When Zhang Yimou's movie HERO came out in 2002, Jin Yong gave some comments in an interview:
Interviewer: Zhang Yimou's movie HERO has been considered an excellent representation of the essence of wuxia. Have you watched this movie?
Louis Cha: I enjoyed Zhang Yimou's RED SORGHUM, and JU DOU is also good, but I dislike HERO the most. I completely disapprove of HERO. HERO depicted the well-known historical tyrant Qing Shi Huang as otherwise, contrary to his historical image, deceiving the audience. The tyrant emperor did not value individual life. This is a ridiculous movie, that's why I do not like it.
Original text:
南方周末:张艺谋的电影《英雄》制作精良,被认为是武侠片表现形式上的一个分水岭,您看过这部 电影吗?
金庸:张艺谋的《红高粱》我喜欢,后来的《菊豆》也很好,最不喜欢《英雄》,完全否定。《英雄》把历史上有 名的暴君秦始皇拍成了这个样,和历史上的形象截然相反,欺骗观众,而且有为他洗身翻案的意思,把人的价值分 几等,不尊重生命,这是一部拍得很荒唐的电影,所以我不喜欢
Now, did Jin Yong forget, he who speaks against history-fabrication and audience-deception is not innocent of the said accusation? The old fart completely misled readers with fabricated tales about Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Kangxi and others. Did Jin Yong also forget, movies and literature both have room for fiction, and he is no less innocent a history fabricator, audience deceiver than Zhang Yimou and HERO's producer Zhang Weiping!