Plot: What’s it about?
Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li) has always been a warrior, even a child he looked up to his father, who served as the head of a prominent martial arts school. Huo loved to watch his father in action, but he wasn’t as good of a student as he should have been. When his father was defeated in battle, Huo fought the man’s son, but was also defeated and left humbled. He decides then and there to never lose again, so he trained hard and for years, was able to take down anyone who challenged his skills. But in one such battle, things take a tragic turn and Huo is unable to cope with the consequences of his actions. He takes refuge in a rural village, where he turns to work and a simpler lifestyle to find himself again. After some time passes, he returns to make things right, but discovers his people have been taken over by foreign powers. Huo is forced to fight a mammoth of a man known as Hercules O’Brien, but that is just the start of his battle. The foreign powers seek to eliminate his presence, so he is put against the best warriors each nation has to offer. Even as his past haunts him, can he prove he is a true hero and use his skills to help those who need a warrior to stand up for them?
This movie was advertised as Jet Li’s final martial arts epic, so I expected Fearless to be a grand finale, with no holds barred. While I still prefer Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee, Jet Li has made some incredible movies and pulled off some wicked sequences. His style is unique and he even made a decent transition into non martial arts cinema, though still within the action realm. Fearless is a fine send off for a martial arts master, a return to a more old school approach to action. The story is solid, with roots in real life events, but things remain simple and the focus is placed on the action elements. If I had to sum up Fearless is one word, it would be fun, as this movie is a blast to watch, even after repeat viewings. The wire work we’ve seen overused in recent years is sparse, so this is all about the choreography and with Yuen Woo Ping in charge, you know the fights are awesome. As I said, its kind of old school, but that is refreshing after seeing the same style recycled so much in recent films. Jet Li shines here, giving us a dynamic and memorable performance, with some jaw dropping moments. If this is the end of Li’s martial arts cinema, then at least his final effort was a great one. Of course, I hope he changes his mind, but no matter what, Fearless is a lot of fun and is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Fearless is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie has gorgeous landscape shots and intricate fight sequences, so the visuals needed to be keen. As it turns out, the movie looks superb here and while a few shots display some softness, those instances are infrequent. The lush landscape shots pull you in, with deep details and a three dimensional texture at times. The close up shots are razor sharp in their own right, showing off very crisp details that help you forget you’re watching television. I found colors to be warm and natural, with no errors, while contrast is accurate and consistent. Fearless looks excellent in this transfer, with only a few minor flaws, so fans should be thrilled.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Mandarin soundtrack is preserved here, via a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 option that has some impressive presence. When the action heats up, so do the surrounds, with some brutal impact elements and “live” fight atmosphere. The soundtrack adds a lot to the experience during the brawls, so the track earns its keep and then some. But I think the track really shines in the more reserved moments, from gusts of wind to blades sliding out their sheaths, the subtle touches are excellent. A lot of soundtracks are loud with a lot of power, but this one is able to offer a total immersion experience, which enhances the entire experience. This disc also includes an English language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The same extras from the standard DVD have been ported over, but don’t expect much, as the bonus materials are limited. A sixteen minute featurette takes an inside look at the film’s production, while a deleted scene is the only other supplement offered. The standard DVD side includes both the unrated & theatrical cuts, but the HD-DVD side only provides the unrated edition.
