Huo Yuan Jia (2006) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0446059/) - Starring Jet Li in his last martial arts film. Good story and of course the typically good action that has become Jet Li's trademark. This is a historical drama about the life story of Huo Yuanjia who was a regional champion and later became the hero of China during the turn of the century when imperialistic nations where trying to humiliate a divided China. As a historical Jet Li film it's better than ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, but perhaps not as good as HERO.
(http://www.vujer.com/material/files/Fearless_Jet_Li.jpg)
Not playing here unfortunately, two slots at the theater are being taken up by "Facing the Giants" and "Love's Abiding Joy" two religious themed small release films that the TBN gang have been plugging, so I won't be seeing them even if they are good. "Fearless" would probably have made it here elsewise
Maybe "Fearless" will make the second run theater, I'd like to see his last martial arts film on the big screen, "Hero" was awesome in a quality theater. It's a shame he didn't break into the mainstream on these shores sooner, I'd like to have seen some of his HK films like the first three OUTIC films and the two "The Legend" films on a big screen, maybe "High Risk" (I missed a chance to see it on one in Virginia) or "Black Mask" as well.
BLACK MASK was my first Jet Li film and I saw it at the theater.
HIgh Risk was my first, Black Mask was second. Saw both on VCD at fanboy movie nights. Next was probably "Lethal Weapon 4", which was so annoying, I was rooting for Li even though I know the bag guy "never" wins.
After that several of his films turned up in a syndication package on weekend TV. Mostly stuff like "Bodyguard from Beijing" and the two "Legend" films.
Not as good as "Hero", true, but still among the top tier of Jet Li's movies. Best film from Ronny Yu I've ever seen, although the computer bits in the fights were a notch too much. Plenty of things to like here, such as Jet Li's performance, the visuals of XIXth century China and a few plot twists you won't see coming.
FEARLESS definately rates as one of his best films. I think the transformation of Li's character and the emotionally historic ending lend much to this. The fight against the big American was good also. Kinda wanted to see Huo Yuanjia actually return to the fields and the blind girl at the end, but then it couldn't have been the story of this national hero.