Jet Li's supposed last period piece martial arts film kicks some serious @ss, people, despite the severe cutting imposed by the studio. It runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes (instead of 138 minutes) but is quickly paced, well acted, decently scripted and filmed with absolute gusto by director Ronny Yu, working with the great Yuen Woo Wing (as fight choreographer).

The action is brutal, with the aim being realism. Yes, there is wire work, but at no time do people fly around and defy gravity. The film is based in reality. Kudos the technical people as the film looks great, has incredible production design and a wonderful music score.

I really enjoyed this film. It's a shame that it is not legally available with English subtitles. Keep an eye out as eventually it will be released on DVD for all to enjoy.

I'll be looking out for the director's cut (which Ronny Yu actually handed out on DVD to friends at some festivals!).

By the way, the film is based on a true story.

Check your PM Matt.

For those that don't know it is a sort of prequel to both Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and Jet Li's
Fist of Legend. I still haven't seen it yet because of the lack of subs but am looking forward to it.

40 minutes were snipped from the original cut,including Michelle Yeoh's scenes,and a fight between Jet and a Thai fighter.

I really enjoyed the film too, thought it was Jet's best film in an awfully long time. I'm interested to see the Director's Cut, but I'm not convinced that will be the better version. Hopefully I'm wrong on that, but the theatrical cut flows very well and I never really felt like I missed anything.

When does this come to DVD?

The US rights are supposedly owned by the Weinstiens, so that means in about three years. :(

The US rights are supposedly owned by the Weinstiens, so that means in about three years. :(


Do you know when the European release is going to be? I'll probably end up with an R2 version before the R1 is ever released w/subs.

I'm going to pass on any PAL version. Jet Li's voice is already high enough. PAL speedup will make him sound like he is on helium. :D

I'm going to pass on any PAL version. Jet Li's voice is already high enough. PAL speedup will make him sound like he is on helium. :D

I have a bunch of HKL discs and other PAL DVDs but I've never noticed it.

I just learned that Rogue Pictures (owned by Universal) has the rights, so that is decent news.

I just bought this DVD from hkdvd.com, it's really a good movie. Thanks for the recommendation Matt.

I don't think there is an official release with English subs yet is there? If so I would like to know. The movie will be theatrically released in the U.S in September.

I don't think there is an official release with English subs yet is there? If so I would like to know. The movie will be theatrically released in the U.S in September.

No, there isn't. I'm assuming the post above you got a bootleg. Unless I'm totally wrong and he can read Cantonese/Mandarin and bought an official version whch doesn't have English subs. :)

http://shop.hkdvdstore.com/product_info.php/products_id/25746
This is the same DVD that I rented from a video store in town that specializes in hard to find videos. The first one I bought from Amazon WAS bootleg and very very poor at that, it really pissed me off, this one is all in Chinese..titles and all, and only through clicking on several characters did I find the movie start...it has english subtitles.
This video store also had The Descent in its original version. The owner said he had to get special permisson to rent it out.
If this is truly a bootleg...and I don't think it is...then I give up trusting anything for a while...but the picture is freaking gorgeous and the sound is wonderful, as well as, a great story and performances.

http://shop.hkdvdstore.com/product_info.php/products_id/25746
This is the same DVD that I rented from a video store in town that specializes in hard to find videos. The first one I bought from Amazon WAS bootleg and very very poor at that, it really pissed me off, this one is all in Chinese..titles and all, and only through clicking on several characters did I find the movie start...it has english subtitles.
This video store also had The Descent in its original version. The owner said he had to get special permisson to rent it out.
If this is truly a bootleg...and I don't think it is...then I give up trusting anything for a while...but the picture is freaking gorgeous and the sound is wonderful, as well as, a great story and performances.


Since were not suppose to discuss bootlegs lets just say that site you have linked only carries just that. They even got Tony Jaa's Tom Yum Goong w/ English subs. The only official version that has English subs at this moment is the Korean version and that's not what they carry. Besides, everything I checked on there is region free. That's basically a red flag. Sure, there are officlal releases that are region free but everything on that site is, at least all that I checked.


Official version so far of TYG w/ English subs:

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/tom-yum-goong.html

This video store also had The Descent in its original version. The owner said he had to get special permisson to rent it out.
That would've sent up all sorts of red flags for me, not to mention caused me to laugh (the "special permission" part that is). There's a Korean rental place near me that has an English subbed version of Fearless. I also noticed in the last 6 months that all of their new DVDs are purple on the bottom. I confronted the guy about the copies he's renting and he says he buys the copies from the distributor. Yeah right! So I told him I wouldn't be renting there anymore because the copies were not the same quality as the original discs.

Well...regardless of how unreputable the world seems to be this is an excellent movie.
Thanks for the info guys!.

There are so many DVD versions of this at hkflix.com. Which is the one to buy (best PQ, sound & subtitles)?

I absolutely loved Unleashed. How does this compare to that film?

There are so many DVD versions of this at hkflix.com. Which is the one to buy (best PQ, sound & subtitles)?
I bought the single disk version...it has excellent PQ and a very dynamic DD EX track but please read previous posts.

I absolutely loved Unleashed. How does this compare to that film?
I liked Unleashed too but this movies smokes it!! :D

There are so many DVD versions of this at hkflix.com. Which is the one to buy (best PQ, sound & subtitles)?

Basically, it's a toss up since none of the legit versions have English subs.

http://www3.cd-wow.us/detail_results_2.php?product_code=269928

The Thai version would have been a good choice because it is a longer cut but it's only in Thai.

Don't give your money to pirates, buy the legit version and download a set of subtitles to go with it. Then you can make your own backup with subs or use a program to play the DVD with the downloaded subs. Otherwise just wait a month and it will be in theaters.

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/rogue_pictures/jetlisfearless/

Just see the film in a theater this September.

Just see the film in a theater this September.

Does Rogue Pictures have a history of cutting the crap out of foreign movies like Miramax/Dimension and Sony do?

Does Rogue Pictures have a history of cutting the crap out of foreign movies like Miramax/Dimension and Sony do?

They released Unleashed and I believe there was two versions. The theatrical version and uncut international version. As for Fearless, I don't know how much more they can cut out. The DVDs out right now have at least 40 minutes cut.

The DVD cut that is out now doesn't feel short though. I would be surprised if the director's cut version didn't feel overly long, but I would still like to see it.

The Rogue Pictures release will be the same one released everywhere else. A version missing nearly 40 minutes, including Michelle Yeoh's character! The director's cut will be released on DVD next year.

Despite the fact that the film is so truncated, it STILL is exceptionally well done. Jet Li's second best film in my opinion. I really loved it.

Where will it be released next year? In HK? Hopefully it will have English subs.

No one knows. The only facts we have is that a transfer is completed and that the director has given it to a few friends (including Ang Lee) on DVD and wants it released as soon as possible in that format.

We've known that since the theatrical release though. I thought you had something more concrete.

Uh, I do, but I cannot say any more. Just know that the director has told many people of late that he is working on it.

Gotcha :cool:

No, there isn't. I'm assuming the post above you got a bootleg. Unless I'm totally wrong and he can read Cantonese/Mandarin and bought an official version whch doesn't have English subs. :)


Saw the movie and it was great! Dead even with HERO, IMHO...

On another note, I purchased the disc from a seller on ebay. It was a great quality transfer with Dolby digital EX track and English subs. If this was a bootleg, it was the best bootleg I've ever seen.

Wait. Has this even hit theaters yet? Did i miss it?

I was under the impression it wouldn't be in theaters until the fall in the US?

September is the sort of release date that keeps changing.

September is the sort of release date that keeps changing.

Do you know the supposed date in September? It looks like they upped the release date of Tom Yum Goong to September 9th. I saw the commercial last
night. It was retitled the Protector. Lame.

It'd be funny if they had the same release date. I doubt it though.

I saw the Chinese version with DTS; it's one of hist best since Once Upon A time in China - II. Transfer was good.

There is a story and a moral. My wife never cares for martial arts stuff but she likes this one.

I take it that the theather version in the U.S is subtitles only?

I take it that the theather version in the U.S is subtitles only?
I think so, all the trailers I've seen and their electronic press kit only show scenes with no dialogue, or that were in English originally.

I saw an interview with Jet Li today where he said that this would indeed be his last "wushu movie". In addition he said that the director's cut of this film says everything that he's ever wanted to say about his philosophy on martial arts and life, but that the theatrical cut doesn't quite get there. He mentions the director's cut will be 30 or so minutes longer (though I think we know that it is more like 40 but am too lazy to do a search on it).

I think so, all the trailers I've seen and their electronic press kit only show scenes with no dialogue, or that were in English originally.

I saw an interview with Jet Li today where he said that this would indeed be his last "wushu movie". In addition he said that the director's cut of this film says everything that he's ever wanted to say about his philosophy on martial arts and life, but that the theatrical cut doesn't quite get there. He mentions the director's cut will be 30 or so minutes longer (though I think we know that it is more like 40 but am too lazy to do a search on it).


Saw this quote in one the professional reviews:

In Mandarin Chinese and English, with English subtitles.


So I bet the english part is small

Some people who watched the uncut version are dismayed by just how much they cut out. I'll pass on the current release and wait for or look for the uncut version.

I saw an interview with Jet Li today where he said that this would indeed be his last "wushu movie". .
maybe so for wushu but this is not his last martial arts film. last week jet finally confirmed the long awaited project with jackie "the clown" chan to start shooting next march.

The only people who have seen the uncut version are friends of the director who were given a DVD.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/film/158188.htm

the movie was mostly fictional, but I enjoyed it anyway.

There were some nice martial arts sequences, and I'm glad the movie wasn't dubbed or anything.

The DVD runs 105 min and the version in theaters runs 143 :eek: ...I'm headed to the movies! :D. If the DVD is truly a bootleg...as good as it looks and sounds....I curse all you bootleggers! :mad: .

I saw this one in the theater last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was glad that there were few "wire-fu" stunts. I believe there is a place for that, but not here as this is supposedly based on true events and a lot of impossible, physics-defying stunts would have distracted me.

The fight scenes were fantastic. The story was interesting but seemed a little "one dimensional" (for lack of a better description). I would guess that as a biography this is difficult to avoid.

I would definitely be interested in seeing the longer version.

Cary

The DVD runs 105 min and the version in theaters runs 143 :eek: ...

The US theater version is 104 mins.

http://www.fandango.com/MoviePage.aspx?date=&mid=34264

I had the pleasure of watching Fearless last night. I thoughly enjoyed the movie, but it was quite obvious(to me anyways) the story was heavily edited. Great last effort for Jet Li. I can't wait for the uncut version. Sadly I don't believe we will get it on US shores. But, at least we are getting Tom Yun Goong uncut.

My theater experience was like this:

Opening credits role.

3/4's of the theater audience start to moan because of the subtitles. :rolleyes:


Sad...Sad...World :(

Funny. After about 15 minutes, my friend (who suggested we see Fearless), leaned over and said, "wow, sorry about the subtitles" (I guess he felt he should get some blame). I told him that I did didn't really notice them, and I honestly didn't. After the first few lines I was just into the movie and didn't think twice about the fact that I was reading subtitles.

Cary

Chinese martial arts movies are not supposed to be short. They have a long boring story line to go with the fighting. Usually Chinese martial arts movies span 24 or 36 VCDs and would take a month to watch. I thought Fearless was cut too much - a little bit of rushing into fights with no flow. I guess thats how American markets like it.

On another note, this says its Jet Li's last film but then I hear he and Jackie Chan are making another.

Chinese martial arts movies are not supposed to be short. They have a long boring story line to go with the fighting. Usually Chinese martial arts movies span 24 or 36 VCDs and would take a month to watch. I thought Fearless was cut too much - a little bit of rushing into fights with no flow. I guess thats how American markets like it.

On another note, this says its Jet Li's last film but then I hear he and Jackie Chan are making another.

Your talking about their version of a TV series except limited to one season. They are re edited sometimes to make a movie for the foreign market. For example, Donnie Yen did his version of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury for Chinese TV but when it got here on DVD it was a 2 hour cut version. It was a complete mess since they cut hours out of the storyline to make it look like the original FoF.

Jet Li's last martial arts period piece.

It was a complete mess since they cut hours out of the storyline to make it look like the original FoF.

This 'mess' that you mentioned is exactly what I feel about Fearless. This is supposedly a true story so there much to tell.

Even Jackie Chan's older movies were better than the ones he made for US. I dont know why. Is the US market just glutten for crap?

This 'mess' that you mentioned is exactly what I feel about Fearless. This is supposedly a true story so there much to tell.

Even Jackie Chan's older movies were better than the ones he made for US. I dont know why. Is the US market just glutten for crap?

I understand what your saying but you still can't compare a TV series to a movie; their two different things. With a TV series there is more time for character development as opposed to a movie where a character's background is referred to just a couple of lines or flashbacks. Still, a cut movie is a cut movie and that is frustrating to watch especially if it's supposed to be about a real person.

As for Jackie he's just plain old now. Even his recent movies like the Myth and Police Story 5 were crap and they were made in HK. So, saying only his U.S. made films are sh*t isn't exactly true. Their crappy no matter where they were made.

I watched this in the theater last week. It was pretty good, decent, but not great. There were also a few spots that seemed to have a really abrupt transition, possibly where scenes were cut...

Also, it's rated R, so I was disappointed to see people bringing in their kids (under 10) to see the movie...

As for Jackie he's just plain old now. Even his recent movies like the Myth and Police Story 5 were crap and they were made in HK. So, saying only his U.S. made films are sh*t isn't exactly true. Their crappy no matter where they were made.
If you want to get right down to it, I can't think of a really good film Jackie made after, oh, Drunken Master 2. Although I do have a soft spot for both Rumble In Vancouver- er, The Bronx and First Strike as goofy fun films with some great stunt work, neither was great. And Shanghai Noon was reasonably entertaining. But that's it. I think he just can't bring himself to retire. What he needs to be doing is directing films with a hot young hand-picked protege. That's what I expected New Police Story to be, but man- wrong!! :(

For the most part Jackie Chan has made nothing but gunk since DRUNKEN MASTER 2. I liked FIRST STRIKE and the last two thirds of WHO AM I and of course I did enjoy the first RUSH HOUR, but everything else he has made has pretty much stunk.

I understand what your saying but you still can't compare a TV series to a movie; their two different things. With a TV series there is more time for character development as opposed to a movie where a character's background is referred to just a couple of lines or flashbacks. Still, a cut movie is a cut movie and that is frustrating to watch especially if it's supposed to be about a real person.

Have you heard of Lord of the Rings? Peter sure had enough time telling about this story.

In other words, span it across DVDs. I dont care. I like a long assed movie when its good.

Have you heard of Lord of the Rings? Peter sure had enough time telling about this story.

In other words, span it across DVDs. I dont care. I like a long assed movie when its good.



I guess if you had a crap load of cash and pretty much free reign on a project you can tell whatever story you please but with a limited budget and a story that won't pull in a big audience there isn't much you can do freely. There's always a committee looking over your shoulder and counting pennies. I know I've been there. Like I said earlier I agree that if your going to make a movie; it should tell the whole story. That's the reason why TV has a better chance of developing characters since it can span several episodes.

As for Fearless; I think I will wait for the uncut version to view it.

Have you heard of Lord of the Rings? Peter sure had enough time telling about this story.

In other words, span it across DVDs. I dont care. I like a long assed movie when its good.
Have you heard of the extended editions of Lord of the Rings? :p They actually cut about 2 and a half hours from the 3 movies combined and the parts removed actually give more information about the characters, tell the story better or help the movie transisition better in some parts. So even 3 hours long movies are prong to a lot of cutting. But I don't see why they have to trim Fearless, a 140 minute movie down to 104.

FEARLESS does not feel cut to me. It is amazing how well the film works. I loved it.

That being said, I have a great desire to see the uncut version and will not be buying any DVD until it is released.

http://shop.hkdvdstore.com/product_info.php/products_id/25746
This is the same DVD that I rented from a video store in town that specializes in hard to find videos. The first one I bought from Amazon WAS bootleg and very very poor at that, it really pissed me off, this one is all in Chinese..titles and all, and only through clicking on several characters did I find the movie start...it has english subtitles.
This video store also had The Descent in its original version. The owner said he had to get special permisson to rent it out.
If this is truly a bootleg...and I don't think it is...then I give up trusting anything for a while...but the picture is freaking gorgeous and the sound is wonderful, as well as, a great story and performances.
I've seen this so called disc. The picture quality sucks and it was quite obvious it was a boot. There were compression artifacts every where. I didn't watch the whole thing, but I know of at least 1 scene that has been removed from the disk. The ISO for the disk is less than 4 gigs. Stay far away.

As for Fearless; I think I will wait for the uncut version to view it.

An "uncut" version of Fearless shouldnt even have Jet Li. Can he act ? no.
Check the credits. He directs it. He acts in it. He does the stunts.

Most TV series acting are as good as Days of Our Lives. But some are really good.

Have you heard of the extended editions of Lord of the Rings? :p They actually cut about 2 and a half hours from the 3 movies combined and the parts removed actually give more information about the characters, tell the story better or help the movie transisition better in some parts. So even 3 hours long movies are prong to a lot of cutting. But I don't see why they have to trim Fearless, a 140 minute movie down to 104.

Man im confused by your post. Are you in agreement with me or not?

I want the 140 minute version and even at that I'm saying it prolly still doesnt tell it right.

An "uncut" version of Fearless shouldnt even have Jet Li. Can he act ? no.
Check the credits. He directs it. He acts in it. He does the stunts.


:confused:

You don't want Jet Li in it but the post above says you want a 140 minute version of this same film? :confused: BTW, he didn't direct the movie.

Acting was a different issue of it's own. But yeah I could tolerate it for a 140min version of it. I guess the fighting part was almost on par with what I like.

http://www.sfwushu.net/misc/20060108_sina_jetli_fearless.wmv
IMDB Trivia
Nathan Jones took a fall badly during filming and almost lost several teeth. He refused medical attention and kept filming.

http://www.hehafriends.com/photo/gallery/78/355/15156/3211710551C6E674/pid3702710d889267f2.gif

The HD-DVD is suppose to be out soon, does anyone know if it's the uncut version? I really want to pick it up, but if it's the same as my DVD, I rather wait...

It's the same unrated version as the dvd.

http://www.epinions.com/Jet_Li_s_Fearless/display_~reviews

Where can I find the 140 min version in the U.S and when was the extended version released?

The extended version isn't available anywhere yet. Talk of an eventual release came out during an interview. I wouldn't plan on it hitting US shores anytime soon even if it does see the light of day.

Just saw this one and really liked it even though I'm not a martial arts movie fan. Never liked Bruce Lee or the Hidden Dragon genres, but this one really worked. Amazing how far a good story and character development can take you.

By the way, I watched the theater cut for awhile but switched over to the much more satisfying uncut version part of the way through.

Even though Fearless was not sold as a prequel to Fist of Legend or Fist of Fury a lot of fans of those films will see it as that. I'm wondering why they didn't keep it consistent with those films even though they were fictitious. I'm sure they took creative license with the real storyline here, too.

The Japanese character was totally different than the ones in FoL/FoF. He was actually a good guy as opposed to the jerk he was in the other two films. He also had a son in FoL and here he dies w/o a family. In real life he had a few offsprings.

Saw it today, it was a yawner for me.

Fearless was good, but not as good as Hero,..editing wise. Great "Period" film though.

IMO, Li's best work can be found in KOTD'.

Fearless was good, but not as good as Hero,..editing wise. Great "Period" film though.

IMO, Li's best work can be found in KOTD'.

It's his best work outside of HK but I think Fist of Legend tops that.

Good action flick.

They replaced the Russian fighter with a American one then made the guy 'dumb' in he fighting actions. I found that a bit strange since in 1910 the USA would not have gone to China to cause trouble. Amercians has enough Chinese to torment on our own soil!


Howerver I think there was a subtley msg to americans that if you mess with us (Chinese) that we will stand as one to defeat you. I got this also from Hero (another fine movie) so its nothing I have not seen before in a Jet Li movie.

That or im reading to much in this.

Still its a very pro chinese film, I enjoyed it and more power to none hollywood films!

Where can I find the 140 min version in the U.S and when was the extended version released?

There was another thread here posted by Matt Stevens w/ the link but I think it needs to be posted here, too.



http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=6330

or

http://www.cd-wow.us/detail_results_2.php?product_code=1857291

Saw it today, it was a yawner for me.

I agree; whats with these crappy storylines in all these Martial arts flicks?!
They bore me to tears with their brain-dead themes, and overly staged fighting sequences.

The 10 minutes of chinese scenes in MI-3 have more content than all of Hero and Fearless combined.

Also, do these guys ever fight for a legitimate reason? Give us a damsel to rescue, or some political intrigue, or something to make me care, please :D

:rolleyes:

All I can say is the HDDVD is gorgeous , my wife and I had tears in our eyes a few times and my three boys loved it. Pretty good !

Art

I agree; whats with these crappy storylines in all these Martial arts flicks?!

Also, do these guys ever fight for a legitimate reason? Give us a damsel to rescue, or some political intrigue, or something to make me care, please :D

I guess they would have added that stuff if those things happened to him in real life. Otherwise, most of it is based on fact. If you want to, watch the fictional sequel; Fist of Legend. It has all that. :)

Confucius say "Those who make feature presentations ouf of Chinese legend, should not bore their audience by modeling life on a Confucian proverb"

Confucius say "Those who make feature presentations ouf of Chinese legend, should not bore their audience by modeling life on a Confucian proverb"

That is not in Confucious' Analects. :D


BTW, for those interested here are pics of the Director's Cut DVD.

http://www.tower3a.com/cgi-bin/ut/topic_show.cgi?id=7600&pg=8&h=1&bpg=1&age=3650

Edit: I just finished watching the DC and I must say it works better than the shorter version for the most part.

except for the scenes w/ Michelle Yeoh. They were really unnecessary since she wasn't part of the story. She is basically in the beginning and end of the film at some stupid conference about letting Wushu be part of the Olympics. I think if those parts w/ her was cut out of this version it would have been perfect. I really like the extend scenes in the village where he ended up after leaving his school. Overall, it's worth seeing; I think this is the way it should have been but w/o Michelle Yeoh.

BTW, for those interested here are pics of the Director's Cut DVD.

http://www.tower3a.com/cgi-bin/ut/topic_show.cgi?id=7600&pg=8&h=1&bpg=1&age=3650

Edit: I just finished watching the DC and I must say it works better than the shorter version for the most part.
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How is the PQ on the Director's Cut? I just bought the Hong Kong print of the standard edition and the PQ is awful.

I have the director's cut and the PQ is about as good as one can expect from a 480i medium. There is some very minor edge enhancement and banding, but I think it is on the level with most top releases and better than most Miramx and MGM titles. The sound is outstanding.

Do not hesitate to buy if you are not going to hold out for an HD version. It is so remarkably cheap I went ahead and bought it, so I'll double dip on it eventually.

I finally got around to watching the DC last night. Wow...talk about an improvement. It's almost a completely different movie. Now I can understand why Jet Li was upset this version didn't make it into theaters.