>>REVIEW
FEARLESS
STARRING Jet Li
DIRECTED BY Ronny Yu
Opens Friday, September 22
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Chinese folk hero and master of Wushu, Huo Yuanjia is celebrated and immortalized in Fearless, an epic tale of inner conflict, revenge and, ultimately, sacrifice.
While director Ronny Yu has made a few horror flicks during his career (Freddy vs. Jason and Bride of Chucky come to mind), this time he reaches beyond that realm to somewhere much more meaningful. Part of what is so compelling about Fearless is its lack of true villains. As Yuanjia's mother so eloquently observes, his real enemy exists within himself.
From the time he endures a public and humiliating beating at the hands of the town bully, the young fighter vows never to lose another battle and he succeeds, becoming the most feared warrior of his city. It's not until the skilled fighter loses the people closest to him that he embarks on a journey of spiritual discovery. After being rescued from drowning by villagers including a breathtaking blind beauty (Betty Sun in her theatrical debut), he finds peace in the folds of their simple life. Over time, he embraces the idyllic calm of the country life and the fulfilment that can only come from self-examination and genuine humility.
It bears noting that Li has been baptized as a Buddhist monk and claims this will be his last martial arts action film. The country settings are spectacular with misty mountain backdrops conveying a sense of calm and serenity juxtaposed against the mayhem and unrest of city life. Yuen Wo Ping, the mastermind behind the fight sequences in The Matrix and Kill Bill Volume 1 puts Jet Li's well documented skills to good use. The emotions that are conveyed during the battles have resounding impact. The battles are dizzyingly spectacular and convincing.
There is also a deep sense of Chinese patriotism weaving its way through the film and westerners are portrayed as thuggish and ridiculous. After a behemoth of a fighter by the name of O'Brien insults the Chinese, Yuanjia steps back into the fighting ring to defend his country's honour. With his renewed sense of respect for his fellow fighters, he teaches the brawny American the value of sportsmanship rather than ruthless bloodlust.
Ultimately, the entire country rallies behind the fighter, leading to political unease and treachery. Fearless goes beyond the usual realm of martial arts films, examining the most intimate battle we have within ourselves through Yuanjia. It's a thought-provoking, visually magnificent film that deserves to be seen. |
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