this time jet li is really unleashed with intense action and superb performance........
Unleashed
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Martial arts and melodrama -- not for children.
Why We Rated This 
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Unleashed was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that this film is extremely violent and isn't meant for kids. The fight scenes include the sounds of bones breaking, with prominent displays of blood, bruising, and limbs twisting. The premise itself is potentially distressing, as it has a young boy imprisoned and trained to fight on command by a loud-mouthed loan shark; he sets the grown-up version (Jet Li) loose on his debtors by growling "Get 'em!", feeds him chunks of food, locks him in a cage, and calls him his "dog." The underclass villains use harsh and colorful language (frequent use of "f--k," in multiple formations). The gangster assaults prostitutes on top of cars. Jet Li fights in an underground betting arena (like dogfights), where contestants use large knives and hammers, though eventually the gangsters become frustrated and use automatic weapons too. Many characters are killed in hand-hand-combat. There is a very disturbing scene where a child sees his mother shot in the head in front of him.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the formation of the good, supportive family, who helps Danny (Jet Li) to resist the terrible fate he thinks is inevitable. How do you know what your options might be, if your horizons seem so limited? How does music help you to get through difficult periods or inspire you to do good work?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Unleashed
What’s the Story?
UNLEASHED centers on reluctant warrior Danny (Jet Li plays), who is imprisoned and abused at the hands of foul-mouthed, lunatic Glasgow gangster Bart (Bob Hoskins). Bart keeps Danny caged and collared until he needs him to persuade debtors to pay up. After Bart's car is shot up by enemies, Danny breaks free and is taken in by blind piano tuner Sam (Morgan Freeman). Living in Glasgow so his strangely childish 18-year-old stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon) can attend music school, he senses Danny's appreciation of music. Danny begins to remember his piano-playing mother, and memories of her traumatic death when he was a child come flooding back. When Sam is threatened by hoodlums, Danny returns to violence to protect his new friend.
Is It Any Good?
While ferocious, the fight scenes in Unleashed are also frankly awesome, brilliantly choreographed and inventively shot. The film's narrative combines melodrama, martial arts conventions (underdog wins, intelligence overcomes brawn), and sly twists on formula. Though it's not quite satire, the film does show that its makers know their genre history and expect viewers to keep up.
This is a rare action film in that it raises questions concerning identity, memory, and the effects of abuse. Danny's aggression (visceral and brutal in the film's stop- and slow-motion, time lapse speediness) stems from his abuse, not his character. All he has ever known is to attack on command. Once he starts to play music and listen to it carefully, he learns that he doesn't have to hurt people. The film offers a thoughtful (if occasionally battering) meditation on the transcendence of music, and the strength to be gained from family, however ragtag or unusual in structure. Jet Li is excellent, the visual excess is calculated, and the Massive Attack and RZA soundtrack is sharp. Brutal and bizarre, Unleashed is peculiarly moving.
Movie Details
Studio: Rogue Pictures, Director: Louis Leterrier
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 5/13/2005, DVD release: 10/11/2005
MPAA Rating: R for strong violent content, language, and some sexuality/nudity
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 5/13/2005, DVD release: 10/11/2005
MPAA Rating: R for strong violent content, language, and some sexuality/nudity
Our Members Say
See all 7 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
a sweet and good movie
-
I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Finally, They Mix Them: Excellent Drama and Beautiful, Awe-Inspiring Martial Arts!
This was an excellent, amazing film; no, this is not an action-fest. Yes, this is an amazing, beautiful drama with impressive, moving performances and story and some outstanding, prolonged martial arts action, including a couple of awesome stunts and shootings. If you understand this, you will probably enjoy this amazing film. PARENTS: the action is very cool and will attract young ones to this film; but be warned. Although most of the action is perfectly fine and exciting for younger viewers, the violence and sex are not. A woman is shot in the head in front of her son, bones are shattered in some action sequences, characters are imapled or bashed with sharp or blunt ojects, characters are shot and tortured (many times), and a man has rough sex with two prostitutes (two different occasions). If you watch this with your kids and fast forward through some of the explicit sex and violence, the younger ones should highly enjoy the action (and you could too) and you'll probably enjoy the wonderful performances and moving storyline. Enjoy! -Movie Man
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I almost cried....It was so good.
This movie was just so awsome. I[m big on martial arts so I just loved watching Jet Li work. The story was just sweet. I got really close to crying. I never cry on movies by the way. I cant wait to see it again, On DVD. So I can skip through the bad parts, wich theres only 2 really. The first "sex" scene doenst show anything but the second 2 just get worse. The violence was of course as brutal as it could be. But that just made it all the better when the plot came together. You could understand it and apprieciate it more. I cant get over it, It was just beautiful. This is now my favorite movie. Awsome.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Most amazing fight scenes with jet li
I think that kids who like martial arts films like with good fighting in them should watch unleashed because even though unleashed has nudity, you only have .5 miliseconds to see it. So if you are watching the movie for the first time your mind will probably skip it sinced your only focused on the fighting. Heh, i was only thinking about the fighting too. Until I read somewhere that it had nudity in it, I never knew. So if your like 8 and up you will love this movie because jet li kicks butt in this film. Other awesome movies are fearless no language or nudity, just amazing martial arts, and cradle 2 the grave, and the once upon a time in china series(1,2,3). Rated R only for amazing kung fu and very mild language. You watch good movies like this, you will love jet li and his kung fu movies.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
hfkshukfjdfkvhcjfkcvhcmnvbfkjfh
ssssswwweeetttt movie!!!!!
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
