A Hero Never Dies - The AV Maniacs

Al Edwards · 07-31-2003, 07:41 PM

Entertaining post Woo heroic bloodshed actioner with terrific action set pieces, good acting, and a usual depressing finish. One of Johnny To's best, and is an example of why he is a master of the genre after Woo.

John Short · 07-31-2003, 10:51 PM

A happy coincidence as I just happened to watch this movie for the first time last Sunday night. It was absolutely incredible and I can't wait to add it to my collection! I've only seen a few Johnny To films (HERO NEVER, THE HEROIC TRIO and FULLTIME KILLER), but I agree, he's some kind of Master! I'm really looking forward to seeing more!

Wostry Ferenc · 08-01-2003, 09:19 AM

That's my favorite 90s HK film, and Lau Ching Wan's death scene (well, the moment we realize that he is dead, anyway) is shattering.

John Short · 08-01-2003, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wostry Ferenc
That's my favorite 90s HK film, and Lau Ching Wan's death scene (well, the moment we realize that he is dead, anyway) is shattering.

That scene is INCREDIBLE and PERFECT! For me, that shows what is so great about Johnny To: his choices are so eccentric, you never know WHAT you're going to find. I also love Lau's final gun battle ala EL CID. I cannot believe more people aren't gushing on about this movie!!

Wostry Ferenc · 08-03-2003, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Short
I cannot believe more people aren't gushing on about this movie!!

It's probably because Hero... is also somewhat of a genre spoof (altough a spoof that is better than the serious entries of the decade). At the same time, it's the ending of the bloodshed genre (the films that came after it are all rehashes).

Omshanti Green · 08-03-2003, 08:53 PM

I need to dust off my copy of Hero never Dies also check out Beyond Hypothermia, Expect the Unexpected and especially the HK masterpiece A War Named Desire this movie is an underrated classic

John Short · 08-03-2003, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wostry Ferenc
It's probably because Hero... is also somewhat of a genre spoof (altough a spoof that is better than the serious entries of the decade). At the same time, it's the ending of the bloodshed genre (the films that came after it are all rehashes).

I'm certainly not qualified to discuss what HK films are spoofs because I'm a relatively new fan. To me most of them are so off the wall that it is hard to say what is spoof and what is just eccentric (in my mind anyway). I got into HK films in 1989 and loved them, but throughout the 90's kept getting burned by domestic releases of HK classics so my interest kind of waned. I don't know what has resparked my interest (yeah I do... the movies are GREAT!), but the dvds are super affordable, so now I can revist all the titles I've missed over the years.

As I said, I'm not qualified to agree or disagree that HERO NEVER DIES was the last word on HK heroic bloodshed films. However, given that so many people consider THE WILD BUNCH to be the last great western (an opinion I do not share) then I find myself a little skeptical. I think Johnny To is incredible! Do you consider FULLTIME KILLER to be a "rehash"?

Wostry Ferenc · 08-03-2003, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Short
Do you consider FULLTIME KILLER to be a "rehash"?

that's not really a good example, because I hate Fulltime Killer with a passion :-) It's just an empty exercise in style (and before somebody mentions it: The Mission left me totaly cold, altough I know that for a lot of people it's a masterpiece).

Brian N · 08-12-2003, 11:15 AM

That AHND is a genre spoof is a film thought that has been in play for a long while - not sure if this is a viewer/critics interpretation or based on something To said - but that has never been the way I see it. I can't understand why this should be viewed as any more of a spoof than The Killer or the myriad of other over the top bullet ballet films. To me its completely serious and unless To has said differently I see it as more of a fanboy homage to the films that came before it. I'd love to understand better why some people see it that way because I think it plays out much more satisfying if you view it thru the prism of heroic bloodshed/male bonding themes. I think its a masterpiece myself - To's best film after The Mission - but while The Mission is a lean spartan poem AHND bathes itself in splendid extravagance and romanticism.

Wostry Ferenc · 04-12-2005, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian N

That AHND is a genre spoof is a film thought that has been in play for a long while - not sure if this is a viewer/critics interpretation or based on something To said - but that has never been the way I see it. I can't understand why this should be viewed as any more of a spoof

Because no one in his right mind (and outside of Dallas) can take that bigass cowboyhat seriously...

Linn Haynes · 04-13-2005, 07:55 AM

It's a true shame the HK dvd has that flaw in it on the left hand side of the screen(or is it the right?). Supposedly it will be getting a re-release in the near future, so we'll see if they can fix it. And I'm with O.G., if you like Heroic Bloodshed, A War Named Desire is a good fix.

Mark Savage · 04-18-2005, 01:42 AM

I also feel that AHND is one of the greatest HK films ever made. It is such an achingly beautiful film on so many levels.

I don't buy that it's a "spoof", either, any more than I buy the American sell on THE KILLER that it's "camp". It certainly is not and was never intended to be.

AHND is over-the-top to some people. It's not ott to me. It's a perfect balance of intense elements.

Wostry Ferenc · 04-18-2005, 02:08 AM

I should have wrote "tongue-in-cheek" instead of "spoof"...

Wostry Ferenc · 07-29-2008, 12:49 PM

And the wait for the acceptable dvd continues... It's been only 10 years...

Jason S · 07-29-2008, 01:09 PM

Thanks for the heads up, I wasn't familiar with this film.

The search is on......

07-31-2003, 07:41 PM	#1
Al Edwards God of Death Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 14,140	A Hero Never Dies Entertaining post Woo heroic bloodshed actioner with terrific action set pieces, good acting, and a usual depressing finish. One of Johnny To's best, and is an example of why he is a master of the genre after Woo. __________________ "I want to be alone here with tall, dead and handsome."

07-31-2003, 10:51 PM	#2
John Short Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: I don't live in Australia Posts: 276	A happy coincidence as I just happened to watch this movie for the first time last Sunday night. It was absolutely incredible and I can't wait to add it to my collection! I've only seen a few Johnny To films (HERO NEVER, THE HEROIC TRIO and FULLTIME KILLER), but I agree, he's some kind of Master! I'm really looking forward to seeing more! __________________ "Silver bullets" my ass!

08-01-2003, 09:19 AM	#3
Wostry Ferenc adventures in babysitting Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Budapest, Hungary Posts: 4,025	SPOILER!!! That's my favorite 90s HK film, and Lau Ching Wan's death scene (well, the moment we realize that he is dead, anyway) is shattering. __________________ GEEKBLOG

08-03-2003, 08:53 PM	#6
Omshanti Green Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 259	I need to dust off my copy of Hero never Dies also check out Beyond Hypothermia, Expect the Unexpected and especially the HK masterpiece A War Named Desire this movie is an underrated classic __________________ http://pappy.dvdaf.com/

08-12-2003, 11:15 AM	#9
Brian N Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 80	A Hero Never Dies That AHND is a genre spoof is a film thought that has been in play for a long while - not sure if this is a viewer/critics interpretation or based on something To said - but that has never been the way I see it. I can't understand why this should be viewed as any more of a spoof than The Killer or the myriad of other over the top bullet ballet films. To me its completely serious and unless To has said differently I see it as more of a fanboy homage to the films that came before it. I'd love to understand better why some people see it that way because I think it plays out much more satisfying if you view it thru the prism of heroic bloodshed/male bonding themes. I think its a masterpiece myself - To's best film after The Mission - but while The Mission is a lean spartan poem AHND bathes itself in splendid extravagance and romanticism.

04-13-2005, 07:55 AM	#11
Linn Haynes Wife of Kung Fu Badass Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 746	I love it too. It's a true shame the HK dvd has that flaw in it on the left hand side of the screen(or is it the right?). Supposedly it will be getting a re-release in the near future, so we'll see if they can fix it. And I'm with O.G., if you like Heroic Bloodshed, A War Named Desire is a good fix.

04-18-2005, 01:42 AM	#12
Mark Savage Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Laguna Beach Posts: 491	Re: A Hero Never Dies I also feel that AHND is one of the greatest HK films ever made. It is such an achingly beautiful film on so many levels. I don't buy that it's a "spoof", either, any more than I buy the American sell on THE KILLER that it's "camp". It certainly is not and was never intended to be. AHND is over-the-top to some people. It's not ott to me. It's a perfect balance of intense elements.

04-18-2005, 02:08 AM	#13
Wostry Ferenc adventures in babysitting Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Budapest, Hungary Posts: 4,025	Re: A Hero Never Dies I should have wrote "tongue-in-cheek" instead of "spoof"... __________________ GEEKBLOG

07-29-2008, 12:49 PM	#14
Wostry Ferenc adventures in babysitting Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Budapest, Hungary Posts: 4,025	Re: A Hero Never Dies And the wait for the acceptable dvd continues... It's been only 10 years... __________________ GEEKBLOG

07-29-2008, 01:09 PM	#15
Jason S Sweater Puppy Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Monster Island Posts: 1,364	Re: A Hero Never Dies Thanks for the heads up, I wasn't familiar with this film. The search is on......

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