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 enlarge | Director: Louis Leterrier
Actors: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Kerry Condon, Vincent Regan, Dylan Brown
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: Movie
Buy New: $2.99
Rating:  134 reviews
Sales Rank: 3548
Genre: Action - Martial Arts
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 103 Minutes
ASIN: B000I9VOU8
Theatrical Release Date: May 12, 2005
Release Date: December 2, 2008 (New: Today)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 134
 suspension of belief isn't quite enough January 9, 2008
Mantis Lake (Detroit, MI USA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This was thrilling and disappointing all at once. It takes western martial arts movies to a whole new level, then lets you down gradually, instead of sucking from the very start. As much as I love Jet Li, most of his American movies suck, which is not his fault in the least. Nor is it the fault of his choreographers like Cory Yuen, or in this case, Yuen Woo Ping. These large Hollywood companies just butcher the hell out of the fights in post-production, and this is almost an exception. Does Hollywood believe that that's what we want to see? Six angles for one punch, filmed on a shaky hand-cam? Not me. I hate that. This is still easily Jet's best film since he came to America and blows away crap like "Cradle 2 the Grave" and "The One". Though I must admit that for some reason, I loved "Kiss of the Dragon".
Jet plays Danny, a "dog", raised since childhood by gangster Bob Hoskins to help with collections and other assorted tasks. Hoskins will warn potential deadbeats by threatening to remove Danny's collar, which has a Pavlovian effect on Danny where he knows it's time to kick the tar out of everyone. An accident later leaves Danny injured, wandering, assuming that Hoskins is dead, and into the care of kindly old blind piano-tuner Morgan Freeman and his step-daughter Victoria. Under their influence, Danny starts to come out of his very shy shell and appreciate the nicer things in life, like music, ice cream, warmth (temperature and human), cleanliness, and non-violence. Hoskins isn't dead of course, and Danny will have to fight again for his own freedom.
What bothers me about this movie is that is sets up a silly premise and almost, almost pulls it off. Which wouldn't have bothered me as much if I wasn't so engrossed in Danny's plight. The acting is good all the way around, with an especially impressive performance by Jet. He really pulls off a combination of vicious and deadly under the care of Hoskins, and sweet, shy, and inquisitively wide-eyed under the care of Freeman. It totally sucks you in to the contrasting duality before falling short. It certainly raises some interesting questions about our own feral nature and the effects of civilization. Even more so than Tim Allen's "Jungle 2 Jungle".
The fights are really what attracted me to this, as it should be. After all, this is a Jet Li movie. It likely won't disappoint. All the fights are good, but I am bothered by a film that fails to improve on the opening rumble. The final fight is flawed only by its absurdity of origin, otherwise it rocks. Jet and a bald dude duking it out in a bathroom that's barely larger than a phone booth. These brawls are quite a bit different than any that Jet & Woo Ping have done in the past, together or otherwise. Again, they are over-edited, but in the grainy, dark, "Snatch"-like film quality, they don't suffer as much.
If you like American martial arts films (even though it's technically European), you should see this. It's in a league far beyond most, if not all, in that genre, and nearly transcends several others too... but not quite.
2005. aka: Danny the Dog
 Happy ever after January 3, 2008
Judy K. Polhemus (LA)
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This was my first Jet Li film and won't be my last. What I expected, I did not get, meaning real fight scenes. What I did not expect, I got, meaning a really touching story.
Danny (Jet Li) was raised by Bart (Bob Hoskins in a unbelievably brutal and inhumane performance) as a dog, a pit bull, to fight when "unleashed." Early on, the director gives the impression that Danny cannot talk, that he really is like a dog. However, the scene with Sam (Morgan Freeman playing Morgan Freeman, a wise and kind man), Danny reveals he is human, he does respond to humane treatment, and that he is a sweet person inside the dog collar. This is the part I love--the touching story.
Sam and his step-daughter Victoria (Kerry Condon), an accomplished pianist, awaken Danny's deeply dormant sweetness and bring him back to life and eventually help him solve the mystery of his life: Who is he? Where does he come from? Where is his mother?
What I expected was violent fighting, but what I saw was skilfully choreographed martial arts. Other reviewers praise this, but it did not look real to me. It looked choreographed. I could literally see them NOT making contact. A much better movie for realistic fighting is "Ong-Bak: A Thai Warrior" with Tony Ja. Now that fighting looks real!
I really like this movie for its story: for the rebirth of a person from brutality, unkindness, vulgarity, violence, skulduggery. What results is a family, love, kindness, compassion, things that make us better than we are. Add to this the soft kiss of a young girl and the sublime music of a concert hall. Danny is unleashed all right, from a poverty of spirit into a largess of love.
What a fine film this is! Highly recommended!
Very underrated! December 14, 2007
C. Courtner (NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm not a big fan of Jet Li but I actually enjoyed this film alot! The fight scenes are very brutal and aren't like most other martial arts movie. Li actually acts in this flick and is supported by a strong cast, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins. Luc Besson was clearly behind this project and it shows through the story telling. Also very stylistic effects. The movie isn't perfect but it's worth checking out.
 Second most worthless film I've ever seen October 12, 2007
I. R. Douglas (Cairo)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Something strange is going on in the world of film. Pathetically pointless narratives are being made into big movies and sold on the basis of a few images and who is in the starring and supporting roles. I don't know whether to blame the director or the script writer, but this is just utter garbage. All of the characters are caracatured. The whole film seems to be an excuse to repeat a mix between The Matrix and Hero, but with none of the style of either. Mr Morgan Freeman: What are you doing in this film? Bob Hoskins is a decent actor, but why did he take this role? Jet Li: Surely someone can write you a better script than this. Herzog, the great German director, believes -- and I agree with him -- that we are living amid a collapsing civilization, in part evident in the paucity of its images. This film is horrid, from beginning to end. Even the violence is totally lame and unreal. Fake blood appears to be wiped off in the next frame. It's so sloppy and bad it makes me sad, not angry. I'm not even going to watch the "special features" on the DVD. I'm just going eject and try to find something better. DO NOT waste your money on this. Luc Besson, if you read this, if you can't do better than this, please don't "do" anything further at all. Give up and go away. p.s., I'm obliged by the system here to give this film one star whereas I'd actually give it none.
UNLEASHED IS A WICKED GOOD TIME! September 19, 2007
horrorqueen (tx)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
you think of jet li and you think good acting, good movies, and some good beatings. and this movie was no exception. it was very good, entertaining, and touching. the plot was okay, there was a beginning and an ending. why he was this way, and how he finally broke free. he has this collar and once it's off jet li goes crazy. he knows what to do, and man does he do it. his fighting is extrodinary, and what makes him so good is he doesn't have that tough guy look or attitude, but when he gets ready for battle all hell breaks loose. he's treated like a dog, by this ruthless man, and finally one day he sees his chance to run and he does. he's taken in by this man (morgan freeman)and his step daughter where he learns the true meaning of family, respect, friendship, kindness, and love. all the things he yearns to have. little by little the old danny is slowly disappearing, but once again his old boss bart wants him back at all cost. then danny must fight to keep his new family safe and to keep his newfound freedom. excellent fighting scenes, and the whole movie was delivered as it should have. you really can't go wrong with jet li. and morgan freeman, great actor, just putting in his part of the game as well. well done, and weather your into action or fighting scenes you should like it, or even if you're not, the whole sad story on danny's behalf will keep you interested and make you feel for this guy because it's abuse he's being put through. any abuse is bad abuse. but underneath this sweet man is a killing machine he must learn to control.
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