MOVIE: Unleashed

This is not a normal Jet Li vehicle, and that may prove a disappointment to some. By that I mean that this film is primarily story driven, and follows the rehumanising of Li's character Danny. And when compared to ordinary action flics, Unleashed excels with bursts of violence, and the blistering speed of Li's martial arts.

Well directed with a gritty techno/rock score by Massive Attack, the film bleeds a believable atmospheric ambience of underworld crime, a parrallel world so slighlty displaced from the world around it.

The story is driven by these two worlds and the principle characters within it, played by the fantastically menacing Bob Hoskins, and the kindly samaritan Morgan Freeman. These two powerful influences each leave their imprint on the blank slate of Li, and despite his obvious acting deficiencies, his character traits are emotive and honest - similarly directed in the fashion of Besson's The Fifth Element (Milla Jovovich).

The story itself, written by Luc Besson in his classic thematicly driven style, is also thinly backed like some of his previous works. The plot holes may glare for some, but they are only incidental to the principle character's journey, which is well handled. A more classic and predictable story line might have brought the two worlds into direct conflict, but the path of this film is content to merely threaten meltdown, and retain the balance of his chosen way.

A better than average action movie, far better than most hollywood fare, but because of its unusual anti-climatic story arc, may dissapoint those unsure of what they are in for.