BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

thesar-2 They were looking out for a hero…and had to settle.Later, I will discuss the magnitude of importance this review has for me, but for now, I searched for a 1992 movie I had seen, meant something to me and I haven't reviewed yet. Surprisingly, upon going through the IMDb list of 1992 films, I found over 40 great movies, but only about 10 I had previously reviewed. I couldn't believe how many GREAT movies to masterpieces were released during that year. And though I had stories for many of them as I recall where I saw them, with whom and how the films affected me, this one really stood out.I remember seeing this opening weekend, that first weekend of October 1992 and absolutely gushing over it. Insta 10/10 stars. I praised it to everyone and practically begged people to see it. But…that's where my memory of this movie ends. I don't ever remember seeing it again during the 23 years between then and now. Funny. Usually when I loved a movie this much, I would've seen it on repeat back then, or at very least, *gulp* add it to my vast VHS collection.So, I had to see it again, and hopefully relive that joy I remember back in early October 1992. Did it live up to my own hype? Did it hold up after over two decades? Eh, not really. But, still, it was a very good movie.I did find myself laughing out loud – it was a straight up comedy, though feel-good comedy. And as bad as the three main characters were – man, our title character was such a horrible "citizen," their turns at having a conscious were inspirational. Lifetime criminal Bernie is trying to balance being a "good" divorced dad to his son, hocking stolen goods and credit cards and attempting to stay out of prison when all of a sudden…a plane nearly drops on top of him. To put it very mildly, he reluctantly helps the people escape the tragic crash and even some trapped survivors. One of which, is Reporter Gale who makes it her mission to find the unknown hero who vanishes. A one-million-dollar reward draws out Bernie's bum friend to fake being the hero the Windy City needs.Those three, Bernie, Gale and the bum, John, all really turn the light- hearted comedy into something much better. All three have baggage and are technically bad people, but through the well-written script, signs of light shine through and it's a joy to see their bits of selflessness.Again, I didn't go all 10 stars with even more stars in my eyes this time around, but it's worth it to see it…even if just to see how many other stars showed up in minor roles. Maybe we all have a little bit of heroism in us, I'd like to take from this and hopefully believe in real life. ***Final thoughts: In truth, I don't recall the actual flight number from the movie, but I used that number for the special reason I chose this film. It's been my lucky number most of my life: 1516. And this is my 1,516th review. So, I had to make it special and count.Back in my day…ah-hem…not too long before the interwebs, we had in college: THE ELECTRONIC FORUM, or ef for short. This is where college students could electronically talk with each other and their teachers on the old, plain green screens. It was basic, of course, but came with many, many different "forums" from the serious to the fun to even the meet-your-match ones. When I signed up, that fall of 1992, right around the time this movie opened, I was the 1,516th user (it eventually went up to the 10s of thousands) and hence, that was my destination: ef1516.I've adopted that number for my life since – though, no, I don't use it as any of my PINs or passwords as that would be too easy for anyone who really knew me or my past. THAT was a long story on how I came to pick Hero as my 1,516th movie review. It was just perfect that I remember loving this movie at about the same time I claimed my lifelong lucky number.

namashi_1 Stephen Frears made a fantastic film in 'Hero'.... the underrated Masterpiece of Hollywood from the year 1992. The film is engaging, interesting, gripping, enjoyable almost everything you want to see in a film, when you grow up.There is a hero in all of us, says Andy Garcia in the film, the film leaves you happy, that even in some ways everyone is a hero. A quality in all of us, that has or can make us a Hero! Laura Ziskin, Alvin Sargent & David Webb Peoples the writer's of 'Hero' deserve a pat for their hard work and brilliant writing. And the director's understanding and execution is just a cherry on the cake.Performance wise: Dustin Hoffman excels as Bernie. The legendary actor steals the show with an outstanding performance. Andy Garcia is excellent. His character might look Grey, but when he takes up the deeds, you route for the so-called hero. Geena Davis looks gorgeous and delivers a first-rate performance. Chevy Chase is wonderful. Joan Cusack is just right. Kevin J. O'Connor, Maury Chaykin & Stephen Tobolowsky are efficient.on the whole 'Hero' is heroic indeed. A must see for all cinema lovers. Two Thumbs Up!

Quentintarantado While the plot and the music sort of gives it an inspirational theme, Hero is actually more subversive than that. Over everything is the recurring theme that it's all playing in front of cameras. People acting as heroes in front of the camera, people lying in front of the camera, people avoiding the camera, people trying to have a confidential discussion in front of cameras and hundreds of people watching below. The camera makes everyone act weird because it scares them or it turns them on. I think what puts off most viewers is the syrupy music, heroic, uplifting, telling people how to feel and I can feel myself being manipulated. I personally think it's a very, very sly choice. It goes to show I can't believe anything I see in the news, and I can't believe this movie either, because it's manipulating me too by telling me not to believe. My son watched it, and I asked him, okay, who's the hero? The jerk who saves hundreds of people or the the liar who, when given the chance, goes forth to inspire and help people anyway? Both of them are undercut by their actions. I guess they both are. And I guess none of our heroes are really clean. They probably hide some sins in their pasts. Which makes the theme, if that were the theme, more realistic to me.

moonspinner55 Excruciating comedy has Dustin Hoffman playing a con man and pickpocket in New York City who is already in all kinds of legal trouble when his car stalls on a bridge overlooking a river where an airliner has just crash landed; he reluctantly helps the passengers out of the plane and then disappears. Later, a TV newswoman, who happened to be on the ill-fated flight, turns the story around to reflect on the mysterious hero, causing worldwide interest. Intriguing concept for a comedy-drama, but this one is never sure what it wants to be (or what tempo the scenes should be set at). At certain moments, it's a rapid-fired, "Front Page"-styled satire, other times it's a mushy piece littered with brash or kooky characters, none of whom seem credible. In a running, irritating gag, Hoffman's character isn't able to get his side of the story out--he's constantly thwarted by people who won't listen, don't care, or don't believe him. However the biggest joke is, he's such an ill-mannered, disreputable lout, he doesn't deserve any recognition! Geena Davis has some brief moments where her innate charm comes through without effort, and the supporting cast is full of wonderful characters actors; however, no one here merits much interest. You know a picture's in trouble when there are only two decent people on hand: a non-mouthy teenager and Tom Arnold as a bartender. *1/2 from ****