The Film:

Unleashed is a gripping, action-packed story is about a man raised from childhood by a ruthless crime boss (Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins) and becomes a violent killing machine. When a blind piano tuner (Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman) takes him in, Danny (Li) tries to start a new life, but his brutal past follows him, forcing him to fight back. Featuring breath-taking fight choreography by Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix and Kill Bill: Vols. 1 & 2).

Our Thoughts:

Martial arts film star Jet Li takes on a role that requires both aggressive violence and vulnerability as "Danny," a Chinese man trapped and caged in the gritty underbelly of Glasgow, Scotland - trained from a young age to kill and hurt on command when the "collar comes off." Trained by his uncle Bart (a streetwise crime boss in Glasgow's underworld) from childhood, Danny only knows how to be a savage fighting machine, until he inadvertently stumbles on Morgan Freeman's character, a blind piano tuner who reaches Danny through their mutual love of music. Freeman's stepdaughter (Kerry Condon) is an adequate enough "love interests" for Li's Danny, though the film doesn't really develop that relationship enough by the end of the film.

Danny is an interesting character whose past memories haunt him and who has a sense of humanity because of it. But that humanity has been pushed down deep as he helps Bart collect protection money from various businesses in Glasgow, using extreme force when he deems necessary. Unleashed does a decent job of trying to show this humanity and the violence that Danny is capable of. Jet Li did a supreme job of playing out both sides of the film, helped by Morgan Freeman's mellow and understanding blind man. Bob Hoskins also offers a stellar performance as the evil Bart, playing a modern day Fagan, trying to convince his pet that he is the only one that cares.

The Bottom Line:

Martial arts master Jet Li takes on a different type of role in Unleashed and manages to pull it off with flying colors. Louis Leterrier's direction on the film gives it that fast paced action, combined with a compelling story that shows a different side of Asia's masterful martial arts star. Some hardcore Li fans may have a hard time with the film's dramatic trappings, but the fight scenes more than make up for it. If you like action films or Jet Li in general you can't go wrong with this DVD.

The DVD Extras:

Beyond the Unrated and extended versions of the film and the Scene Selection function, and Language support (Spanish, English, French) the DVD offers a handful of extras including a featurette with director Louis Leterrier talking about signing onto the film, the actors and the script; another featurette called Serve No Master featuring Jet Li, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman talking about the fight scenes in the film; a featurette called "The Collar Comes Off," offering more interviews with the cast and crew of the film and two music videos ("Atta Boy" by Massive Attack and "Unleash Me" by The RZA). If you enjoyed the film, then the extras will be right up your alley.

CAST:

Bob Hoskins, Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Kerry Condon, Vincent Regan, Dylan Brown, Tamer HAssan, Michael Jenn, Phyllida Law, Carole Ann Wilson, Michael Ian Lambert, Andy Beckwith, Afif Ben Badra, Silvio Simac, Osana Ekue, Eudes Clara Creantor

DVD Release Date: October 11, 2005

More Details: www.unleashedmovie.com

Buy It: - Universal Retail Link