UNLEASHED

I didn't really know what to expect when I rented this movie. The trailer was kind of interesting, but I've been fooled before. Then I read some reviews, both good and bad. Finally I decided to just check it out for myself. I don't think I've ever seen a Jet Li movie before, so I'm not a "fan", though I respect his work.

So the story begins with Bob Hoskins as Bart, a mean mobster guy who keeps Danny (Jet Li) by his side with a collar around his neck. If someone doesn't pay Bart on time, off comes the collar, which turns normally docile Danny into a raging killing machine. You see, Bart took Danny in at a very young age and conditioned him like a Pavlovian dog to kill on command. When Bart's done with Danny, he locks him in his dank underground cell until next time.

One day, Danny manages to escape and he stumbles into an antique store where old, blind Sam (Morgan Freeman) is tuning pianos. Danny, being on his own for the first time with a limited vocabulary, is scared, but Sam comforts him with his words and his piano playing. Sam takes in Danny, who slowly comes out of his shell through Sam's young step-daughter, Victoria. Sam & Victoria teach Danny the ways of the world and all is great, until Bart's gang finds Danny and turn him back into a dog. Will Danny go back to killing for Bart, or has his new life affected him into being more peaceful?

So that's the spoiler free premise. It's very easy to see how some people would find the story preposterous. However, I really enjoyed it. Sure, some of it is a bit silly or over-the-top, some of the editing tricks don't quite work, but overall I just had a blast watching it. The fighting scenes are pretty intense and brutal, and the drama scenes are quite nice. Some of it teeters on sappy, but it gets reigned in before it goes too far. Plus, it's all beautifully shot and when the editing works, it works really well.

I read a review recently that basically said, "I went in looking for a Jet Li movie, but there was all this sappy crap and not enough fighting!" So, yeah, don't go in expecting tons of fighting. It's not really an action film. It's more of a drama showing what happens when you take a sheltered man and thrust him into society. Jet Li does a great job showing his vulnerable side (though he also kicks much ass). Bob Hoskins is also great in such a menacing role that's a far cry from Roger Rabbit. Morgan Freeman, as always, is playing Morgan Freeman (not that there's anything wrong with that).

It's not a perfect film by any stretch, but I'd say it's well worth checking out.