Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Micransix Crappy film

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

fanofpoultry 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.

jimbo-53-186511 Fearless chronicles the true story of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia who was one of the best fighters of his time and also the founder of the Jin Wu Sports Federation.Fearless throws us straight into the action and we are treated to an explosive beginning with several impressively choreographed fights. Through beautifully choreography, the Asians seemed to be able to make fighting look like art (when compared to the fight choreography that we witness in films from other continents). This film certainly has style, but it also has more than enough substance to go with it...In the early days of his life Yuanjia just wants to fight for 2 main reasons; 1) So that he is able to defend himself 2) In order to continue to defend his father's legacy. In later life, he sticks to these values and works his way to the top, however he seems to lose touch with his original values along the way. Once he's at the top, Yuanjia seems quite content with his new found popularity and is happy with his new found legendary status. However, being popular and being the toughest can evidently be a double edged sword and both aspect result in devastating consequences for Yuanjia.The second half of the film is much less action orientated than the first half mainly because the second half of the film spends the majority of the time developing Yuanjia's character. Following his time with some villagers, he returns with a new outlook on life and attempts to build some bridges. I think that this is one of the main reasons why this works so well; not only is it stylish, well-choreographed and generally beautiful to look at, but the characters are also well-developed through the narrative.Jet Li was excellent in this film (probably the best I've seen from him). Essentially more is asked of him in the second half, but overall he was solid whether he was in 'martial arts' mode or 'acting' mode.I can't praise this film enough and loved everything about it. The ending is particularly moving and it's a wonderful feeling knowing how influential the real life Yuanjia has been in the martial arts world. This simply has to be seen.

ma-cortes 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 .

webmaster-3017 Jet Li is Fok Yuen Gap! Of all the actors that Neo admired, there is one that he admired the most and can almost boast to be the only actor that Neo have watched every single one of his movies and this great talent is Jet Li. Perhaps, it is his heroic roles that made me a fan, but really it is his fighting abilities and unique on screen presence that made him such a respectable character. Recalling the days when I watched my first ever Jet Li's movie - Fist of Legend, it reminded me of Chinese pride and more importantly it sparked myself into HK cinema fascination. It was Li, not Jackie Chan that got me into HK cinema and now with the rumor-like announce of partial retirement by Mr. Jet Li, it is fittingly that a long time fan paid tribute to what has been a brilliant career by any standards. In his latest blockbuster - Fearless, Li has matured and his philosophy into life is all the more evident and after years of talking about - "violence without violence" on his own official website, his insight in the world of wushu have finally emerged to audience around the globe. This is a period flick and a fittingly finale as Li's final wushu movie, as the plot isn't deliver by fighting physically, but rather - the true meaning of martial arts - fighting a battle in our hearts. This is no ordinary action blockbuster, but one that reinforce my race, nationality and finally - pride of being a Chinese.While one may call Li's best is behind him - OUATIC series, Fong Sai Yuk, Fist of Legend, Swordsman 2 and more recently Hero, it may well be physically, but his acting has improved and matured. In what I will label as Li's most difficult role - as he played 2 very different characters - Fong Sai Yuk's carefree style in the beginning to respected hero in the form of Wong Fei Hung at the end. His range was naturally forced and his critically acclaimed stoic face provides a much hidden message behind a great man - Fok Yuen Gaap. In an age where all action movies are seamlessly cliché with a main bad villain that the hero is trying to beat, Fearless heads up the standard to be above the rest, by not having any true villain, but rather expressing a deep and profound message - the biggest enemy is indeed ourselves. Winning isn't everything, and being able to beat someone physically does not make you superior, but rather winning in your heart is far more important.Surely a Jet Li's movie can not be without brilliant fight scenes and once again Li and Yuen Woo Ping is a perfect combination. Woo Ping is perhaps the best fight director and somehow his best is always within a Jet Li's movie. Li is flawless and perhaps is still very much in his prime and his personal charisma can not be doubted. His steer presence alone is amazing and if they is one actor who don the half bald head more naturally, it must be Jet Li. Maybe, he was born for that period or maybe he is at his best with that hairstyle.Actress Sun Li performs with just enough grace and cuteness for us to care about her character, while it may seem forced to have such a cliché redeeming character, in Fearless it just sort of clicks. The both Li shared a reasonable chemistry and if only more time is spent in this part, the movie emotional core might even go further. However, what made this movie works is definitely a return to form by Hollywood-converted - Ronny Yu. Just like most biography flicks, the audience probably already know the fate of the hero - so how can you make someone feel the emotions when they already know the result. That is exactly the genius of Yu, and on the way he created a new type of action movie - its not about fighting and kicking ass, but about the heart and spirit of the game, nation and pride. In dealing with patriotic senses - proud of being Chinese, Yu has pressed all the right buttons for an utterly terrific yet emotionally manipulative finale. Yu really knows how to finish off, as if it was delivered by a lesser director the movie may have a very different value and perception.Certainly the fights are amazing to endure - Big Guy vs Jet Li and the finale honorable Japanese vs Jet Li fight, but the most amazing of all is not the hardcore fighting, but the moral message about the true art of wushu that it is delivering. Fighting and hurting others physically will not solve any problems, but rather creates further problems that one can not imagine - anger leads to revenge and finally to murder and deaths. In a way it is true that people learn from their mistakes, but perhaps Jet Li learned a lesson that was much too harsh - sure he was rash, ambitious and unforgiving, but he certainly did not deserve his fate. However, it is human nature to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again, until it finally hits you in the heart that you began to change. Life isn't about winning this and winning that, but it is about the human spirit, proud of who you are, being confidence yet without overdoing it, and quite frankly and directly the biggest enemy is indeed yourself. Li taught us a worthy lesson and in the process also entertained us with an epic. Sure the title is Fok Yuen Gap, but to me, this movie isn't so much about Fok, but rather Li as a character, his life and his true spirit of wushu... In other words, Neo loved it! (Neo 2006)I rate it 10/10www.thehkneo.com