Notice how it always gets hiked up? Was watching a DVD of `Hero` last night (no, not anime but same genure) a pretty harmless movie (ok, the fight scenes were lovingly produced but what do you expect? No one watches this film for the pretty colours.) The execution scene in any other context would be positvley childish. And yet this film gets a 12 certificate. Whenever I see a 12 certificate I think of things like `Revenge of the Sith` and `Return of the King` two drawn out epics with loving created and really unnecissary fight scenes. (and that is what Gatch will be after all. Goons will yawn)

I really loved the movie "Hero" but then I also loved "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "House of Flying Daggers," "Curse of the Golden Flower" etc., even if the drama is over-the-top, the plots are convoluted with treachery left and right, and the fight scenes are more visual fantasy/ballet than fights. The part of "Hero" where Snow and Moon fight (at 2.51 in this clip) is just so beautiful... (to me, anyway) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_crNWMUOBfE I don't remember how any of these movies were rated in the US though. Unless I'm planning to take my nephew to a movie with me, I don't pay attention to the ratings, and I wouldn't have taken him to see any of these because he hates subtitles. In the case of "Hero," there isn't really anything there that would be too awful for a kid to see (granted, it depends on the kid), but the movie's style and themes are definitely not what a typical kid would enjoy, especially compared to the Star Wars or LOTR movies.

What is a 12 certificate?

Hero is simply ballet with balls... The plot is simple, and the characters two dimensional, but its subtle all the same Set in the warring states era...a time of many stories, as was the period around 500bc (the rise of Buddim, Confuanism and Taosim...coincidentaly the flowering of Greek though too) a western writer and director would have made it too elaborate, Its a good example of minimalist storytelling.

12 certificate means that it's not suitable for anyone under 12 years old to watch.