Light years ahead of many fu flicks
(10 of 10 Found this Helpful)
September 25, 2008
Based on the real life tale of Huo Yuanjia. The chinese want to add the Wu Shu Tournament into the olympics. They feel due to the honor and history of the sport it would make a great addition. This begins an epic tale of basic human error and the consequences of pure arrogance.
It's no secret to anybody that I love fighting, violence, just plain good ol' fashion beatdowns to the third power. But they all take a backseat to a great story. And without a doubt Jet Li's Fearless delivers a damn good one.
Fearless does an excellent job painting a picture using the themes of revenge and arrogance. Huo Yaunjia(Jet Li) is a very down to earth character that I found very easy to relate to. I think the storytelling is brilliant helping the viewer get to know the main character by beginning with his childhood. This part of the film clearly explains his recklessness going into manhood.
The film moves at a great pace and the events are given enough time to actually feel believeable. The character development for me, is the strongest point of the film. I also enjoyed the way characters were used. Nong Jinsun's(Dong Yong) character was very likable as the loyal friend, who was trying his best to be an angel on the shoulder.
Now of course anyone who comes into a Jet Li film are expecting great fights. The fights are pretty good but my favorite battle was early in the film. The later battles weren't bad to me but after a certain battle. I just felt it was so good nothing else really came close action wise. Overall, you get a very good dose of well done fights even consisting of weapon play.
I consider this to be one of Jet's best works. This isn't an average, mindless fu flick that delivers good action and overdone ridiculous comedy. You can actually come into this expecting to take it serious. I highly recommend picking up this Director's Cut, especially if you're a Jet Li fan. Or looking for a great story with a meaning.
Disappointed
September 3, 2008
Fearless is one of the best martial arts movies ever made. However, this DVD does not contain the Director's cut of the film. In fact, I contacted Amazon Customer Service and was promised a refund on the purchase price of "Fearless-the Director's Cut." I was informed, after Amazon received my DVD, that I would not receive the refund. Amazon definitely needs to pay significantly more attention to customer service consistency.
Totally awesome ........... Actual directors cut.
(1 of 1 Found this Helpful)
September 2, 2008
Brought from seller: rm_group https://www.amazon.ca . I just watched the Directors Cut last night, the added 40 minute footage was a wonderful addition to the whole movie. I had watched the US version many times and enjoyed it. Then reading the comments left on it I found that Canada was selling the actual directors cut with the additional 40 min footage. Skeptical at buying from an unknown source, I took the chance and bought it anyway. Shipping was very quick, the seller very nice, the DVD came in original wrapping, price was good.
The Directors cut was totally awesome and explained so much more and was so more indepth. You could understand the story so much more as well as the connection with all those involved in the story.
There are still 2 more versions in the 2 disk CD for me to watch, The Unrated Version and the Theatrical version. I don't think that they can give me as much pleasure nor live up to the directors cut, but I shall watch the Unrated Version, since I've seen the Theatrical version, here in the US.
For those looking for the Correct Directors cut version I've put the link to the place were you can get it, you wont be disappointed.
A Vast Improvement Over the Original!
August 14, 2008
As I was lucky enough to receive the correct copy of this dvd, I'll forgo the misprint snafu and rate the directors cut simply by the film.
Let me first state that I loved the original theatre release of Fearless. I would easily put in my top 10 favorite films of all time. However, this cut does what seems to be impossible these days - it takes a great film and vastly improves on it. When you watch the extra footage that has been added in, you aren't thinking "Well, I can see why they left that out..." The film moves just as quickly as the first film, however as a previous poster states, the film feels much more epic. You get a greater sense of the main characters reasoning, and what drives him to act the way he does. You also get a greater sense of his redemption by the film's end.
Also, it seems to me that since the director's cut is unrated, you get a few more broken bone and blood spitting scenes that were cut from the theatrical release to ensure a PG-13 rating. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste in violence in Wushu flicks. Personally, I thought it fit well with the character's hubris during that part of the film.
Finally, this being an Olympic Year, and with the games being held in Beijing, the scenes with Michelle Yeoh hit home just a little bit harder than they would in any other year. With China wanting to show its best side for these games, this movie shows one of the many reasons why this is the case. I found myself seeing a totally different perspective of both the movie and the games with the coincedence of the disc's release time, and it made me appreciate both just a little more.
Finally received corrected Director's Cut DVD
(1 of 1 Found this Helpful)
August 10, 2008
Like many people who had posted reviews here, I too received the incorrect DVD (i.e. the US theatrical version, not the original Director's Cut). As suggested by the helpful individuals here, I emailed Universal Studios Home Entertainment and got a response: they asked me to email them my home address so that they can send a postage paid envelope to mail back the defective DVD (Disc 1). Universal promised to mail the correct one within two to four weeks. I received it in about two weeks, and after having viewed this new disk, I am relieved and satisfied with their prompt response at rectifying the situation.
In terms of the movie itself, the correct Director's Cut is in every respect better than the US theatrical version. Approximately 35 minutes of original footage were cut from the US version -- both a disservice and disrespect to the American audience, who I imagine would have appreciated the relevant backstory and details that make this epic even more powerful and nuanced. For example, the extended scene where a boy was beaten by the neighboring villagers (that the US version deleted) really adds to Huo Yuanjia's mental, emotional, and physical recovery, as do other shorter deleted scenes. In fact, this version provides a much more chronological perspective that unfolds naturally and gives us a better idea of what happened to other minor characters, such as Huo's boyhood rival. In the end, I was able to appreciate this movie even more. As a side note, I wonder why there had been such a big media push to promote "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and so much less given to this vastly superior movie.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, please visit: http://www.universalstudios.com/contact_form.php?email_id=10 in order to notify them of your incorrect DVD as I did, so that a replacement can be sent. Finally, please encourage anyone else interested in this movie to only purchase and see the original Director's Cut; maybe one day, "Fearless" will be restored in US theaters the way it was meant to be shown.
