Review of Fearless (2006) by Roberto A — 17 Sep 2008

With the earnestness, sincerity, and emotional maturity of a teenybopper, "Fearless" is desperate to create an atmosphere of epic gravitas, but eventually undercuts itself with dimwitted hypernationalism, its obviousness reminding me of the beautifully rendered propaganda posters from the height of the Cultural Revolution. The film is skillful and pleasing to the eye, but has all the political subtly of "The Patriot".

To its credit...and what was probably its most shocking aspect to the brainwashed masses this film so crassly panders to...is the presence of one sympathetic, honorable Japanese character. But hell, for the Mainland, that's torrid stuff, so I won't denigrate this bold step in Chinese cinema. The fights are rock-solid and wonderful to behold, and I did enjoy Jet Li's dramatic turn. There is depth to the character of Huo Yuanji, but his transition from arrogant martial artist to saintlike defender of Chinese honor rings hollow and dishonest.

I knew I was in for The Same Old Shit when the film opens with a tournament specifically held "to destroy China's self-esteem". Anyone not familiar with rabid Chinese nationalism, would read that as a comical mistranslation, except, yep, that's what this film is about...yet another salve to "poor self esteem" of the Chinese Nation. The film does recover and gain a firm footing in its middle section, as Jet's unbridled ambition to become "the best fighter in Tianjin" leads to a bloody consequences. In its quaint, doleful way, the film leads Li's character to find enlightenment and inner peace on a Miao farm, the Miao being one of the minority peoples of China. It reminded me of the cliche of the soul-stricken cowboy finding enlightenment and peace in the ways of the Native Americans. But still, given the general contempt mainstream China holds its minority peoples in, it's a positive step for Chinese cinema. So kudos for that.

I imagine some of you are rolling your eyes and saying "Dude, it's a kung fu movie." I'd thank you for that observation, and merely point to the film's dozens of attempts at artsy fartsy pretensions, and then direct you to Chinese directors who do pretentiousness right, such as Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar-Wai. The bottom line is that "Fearless" is anything but.