Bey Logan's new Reel East Youtube channel is screening an alternate version of the classic Jet Li vs Donnie Yen fight scene from Zhang Yimou's 2002 martial arts masterpiece HERO. Needless to say, it looks brilliant.
And for those of you haven't seen HERO, here's the synopsis: In ancient China during the Warring States Period, a nameless prefect of a small jurisdiction arrives at the Qin state's capital city to meet the king of Qin, who has survived an attempt on his life by the assassins Long Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword, and therefore forbidden visitors closer than 100 paces to his throne. 'Nameless' claims that he had slain the three assassins and he displays their weapons before the king, who allows Nameless to sit closer to him and tell him his story. Nameless recounts killing Long Sky at a xiangqi parlor; later to meet Flying Snow and Broken Sword at a calligraphy school in the Zhao state, where he set them against each other until Snow killed Sword and was herself slain by Nameless. As the tale concludes, the king expresses disbelief and accuses Nameless of staging the duels with the assassins, who surrendered their lives to allow him to gain the king's trust and take the king's life.
I never liked that scene, I always find fighting stances (like at 5:16 or 5:48) border on parody, like something out of a ZAZ spoof of Wu Xia Pan. And the "going through the raindrops" effect at 6:40 is borderline embarassing. I'm hoping for a Li/Yen re-match, though. I love them both.
6:38
BADASS
I love Jet Li and this movie is sick!
i love this scene man, a relaxing scene you just watch the fighting and enjoy, the old man playing music was definitely cool.
Good stuff bit a bit of a letdown because the actual fight is cut down. Nevertheless, the few bits with Donnie's fight with the guards alone made it worth watching.