Unleashed 2005 Film Starring Jet Li
A Ruthless Gangster has Turned a Man into an Attack Dog
Sep 14, 2009
Danny is a child-like man with very few communication skills and a naive nature. That is until his Master takes off his collar at which time, Danny is transformed into a vicious and violent killer who will beat anyone to death on command.
Unleashed's Plot and Characters
Danny (Jet Li) has been trained by his ‘uncle’ Bart (Bob Hoskins) into being essentially an attack dog, ready to act out whenever his collar is removed. Danny has been taught various martial arts and is ruthlessly efficient at hurting and killing people. It is the only life that Danny has ever known.
His life is changed when he has a chance encounter with a blind piano tuner named Sam (Morgan Freeman) who is kind and friendly. Later Danny is involved in a shootout between Bart and some rival gangsters; he escapes and goes to the shop where he met Sam. Once there he loses consciousness through blood loss.
He wakes up to find himself in Sam’s home and being cared for by the old man and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon). Over an unspecified period of time the two slowly encourage Danny to come out of his shell by showing him the only kindness that he has ever known.
Unfortunately his new life is threatened when Bart returns to claim his ‘dog’.
Not a Normal Martial Arts Film
Most martial arts films are concerned with simple ass-kicking with not much substance. Jet Li is famous around the world for his lightening fast moves and his ability to take down a room full of opponents whilst barely breaking a sweat. In Unleashed (also known as Danny the Dog) Li is given a chance to flex his acting muscles and does a very good job as the child-like Danny struggling to escape his past and build a new future.
Bob Hoskins plays a suitably unpleasant character, who has turned an innocent child into a cold and remorseless killer. Bart is a powerful figure in Danny’s life and exerts a strong connection over his favourite pet.
As with every other Jet Li film, the fight sequences are bone crunching and brutal. Li can snap bones like twigs; a blood splatters the camera as he seems to beat men and women to death. The Hollywood Legend Morgan Freeman gives Sam an effortless charm and kindness who is a perfect counter for Hoskins’ ruthless and cruel Bart.
Unleashed is still a martial arts film but it takes the time to tell a story as well. It allows Jet Li to embrace a character that convincingly evolves during the film and is saved from the nightmare of his life by simple kindness.
8/10
Unleashed is a bone-crunching martial arts film that can also tug at the heartstrings.
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