 | |  |  | | Media: | HD/SD Combo DVD | | Region: | 1 (USA) | | Studio: | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | | Cert: | Unrated | | Discs: | 1 |
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Screen captures are for illustration purposes and may not originate from the item reviewed. | | Fearless Review| HD/SD Combo DVD review written by Simon Crust, published 2nd February 2007 | Supplied for review by  | Way back in April 2006 I was given the chance to review a DVD, and one that I found quite a challenge; for the disc supplied had no English subtitles and I was left to try to decipher what was going on. That film was Jet Lee’s final martial arts film, Fearless, and tonight I am given the chance to re-evaluate that film, but this time with the subtitles I so craved last time.
The Story is a fictionalised account of one of the most celebrated characters in Chinese lore, one Huo Yuan Jia, a martial arts expert and founder of the Jing Wu Sports Federation and widely recognised as an inspiration to the Chinese way of life.
Hou suffered from asthma as a child, his father refused to teach him his martial arts because of that condition, but this only served to strengthen his resolve to be a master.
After a humiliating beating in public by a street bully, Hou together with his close childhood friend, teaches himself the art and as his skill grows so does his arrogance; victory and after victory follows, no challenge is left unanswered until he feels invincible. However, one fateful day, after finding one of his students beaten, Hou, splits with his childhood friend over his behaviour, then humiliates the offending master into fighting him and in his fury actually kills him. This cost him dear as in retaliation both his daughter and mother are slain, stricken by grief and rage Hou descends upon the master’s abode to seek vengeance, but after seeing the horror he has created throws down his sword and walks away not caring if he lives or dies; worse still, he finds out that the student deserved the beating he took and thus fight was all in vein. During this self inflicted exile he is cared for by an aged mother and her blind daughter in a sleepy mountain village. Over the next seven years Hou forgets all about fighting and learns to appreciate a simple life, to care for oneself and others. When it comes time to pay his respects to his parents he leaves the village after first telling them his real name (he was called Ox) and returns to his home town only to discover it very changed. The year is now 1910 and many foreign powers are vying for control over China as increasing internal turmoil sees the Chinese referred to as the “Sick men of Asia”. Incensed, Hou wishes to takes on, in a highly publicised fight, an American marine, but lacks the money to get there, so offering humility and regaining the trust of his former childhood friend accepts a loan and beats the marine easily. Seeing this as an opportunity to break the Chinese spirit being raised by his victory, the four vying powers organise a series of fights; each fighter championing their own country against Hou for the sake of Chinese honour, a fight with as much political intrigue and underhanded dealing as the politicians can muster.
The film’s plot could be from one of a thousand different martial arts films; arrogant upstart ignoring all advice suffers greatly, learns humility and returns to triumph. However, since this film hss a basis in reality there is a lot of credence to the story. Lee plays Hou with conviction; there is a greater demand on his acting skills in this film than I think I’ve seen in any other. The suffering he endures at the loss of his family is very well played. His journey in the wilderness he conveys genuine despair, a broken man with nothing to live for and his recuperation, believable even if the passage of time is shown only as a swift montage of passing seasons. Unfortunately as with all biographical films, there are some liberties taken with the truth, never let the truth get in the way of a good story, and plenty of his early life is simply washed over in the name of pace. However it is in the action sequences that the film really shines. Employing action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (of Matrix fame) alongside Lee’s own talents the fights have never looked slicker and more professional. The making of featurette describe CG and wire work as minimal, I’m not sure I’d agree with that since there are some huge liberties taken with physics, however, much like the plot, never let reality get in the way of a good fight scene. The final fight sequences (actually seen at the beginning of the film) are breathtaking in their speed. And the fateful battle with the master is bone crushingly ferocious but at the same time beautiful to watch. As the two battle it out in the water the clarity of the image (discussed below) coupled with the visual splendour are magnificent.
There is much to admire in Fearless, a strong story with amazing fight routines that while an integral part never seem forced into the script. Lee is at his very best here both emotionally and physically and, dare I say it, managed to make his last martial arts film his most memorable. This version is the unrated American cut, in fact is the same as the Region 3 standard DVD I looked at last year, though with the subtitles does make for a more enjoyable film. I didn’t notice the disjointed feel that I had previously perhaps because the dialogue smoothed over the edges, though there are still places that seem a little rushed. Still, one of the first martial arts film on this format, it’s a very good start.
Movie score : 7 | | 948 word review written by Simon Crust. |  | To comment on this review, click here and post a reply.
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