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... but picked up and then ended very well. As this is Jet Li's very last Wushu, (Martial Arts), Movie, it is a good one to go out on. For a non-violent man, the beginning of the film is very violent. But the character Jet plays learns his lesson in life and redeems himself. Jet says in the Bonus Feature that he has also learned his lesson. He thought of retiring ten years ago, but a Tibetan monk suggested he rethink that, and that he would truly know when to retire from making martial arts movies. Jet Li is an impressive wushu artist. However he is 42 years old now. He is a 10th degree Black belt artist. This is the movie for him to leave on, as it overcame the beginning of the movie which a lot of martial arts movies don't. The director Ronny Ru says that there were No Blue Screens used. And that No invisible ropes were used, like in 'rouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and other movies have used. The movie turned when it became more philosophical. This is probably because Jet Li has been a practicing Buddhist for many many years and the director says that Jet interjected a lot into the character. Not a bad movie to go out on.... definitely a martial arts film that could be seen and appreciated by the mainstream public.Read full review
What can us viewers do to change your mine?...O well I got to say that director Ronny Yu has made the right choice of casting Jet Li as Huo Yuan Jia, after Jet portrays Huang Fei Hong in his remarkable `Once Upon A Time Trilogy.' This has once again strengthened the image of Jet Li as the Chinese hero among the Chinese around the world. This is a glorified tribute to the famous Shanghai martial arts master, Huo Yuanjia. The above subject has also been visited by Jet himself in `Fist of the Legend.' The movie starts with Huo Yuanjia's famous tournament against the champions of the Sphere of Influence nations. We get to the Japanese challenger and then are sent into a flashback to Huo's youth. We are given the details of Huo's early life, his trials and tribulations. How he was, what he became and how he got there. This section is full of all the other parts of martial arts that have nothing to do with fighting (at this point I'm thinking fondly of Bruce's `Circle of Iron.'All the fight scenes through out the film are choreographed well and are quite exciting. 'Fearless' does carry the message not to resort violence to settle any problem, where we can see how violence did to Huo's loved ones. The showdown between Huo and other foreign fighters also promotes the idea of sparing your enemy a chance, no matter how deadly they could be. This, somehow, reflects on part of the idea and philosophy Jet Li understands and promotes from his one year Buddhism studies. As this is a semi-bio-pic, it runs into the same inherent problems in the genre; namely that you must have something invested in the person already. The person must be someone you know something or care something about. Rarely does a movie in this genre make you care about the character if you are not interested. It is much like hypnosis, if you do not believe you will not be put under. As for this film being Jet Li's last epic, it breaks my heart but I really did enjoy it. In his own words, it's a representation of his own struggles as an actor/martial artist. It's all him (maybe a tiny bit of wire-work)! If this is what he identifies with, how he wants to end it, why should we expect him to do otherwise. I think I paid more attention to the time period, understood the dialogue, learn the lesson of respect, not everyone are vengeance driven, an eye for an eye... etc. If you are telling a story about a historical character, it has to be believable to a point, not over the top, but not everything is going to be completely accurate. Despite what others say about how boring it is... it's simply not and I'm ending this with a recommendation.Read full review
This is Jet Li's very last Wushu (Martial Arts) Movie. He says so in the interview--that is part of the dvd. He is 42 years old now. He is a 10th degree Black belt. There were NO Blue Screens used, NO invisible ropes--as in Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon etc.; there as NO Digital/Special Effects. AND he fought--NOT actors--but the best in the world, Swordsman, Kung Fu, etc. AMAZING, AND he has to act-not like Hero--which I totally loved--stone faced, alot of fight scenes. Only half the film was Wushu (Martial Arts). It was MUCH MORE philosophical. He interacts with a best friend, very emotional, and with a blind woman he falls in love with. Jet Li has been a practicing Buddhist for many many years. He says in "The Making Of"--that he wants to spend more time concentrating on Buddhism--He says that this film expresses absolutely everything he feels/believes about life and the philosophy of Buddhism. The film is riveting. The last few minutes (if you love Jet Li films) will astound you. Virtually everone I have loaned it to has been in tears during the final shot--although Jet Li's character has a broad smile on his face. ALL thumbs up. I teach film classes at a University in Miami. RonnRead full review
This is by far the pinnacle in Jet Li movies. Only those with patience and the ability to focus their attention will appreciate the non-martial artistry of this sensitive actor. Jet Li shows his great range as an actor and commands the highest respect for this performance. The martial arts scenes are never a disappointment and anyone who is a fan will see the Jet Li certainly does not need to retire his wushu skills. This no-wires martial artist is brilliant and this movie has given him the opportunity to display his multitude of talents.
A classic comment once mentioned that,"youth is wasted on the wrong people". As the story in this film points out, the same can be said of wisdom, and as often, talent when good counsel goes unheeded. The points made in this film relative to the realities of cause-and-effect, consequences or rewards, and wisdom to make the responsible connections, are points that every parent tries to instill at home, early. Although the experience is communicated through a Chinese cultural, and martial arts "lense", the truths emphasized cross all cultural boundaries in the human experience, without regard to either ancient or modern times. The importance of recognizing how powerful our influence can be to those around us can never be over-stressed, particularly to the most vulnerable and impressionable.Read full review
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