 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Unleashed
- Review Date: October 9, 2005
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Martial arts and melodrama -- not for children.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
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.
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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AGE
this movie is an good example how to mix martial arts with a good drama. warning the movie is voilent the fighting is rough and graphic. there is a brief sex scene and some nudity. in a fight scene a naked woman screams in terror as jet li in another guy fight. the language is tipical for a rated r movie lots of f bombs. after all is an entertainig kick ass film with good preformances from jet li and bob hoskin
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AGE
a sweet and good movie
this time jet li is really unleashed with intense action and superb performance........
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AGE
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
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AGE
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.
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AGE
Brutal, incredibly well done action sequences mixed with raw human emotion
Unleashed is a very entertaining, surprisingly deep emotionally action movie that has much more drama and heart than most action movies out there today. That said, the action comes quick, loud and at a bone crunchingly brutal state, which often leaves charatcers extremely injured, bloody or dead. Also, there is plenty of strong language from certain specific characters, some strong sexuality involving sex with prostitute which gets interrupted both times, some very brief nudity near the end, and constant alcohol drinking and consumption. This is a very brutally violent movie and than action sequences are quiet exhilarating, but this is not a child friendly movie.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
hfkshukfjdfkvhcjfkcvhcmnvbfkjfh
ssssswwweeetttt movie!!!!!
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| Studio: | Rogue Pictures |
| Director: | Louis Leterrier |
| Cast: | Bob Hoskins, Jet Li, Morgan Freeman |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 103 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 13, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | October 11, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violent content, language, and some sexuality/nudity |
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