Fearless

[karohemd]

As it's too humid outside to sit somewhere and read, a short cinema review:

After more cringeworthy chats with people at the Bun Shop I went to see Fearless, the latest Jet Li film (and his last martial arts one, apparently) which is freely based on the story of Huo Yuanjia.
It was very interesting to see the different acting style in this film compared to his Western films (the superb Unleashed, for example), it was typically OTT Chinese.
It's hard to review the film without giving much of the plot away but it's good and not just a Wushu slaughterfest. There's quite a bit of wirework and other trickery in the fight scenes but not as extreme as in House of Flying Daggers or others.
The second part of the film is the better one, IMHO, as it has more plot and shows Li's acting talent, too. I wasn't very impressed with the first part but the rest certainly turned it around for me.

Oh well, back to the grindstone.

Comments

[dr-wez.livejournal.com]

It was good, overall, though, wasn't it?

My viewing was marred by the chimp in front using his mobile including at one point to listen to music during the movie, talking incessantly, continually telling his mates to shut up (loudly) and using the word "menstrual" as an insult to all and sundry.

What was your favourite aspect of Unleashed?

And have you seen Kiss Of The Dragon?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, definitely. I actually really liked the tranquil bit in the remote village where he basically found himself. And Moon was cute. ;o)

There are loads of aspects I really liked about Unleashed: the concept, Li actually acting rather than just delivering punches, kicks and a few over rehearsed lines and the very impressive Bob Hoskins. He gave me the shivers.

Yes, I have. It's good but it feels a bit like a classy Jackie Chan film with better plot.

[dr-wez.livejournal.com]

There seems to be a penchant for having pretty, blind girl characters in a load of the recent "Western-friendly" Chinese movies.

I liked the interestingly different fighting style in Unleashed, and Jet Li does the childish-adult thing very well (it was similar to Kiss Of The Dragon, in fact). Bob Hoskins was also great in the mediocre Enemy At The Gates, I thought.

Agreed re Kiss - fun film, though, and some of the choreography is just peachy. It struck me as Li/Besson (re)do Leon-meets-Infernal Affairs-meets-Die Hard!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Mentioning Besson, he co-wrote District 13. :o)

[dr-wez.livejournal.com]

He does seem to be going more "main-stream" (i.e. Hollywood)... pretty soon no self-respecting Francophile will give him the time of day, I expect. ;)