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Written by Luc Besson & directed by Louis Letterier/
Starring Jet Li, Morgan Freeman & Bob Hoskins.
Absolutely one of the best films I've seen certainly this year and possibly for a long long time.
If you go and watch this, make sure you think/know this before you go in:
This is NOT a martial arts film, this is NOT an action film, this is NOT yet another wire-fu CGI attempt to sell Jet Li to Americans.
Possibly because of Besson's involvement and Letterier (haven't seen his other stuff) directing, this is a million miles away from Hollywood and I don't expect it to do much business sadly.
The closest comparison I can think of is Leon, again from Besson.
In that, you had a hitman. A typical hardman death-machine, but after a balls-out opening it changed gear into an intelligent, touching exploration of alienation and isolation - with Leon not being a psycho killer but instead just a lonely disfunctional man who needed somebody to see him as a person instead of a killer.
It's a similar feeling with Unleashed.
Jet Li plays Danny, a man kept and raised like a dog by his "Uncle" Bart (Bob Hoskins). Hoskins uses Li as his weapon when collecting money around Glasgow, he keeps a collar on him until he wants Li to pound on the people that owe him money.
When his collar comes off, he becomes an absolute machine who executes Hoskin's will without question or thought.
After **EDITED FOR SPOILER**, Danny finds himself taken in by Morgan Freeman and his stepdaughter who treat him like a person instead of a pitbull.
And so begins Danny's attempts to understand himself and to move away from his kept-in-a-cage, killing for Hoskins past.
There's a lot more to it, but it's worth going in not knowing in advance what happens.
But you will hate it if you think Jet Li belongs in kung-fu films where he wires around and defeats many henchmen with kicks and punches before racing to the next fight scene.
There is fighting in it, but it's neither Li's usual style nor is it the now-cliche martial arts we've seen over and over and over and over.
The opening has him take on 5 blokes. It's fast, non-flashy and (for once) looks extremely brutal and vicious. No 23-blows per person, attacking at once yawnfest. There are faces slammed into the floor, headbutts & arms broken. No bullet-time, no wire work. Just an incredible fighter disposing of his opponents as quickly and efficiently as possible, as you would do in a fight as opposed to a martial-arts display.
Ever seen a fight in real life? They don't circle each other throwing heroic punch after punch, it's fast, messy and hurts.
Same here.
There is a semi-showdown with a similar-level guy in a block of flats - using the entire bloke, flat to flat, roof to floor, into the ceiling and across yards.
It's absolutely stunning. Once again, because of the lack of "Better make it look cool guys, this is a movie".
Has one of the best fights I've seen, in a corridor in a flat. You have one just like, maybe 2ft wide and two people can't walk side by side down it. Now put two highly-competent fighters in that hallway, minimise their space and have them go at it. Headbutts, biting, kneeing, walls being punched through.
This is no Neo vs Smith videogame fight,this is two guys trying to kill each other in a typical Glasgow tenement.
But, having spent so long talking about the fights - they are very few and far between.
That's not what this film is about.
As with Leon, it's about a man trying to open up and show feelings. A man unable to function outside of "Kill, now". Has never used cutlery, has never had ice cream, doesn't know what "ripe" means.
Jet Li is a revelation here. Required to do more than kick ass and look cool, Li gives a brilliant performance as a frightened, confused, lonely and sad man. Watching him and Freeman in a supermarket, being taught how to cook, flinching when somebody tries to touch him.
Morgan Freeman, as a blind piano tuner, delivers yet another outstanding turn. This guy can do no wrong, he emits sage charm and wisdom, warmth & benignity.
Hoskins. Bob Hoskins is a strange one. If you've seen The Long Good Friday, you know what he can do with good material. But he seems to take roles with dodgy accents and hasn't really distinguised himself of late.
Well he rules the roost again in Unleashed. A snarling, hateful, loathesome bully of a man. Despicable in his treatment of Danny. I hated him, wanted to see him get his comeuppance.
Right, I'm babbling now.
If you enjoyed Leon at more than a "How many kills?" level then you should go watch Unleashed when it's released in August.
If you thought Romeo Must Die & The One were awesome "He does kung fu!!!" films, avoid this one because you'll be bored inbetween the short fights.
It looks like finally Li has been allowed to do more than kick people in the face in Western films, and he more than rises to the challenge.
One of my new fav films.
Starring Jet Li, Morgan Freeman & Bob Hoskins.
Absolutely one of the best films I've seen certainly this year and possibly for a long long time.
If you go and watch this, make sure you think/know this before you go in:
This is NOT a martial arts film, this is NOT an action film, this is NOT yet another wire-fu CGI attempt to sell Jet Li to Americans.
Possibly because of Besson's involvement and Letterier (haven't seen his other stuff) directing, this is a million miles away from Hollywood and I don't expect it to do much business sadly.
The closest comparison I can think of is Leon, again from Besson.
In that, you had a hitman. A typical hardman death-machine, but after a balls-out opening it changed gear into an intelligent, touching exploration of alienation and isolation - with Leon not being a psycho killer but instead just a lonely disfunctional man who needed somebody to see him as a person instead of a killer.
It's a similar feeling with Unleashed.
Jet Li plays Danny, a man kept and raised like a dog by his "Uncle" Bart (Bob Hoskins). Hoskins uses Li as his weapon when collecting money around Glasgow, he keeps a collar on him until he wants Li to pound on the people that owe him money.
When his collar comes off, he becomes an absolute machine who executes Hoskin's will without question or thought.
After **EDITED FOR SPOILER**, Danny finds himself taken in by Morgan Freeman and his stepdaughter who treat him like a person instead of a pitbull.
And so begins Danny's attempts to understand himself and to move away from his kept-in-a-cage, killing for Hoskins past.
There's a lot more to it, but it's worth going in not knowing in advance what happens.
But you will hate it if you think Jet Li belongs in kung-fu films where he wires around and defeats many henchmen with kicks and punches before racing to the next fight scene.
There is fighting in it, but it's neither Li's usual style nor is it the now-cliche martial arts we've seen over and over and over and over.
The opening has him take on 5 blokes. It's fast, non-flashy and (for once) looks extremely brutal and vicious. No 23-blows per person, attacking at once yawnfest. There are faces slammed into the floor, headbutts & arms broken. No bullet-time, no wire work. Just an incredible fighter disposing of his opponents as quickly and efficiently as possible, as you would do in a fight as opposed to a martial-arts display.
Ever seen a fight in real life? They don't circle each other throwing heroic punch after punch, it's fast, messy and hurts.
Same here.
There is a semi-showdown with a similar-level guy in a block of flats - using the entire bloke, flat to flat, roof to floor, into the ceiling and across yards.
It's absolutely stunning. Once again, because of the lack of "Better make it look cool guys, this is a movie".
Has one of the best fights I've seen, in a corridor in a flat. You have one just like, maybe 2ft wide and two people can't walk side by side down it. Now put two highly-competent fighters in that hallway, minimise their space and have them go at it. Headbutts, biting, kneeing, walls being punched through.
This is no Neo vs Smith videogame fight,this is two guys trying to kill each other in a typical Glasgow tenement.
But, having spent so long talking about the fights - they are very few and far between.
That's not what this film is about.
As with Leon, it's about a man trying to open up and show feelings. A man unable to function outside of "Kill, now". Has never used cutlery, has never had ice cream, doesn't know what "ripe" means.
Jet Li is a revelation here. Required to do more than kick ass and look cool, Li gives a brilliant performance as a frightened, confused, lonely and sad man. Watching him and Freeman in a supermarket, being taught how to cook, flinching when somebody tries to touch him.
Morgan Freeman, as a blind piano tuner, delivers yet another outstanding turn. This guy can do no wrong, he emits sage charm and wisdom, warmth & benignity.
Hoskins. Bob Hoskins is a strange one. If you've seen The Long Good Friday, you know what he can do with good material. But he seems to take roles with dodgy accents and hasn't really distinguised himself of late.
Well he rules the roost again in Unleashed. A snarling, hateful, loathesome bully of a man. Despicable in his treatment of Danny. I hated him, wanted to see him get his comeuppance.
Right, I'm babbling now.
If you enjoyed Leon at more than a "How many kills?" level then you should go watch Unleashed when it's released in August.
If you thought Romeo Must Die & The One were awesome "He does kung fu!!!" films, avoid this one because you'll be bored inbetween the short fights.
It looks like finally Li has been allowed to do more than kick people in the face in Western films, and he more than rises to the challenge.
One of my new fav films.
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That of it I saw was great, hopefully I'll be able to go see it.
*Spolier Type Thingy*
Didn't see the end of it, only up until the Danny V Bart and Freeman's "Don't kill him Danny!" and then it skipped to a piano recital.. Anyway, what happened?
*Spolier Type Thingy*
Didn't see the end of it, only up until the Danny V Bart and Freeman's "Don't kill him Danny!" and then it skipped to a piano recital.. Anyway, what happened?
Whatever you deleted as a spoiler probably wasn't a spoiler, because I think you see that on the trailer. (or, not a major spoiler...)
Not seen this (yet) but trailer made me want to.
Not seen this (yet) but trailer made me want to.
Tiltawhirl wrote:
> SHEEPY wrote:
> That plot sounds like a dream I had.
>
> You had a dog collar on?
>
> Sounds more S&M to me.
Hahah
No, there was a big battle in a block of tenement flats in Glasgow.
No Bob Hoskins either.
> SHEEPY wrote:
> That plot sounds like a dream I had.
>
> You had a dog collar on?
>
> Sounds more S&M to me.
Hahah
No, there was a big battle in a block of tenement flats in Glasgow.
No Bob Hoskins either.
Heh, sat down earlier and noticed a DVD with a pretty title of "Unleashed" laying down next to the TV.. Step-dad's already downloaded it! Rude.
So watched, and loved it. It's great how it pulls you in straight away with that fight. Such a fantastic film and I'ma buzzin'.
The ice-cream scene is class. He plays such a good dog..! His expressions are spot on. The scene he met Sam in was tense, you're thinking, "Ooohhh, Lordeh, keep watching that red light, damnit!"
And that soundtrack! Oh, that beautiful soundtrack. I love movies like this where it seems as though the music never stops playing. I think Requiem For A Dream did something like that, or at least it felt that way. For it to be Massive Attack, too, is just perfect.
Yeah.. Still going to the cinema to watch this though! :)
So watched, and loved it. It's great how it pulls you in straight away with that fight. Such a fantastic film and I'ma buzzin'.
The ice-cream scene is class. He plays such a good dog..! His expressions are spot on. The scene he met Sam in was tense, you're thinking, "Ooohhh, Lordeh, keep watching that red light, damnit!"
And that soundtrack! Oh, that beautiful soundtrack. I love movies like this where it seems as though the music never stops playing. I think Requiem For A Dream did something like that, or at least it felt that way. For it to be Massive Attack, too, is just perfect.
Yeah.. Still going to the cinema to watch this though! :)
SHEEPY wrote:
> That plot sounds like a dream I had.
You had a dog collar on?
Sounds more S&M to me.
> That plot sounds like a dream I had.
You had a dog collar on?
Sounds more S&M to me.
That plot sounds like a dream I had.
Ha, this must be the film Biggles was talking about when he met Li and Freeman in Glasgow.
Morgan Freeman rocks.
Morgan Freeman rocks.
Persecute me if you will but I'm downloading it now because I most likely will never get the oppourtunity to see it in cinema.
I've read some bad reviews of this, which kinda put me off (that, and the constant use of dog puns contained within). Still, I've got an unlimited card so if it's on I might go and see it on your recommendation.
Any idea on the certificate? It will most probably be a damn 18 so I can't see it but if it's 15 hurrah.
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