Ryan's Journal

Fearless, Jet Li's final period piece*, is yet another of Li's propaganda films. Like Hero, where Li espouses the good of the many at the expense of the good of the individual and the minority, Fearless promotes a rigid dogmatism found in both ancient imperial and modern communist mindsets, in addition to the blatant claims of cultural superiority found in all the fight scenes (and, well, everywhere).

I'd try to back up my claims, but I rented through Blockbuster and had to return it in less than forty-eight hours, so I only have impressions to go on. I'm going to try to cancel my Blockbuster 'account' since I don't actually want one.

Anyways, what was I saying? Oh right, dogma. Near the end, Huo has his students chanting, "we must not fight each other, we must be unified," and he and his friend codify their principles into a tidy little rule book. Because following rules and toeing party lines always makes for a better world, right?

Watch Farewell My Concubine. Note the destruction that follows little rule books and party lines writ large. There is no complexity to Li's movies, no historical honesty. Even though the Sick Men of Asia phase precedes communist times, it's just too easy to retell as an illustrious, auspicious chapter of glorious Chinese history when one man started a revolution for the people. I don't suppose anybody is expecting any degree of reality, and I certainly hope nobody finds any.

* Period piece, not action film. This is the last time he shaves the front half of his head and puts on a long pony tail in imitation of Wong Fei-Hung - thank goodness. From now on it's The One and Unleashed all the way. Yes! No. Wait, those both stank.

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