FEARLESS (HUO YUAN JIA)

Hong Kong/China, 2006, 107 minutes (original Chinese version 150 minutes), Colour.
Jet Li, Collin Chou, Masato Harada, Nathan Jones, Shido Nakamura.
Directed by Ronny Yu.

Lately, the name of Jet Li at the head of the cast has not been a sign for general rejoicing. The martial arts champion of the world (five times in the late 1970s) made an impact in Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s and 1990s but then came to Hollywood to play the villain in Lethal Weapon 4. No matter how enjoyable his Hollywood sojourn was, the films were not so good, especially in recent years with Cradle 2 the Grave and, more especially, Unleashed, both rather brutal shows. When he went back to China to play the lead in Zhang Yimou’s rather magnificent and spectacular Hero, he made a very good artistic choice.

Expectations for Fearless were not too high. It is, however, a pleasant surprise. (However, it was a bit of a shock to read that it had been cut from its Chinese length of 150 minutes to 103 – in retrospect, there were some time leaps but, while watching it, we accept these gaps and its works quite well.)

It can be added that Ronny Yu’s films since he went to Hollywood after 20 years or more making films in Hong Kong have not been all that auspicious: Bride of Chucky, the rather obnoxious 51st State and the lucrative Freddy Vs Jason.

Working in their own language and on home ground, paying tribute to a significant Chinese historical figure, Huo Janjiu, both Jet Li and Ronny Yu have made a significant martial arts film.

It is not new in the sense that this kind of heroic material is original. Rather, this is a familiar story well told and meant to inspire, the story of a man who became obsessed with winning, was punished by his arrogance with disaster and tragic loss, opted out of society and re-discovered his soul and returned to the world that he knew and tried to do something significant for China. He founded the which unified the martial arts in China and developed national sportsmanship. (Significant for China in view of the 2008 Beijing games.)

There are plenty of fights with a variety of weapons, intricately choreographed and filmed. There is also a strong human story of family, friendship and betrayal.

1. Jet Li, his career as a martial arts champion, his interest in Chinese history, Chinese sport and martial arts? The biography of Huo Yuan Jia? Tribute to him?

2. Jet Li's screen presence, reputation, seeing him in middle age, a serious role? Successfully performed?

3. The original running time, its being edited for international screenings? The effect? A portrait of China in the late 19th century, early 20th century? The impact for a Chinese audience? Worldwide audience?

4. The period 1880 to 1910, the Chinese cities of the time, houses, restaurants? The streets? The countryside? The fights, the auditorium?

5. The colour photography, the quality of the cityscapes, the countryside and its beauty, the tone? The editing and choreography of the fights? The spirited musical score?

6. The historical information about Huo Yuan Jia? As a hero? His experience, failure, redemption? The importance of his contribution to the sports federation? Federation of sportsmen in China? The patriotism of his contribution?

7. The structure of the film: the initial bout, 1910, the three different fights and Huo winning? The situating of the flashbacks, his childhood, his career, his failure, his redemption? Coming back to the final fight and his death?

8. The childhood sequences, the wealthy family, with his studious friend, his not wanting to study, his watching the fights, his having the lessons, his father’s reprimands? His father’s fight and his disappointment? His mother intervening to save him punishment? His father’s principles and educating him? The old steward and his service?

9. Huo as a young man, his arrogance, his martial arts skills? His ambitions? The various fights, their choreography, his victories? The variety of styles? The old beggar always meeting him and serving as a chorus about his championship? As a hero? His going to the restaurant of his studios friend, drinking, eating? The followers? Their kneeling and pledging allegiance to him? His accepting this group of disciples?

10. The challenge of the Master in the city? His finding one of his followers injured? The accusation against the Master? His anger? Intruding in the restaurant? His friend’s plea for him not to fight? The breaking of their friendship? The spectacle of the fight throughout the restaurant? The injury to the Master? Huo winning?

11. The death of the Master, the anger of his disciple? Huo returning home to find his family murdered? His mother and daughter? His killing the assistant? The confrontation with the Master’s family, his not killing them?

12. His leaving the city, the years away, age, the physical change, life in the village, washing in the river (and the symbolism of the water and washing and cleansing)? His being with the family, Moon and her being blind? His sowing the rice, wanting to be faster than everyone else, Moon having to sow it again? The meals and the cooking? Moon and her character, devotion to him? Touching his face? Knowing that he would eventually have to leave? His learning the news about China, China’s humiliation? His deciding to contribute?

13. China at the beginning of the 20th century, political situation, the Boxer Rebellion? The west and its entry into China, the humiliating remarks about China? Huo’s return, seeing the foreigners in the city?

14. Going to visit his friend, reconciling with him? The friend, his character, the memories of the past, the friendship? Huo’s request for the money, the friend granting it? The plan, the sports federation and its spirit?

15. The challenge by the foreign powers to defeat a Chinese fighter? The discussions between the Europeans, the Japanese? The high bets? The audience seeing the three bouts at the beginning of the film – and wondering about the fourth?

16. The Japanese fighter, the businessman and his control? The fighter meeting and respecting Huo? The gift? The build-up to the fight, the poison and its effect on Huo? His continuing to fight? The Japanese and the pressure from the businessman? His fighting properly, his respect for Huo, forfeiting the match – and the consequences?

17. The combining of the range of elements: martial arts, Chinese history and society, personal drama?

18. The impact of the film, the material not being new – but well done and an inspiration, especially for China – and the prospect of the Olympic Games in 2008?