Film 2005 With Mad Dog MacGroyn
Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 1:18 am
Well chums, it's been awhile since the last decent offering or one shit enough to bash to buggery.
On the menu tonight, is Unleashed also known as Danny The Dog.
It stars Jet Li, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman.
Once hailed as the next Bruce Lee, Jet Li had a lot to live up for.
Let's be honest here, there will never be another Bruce Lee but that is actually a good thing.
Why dear forumites? Simple; it means we don't have to put up with a plethora of talentless imitators like Bruce Li, Lung, Lim, Ree, Lo etc
Jet remains Jet and he just gets better and better.
His latest epic is written by French legend Luc Besson, the man that brought us the classic Subway, Leon, Taxi & the more big budget, Fifth Element.
Now usually in a martial arts film, you are left with zero to non-existant plot and no chance of any character apathy.
Originally titled Danny The Dog, Unleashed delivers in both of these and to be honest, isn't exactly a martial arts film.
Set in Anytown, Britain, Unleashed is the story of Danny, an orphan played by Li, who has been "adopted" by a ruthless debt collector played by Bob Hoskins.
From a young age, Li has been trained to fight like an animal and is only sedate when a metal collar is placed around his neck by Bart (Bob Hoskins).
As a result, whenever a debt isn't payed, the collar comes off and Danny does his thing albeit it with aplomb.
Now this is where the martial arts takes on a new front.
Gone are the over the top wire work suckfests and in place is some truly brutal and hardcore fighting and yes, even some serious hairpulling not seen since those two girls in class 4B had a dispute over who loved Duran Duran more.
Now don't get me wrong, there is some wire work but it's not as in your face as that train wreck of a film Charlie's Angles or the Matrix sequels but the fights themselves are incredibly brutal.
Gone is the flowing style of Wu Shu or the textbook kicks of Tae Kwon Do and in place is a barrage of knuckle cracking fury.
When a particular incident goes wrong in an amazing set piece comparable to the sharpest of scenes in Lock Stock or Snatch, (see how I don't spoil it for you) Danny is left to fend for himself.
He finds his way and is eventually taken care of by a blind Piano tuner called Sam played by the brilliantlyy charismatic Morgan Freeman and his step-daughter Victoria (Kerry Condon).
Now this is where we get our second dose of 'new to martial arts films'...a story!
Jet Li begins to realise there is more to life than smashing kneecaps and breaking spinal columns.
He discovers the joys of "fruit", "ice-cream" & "kisses".
From having been raised like a caged animal, he gets to experience the outside world with often funny results.
As for permances, Jet Li really does get a chance to act in this one.
His previous western forays didn't give him enough time to create his character or for the audience to identify with him, but here, even though the pace is explosive in parts, you are still able to feel pity and sympathy for Danny.
Pretty soon, you forget that you are watching a martial arts film at all.
Bob Hoskins is his usual charming self in the role of Bart and really does a good job of playing an evil bastard.
Morgan Freeman is still a cool bastard and helps keep the story moving smoothly.
The action may not be up to the standards of the wonderfully sublime Ong Bak, but the story delivers and it's so good to see the Brits involved in this one....yes there are a couple of Brit fighters in the credits that I know and have trained with in the past.
This film needs a loving home...please, if you can spare a fiver and under two hours of your time, watch it and then go down to Soho to buy your very own dog collar.
So there you have it folks, a review without any of my usual tourettic ranting.
Why?
Simply put, this is a fucking good film and deserves a bit of support.
Should be in cinemas around June 10th in the UK unless you spot Mrs Chan and her shifty sons on the Broadway selling a screener out of a Tesco's bag.
Now I'm off to wrestle my dogs collar off of him and lose my shit in Lonon.
On the menu tonight, is Unleashed also known as Danny The Dog.
It stars Jet Li, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman.
Once hailed as the next Bruce Lee, Jet Li had a lot to live up for.
Let's be honest here, there will never be another Bruce Lee but that is actually a good thing.
Why dear forumites? Simple; it means we don't have to put up with a plethora of talentless imitators like Bruce Li, Lung, Lim, Ree, Lo etc
Jet remains Jet and he just gets better and better.
His latest epic is written by French legend Luc Besson, the man that brought us the classic Subway, Leon, Taxi & the more big budget, Fifth Element.
Now usually in a martial arts film, you are left with zero to non-existant plot and no chance of any character apathy.
Originally titled Danny The Dog, Unleashed delivers in both of these and to be honest, isn't exactly a martial arts film.
Set in Anytown, Britain, Unleashed is the story of Danny, an orphan played by Li, who has been "adopted" by a ruthless debt collector played by Bob Hoskins.
From a young age, Li has been trained to fight like an animal and is only sedate when a metal collar is placed around his neck by Bart (Bob Hoskins).
As a result, whenever a debt isn't payed, the collar comes off and Danny does his thing albeit it with aplomb.
Now this is where the martial arts takes on a new front.
Gone are the over the top wire work suckfests and in place is some truly brutal and hardcore fighting and yes, even some serious hairpulling not seen since those two girls in class 4B had a dispute over who loved Duran Duran more.
Now don't get me wrong, there is some wire work but it's not as in your face as that train wreck of a film Charlie's Angles or the Matrix sequels but the fights themselves are incredibly brutal.
Gone is the flowing style of Wu Shu or the textbook kicks of Tae Kwon Do and in place is a barrage of knuckle cracking fury.
When a particular incident goes wrong in an amazing set piece comparable to the sharpest of scenes in Lock Stock or Snatch, (see how I don't spoil it for you) Danny is left to fend for himself.
He finds his way and is eventually taken care of by a blind Piano tuner called Sam played by the brilliantlyy charismatic Morgan Freeman and his step-daughter Victoria (Kerry Condon).
Now this is where we get our second dose of 'new to martial arts films'...a story!
Jet Li begins to realise there is more to life than smashing kneecaps and breaking spinal columns.
He discovers the joys of "fruit", "ice-cream" & "kisses".
From having been raised like a caged animal, he gets to experience the outside world with often funny results.
As for permances, Jet Li really does get a chance to act in this one.
His previous western forays didn't give him enough time to create his character or for the audience to identify with him, but here, even though the pace is explosive in parts, you are still able to feel pity and sympathy for Danny.
Pretty soon, you forget that you are watching a martial arts film at all.
Bob Hoskins is his usual charming self in the role of Bart and really does a good job of playing an evil bastard.
Morgan Freeman is still a cool bastard and helps keep the story moving smoothly.
The action may not be up to the standards of the wonderfully sublime Ong Bak, but the story delivers and it's so good to see the Brits involved in this one....yes there are a couple of Brit fighters in the credits that I know and have trained with in the past.
This film needs a loving home...please, if you can spare a fiver and under two hours of your time, watch it and then go down to Soho to buy your very own dog collar.
So there you have it folks, a review without any of my usual tourettic ranting.
Why?
Simply put, this is a fucking good film and deserves a bit of support.
Should be in cinemas around June 10th in the UK unless you spot Mrs Chan and her shifty sons on the Broadway selling a screener out of a Tesco's bag.
Now I'm off to wrestle my dogs collar off of him and lose my shit in Lonon.