The Hero

I just watched a Quentin Tarantino movie presentation called Hero.

It’s one of those eastern super swashbuckling flying through the air extravaganzas.

The leaves swirl and the robes flow.

And, it is beautiful.

Here’s the blurb:

Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO -- starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

I’m going to ruin the movie for you.

The Hero lays down his sword.

I have been carping for some time about how Hollywood always has and continues to glorify war and violence, even and especially in movies for the young. Lord of the Rings is my most unfavorite.

The moral of all those movies is that if you just kill enough and war enough you will finally get some peace.

This movie doesn’t support that myth.

The Hero lays down his sword.

And the spared evil ruler becomes a great emperor.

It’s practically biblical.

Christ! It is Biblical.

When Christians glorify War

They are thumbing their noses at the Boss.

Jesus never told anybody to kill anybody.

In fact, he told them to resist not evil.

That the day was evil enough as it is.

When I see those ribbon things on the back of bumpers

That say “support the troops”

I wonder if they realize they are really saying

“Support the illegal War.”

I wish someone would take one and reprint on it,

Bring them Home

And flip it around so it made an infinity sign

Out of the original ribbon.

It really gets my goat

For people to make war in the name of their God.

I bet Jesus thinks it sucks too.

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.

Black Elk (1863-1950)

Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind...War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."

John F. Kennedy

We need more Hero movies.