Unleashed

While everyone was getting their Episode III on this weekend, I saw the new Jet Li /Luc Besson film, Unleashed.

I've gotta say, I haven't been this thrilled to see a Luc Besson film since The Fifth Element and Leon. The storyline is simple. What happens when you take a young child and train it to behave and follow you as its master? Jet Li is that child all grown up, and is now doing the bidding of a thug boss.

The opening scene is very powerful and extremely violent. The hits and acrobatics done by Li are amazing, and he's certainly kept his agility up over the years! Some extremely well done wire work, which I think are kept in a much lower profile than other films, just because Li makes the wires do less of the brute work than he does. The fight choreography is amazing. From the aforementioned opening scene, to the swimming pool battle (Li against four armed opponents), to Li and Michael Lambert dueling it out in VERY close combat in a bathroom stall, this film has some great action. Needless to say, the choreography was directed by none other than Woo Ping Yuen, who also did Kung Fu Hustle, Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2, and the Matrix trilogy. He's also done some great HK films that starred Jet Li and company.

The acting in the film was on par with what I'd expect. Bob Hoskins as the thug boss, Bart, does an excellent job, and all the secondary characters are fairly well portrayed.

Overall I'd give this film a 9 out of 10. I'm a fan of the genre, and of Jet Li and Luc Besson's previous work. Now only if they would stop putting the soundtrack to rap, and I'd be happy.