SYNOPSIS

Most of the story is relayed as a series of flashbacks describing the life of Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li), who became China’s greatest fighter and a sort of folk hero at the turn of the 20th century. His father was a famous warrior in his province and teacher of many disciples. As a boy, Huo witnessed his father hold back from delivering a fatal blow on his opponent. The child then tried to regain family honor by getting into a fight with the son of his father’s opponent. However, Huo was beaten badly and his father still refused to teach his young son the secrets of martial arts because he feared it would aggravate Huo’s asthma.

After his father’s death, Huo took on the family name and began his own Wushu training. He found that it actually cured his asthma, and he began a quest to become the greatest fighter in his province. As his fame and followers grew, his goal to never lose became an obsession that took precedence over his friendships, family, and responsibilities. After a rivalry with another fighter turned deadly, he was forced to flee the area and go into exile.

Years later, Western influence was becoming more overbearing in China then ever before. Newspapers began mocking the “weak men of the East,” and Chinese nationalism was suffering under the brunt of cultural oppression. To further mock the Chinese, foreign governments decided to hold a tournament that pitted the best Chinese fighter against the best Western fighters. Huo decided to take on the challenge and fight to regain his own honor and to restore the dignity of his people.

Review by
STEVEN HARRELL

Let’s be hones. Asian epics like “Fearless” are kind of an acquired taste. Some people really get into the mind-boggling fight sequences, the non-linear storytelling, and the hard to read subtitles. Other people are as confused as Huo is the first time he tries coffee, wondering “why would anyone ever like this stuff?” I happen to fall in to the first category, but I totally sympathize with the second. Yes, Asian films can be a little hard for American audiences to swallow. But it’s important to remember that you’re watching a movie that’s not only made in another language, but it’s made for a whole other culture, as well.

As is the case for many Chinese language films that make it into US theatres, this movie is well worth the culture shock. “Fearless” is beautifully shot, and the fight sequences are as fun as anything since Jet Li’s last cultural-crossover flick “Hero.” I also really enjoyed the way the story developed as flashbacks without much transition. It gave Huo’s past a little more energy than if it was just a standard biography with growing up montages in between the important scenes. By the end, it took me by a little bit of a surprise to notice that our lead character’s hair is already lightened with hints of grey.

Jet Li (“Hero,” “Cradle 2 the Grave”) does a masterful job in his role as the Chinese national hero. He manages to incorporate much of his own personal training and philosophy into a movie about a man who founded a school to teach innumerable people worldwide about the Wushu tradition, including Li himself. As a teenager, Li was a Wushu champion in China, a feat that helped launch his movie career. That training is still evident as Li is realistic in the fight scenes. And those scenes are the film’s selling point. It requires no reading or culture shock to sit back and enjoy seeing Li pummel some evil foreigners, evil locals, or evil strangers.

The visuals are stunning, as well. Every shot is so carefully constructed with lights, color, and movement that it’s hard not to be swept up in what’s going on onscreen even if you miss a subtitle or two. It’s not quite as artistic as “Hero,” but I think that works to help keep the audience interested. It feels more based in reality, but manages not to sacrifice the artistry involved in constructing the mind-numbingly fun shots.

The PG-13 rating is simply for violence. While it is highly stylized, it is also occasionally pretty graphic.