Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director's Cut)
by Ronny Yu
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DVD details
Actor: Anthony de Longis, Betty Sun, Dong Yong, Jet Li, Masato HaradaDirector: Ronny Yu
Brand: LI,JET
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Cantonese (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Director's Cut, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.40:1
Running Time: 141 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-07-08
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Reviews of Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director's Cut)
DVD Review: The Director's Cut arrives to U.S. DVD; Re-cut, Re-Edited and Restored to All its Glory! Jet Li's Last Wu Shu Film?
Summary: 5 Stars
FEARLESS is one of the BEST Kung Fu films I've seen in a long time. The film is based on the real-life tale of the legendary Huo Yuan Jia, founder of the Jin Wu Martial Arts Federation. Up to this day, is still considered to be one of best established Kung Fu schools. "Fearless" is among Jet Li's best; right up there with his most memorable roles as Wong Fei Hung and Fong Sai Yuk. Some may say that "Fearless" is a prequel (of sorts) to Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury" (aka. Chinese Connection) and Jet Li's "Fist of Legend", where the two renowned stars play Huo's greatest student.
The story may be a bit simple, but delivers a strong message NOT to be ignored. It explores the consequences of revenge and the sin of hubris. Arrogance is a strong taint in one's soul and vengeance darkens it. The message is that tolerance and understanding is the way of a TRUE master, humility his tool and above all, honor is the true goal. Huo learned quite a lot in his experiences, and what is more important is that he learned from his mistakes.
The theatrical cut of "Fearless" was very good, but it did suffer a bit in pacing. Now, with this Director's cut, we see why. The theatrical release was edited in a way that action films were cut, now, re-cut and re-edited; Fearless is better than ever. It now feels more of a dramatization and re-edited in a way a TRUE Martial Arts Epic should be...
There are major differences in the director's cut, with 40 minutes more footage. This version is even better than the recent unrated version. It includes the opening sequence with Michelle Yeoh and while the previous release started in the middle of the action, this cut begins the story with Huo in a boat. I will outline the scenes because I can still remember (I saw this version in 2006) since this film gave me such impact with its message and emotional action sequences.
1. Opening sequence with Michelle Yeoh as a Chinese diplomat, in the bid to consider Wu Shu in the Olympics.
2. This cut shows more of Huo's childhood. From his determination to study Wu Shu that he stole his father's notebooks that leads up to his second encounter with the boy who had beaten him after Huo's father was beaten in a match. Huo also has a rematch with the same boy before he fought him again as an adult.
3. Huo's arrogance is explored, he is often in a disagreement with his best friend.
4. After he had fled the town and found by farmers. There are additional scenes where he mends. He learns more of the farmers' lifestyle and becomes puzzled how these simple people can be so gentle and humble in their ways. He admires how they care for an old ailing bull. Huo's blossoming relationship with the blind girl is more explored.
5. Now, this is the keeper; this scene was included in the theatrical release in Thailand. Huo defends the honor of a child who is accused of stealing an animal, he offers himself for punishment while an "incense" still burns. He engages a Muay Thai fighter in combat but instead of fighting back, he only defends himself and ends up saving his opponent's life.
Now, for the question; is the director's cut worth owning? A RESOUNDING YES...in spades!! Jet Li is in his absolute best in this film. Not only do we see him in excellent fights (choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping), in this cut we also see his skills as an actor. The renowned action star can indeed perform in a very emotion-driven role. The extra 40 minutes of footage is worth every penny that this release even outshines the previous unrated release.
Jet Li claims that this will be his last WU SHU film. ( I hope not). Li has won Best Actor in the recent Hong Kong film awards for his role in the historical epic; "The Warlords". Director Ronny Yu has definitely redeemed himself with "Fearless" after his abysmal "Bride of Chucky". (Freddy vs. Jason, anyone?)
HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!! [5- stars]
VIDEO/AUDIO: 2.40 Anamorphic Widescreen. The picture is flawless, strong blacks, radiant colors and nary a speck of dirt or compression artifacts are visible. It has not been clarified if this region-1 release will carry the awesome 6.1 DTS Mandarin Language track.
It is expected to also carry the unrated Theatrical release.
Note: Parts of this review was originally posted under the region-3 release.
Description of Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director's Cut)
International superstar Jet Li (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) delivers ultimate action as never before in the all-new Director?s Cut of his final martial arts epic with over 35 minutes of additional footage! Inspired by the true story of a real-life hero, Jet Li stars as a renowned martial arts champion who must come face-to-face with the most ferocious fighters in the world as part of a difficult path to redemption. Featuring 3 versions of the film (Director?s Cut, Unrated Version and Theatrical Version), Jet Li?s Fearless is an edge-of-your-seat masterpiece of pride, vengeance, and self discovery!A moving and inspiring story of redemption and personal triumph in the face of great odds, Jet Li's Fearless is the based-on-facts story of Chinese folk hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li). The son of a martial-arts master whose greatest strength was his restraint, Huo grows into an unbeatable fighter whose pride and thoughtlessness lead to a chain of tragic losses. After a classic wanderer-in-the-wilderness penance, Huo reinvents himself as a mature instructor of Wushu, a martial arts system that embraces all forms of fighting without preference or pre-judgement. He also becomes a populist symbol, at the dawn of the 20th century, of China's refusal to entirely capitulate to the boot of Western colonialists. Taking on whatever European, American, or Japanese fighter the outsiders bring in to demoralize the natives, Huo becomes a legend that, in real life, is still revered. Thrillingly directed by Ronny Yu (Warriors of Virtue), Jet Li?s Fearless is a dazzling action movie that transcends its breathless fight sequences with Huo's sportsmanship virtues, i.e., knowing when you've won by example, rather than by the fist. Jet Li is superb in the role. --Tom Keogh
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