HERO

We were asked to watch Hero, an Asian film, and describe the use of color, wither it helped the scene, caused distraction and why it was used. I have previously seen this movie and have thought that it was the most beautiful movie I had seen. This time watching it I looked at it analytically, and not as much for entertainment value.

I noticed that the movie is divided into sections. The main character "nameless" and the king/emperor are in a room. Here the king is congratulating nameless on his killings of some powerful assassins that have plotted to kill the king. While these two are together they go back and forth telling what happened, and what they thought happened. The scenes in which these two are together are cold, gray and dark.

The first assassination is Sky. He is dressed in yellow and green. He stands out a lot against all the other fighters who are in gray. In the background there is a man playing music in white. Also at one point the movie switches to black and white, and the swords are glowing and stand out.

The second fight is with Flying Snow and Broken Sword. The first color I noticed was red. It was everywhere; the school walls, the students clothes, the sheets that Broken sword and moon are in, and the coming solders have flags that are red. Broken Sword and Flying Snow are also dressed in shades of red. I feel this color was used because the story that is being told is one of passion lust and power and war, all things that red describes.

Once Broken Sword dies, Moon and Flying Snow are outside and begin to duel. They are dressed in red with yellow and gold leafed trees surrounding them.

Once Moon is dead all the leaves turn to red and cover her body, representing death.

The king then describes what he thinks really happened between nameless, Flying Snow and Broken Sword. This time most everything is in shades of blue. The king thinks that nameless is plotting with them to assassinate the king, and one of them needs to volunteer, just like Sky, to die in the name of the assassination. Because these two love each other so greatly, they are very saddened by this, and know one of them must do as asked. The color blue can also be strong and steadfast and is used because whom ever decides they will die for this cause will need these characteristics.

Nameless then tells the king of what truly happened. This time everyone is in white.

Within this story we have a flashback with Snow and Sword first meeting and planning to kill the king by storming the castle. They are in green.

As these are my interpretations of what these colors are and why they were used. I know that in Asia colors mean something completely different. So these are just my thoughts