Jet Li’s Fearless – Director’s Cut (Universal DVD-Video)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Film: B (for Dir. Cut)

 

 

Having already covered the now discontinued HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format version, you can read more about the film here:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4763/Jet+Li

 

 

This review is for the newly issued recut of the film, this 2-disc edition includes a total of three cuts of the film.  First there is the theatrical cut, which is the weakest of the three.  Then there is the unrated version, which is what made it to the HD-DVD combo disc. Then there is the never-before-seen cut simply called the “directors cut”, which adds 35-minutes to the film and is the most complete and competent version of the film and what director Ronny Yu wanted. 

 

Our view of the film hasn’t changed that much, although the directors cut of the film makes more sense, plus has more action and violence from the cut down version that became the PG-13 theatrical version of the film.  This version is also more in-depth with a variety of character developments that make sense and overall add value to the film.  Jet Li fans will be happy to have this extended version that runs 140-minutes and we can only hope that a Blu-ray edition is in the works as well that contains the variety of cuts of the film as well.

 

Picture and sound are basic and are virtually identical to the previous DVD issue with a 2.35 X 1 anamorphic image and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, you can read about those details in our previous review.  Extras are also the same as the previous DVD issued in the Combo release.  Now we’ll see if there is anything new in the inevitable Blu-ray edition.

 

 

-   Nate Goss