Ottawa XPress - Film - Movie details

You have seen this movie?
write your own review!

Rating of our members :

(16 members)

Even turning off my brain didn't help...

I knew the premise of this film was ridiculous and I was even willing to ignore the most blatant lapses in logic, but in the end the insurmountable and inexplicably stupid things that people do in this movie overwhelmed me.

1) In a world of gangsters who don't like to pay their loan shark, why not just carry a gun so that you can shoot Danny when he attacks you? Most Toronto teens are packing heat, but apparently no one in England has thought of this.

2) How does a child raised in England from the age of 4 have a thick Cantonese accent?

3) Why would a gangster keep pictures of Danny's mom laying around after he killed her?

4) If you had a guy who was invincible, why didn't Bob Hoskins think of entering him in something like UFC and making a fortune on the international mixed martial arts fighting scene before?

5) How many blind people would bring a strange bleeding man home with them to a house with an unsupervised 18 year old daughter hanging around?

6) How exactly was Morgan Freeman planning on bringing Danny back to America with no passport or birth certificate?

7) Why is Bob Hoskins sending 20 armed goons to kill Danny? What good is he to him dead?

8) What kind of idiot henchmen would torment Danny after they've seen what he could do to them?

Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman are incredible actors and do a decent job perfecting the roles that each does best (psycho and gentle soul), but it just becomes impossible to justify their actions in the film because Luc Besson never bothers to write a credible back story for anything. If they had bothered to make this a period piece that took place in the 50's before Brits carried guns then Danny's existence would have made more sense.

Then there's the Mad Max fighting pit complete with studded leather masks and battle axes.

They took an interesting concept and ran it through the Euro-Trash blender and came out with some weird hybrid of "The Long Good Friday" and "Bloodsport."

James Harrison

{10 votes}

January 13, 2006

Once Upon a Dog

In short, what do you do when taken out of a familiar environment and forced into a completely alien environment to live as you are told? "Unleashed" isn't just about a man who was a boy trained to live as a dog. It is about a person who utilizes the tools given to him.

From the very beginning of the film you are taken into Danny's world. You see the man who has forced him into a life of violence. This is not a martial arts film, this is a film about life, about the depths a person can be taken to and then the heights they can achieve if they so choose. Danny doesn't just subsist within his cage, he dreams of a better life. You see this as he studies the only book he has. Danny doesn't wear the collar to curtail his violence and you begin to have a taste of this as you watch him gently touch his stuffed animal. Danny has been programmed to live against his nature of which the film does wonderfully in developing.

"Unleashed" asks one question: what would you do if you were forced to live against your nature? Some of us at one time or another has felt as though we were treated as a dog. "Unleashed" has taken this one step further and Jet Li's portrayal of such a person is masterful. He has done his homework as did the writers in portraying a man of few words and repressed emotions. In the end, the story expresses elegantly how the collar was only a tool for the trainer to control Danny and in the end Danny's tool to express his decision to change his life and no longer be afraid of who he is.

How many of us continue to sit around with an invisible collar and do nothing to change our lives? All who created this film should be applauded in their portrayal of life in such a daring metaphor.

Patti Baer

{50 votes}

May 15, 2005

Unleashed the beast of a bad movie

In Unleashed, Jet Li is the star who is raised as an animal and wears a collar, that when taken off makes him uncontrollable and lethal. He escapes, meets a blind piano tuner who teaches him about piano and the tuner's step daughter who teaches him how to eat ice cream. Apparently a little music and ice cream can go along way because the collar finally comes off and he no longer wants to be the lethal fighter he knows he is. Sounds a little silly and weird, non? It was. Even more weird was the stepdaughter. In the movie she was supposed to be something like 16, but the actor who was playing her looked no younger than 25. It was like the directors thought that if they put some braces on her and made her talk with an annoying squeaky voice that the audience might not notice. Well I noticed and was also creeped out by the daughter's relationship with Jet Li's character. He was too old physically for her, but too young mentally. Once again, kind of weird. I just didn't get this one which is a shame because I do like what Jet Li does. The movie did have some really good fighting scenes so I would only suggest renting it and fast-forwarding to those parts.

Reena Tabing

{1 vote}

July 5, 2006

Unleashed - setback?

As far as Jet Li's acting goes, he's matured pretty well in the movie Hero, but in this action movie, there might be an argument to be made about his setback in this film, Unleashed. A little over-the-top, the premise lies between ridiculous and schtick.

The campiness of certain performances like Bob Hoskins is actually entertaining, as it's really the only real good reason to see this flick. Morgan Freeman's turn is sort of awkward since questions arise on why he would actually take on this type of role.

Overall, the movie's strength lies in its martial arts sequences. Those aside, there ain't much here folks.

Angelo Vernucci

{2 votes}

January 9, 2006

Have I lost my human side?

On this start of the new year, I started to ponder if I myself have lost touch with my emotion side. After viewing the latest Jet Li movie and noticed that Hour reviewers had given it a four star review (in average) I had a hard time accepting this. I rushed to their french counterpart (voir.ca) and see if maybe the writers in Molière's tongue will notice what I notice which was a sad (not emotionally but sad as in lame) movie. To my surprise they also averaged out to a four star review! I hasted to IMDB... where I was shock to see that the movie had a 7.2 rating!

Have I lost my emotional side? Have I lost my good taste? Of course not, any movie called internationally called Danny the Dog and directed Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) cannot be good. And here are the reasons why:

First of all it is true that Jet Li may have finally found himself force to act in this movie, but i've seen animals (pun intended) act more than him. Morgan Freeman basically plays an older / wiser version of Ray Charles. Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) overracts, and pushes very hard to sell himself as a bad guy. We all know that it is not believeable. And God only knows where they found Kerry Condon (Rome) she gives out a performance that should award her with a Razzie.

I just flirted with the idea this movie deserves a one star rating. Luc Besson's script is full of holes... if you need some help to figure it out pay attention at the final scene. I am a firm believer that action movies shouldn't try to implement drama sequences in their movie and Unleashed just confirms it. For some reason the action movie cannot make you feel. They try lame, pity techniques to make you cry and the only thing that happens is the opposite: a laugh. Oh yes, Jet Li can kick ass, but I could of seen that in Hero or Fist of Legend which is quite more entertaining.

Anthony Narciso

{1 vote}

January 5, 2006

Wow, can Luc Besson do no wrong??

I think it's a real shame that Luc Besson doesn't want to direct anymore. I also wish he'd do audio commentaries for his movies on dvds so we can get some of his insight. But if I can't have those, then I'm happy to at least have him producing some great movies. Now, many may look down their nose at his action output of recent years, but I think they've been terrific! Kiss of the Dragon was a tight little thriller, the Transporter was a high-octane, old-fashioned FUN movie, and Unleashed is...a beast of a different color. It's not an action movie, nor a romantic comedy, or a gripping drama, but a sweet mix of all those genres. While the gung-ho Rambo in me loved the brutal, punishing fight choreography, my sensitive, girly side appeciated the bond between Morgan Freeman and his family and jet Li's Danny, possibly the best character he's played, and also his single best performance. So avoid the trailers, and open your mind to this great movie. I think it stands head and shoulders above most of the other junk out there.

Justin Leduc

{2 votes}

June 23, 2005

Unleashed, Professionally.

Has anybody noticed that Luc Besson's new film Unleashed has a particularly familiar plot/story line? A man completely cut off from humanity is reborn and finds love again, all while fighting off the baddies that made him.

In Luc Besson's The Professional he does it the Italian way and in Unleashed its the Jet Li way. I guess Besson decided to stick to what he knows best. Lots of action and hokey sentimentality. It worked for me.

The only thing missing in this installement is Nathalie Portman.

Morgan Freeman takes over Danny Aaillo's role (How do you spell Ayahyo?)

Jet Li has obviously Jean Reno place.

And Bob Hoskins, who is amazingly good, replaces Gary Oldman.

It's the same movie, man.

Pat Otvos

{1 vote}

June 18, 2005

Entertaining

Unleashed, of renowned director Luc Besson, now in the producer's shoes, features the talented martial artist, Jet Li and the always excellent Morgan Freeman. Freeman plays the role of an old blind pianist and Li, a walking killing machine raised litterally like a dog.

Rarely have I seen such a movie in which the main characters fitted so much the actors that played them. Jet Li can do his thing in the role of Danny, by multiplying the spectacular fight scenes while limiting to a strict minimum his on-screnne verbal performances. Truly the perfect role for him to sell his talent to the north american public, considering his limited english. As for Morgan Freeman, he does honor to his reputation, playing the old wise man, very articulate and full of good advice.

This is not a repertoire movie by all means and will not win at The Oscars or at Cannes. But I found myself to be greatly surprised and entertained by this picture. The characters are touching, the action is great and the scenario sprinkled with a few humorous scenes that manage to present Jet Li as someone sympathetic. Luc Besson's touch is evident and Unleashed turns out top be a success that reaches the objectives it was supposed to attain.

Sebastien Behnan

{1 vote}

June 14, 2005

Discover a good actor...

I've never been a Jet Li fan. However, this is a very interesting role for him. Not only does he get to do what he does best: martial arts, but he gets to show us another side of him: the actor.

When Danny the Dog (Li) gets the chance to escape his brutal master (Hoskins), he does so completely. He finds refuge with a quiet blind piano tuner (Freeman) and his musically-inclined daughter.

Through music, he will remember parts of his life that will enable him to change and become a better man. The story sometimes borders on pink soap but overall, it's an entertaining movie. As long as you don't expect action from beginning to end.

Natalie Dzepina

June 2, 2005

It's Jet Li's turn.

When I was seeing the trailer for the first time, I thought that it'd be a cool movie since Jet Li was in it. Lucky for me, it was better then I'd expect it to be. This movie is about a person, named Danny, who was raised as a dog. Danny gets his chance in living an ordinary life when he meets up with two people who aren't related at all, but they consider each other family.

During the movie, you can't help it but feel what the characters are going through. You'll understand what Danny goes through when he first experiences the world for the first time. For example, there was this one time where Danny got kissed on the cheek for the first time by a girl. When he was asked about how he felt about it, he was all happy and couldn't help himself from doing so. That is the cool thing about this movie. There will be a good laugh from time to time in this movie, and the joke deals with the most simplest of things in life.

When you think of Jet Li, I'm sure you will think that he will be in this martial arts movie and all you will see is fighting. This movie is different from the rest of his movies. Not only Jet Li fights in this movie, his character also goes through good times and bad. This movie shows the true talents Jet Li has. His english might not be the best, but that isn't what defines a good actor. It's one's acting skills that counts, and Jet Li was meant for these kind of films.

Morgan Freeman always has a good pick of movies. From Million Dollar Baby to Unleashed, he knows what he is doing. This is what I really like about him. He's in movies that will touch you.

Alex Markovic

{1 vote}

May 18, 2005

Jet Li finally showing some more acting and less martial arts.

There are important lessons to be learnt here. No matter how you treat an individual and what you train them to do, people will find their humanity inside them, whether through experiences or interactions. It is a key theme in the movie and is delivered brilliantly through a terrific performance by Jet Li. He perfectly portrays a lost child in the shell of a man, while at the same time, showing animalistic behavior that he has been trained for as well. It is nice to see Jet Li in a movie where his only goal is not to grind people to a pulp. Jet Li is not the only one delivering a good performance. Kerry Condon hands in a fine performance as a naïve girl, brought up to be very innocent yet kept in a protected environment. Bob Hoskin provides the right mix of villain and funny man, and plays a character that is fundamental in advancing the story. What doesn't always work though is the chemistry between these characters and I blame that partly on some story flaws.

But forget about the story, the great acting, and the directing and editing. One has to wonder when walking into a Jet Li movie if their action craze will be fulfilled. The movie starts off with one of the most graphic and adrenaline pumping action sequences that will cause you to hold on to your seat, especially if you're not prepared to witness something to that extreme. While the middle part of the movie is devoid of Jet Li proving to others on screen why they shouldn't pick a fight with him, the sequences are not missed.

On the whole, this is one of those movies that might not have turned up on your radar. But I do suggest anyone reading this to check it out. It's an action movie that offers you that little bit more we're no longer accustomed to during the month of May. It gives you a lesson on how you can try to treat a person as what you want but that doesn't take their humanity away. A person will discover it themselves, either through experiences or through interactions with others.

Arsalan Ahmed

{4 votes}

May 18, 2005

A Action Movie with a soul

Unleashed is a movie for those who are bored with the typical American action movie. The hero is not some superman battling hordes of evil, but an ordinary human battling his demons to break free of his bonds. This movie is not for all those people who just want to see a man beating on people with his fists, though there are enough scenes with Jet Li doing that, this is a movie for those who want to see characters grow/change evolve as Li's Danny.

Danny is a human dog, trained to kill people when the collar is removed. He only cares for himself and his own survival, at least at the beginning because that's the lesson he learnt from his master, Bart (Bob Hoskins). However when Danny is first shown kindness by blind piano turner Sam (Morgan Freeman) and Victoria, he is torn. Bart is kind to Danny because he fights for him, but these people are even more kind but asking nothing in return save his friendship.

Like a dog torn between to owners or a child deciding where his loyalties should lie: To the man that raised him, even though he had no reason too, or to the family that showed him kindness for the first time. There are no easy answers. And that's what makes this movie great.

The action sequences were fun to watch, realistic and brutal, but the movie excels at character interaction. Bart is the essence of gangster evil, hurtful and loving at the same time. Sam is a wild old saint who takes Danny under his wing. Why? The same reason why people take strays off the streets: it is human nature to care. It is also human nature to use animals to our advantage and profit from it, shown by Bart.

This is by far Jet Li's best Non-Asian movie, he plays a fantastic human turned dog. When he smiles you want to pet him, but when his face turns angry and he attacks, you fear him. Luc Besson finally learned how to used Li's skills and backed him up with Hollywood "A" actors. Let's hope to see more of this stuff.

Alexander Yu

{4 votes}

May 18, 2005

Jet Li's mortal enemy, Drama

Ok, I don't exactly know where to start . Um . Well the movie was good but it wasn't exactly "Woah Good" like "Romeo Must Die". I think the whole family drama didn't fit with the bone crushing fight scenes. I mean, Jet Li trying to show emotion isn't really how I pictured him to be until I saw the movie (What I'm trying to say is that he was bad at it). I wish he didn't have to play the mentally challenged guy throughout most of the movie. Let's face it, that's not a good sign when it comes to start being a better dramatic actor. Even I could have come up with a better script, like . This guy (Li), escaped from the nuthouse, he's a psychotic thug who fights everything that moves, a detective (Freeman) dies while trying to stop him, and then, at the end of the movie . He joins the scouts . Where's the drama in it ? There isn't any and that's the good part. Wouldn't that be the perfect picture for "Unleashed" ? Anyways, we all know who to blame for this, the screenplay written by Luc Besson and I'm going to finish my comment with this: This movie was more or less worth my ten bucks.

Gerald Tran

{3 votes}

May 15, 2005

Finally, an action flick with a story!

I now loathe the action genre. It seems that nothing intelligent can be done anymore. Action movies are all the same, all generic, all one-dimensional. The characters are usually silly and without purpose, and the plot is as predictable as... Well, I don't think there's anything more predictable than a Hollywood action flick.

What saves Unleashed from being a complete dog is its pedigree; the film has a european background and the whole thing doesn't feel American. And with Luc Besson as a writer/producer, you know that the film will at least be interesting. And with Morgan Freeman in the cast, you know that the acting will be decent.

Well, Unleashed does not disappoint. Jet Li plays a man who has been trained to be a killer by his master (a great Bob Hoskins). When Li wears his dog collar around his neck, he is docile and obediant. But once the collar is removed, he becomes a vicious beast with a thirst for blood.

But soon enough, Li meets an old blind piano tuner (Freeman) who teaches him a few things about the real world. After a horrible car accident, Li escapes and joins Freeman and his daughter. Slowly, they teach him how to live a normal life, how to have a purpose other than killing. But Li's past is always there to haunt him, especially when Hoskins finally finds where he's been hiding.

The film starts with an action packed montage, but soon enough, turns into a very powerful and original drama. For a long while, the film is more concerned about its characters than it is with action. And then, in the end, the action returns to offer an amazing, suspenseful and very intense finale.

Unleashed is much more than a mere martial arts flick. Yes, the action sequences are amazing, but this is one film that actually offers a plot. Just when I thought action films were hopeless, I'm surprised to find a touching and emotional story at the heart of Unleashed. This one is highly recommended.

Sebastien Pharand

{3 votes}

May 14, 2005

This is Not a Jet Li Film.

I saw this movie last night and just read someone's comment on how the audience cringed when they saw it was written by Luc Besson. I felt the opposite. The trailer looked decent and interestingly shot and written. Jet Li looked like he finally chose a role for him, Hoskins and Freeman are always phenomenal and the fact that Luc Besson's name was attached was the icing on the cake! I have been eagerly waiting for this film for months. For the last year my most anticipated movies were Sin City, Unleashed and Crash and let me tell you, none of them disappointed. To get back on topic, this movie was the perfect blend of action drama and comedy. The fights are shot and choreographed without the quick cuts and camera tricks we're used to, the drama is a little heavy handed but because the whole movie is so "out there" it works with the tone of the film. The light moments of comedy are the same, lightening the mood when it gets too heavy. Moral of the story is, I was not let down, and will probably spend another 10$ to see it again.

Gavin Roy

{2 votes}

May 14, 2005

A Martial arts movie with heart

Unleashed is not your typical martial arts action movie. Besson has managed to write an unique and interesting story in which the hero Danny (Jet Li) is able to perform some of the most brutal acts on his opponents but yet, at the same time, still garner the audiences sympathy. It's a tightrope act that he manages beautifully.

The action starts right from the opening credits. You are instantly drawn into Danny's world where he is essentially a trained attack dog who is used by his 'Uncle' (Bob Hoskins) to help in his debt collecting work. Even so, you are always able to sense that while Danny may be wreaking havoc on his opponents, he does not really have any vested interest in what happens to them. He does exactly what he has been taught, no more no less.

Once events conspire to allow him to get away from that situation, the second part of Danny's story begins; the re-humanizing. Through his interactions with Morgan Freeman's character and his step daughter, you get to see just how little of a human life Danny has had. This part of the story, as you would expect, is much slower paced that the parts involving Hoskins, but it never gets to the point where you might get restless.

As for the action sequences themselves, they just look amazing. From the choice of cuts to camera angles, director Louis Leterrier does a great job getting you right into the middle of the action. Of course with Yuen Woo-Ping (Crouching Tiger ..., The Matrix, etc..) doing the choreography, it would take a complete amateur to make Li and his fighting partners look bad.

While a bit more action oriented, the story is similar to Besson's earlier (and best) film, Leon (or The Professional if you'd prefer) in that they both deal with trained killers who find themselves out of their element in having to deal with unexpected relationships. While not as good as Leon, overall it is a very well made movie with a great cast with a little something for everyone.

Neal Gillett

{1 vote}

May 13, 2005

Jet Li a great Martial Artist....

The first time I was introduced to Jet Li was in Lethal Weapon 4, his North American debut. I was mesmerized by him it was like the first time I saw a Bruce Lee film. Martial arts is like a dance and Jet and Bruce are the Mikhail Baryshnikov of martial arts. After that I was interested in everything he did. Even went back and watched Once Upon A Time in China. All this to say, I am excited to see Unleashed. Not for the story per say but to see Jet Li dance.

Kathy Thomas

{10 votes}

May 4, 2005

A man of infinite range.

one note wonders are plentiful. ask yourself, where will paris hilton be three years from now, and i will lay even monies that she won't be anything other than a one note wonder, known for an overhyped bad porn download and nothing more.

jet li has constantly sought to challenge himself as an actor, versus becoming a one note wonder a la jean-claude van damm who continues to do b-action movies for the straight-to-dvd crowd. while tony jaa receives his just attention for his feats in ong-bak, the film was only a thin vehicle to showcase jaa's martial arts stunts. but for those awed by jaa's uncanny athleteticism, the movie didn't reveal jaa's acting depth nor range. hence the useless banter by martial arts 'purists' about jaa wireless acts in ong-bak seem to come from those who never trained at all in any martial arts at all.

the enduring depth that jet li expressed in the powerful film hero, as the enigmatic character nameless, overshadows those martial arts 'purists' crying foul because jet li uses wire work and therefore, somehow, despite thirty-two years training in wu-shu, a cheat. wire work in films such as hero and house of flying daggers do not rob nor take away from the overall expression of any martial arts film.

what distracts, and robs, and cheats, any martial arts film would be the lacking of a great story. ong-bak becomes a poor man's cousin to jackie chan's 'who am i', as well as his project a one and two. but hasn't jackie chan fallen upon rather difficult times as his film presence has become damaged by two very poor films, courtesy of disney's attempt to tap into the 'martial arts craze'.

i have been waiting for unleashed since i learned of unleashed last year. because this film possesses the qualities i enjoyed in hero and kiss of the dragon: superb storytelling that becomes the central focus while the martial arts enhances the storytelling's keen eye. one note wonders are plenty, but the artist devoted to his kraft are true gems.

Gary Womac

{15 votes}

April 28, 2005

Ok but my tastes have changed a little since his last movie

Maybe it won't be that bad but it won't be as impressive as it once could have been. Jet Li is still a great martial arts star but the new man of the hour is Tony Ja from Ong-Bak. That movie wasn't very complex but that he did all of his own stunts without wires or special effects was amazing. Is Jet Li old news? No but I'm more interested in the next Tony Jaa movie than I am the next Jet Li one.

Sam Truglio

{23 votes}

March 21, 2005

I hope Jet Li kicks butt!

I love martial arts movies but damn if this won't look a little bit lame compared to Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior that just came out a few weeks ago. That shit was off the hook and makes these very stylish North American kung-fu movies look not too hot. Jet Li is great but his best stuff is always when he does Hong Kong productions. The budget may not be as big but it certainly looks better. Anyways, I hope this turns out ok when I see it.

Vladimir Joseph

{5 votes}

March 20, 2005

The *original* pre-emptive critique of..."Unleashed"

If you're a longtime cinephile like myself and you saw the trailer to "Unleashed" then you cringed in fear when you realized that Luc Besson co-wrote and produced this flick.

I distinctly recall the premiere I attended a while back not because of the movie but because of the crowd's reaction to this movie's trailer. This thing was beautifully setting up the violent ballet that was "Unleashed" and you could feel the crowd get pumped...and then we all saw his name and the room's energy deflated like a punctured balloon.

There was a time when Besson's name meant something. Now, unfortunately, it means something else entirely. He once was described as genius capable of injecting depth into violence but that all changed when he sold out and became a hack. One hollow and painful dud after another have all but gutted his rep.

Actually, if you want to kill the buzz on a movie all you have to say that he's behind it and voilà! the flick is dead.

Now, "Unleashed" could be that exception to the rule, given the line-up of talent involved I'm certainly inclined to want to believe that but let's just say that I've been burned before.

It could work. It ought to work. I want it to work.

And yet, there is that name like a fly in my champagne. God willing, Jet Li and the rest of the cast have enough going for them here to break Besson's losing streak.

Pedro Eggers

{4 votes}

February 18, 2005

Jet Li's back!

5{ movies this year are incredible. So far we've had nothing but reliable imports this year and when you put it together with last year when we had Hero, House of Flying daggers and a few others that makes a very impressive string worth seeing. I'm a big martial arts fan and I can't wait to see Jet Li do his stuff again. The movie year just gets better and better for me.

Jeffrey Kwan

{3 votes}

April 25, 2005

Write your review!
please follow these guidelines

Information requested in blue will remain confidential [privacy policy]
Please indicate your real first and last names.

First name :

Last name :

Your email :

Confirm your email :

Title of your review (max. 150 characters)

Your review (max. 2000 characters)

available characters

You have seen this movie ?
What rating do you give to this movie ?

LIMIT PER PERSON : one comment before the movie and one review after. Thank you.

Your review will be read by our approval team and, if it is approved, will be posted on the website within 24 hours. It could also be published, along with your name, in the printed version of Xpress magazine and on any of our partner websites. In order to present the highest quality of reviews, Xpress reserves the right to refuse certain submissions. Any plagiarism will entail the entire removal of the member’s profile.
Hour and Xpress are not responsible for the opinions expressed by the members.