zv300 Review of A Hero Never Dies

A Hero Never Dies (1998)

Starts off slow, but gets GREAT toward the middle and end.

[8/10 · 27 January 2006]

I'm really surprised there are not more reviews for this very good movie, but I think the depressing content is what did it. As usual, another Asian movie has not ceased to surprise me, and positively at that. This movie starts off pretty slow and really corny, making it's actual content all the more surprising. In a nut-shell 2 opposing bodyguards of warring gangs are betrayed by their own bosses after serving them and risking their lives (and limbs) protecting them. After the Bosses make a truce, they try and forget about the old "guard" who protected them. Both bodyguards loose everything, one looses both legs and his girlfriend is killed protecting his honor, and the other is reduced to working menial jobs while taking care of his girlfriend, who also risked her life for her man and was horribly burned in the process. Very heavy stuff, and completely un-expected after seeing the goofy beginning. Both bodyguards vow revenge, which is only partially realized. The respect they had for each other was touching, as for the tenacity of their girlfriends who took the brunt of the outcome of their revenge. The performance of the crippled Bodyguard was excellent, first time I've seen the "Hero" to be physically impaired. I rank this movie right up there with the best action films, AND some of the best Drama's at the same time. I don't think people were ready for a crippled Hero, which is a shame because this movie gave some credibility to the fact that you can achieve anything you want REGARDLESS of your handicap. Most copies of this DVD are not that great in quality, so that has hurt this film also, but do yourself a favor and see this EXCELLENT movie.