I just saw Jet Li's latest movie last nite on DVD, Fearless. The movie is notable for being Jet Li's swan song to the martial arts genre. I have been a fan of Jet with such films as the Once Upon a Time in China series, Fong Sai Yuk, Hero, etc. For a man who has given so much to the world of chop sockey kung-fu films, it is a fitting end to his career. The movie Fearless serves a dual purpose: 1) to demonstrate Jet Li's definitive martial arts prowess and 2) to espouse his wushu philosophy. At times the philosophy can be heavy handed, but it's somewhat appropriate because it corresponds to the storyline. The movie structure is similar to Danny the Dog/Unleashed with a story sandwiched between action sequences, but at no time does Fearless feels like it drags like it did with DtD/Unleashed. There's also the pseudo-Chinese nationalistic propaganda that's obvious through the whole movie, but really it's no different then the "let's all shit on the Chinese and the Chinese fight back" themes that are present in movies like Once Upon a Time in China. Even Bruce Lee's films had similar themes in his older films. But secondary characters like the Japanese are not painted in broad stereotypical strokes as you would expect. I'll leave it for you to see.
But really... we all go see Jet Li's movies for specific reasons: the action. The movie shoots off like a rocket at the start and is a blast from beginning to end. I think in some ways Tony Jaa has ante'd up the bar with the way certains fights are filmed (but even Jaa acknowledges that without Bruce Lee and Jet Li, there would be no him). If you saw Danny the Dog/Unleashed, the fights were pretty brutal. Fearless continues that trend with some really brutal fights... shit gets smashed, blood gets spilled, and bones are definitely broken. Anyone who was disappointed by the few, but quality fight scenes in Danny the Dog/Unleashed will be pleased to see that there are a TON of fight sequences in Fearless. Jet Li shows his skills with varying styles of kung-fu and his expertise with various weaponry. There's a really great montage where Jet makes short work of his competitors. The brawl in the restaurant sticks out in my mind as the most memorable fight, as well as one on an elevated platform. The choreography and cinematography was excellent throughout. Wires are used to a minimum. I really don't have a problem with wire work, but it's gotten to be too overused in today's movies. What's the point of real martial artists in films when you got Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore flying around? Fearless definitely shows off why Jet Li is the wushu man. I would find it comparable to the fan favorite, Fist of Legend, where wire work was used merely to enhance the fights, as opposed to over compensating for lack of real life martial arts skills.
Anyways, any martial arts/action fan should check this movie out. Is it a classic? Time will tell, but I think it's going to a movie people will enjoy for years to come. It's by no means an epic like Hero was, but it's an enjoyable film in it's right.
There's good news for people in America because Focus Features (their Rogue Pictures division released Danny the Dog/Unleashed) has picked up the distribution rights for North America. So hopefully this will hit theaters the same way Hero did. But you could probably pick it up the Asian DVD before it even comes to America or if u r in the L.A. area at this place where u can rent American movies and Asian movies called 98 Cent Video at West Covina, CA.
But really... we all go see Jet Li's movies for specific reasons: the action. The movie shoots off like a rocket at the start and is a blast from beginning to end. I think in some ways Tony Jaa has ante'd up the bar with the way certains fights are filmed (but even Jaa acknowledges that without Bruce Lee and Jet Li, there would be no him). If you saw Danny the Dog/Unleashed, the fights were pretty brutal. Fearless continues that trend with some really brutal fights... shit gets smashed, blood gets spilled, and bones are definitely broken. Anyone who was disappointed by the few, but quality fight scenes in Danny the Dog/Unleashed will be pleased to see that there are a TON of fight sequences in Fearless. Jet Li shows his skills with varying styles of kung-fu and his expertise with various weaponry. There's a really great montage where Jet makes short work of his competitors. The brawl in the restaurant sticks out in my mind as the most memorable fight, as well as one on an elevated platform. The choreography and cinematography was excellent throughout. Wires are used to a minimum. I really don't have a problem with wire work, but it's gotten to be too overused in today's movies. What's the point of real martial artists in films when you got Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore flying around? Fearless definitely shows off why Jet Li is the wushu man. I would find it comparable to the fan favorite, Fist of Legend, where wire work was used merely to enhance the fights, as opposed to over compensating for lack of real life martial arts skills.
Anyways, any martial arts/action fan should check this movie out. Is it a classic? Time will tell, but I think it's going to a movie people will enjoy for years to come. It's by no means an epic like Hero was, but it's an enjoyable film in it's right.
There's good news for people in America because Focus Features (their Rogue Pictures division released Danny the Dog/Unleashed) has picked up the distribution rights for North America. So hopefully this will hit theaters the same way Hero did. But you could probably pick it up the Asian DVD before it even comes to America or if u r in the L.A. area at this place where u can rent American movies and Asian movies called 98 Cent Video at West Covina, CA.
