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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.
Page:
It does look fantastic. Think it's out June 10th, so shall be going to see that next week. The only thing I've been looking forward to at the cinema lately is Batman, but this has just topped it. Easily.
Oh.. This is the movie that Massive Attack made Danny The Dog for? The album is superb. Except I thought they were making the music for a film called Danny The Dog, not Unleashed..! Unless they changed the title.
Oh.. This is the movie that Massive Attack made Danny The Dog for? The album is superb. Except I thought they were making the music for a film called Danny The Dog, not Unleashed..! Unless they changed the title.
I heard about this a while ago and just dismissed it as another "Kiss of the Dragon" or "Romeo must die" type sh*tfest.
Does sound good though, I'll look out for it.
Does sound good though, I'll look out for it.
And the trailer looks very sexy.
If it's like Leon i'll love it, one of my most favourate films ever. And actually good performance by Natalie Portman as well which was nice. I enjoyed pretty much all of Leon but I thought the violence was prett damn great to, expecially the end scene. You could sort of beleive that Leon could do what he was doing and it wasn't all double back flip into a mega roundhouse chinese goose kick.
If it's anything like Leon i'll be heavily looking forward to this.
If it's anything like Leon i'll be heavily looking forward to this.
Here's a link to the trailer, gives you a good idea.
Just don't go expecting Martial Arts 3:Fist to Face Explosion
I saw a press/preview screening last night courtesy of a mate and I pray they don't cut it. The violence is nasty, not cartoony and cool like Sin City. But it needs to be, you need to get an idea of how bestial Jet Li is and can be if he needs to/has to. It's not pretty, it's not supposed to be, he's been degraded and trained to be nothing more than a weapon.
To see, for the 1st quarter of the film, what he is capable of and how little he thinks about pounding somebody's face repeatedly into a concrete floor makes the rest of the film and his attempts to move from that all the more poignant and sad.
No voiceover man in the trailer, just Massive Attack
[URL]http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/unleashed.html[/URL]
Just don't go expecting Martial Arts 3:Fist to Face Explosion
I saw a press/preview screening last night courtesy of a mate and I pray they don't cut it. The violence is nasty, not cartoony and cool like Sin City. But it needs to be, you need to get an idea of how bestial Jet Li is and can be if he needs to/has to. It's not pretty, it's not supposed to be, he's been degraded and trained to be nothing more than a weapon.
To see, for the 1st quarter of the film, what he is capable of and how little he thinks about pounding somebody's face repeatedly into a concrete floor makes the rest of the film and his attempts to move from that all the more poignant and sad.
No voiceover man in the trailer, just Massive Attack
[URL]http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/unleashed.html[/URL]
I keep seeing this being advertised, but Bob Hoskins just makes me laugh. He's the Britflick Bill Oddie.
EDIT: [URL]http://www.yee.ch/~movies/S/Super_Mario/Super_mario1.jpg[/URL] What a cast! I totally forgot Dennis Hopper was in it - I bet he's glad Hoskins takes most of the stick for this shizzle.
EDIT #2: Look at John Legzamimbo's face in that picture. He's not a happy bunny.
EDIT: [URL]http://www.yee.ch/~movies/S/Super_Mario/Super_mario1.jpg[/URL] What a cast! I totally forgot Dennis Hopper was in it - I bet he's glad Hoskins takes most of the stick for this shizzle.
EDIT #2: Look at John Legzamimbo's face in that picture. He's not a happy bunny.
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.
Page: