Name of Martial Arts Movie Where One Student Jumps in Pit One Smooths Rice Paper
| Fearless | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Traditional | 霍元甲 |
| Simplified | 霍元甲 |
| Mandarin | Huò Yuánjiǎ |
| Cantonese | Fok3 Jyun4-gaap3 |
| Directed past | Ronny Yu |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by |
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| Music past | Shigeru Umebayashi |
| Distributed by | Edko Films (Hong Kong) People's republic of china Moving picture Group (China) |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages | Mandarin[2] Japanese English |
| Upkeep | CNY ninety million (eighteen million USD)+[3] |
| Box function | USD$68.1 million |
Fearless , also known as Huo Yuanjia ( 霍元甲 ) in Chinese, and equally Jet Li'south Fearless in the United Kingdom and in the United States, is a 2006 martial arts flick directed by Ronny Yu and starring Jet Li. It is loosely based on the life of Huo Yuanjia, a Chinese martial artist who challenged foreign fighters in highly publicized events, restoring pride and nationalism to Prc at a time when Western imperialism and Japanese manipulation were eroding the country in the final years of the Qing Dynasty earlier the nascency of the Republic of China. Li stated in an interview that the pic was his last wushu martial arts epic, a betoken also made in the picture'south television promotions and other publicity.[ citation needed ]
Fearless was released on 26 Jan 2006 in Hong Kong, on 23 June 2006 in the U.k., and on 22 September 2006 in the United States.[4]
Plot [edit]
The film begins with Huo Yuanjia fighting and defeating three Westerners: a British boxer, a Belgian lancer, and a Castilian fencer. While waiting for the fourth lucifer to begin, Huo remembers his father Huo Endi teaching martial arts. The story is then told in an extended flashback. Watching his father fight, the young Yuanjia wants to participate, but his father is concerned about his asthma. Yuanjia sees his father in a lucifer with Zhao, who dishonorably won by retaliating when Huo Endi held dorsum a fatal accident. Humiliated by his begetter's defeat, Huo Yuanjia vows to regain the Huo family's honor and pride. He practices martial arts behind his father's dorsum. As time goes by, Huo Yuanjia defeats several opponents (including Zhao's son who bullied him when he was younger) and becomes a famous martial artist in Tianjin. Every bit he becomes successful, he becomes more short-tempered and reckless and grows more arrogant and ruthless towards his opponents, unlike his tardily male parent who advocated showing mercy to opponents. This likewise leads to Huo gaining many followers and getting himself into financial problem past spending his family unit's coin on drinking and partying.
When a rival martial arts master named Qin Lei injures i of his followers, Huo feels insulted and furiously confronts Qin on his birthday, at a eating house owned past Huo's babyhood friend, Nong Jinsun. Failing to dissuade his friend from fighting and fed upward with his ruthless beliefs, Jinsun furiously and adamantly ends his friendship with Huo. The confrontation escalates into a fight that ends with Qin's death. Qin'south godson seeks vengeance and kills Huo's female parent and daughter. Huo goes to Qin'due south house, where Qin'due south godson admits to the murders earlier killing himself. Huo becomes depressed when he learns that it was his follower who had insulted Qin's mistress, which acquired Qin to beat him.
Wracked with guilt, Huo flees Tianjin and wanders frantically for months. He nearly drowns in a river but is saved past Granny Lord's day and her blind granddaughter, Yueci. They bring him dorsum to their village. Guided by their kindness, and over the years, Huo learns the value of compassion and mercy.
In 1907, Huo returns to Tianjin and sees the changes that have taken place. He apologizes to Qin's family and reconciles with Jinsun, now a businessman. He challenges the American wrestler, Hercules O'Brien. Prior to the match, Huo requests that he and Hercules fight with honor and civility. Taking advantage of the language barrier, the Announcer deliberately mistranslates Huo's asking to "He wants to kick your butt". During their match, Huo saves O'Brien from being impaled on some nails and wins his gratitude. The match ends with O'Brien happily naming Huo the victor. Huo's fame spreads with successive bouts against other foreign fighters. In 1909, with funding from Jinsun, he founds Chin Woo Athletic Association in Shanghai.
The members of the foreign chamber of commerce fear that Huo'south victories might fan anti-foreign sentiments amid the Chinese people, thus condign a disadvantage to them. They propose a match betwixt Huo and iv foreign champions. Huo takes upward the claiming, fifty-fifty though he volition accept to fight four bouts in a row. Before the matches, Huo meets the Japanese champion Tanaka for tea and strikes upwardly a friendship, with the men developing a mutual respect for ane another.
The film so returns to the competition shown in the opening scenes. On September 14, 1910, Huo faces Tanaka after defeating the European challengers. In the kickoff round, they fight with their weapons of pick. Huo uses a sanjiegun while Tanaka uses a katana. In the heat of the fight, they accidentally commutation weapons. Huo is able to handle the katana proficiently, while Tanaka can defend himself but fumbles when attacking with the sanjiegun. Huo offers to exchange weapons with Tanaka, and the offset round ends in a draw. Before the next circular, Huo unknowingly drinks tea poisoned by the members of the foreign chamber of commerce. In the 2d round involving unarmed combat, Huo has difficulty breathing and begins to lose his strength. He collapses and starts coughing blood as a consequence of arsenic poisoning. Tanaka and Huo'due south supporters need that the match be halted and postponed, merely Huo wishes to go along as he is going to die anyhow. Huo, overwhelmed by Tanaka, still manages to deliver a concluding accident to Tanaka's chest, using the same technique that killed Qin, but deliberately holds back, smiling just earlier he collapses. Tanaka, aware that he could have died had Huo used more force, declares Huo the victor as Huo dies and respectfully bows to him as he collapses into the arms of his friend and students. Before departing, Tanaka angrily retorts to a protesting Japanese diplomat (who had Huo poisoned) that he was a disgrace to Japan for valuing his ain personal gain past betting on and attempting to ready the match past poisoning Huo over having enough national pride in Tanaka that he could win honorably for Nihon. Tanaka storms off to the diplomat'southward immense shock.
In the epilogue, Huo's spirit practices Wushu on a field while Yueci observes him. Huo turns to her and smiles, indicating a lover's reconciliation.
Cast [edit]
- Jet Li as Huo Yuanjia. Lu Yuhao played the younger Huo Yuanjia.
- Dong Yong as Nong Jinsun, a businessman and childhood friend of Huo Yuanjia. Zhu Qilong played the younger Nong Jinsun.
- Nakamura Shidō Two as Anno Tanaka, a Japanese champion and an honourable human who respects Huo Yuanjia and upholds the spirit of Wushu.
- Collin Chou equally Huo Endi, Huo Yuanjia'south father.
- Betty Sun every bit Yueci, a village girl who took care of Huo Yuanjia when he was in a state of depression. She is called Moon in the US release.
- Nathan Jones every bit Hercules O'Brien, the American wrestler.
- Paw Hee-ching as Huo Yuanjia's female parent
- Mike Leeder as Randall, the friction match referee.
- Ian Powers equally Dante, the bellboy.
- Anthony De Longis as Anthony Garcia, the Spanish fencer.
- Brandon Rhea every bit Colonel Han Herzon, the Belgian lancer.
- Jean-Claude Leuyer as Peter Smith, the British boxer.
- Somluck Kamsing as Beicha, the Muay Thai kickboxer. He appears simply in the director'south cut.
- Masato Harada equally Mr. Mita, the Japanese diplomat, who was despicable and dishonourable unlike Tanaka. He was the ane who poisoned Huo Yuanjia, leading to his death
- John T. Benn as the American man of affairs
- Philippe Millieret as the French businessman
- John Paisley as the British businessman
- Michelle Yeoh as Ms. Yang, the narrator of Huo Yuanjia's story in the opening scene. She appears only in the director'due south cut.
- Hu Xiaoling as Huo Yuanjia's daughter. She is known equally Jade in the US release.
- Chen Zhihui as Qin Lei, a rival martial arts master who was killed by Huo Yuanjia. He is known equally Principal Chin in the Us release.
- He Sirong as Qin'south wife
- Ma Yin as Qin's daughter
- Ting Leung every bit Laifu, the Huo family retainer.
- Qu Yun as Granny Sun, Yueci's grandmother. She is known as Grandma in the US release.
- Ma Zhongxuan equally Zhao Jian, Huo Yuanjia's babyhood rival. Shang Yapeng played the younger Zhao Jian.
- Jacky Heung as Qin's godson, who kills Huo Yuanjia's family to avenge his godfather.
- Zhao Zhonggang every bit Zhao Zhiqiang, Zhao Jian'south father who defeated Huo Endi in a lucifer at the commencement of the moving picture.
- Zheng Shiming as Xia Xiang
- Chen Fusheng as Xu Dashan
- Wang Qi as Gui
- He Jun as Bang, the town idiot
- Liu Licheng equally Qiang
- Qian Yi every bit the referee at Huo and O'Brien'southward lucifer
- Sun Yueqiu as accountant
- Yi Shixiong as Liu Zhensheng, Huo Yuanjia's student.
- Ma Jing, Wei Binghua, Zhao Tieying, Xu Yonghai and Song Shuo as Huo Yuanjia'due south students
Product [edit]
Alternate versions [edit]
The film was originally approximately 140 minutes long, only to fit market need, information technology was cut to 105 minutes, and scenes by Michelle Yeoh and a fight betwixt Jet Li and a Thai boxer, portrayed by Somluck Kamsing, were removed. A special release of the film in Thailand in March 2006 reinserted the scenes with Somluck (but not Michelle Yeoh), making its new running fourth dimension approximately 110 minutes. In January 2007, Ronny Yu's original 140-infinitesimal director's cut was given an official DVD release in Hong Kong, featuring the full Michelle Yeoh subplot as well equally the fight with Somluck Kamsing.
Within the Somluck Kamsing scene, there are ii different endings. In the director's cut, the fight ends later on Huo Yuanjia stops the Thai boxer from falling head get-go. In an alternate scene, the Thai boxer continues to fight after this and Huo appears to kill him with the exterminating blow, merely to see that he had resisted, in which the boxer realises this and ends the fight.
Managing director'south cut [edit]
Universal released the full 140-infinitesimal manager'southward cut on DVD in North America in July 2008.[5] The released DVD, however, contained 2 discs and has been reported to errantly contain both the existing United states of america theatrical version and the existing unrated version and not the bodily director's cut on either of the discs. Notwithstanding, many people were able to get replacement copies that had the director's cut later sending a complaint on their website.
In December 2008, Universal released the Blu-ray version of the film, which contains the three versions (Theatrical, Unrated, and Director's Cutting) in a single disc.
In that location are many differences between the theatrical and director'southward cutting.
- Instead of the film opening with the fighting contest in Shanghai, 1910, the film opens with Ms. Yang (Michelle Yeoh) explaining to the International Olympic Committee why wushu should be an Olympic sport. She then proceeds to tell the story of Huo Yuanjia, the man who helped wushu become a major sport.
- Before nosotros see Huo as a child, a scene of him is shown seeking passage on a gunkhole, with the boatman taking a small jade jewel out of a sack every bit payment from Huo (shown afterward to be the souvenir that Huo's daughter intended to give him when he wins his fight). This will also subsequently be shown to be a scene of Huo wandering in despair.
- Before Huo and his friend, Nong Jinsun, equally children, get to come across Huo's male parent fight, there is a scene of Huo showing Nong his father'southward certificates from winning fights.
- There are scenes of Nong, as a child, copying the Huo family's wushu manual for Huo Yuanjia so he can learn.
- A scene was added of Huo Yuanjia, as a child, getting his revenge and defeating the son of master Zhao.
- Afterwards Huo's minor confrontation in the streets with Qin Lei, a scene is added of Huo beating his disciples for not working difficult enough.
- An extra scene of Huo's family, waiting for him to come up home subsequently his contest.
- The montage of Huo wandering in despair is longer, too as his time with the villagers.
- A scene was added of a immature boy from the village, Gui, getting beaten by members of another neighbouring village for stealing an ox later his own died. The villagers of Huo's hamlet protest to let him go, and when the human of the other hamlet refuses, Huo offers to take Gui's punishment instead. He has to let a Thai boxer shell him until an incense stick burns out. Huo allows the Thai boxer to beat him until members of his village protestation. Huo defends himself from the Thai boxer, but does not fight back. When the Thai boxer is nearly to hit his caput on the ground, Huo saves him, and the Thai boxer bows in respect, and agrees to permit Gui and the other villagers go.
- In his fourth dimension with the villagers, Huo has a talk with two village boys about wushu, and makes them explain why they desire to acquire it.
- When Huo returns home, the black-and-white footage of battle shown at the beginning of the theatrical version is at present shown right before Huo'due south return to Tianjin, with subtitles explaining that after the Qing Dynasty, foreign armies invaded China, and made Tianjin a semi-colony. Besides added was a scene of Huo giving master Zhao, whom he defeated earlier in the showtime of the film, his copy of the Huo family unit'southward wushu manual. He later comes to Jingwu school and joins.
- After the main credits, Ms. Yang is walking abroad from the meeting, with a reporter request her if she thinks she will succeed. She responds saying that she had done her best, and that is what is important. When the reporter asks, "Is it plenty?", she smiles and walks away.
- Various scenes in the film are now given their time and place in subtitles. Also subtitled are the names of the iii fighters Huo fights with earlier Tanaka in Shanghai, as well as their fighting styles.
Other names [edit]
- Some promotions, including tv and AMC Theatres, billed the film every bit Jet Li'southward Fearless.
- The movie is likewise known as Spirit in Japan.
- The film is also known by its Chinese championship Huo Yuanjia.
Reception [edit]
The picture holds a rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus being, "Fearless is a brilliantly choreographed, beautifully filmed endcap to Li's quarter-decade of epic martial arts glory."[6] Empire gave ii stars out of 5 with a verdict stating, "Despite impressive, CG-light activity sequences and an arresting story which certainly stands another re-telling, director Ronny Yu barely elevates this above the level of a direct-to-video fightfest. Hero or Crouching Tiger information technology own't."[vii]
Fearless opened in Hong Kong on 26 Jan 2006 during the Chinese New year's day holidays. The flick played to blockbuster business, eventually grossed an exceptional HK$30,201,600 by the cease of its run on 8 March 2006, making it the highest-grossing domestic film of the territory of 2006.[8]
On 22 September 2006, Fearless was released in 1,806 North American cinemas under the title Jet Li's Fearless. In its opening weekend, it placed 2nd at the box role to the sequel to Jackass, grossing US$x,590,244 (US$v,863 per screen). It was Jet Li's seventh film in a row to open to over U.s.a.$10 meg.[ix] The flick went on to gross The states$24,633,730 past the stop of its North American run—making information technology the sixth highest-grossing non-English language foreign motion picture in the United States to date[10]—and its full worldwide gross US$68,072,848.[xi] [12]
Controversy [edit]
The descendants of Huo Yuanjia were so upset by how their ancestor was portrayed in Fearless, also as by the historical inaccuracies in the film, that they launched a lawsuit against Jet Li and the film'southward producers and distributors in March 2006. Huo Shoujin, an 81-year-old grandson of Huo Yuanjia, stated he was unhappy that the movie showed Huo Yuanjia causing "trouble", which led to the deaths of his mother and girl.[13] Huo Shoujin also denounced the filmmakers for depicting his granddad as a vehement fighter.[fourteen] In Dec 2006, a court in Beijing dismissed the case, proverb Fearless was an exaggerated and fictitious portrait of Huo Yuanjia simply it "contained no defamatory or libelous depictions".[15]
Soundtrack [edit]
The motion-picture show's soundtrack was equanimous by Shigeru Umebayashi.
The Taiwanese singer Jay Chou wrote and sang the theme song, as well named "Huo Yuanjia". In the song, Chou sings in a falsetto voice for a few segments.
Awards and nominations [edit]
| Organization | Honor | Nominee | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26th Hong Kong Moving-picture show Awards | All-time Action Choreography | Yuen Woo-ping | Won | |
| Best Film | Fearless | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Jet Li | Nominated | ||
| Best New Performer | Betty Dominicus | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | Virginia Katz, Richard Learoyd | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Vocal | "Fearless" (composer: Jay Chou, lyricist: Vincent Fang, singer: Jay Chou) | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Richard Yawn | Nominated | ||
| 13th Hong Kong Movie Critics Society Awards | Best histrion | Jet Li | Won | |
| Film of Merit | Fearless | Won | ||
| 43rd Gold Horse Awards | Best Activeness Choreography | Yuen Woo-ping | Nominated | [16] |
Run across also [edit]
- Jet Li filmography
References [edit]
- ^ "Fearless (2006)". Allmovie.
- ^ a b c "Review: 'Fearless'". Multifariousness. 22 March 2006.
- ^ "李连杰讲述《霍元甲》：这是我最后一部功夫片_影音娱乐_新浪网".
- ^ Rafferty, Terrence (17 September 2006). "FILM; Exit Kicking: Jet Li's Martial Arts Swan Song". The New York Times . Retrieved fifteen September 2010.
- ^ "Jet Li's Fearless Director's Cut Fights Upwardly to DVD on July 15th". Film Web. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
- ^ "Fearless".
- ^ Harrison, Genevieve (4 September 2006). "Fearless". Empire . Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Fearless (2006)". Hong Kong Movie Database. Retrieved eighteen April 2008.
- ^ "Jet Li Picture show Box Function Results". Box Part Mojo . Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ "Dwelling house".
- ^ "Jet Li's Fearless (2006)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ A Kung Fu Swan Song
- ^ "Family'due south 'Fearless' lawsuit: Huo files lawsuit confronting pic's producers in Beijing Court". Variety. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 17 Oct 2021.
- ^ "Jet Li to face lawsuit for pic Fearless". China Daily. 26 March 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ "Kungfu master'southward grandson loses defamation lawsuit against Jet Li film". people.com.cn. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2006.
- ^ (in Chinese) Golden Equus caballus Awards official homepage 43rd Gilt Horse awards winners and nominees list Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 May 2011
External links [edit]
- Us Official website
- Fearless at IMDb
- Fearless at AllMovie
- Fearless at Box Office Mojo
- Fearless at Rotten Tomatoes
- HKMDB
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearless_(2006_film)
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