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Jet Li is
certainly no stranger to the Silver
Screen. His martial arts style has given
him the opportunity to make many a
successful film. With his new film,
Hero, Jet Li now has the chance to not
only give his eager audience the fight
scenes they are so thirsty for but they
also get a front row seat that continues
to show Asians ever increasing
development of films void of generic
fantasy and filled with emotional
substance and culture.
In a small upper New York office, just
feet away from the luxurious Trump Plaza
Health Spa, where bottles of water are
adorned with Donald Trumps photo & logo,
exits Jet Li from the roundtable room to
meet and greet the already mingling
writers.
Are you now
excited that this film is out?
Jet Li: Yeah cause you know,
we hoped one day we can see this movie
in the theatre. American people love
Hong Kong films. So, I do hope that
American people will go see the film
because it’s very quite special movie.
If you watch this movie in the theatre;
you know, the way the songs, the color
…it’s much better than DVD. Plus, its
Chinese movie (lol).
I grew up on
“traditional” Chinese films. But this
one seemed very different in the way the
story takes place. What makes Hero so
different from some of the others?
Jet Li: When I read the
script I cried twice. First of all the
character has very strong character,
because the others trust each other to
give their life in my hands because to
kill the king. That kind of feeling is
very strong where you didn’t see a lot
of stories, a lot of films like this.
Second of all is, I make a lot of action
films already. A lot of films are
commercial action films, where the
family got a problem or the area got a
problem, where they go up to the
mountain learn martial arts, come back
down kill the family…(lol) usually
that’s the formula, that action formula.
This film is the one that I’ve been
looking for, for many years. The
violence is not the only solution. There
is a different way to solve the problem,
didn’t need to use violent movie to talk
about a non-violent story. This movie
you didn’t find the bad guy in the film.
It’s only the people who have different
opinions that you see a different kind
of view in the whole story. In the last
40 minutes there is no fighting.
What is the
nature of Heroism and what is this movie
trying to say about that?
Jet Li: I think this movie is
made for a different kind of age that
watches the film. In different culture
they have different kinds of results. A
younger audience, they just look at the
picture, see fighting. But the people
who have good education, they know more
about Asian culture, the background, the
loyalty, the friendship, the dying for
the love. If you go to another level you
can see what does the highest martial
arts meaning? What is the Hero? The man
and the woman love each other. They die
for each other. That’s a hero. The king
is the hero. He unified the country, the
writing, the calculations. It’s the
audience decision. The hero in my
personal opinion…I don’t want to see a
hero in life. Cause when we need a hero
we got a problem. The problem may be
when two people hurt each other, two
countries hurt each other, the nature
makes problems: fire, water,
earthquake…we really need a strong man
to protect us…a hero. If everybody loves
each other, very peaceful, then we don’t
have any problems. Then why would we
need a hero? I mean, if bad things
happen, then we need a hero. But, really
I don’t want to see. If we take longer
to see the hero in the world, then that
means we are at peace.
Has anything
been cut from the American version of
Hero?
Jet Li: In the beginning they
wanted to cut information. Looping from
Chinese to English. But right now they
kept it the original way.
How did you
prepare for this role?
Jet Li: I spent 6 months in
China. I worked with the whole crew and
the director to discover this character.
My character is the only character in
the whole story that grew up. The other
characters…just there they are just
straight forward. From beginning to end
it’s just the same way. My character,
his parents died, his country, his drive
for the king, he learned martial arts to
try to kill the king. But through this
journey he met a few new friends. At the
end of the movie he still didn’t decide
to kill or not. He grew up, this
character. We learned a lot of things, a
lot of details from the beginning. Like
how to walk. 2000 years ago, we had to
learn how to walk. They don’t move.
They’re fast. The way they run. How to
smile. How to reach for our swords.
In regards to
the warring states period to the birth
of China, during the making of this
film, did you already know the history
of the story or did you learn it from
the making of this film?
Jet Li: I think the director
and the writer did a lot of research.
For example, they read the history books
and talking about king dynasty’s…that
they liked black. So that’s why we had
over 500 horses of different color. And
then the director said I want them
black. They spent several days dying the
hairs. They did a lot of research. 2000
years they were very general. Everybody
respects. That culture they keep in
Japan, but not in China (lol).
In the film,
during one of your fight scenes…You
would sort of “fight” in your mind with
your opponent. What did this signify?
Jet Li: This guy goes in
front of the king to tell the story
about why he is coming there. But he
really made a story and then another
story inside that one. The king figures
this is a lie and said no I think it's
this. I know a guy who can play chess
with 9 other people at the same time. He
plays very well. He remembers moving
here to there, because he is good
enough. So, that make me think that when
two guys, who understand the martial
arts very well, don’t really need to
fight, we can just stand there and look
at each other. I already know your
higher then me. So, I’ve already won
before the fight even starts. We talk
about the martial arts having three
levels in this film. The first level is
sword, its part of your body, if your
skill is good enough its part of your
body. The second level is without a
weapon. Your heart becomes a weapon. If
you are good enough, you stand there,
the people already scared of you.
Language is your imagination but with
your heart you can scare them and they
run away. Between two countries maybe we
can use this conversation to stop before
the war starts. It’s with the second
level that we can solve the problem. But
the third level is love. Now we are
talking about the religion level. Its
many religions in the world, whether we
are talking about Buddhism, Jesus…if you
hit this side or this side (aiming at
chest) because I am never angry, I will
give you love. The highest martial arts
level is curved to religion. All the
religion in the world is talking about
love. It’s the most powerful thing.
Most people
when they think of martial arts they
thinking of fighting, hate and killing
the other person. And you’re saying that
the highest marital arts level is love
and showing love to the other person.
Jet Li: Yeah, because…you
think about it…it’s getting involved
with some people who have already fought
saying I don’t want to fight with you.
Because they know the skill very well.
It’s already at the second level. But if
right now I show you I love you while
you hate me. Your beating and I still
love you. Why are you beating me? I will
return. Change yourself. Whatever you’re
good or bad, change to a different
person. That’s the way about martial
arts.
It makes for a
very different type of martial arts
movie, existing on the third level and
show people love instead of
choreographed fighting and so forth. Is
that something you’re hoping for?
Jet Li: Yeah. I want to see
one day this kind of film, but its
difficult right now, cause people will
laugh...(ha ha ha). You have to find the
right way to do the right thing. Only
the love can change you. Forget angry.
Forget everything. That’s the most
powerful.
You said
earlier that you wish we didn’t need a
hero. Do you see yourself as a hero to
kids all around the world as being an
international action star?
Jet Li: No, I'm really not a
hero. I’m just a guy (lol) filled with
love. But I play some character. The
character maybe like a tough man. I
always smile, I never want to. I never
think of using my martial arts in my
real life. A lot of people say what
about if someone what to beat you up and
you want to take them down? I say you
can take me down in a few seconds
because I never want to take revenge.
Do you get
that? Guys wanting to prove that they
are tough. Tougher than you?
Jet Li: It never happens
because I never say I’m the best fighter
in the world. I say I’m an actor (lol).
In your 6
months of training what was the hardest
part on your body, physically doing
what?
Jet Li: In some locations
it’s really difficult to make this film.
Like on the lake. The director wants to
see the lake like a mirror. Sometimes
the lighting comes in and you can’t
shoot. So we lose a whole day. That type
of situation it’s difficult to control
the nature. The weather.
What style of
martial arts was used?
Jet Li: No special style.
Did you want to
work with Zhang Yimou?
Jet Li: We’ve know each other
for many years. We talk about it before
maybe 8, 10 years ago. I said can I work
with you someday? He look at me and say
no. when I look in your face, it’s like
a baby face. You are not a man yet. I
need to see a lot of pain and experience
on your face. So 6 years later, he
showed me the script. He said I see a
lot of pain your face. Now it is time,
now you’re a man (lol).
Do you still
want to continue doing Chinese movies
and American movies at the same time?
Jet Li: A lot of people like
to ask that question. The movie that I
make in China or in the states is no
difference. It only wants to show to
this audience a world wide movie.
Everybody is trying to make a world wide
movie. I think I need to find a balance.
The way Americans think about Jet Li
making this kind of film. In Asia and
Europe I have more space to control my
movies. I can do this that kind of way,
this kind of way. Like Hero, if I show
the script to the studio, maybe nobody
want to make it. They don’t understand.
The film is already finished. I need
proof. But in Asia it’s already
successful and in Europe it’s good. I
still need to prove in America.
Here in
America, Asian films are very big.
America is remaking a lot of these
films. Do you think they should just
import the original or do you like the
idea of remaking them?
Jet Li: It’s really difficult
for us to make the decision. Like, I go
to Europe and make a film. I come back,
show it to the studio…they love it. But
they don’t know how to market this film.
Is action movie? Or drama movie? How to
crack the border and say drama, but
action in it. You need both audiences to
come in and see the film. It’s a typical
action film. It’s very easy to come in
say this is an action film. You need the
audience to determine how to promote a
film.
In regards to
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there
are very many similarities: the drama,
the fighting, Chinese cast…Do you feel
that Hero would not have been released
here in America if it were not for the
success of this film?
Jet Li: Mmmmmmm. I think so.
I think that they still would have made
it in China but it wouldn’t have been
that much money to make it. Right now
they spent $30 Million US dollars to
make this film.
How would you
compare the two films?
Jet Li: I think its two
different kinds of director’s ways to
use martial arts to talk about the love.
It’s a different kind of picture. It
still uses martial arts, but a different
kind of picture.
Do you think we
will ever see you in a movie with Jackie
Chan?
Jet Li: We tried to make a
movie 10 years ago in Hong Kong.
Something happened, we didn’t make it. A
few years ago, the studio wanted to make
the film again. Something happened; we
didn’t make it (lol). I can’t guarantee.
I don’t know.
If you could
have one super hero power, what would
that be?
Jet Li: I would take all the
suffering from the people.
Did you grow
your own hair for the part or did they
put it in?
Jet Li: Yes (laughing). They
put it on top of my head.
What was it
like working with Aaliyah?
Jet Li: Aww. Its great
experiences working with her. At that
time, she’s young, has energy.
Everyday she comes she happy, smiles,
sing songs. Very lovely girl. When I was
making Hero, is when I heard of her
passing.
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