it looks like a slim set of extras, its sharp eye for detail sets Hero apart on DVD.

EXTRA FEATURES