Hero

Been waiting for this movie for 2 years and thanks to Quentin Tarantino, it's here in US theaters in it's uncut form starting Friday.

From SFgate:

And so "Hero" has taken on a deeper personal meaning for Li -- not merely because of its artistic sweep or its representation of Chinese history and cultural character. For Li, "Hero" is a film about the highest level of martial arts, the level that comes only with a deeper wisdom about human nature. "We say that martial arts has three levels," he adds. "The first level is about skill -- about turning your body into a weapon, or making a weapon a part of your body. The second is about turning your heart into a weapon -- your courage, your skill, your stance, so that, even without fighting, your opponent will feel defeated. But the third level is about having no weapons at all. The third level is about love."

"I have wanted to make this film for a long time," says Li. "It is a film that uses violence to talk about the importance of nonviolence. If I beat you up, you may say you will change, but in your heart you will not change. You will tell your son, 'Kill him,' your grandson, 'Kill him.' But if I let you beat me up, if I show you my love, only then can I change you. Only then can I make you forget your anger and your hate.