Fearless (2006)

Memorable, crazy movie

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

A very unfocused film with too many messages and not enough entertainment. The first half is okay. It starts out as your standard kung-fu flick with the usual terrific on-screen fighting as expected from Jet Li. But about halfway there is this boring 25 minute stretch with zero action which alone ruins the pacing. The second half is like an entirely different film with an unrelated plot and ludicrous turns of events. By the time they get to the fighting in the third act it is underwhelming because the first half had all the good stuff. Jet Li's acting doesn't add much to his character nor to the story. It feels like he phones it in which makes sense considering this was his supposed to be his last wuxia film. Good production values but overall a disappointing martial arts experience. Everything here was done better in Once Upon a Time in China and Ip Man.

This film tells the story of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia (1869-1910) , the most famous fighter around the world . Huo (Jet Li) was the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation . Huo takes on two terrible fighters , Hercules O'Brien (Nathan Jones is so large and the beds in Chinese hotels so small, he had to fit three beds together) and Tanaka (Shidô Nakamura) . Huo faced off personal tragedy but ultimately fought his way out of darkness and into history, defining the true spirit of martial arts .A splendid film starring Jet Li, based on the true story of the martial arts master Huo Yuanjia . This moving Chop-Socky displays action-packed , thrills , fast-paced and wild fighting images . It is an action-filled and violent film , being filmed in Shanghai . Director Ronny Yu establishes his signature style of kinetically-paced story-telling through sumptuous imagery , leading to international critical acclaim . The picture is full of tumultuous sequences with frenetic action , surprises , fierce combats and groundbreaking struggles . The rousing fights with deadly use of fists , feet and palms , along with such weapons as swords and sticks .In the movie, Jet Li uses the Jian (Chinese straight sword), Sanjiegun (Three section staff), Dao (Chinese Broad sword), and the Qiang (Chinese spear). Fights , attacks and exciting combats very well staged by expert Woo-Ping Yuen , the result is a strong entry for action buffs . Amid the glamour and grandeur of the scenarios is developed an intrigue between Chinese-Japanese confrontation and about a fighter master who attempts to restore his family's name. Groundbreaking combats between Huo and a lot of enemy fighters ; furthermore , an overwhelming final duel between Huo/Jet Li and Tanaka/Nakamura . Classic as well as impressive Chop-Socky in which wild fighting scenes provide an overwhelming view of Jet Li's skills. Several moves planned by Woo-ping Yuen for Jet Li were deleted by Li for aesthetic and cultural reasons, including cheek slap, and back-of-head slap . Li felt that those moves were too impolite to Westerners . Actors made their owns stunts ; some of the players got injured and to had to be hospitalized during the shooting , some of them suffered mild concussions during filming, after being struck four times during a fight scene . During filming when Nathan Jones was to pick up one of the extras and toss him to the floor, Jones got too into the spirit and the extra ended up going to the hospital with cracked ribs . In addition , Nathan Jones took a fall badly during filming and almost lost several teeth .The motion picture was stunningly directed by Ronny Yu . He began to direct The Servant , the film became the No.1 box office hit for the summer, and Yu's future seemed destined to be in film after all. Throughout the 1980s Yu directed and produced many other box office hits in Hong Kong . In 1986 , he directed Brandon Lee , Bruce Lee's son , in Legacy of Rage . In 1993, the successful as well as romantic swordplay epic The bride with the white hair (1993) . Bride was a huge summer hit in Hong Kong, and also became an art house theater favorite in the U.S. and Europe . In 1995 came the equally ravishing The Phantom Lover(1995), a love story inspired by the original novel of The Phantom of the Opera . Following these nice films, Yu launched his Hollywood career . As he went on to direct Warriors of virtue and The 51st State with Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle . His flair for visually rich narration appealed immediately to broader Western audiences and has been associated mostly with the terror film genre, as he has revived three franchises with The bride of Chucky (1998), adding some hilarious touches ; then Freddy versus Jason (2003), of the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises, respectively, where its box office total is more than the two franchises'combined earnings .

This movie is a great sense of how to learn about yourself in a pursue of happiness. It is uncommon for people in this day and age, for one, to find true happiness in what they do. Most die and never see real importance of life and their own propose. This movie is one of my favorites because, Huo dreams so big into being the best Wushu master and claiming his house name among china, that he not only forgets what is most important to him, but he sacrifices the lives around him for his own endeavor. After realizing what he has done, he leaves uncertain of his own motivation in his life. Then he is picked up, aged, and in a isolated place where he learns the meaning of life and how to grow. He learns here that not only is his dreams still worth chasing but the reasons why he does it is not for his own greed, but rather for the teaching of others. He realize through honorable competition he can find himself, learn who he is and in his place of happiness die with peace. For he has left others to do good. Unfortunately, my review probably still does not do justice for this film but I would recommend this movie to everyone in hopes that they see, what my words lack.

FEARLESS stars Jet Li in what is supposedly his final martial arts epic. The actor has mentioned that this is a summary of his thoughts and philosophy of wushu, an art he has so breathtakingly performed for decades, that has seen him not only become one of China's biggest movie stars, but also labeled possibly the greatest wushu practitioner in the contemporary era. Li plays legendary pugilist Huo Yuan Jia, who is depicted here as a talented but cocky fighter from a well to do family. His own arrogance soon results in tragedy, which leads him to undergo a metamorphosis that lets him understand the true meaning of martial arts, and ignites his desire to enlighten others in an oppressed China marred by invaders. Yuen Woo Ping shines again and puts Li's talents to wonderful use for one last time. Apart from the brilliant unarmed combat sequences, he also utilizes various weapons, the highlight certainly being the three section staff which Li maneuvers with such audacity and elegance. There is something about his performance that always makes him special; a personality of sorts. Amidst the mechanical choreography, he presents beautiful rhythm and fluidity, like investing emotions to a piano piece.Kudos to Ronny Yu for presenting a film that is able to identify martial arts not as a tool to protect one's pride, but a path for liberating people. While the film still utilizes the typical foreign antagonists as a foil for Huo to defend Chinese pride(again), Yu can be forgiven for portraying them as respectful martial artists who, rather than wanting Huo dead, were shared his knowledge and qualities derived from wushu, humility and compassion among them. All in all, FEARLESS is a wonderful film which not only showcases the artistic side to Jet's beloved craft, but also carries an important message about overcoming yourself and treasuring life, which is a rarity among kung fu movies.Thank you, Jet Li, for your countless, brilliant performances of this magnificent art. It's been one hell of a ride.