Fearless

[Brian in Mesa]

Rogue Picks Up Jet Li's Fearless
Source: Variety
February 1, 2006

Focus Features genre banner Rogue Pictures has bought U.S. distribution rights to Fearless, which is being billed as Jet Li's final martial-arts film ever, reports Variety.

The pickup comes just as the movie is breaking box office records across various Asian territories, besting openings set by Hero, House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Edko has been rolling out the film in China, where it grossed 12.5 million yuen ($1.55 million) on its opening day, Jan. 26. Buena Vista International has been handling Southeast Asia.

Rogue has not set a release date domestically.

Produced by Bill Kong, Fearless was directed by Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason) and stars Li as real-life martial-arts legend Huo Yuanjia, the most famous fighter in China at the turn of the 20th century.

Christine To and Chris Chow wrote the movie.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Fearless

Release Date: September 22, 2006
Studio: Rogue Pictures (Focus Features)
Director: Ronny Yu
Screenwriter: Chris Chow, Christine To
Genre: Action, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for violence and martial arts action throughout)
Website: Fearless

Starring: Jet Li, Sun Li, Dong Yong, Nakamura Shidou, Nathan Jones

Plot Summary: Already a boxoffice hit in Asia, "Jet Li's Fearless," directed by Ronny Yu (helmer of the Hong Kong classic "The Bride with White Hair"), is Jet Li's final martial arts masterpiece, capping a tremendous body of work in that genre.

"Jet Li's Fearless" reunites the actor and martial arts superstar with producer Bill Kong ("Hero") and action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping ("Unleashed") as he portrays martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia, who became the most famous fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. Huo faced incredible personal tragedy but ultimately fought his way out of darkness and into history, forever defining the true spirit of martial arts. His self-discovery, and the choices he made, inspired his nation.

The son of a great fighter who did not wish for his child to follow in his footsteps, the bullied Huo Yuanjia resolves to teach himself how to fight - and win. Years of training enable him to ace match after match in his home region of Tianjin. But as his fame as a martial arts master grows, so does his pride. After an ill-advised fight leads to another master's death, members of Huo's family are slain in revenge. Grieving and ashamed, Huo wanders the country in shock. Near death, he is rescued by women from an idyllic village, and is offered simple kindness and generosity that help him heal and regain his equilibrium over a period of several years. Huo realizes that the future of martial arts lies in sportsmanship and not brutality, and he rejoins society to apply what he has learned.

Returning to Tianjin, Huo takes steps to come to terms with his past and restore his family's name. His evolving, graceful Mizong (Missing) Fist method of fighting brings Huo renewed success, and he forms the progressive Jingwu Sports Federation. Taking note, duplicitous members of the Foreign Chamber of Commerce engineer a Shanghai tournament pitting Huo against four fighters, each representing the major foreign powers in China. Huo commits to the bout and faces off against, respectively, a British boxer, a Spanish swordsman, a Belgian soldier, and a Japanese martial artist. What happened that day in 1910 has never been, and will never be, forgotten in China.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

DVD buy for me.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Plot Summary: Already a boxoffice hit in Asia, "Jet Li's Fearless," directed by Ronny Yu (helmer of the Hong Kong classic "The Bride with White Hair"), is Jet Li's final martial arts masterpiece, capping a tremendous body of work in that genre.

Final martial arts masterpiece movie? When was his first?

 

[Chaplin]

Final martial arts masterpiece movie? When was his first?

You don't like Jet Li?

Once Upon A Time in China
Fist of Legend

are two of his best.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

You don't like Jet Li?

Once Upon A Time in China
Fist of Legend

are two of his best.

No, not really a fan of Jet Li, but I havent seen Fist of Legend, so I may give that one a try.

 

[Chaplin]

No, not really a fan of Jet Li, but I havent seen Fist of Legend, so I may give that one a try.

I think Fist of Legend is the best pure martial arts movie I've ever seen.

 

[Ryanwb]

I saw this movie like 2 years ago.... (Asian co-workers)