MovieChat Forums > Unleashed (2005) Discussion > One of the worst movies I have ever seen...

One of the worst movies I have ever seen.

posted 15 years ago by druid13
42 replies | jump to latest

Imagine a really good dramatic film with heart-pounding action and edge of your seat excitement. Now imagine a really bad drawn out SNL skit based on that film and you have, "Unleashed" or more fittingly titled, "Danny the Dog". If I would have known that was the film's original name I would have smelled the filmmakers pretentious intent of trying too hard to sound like some indie-art film title. Or maybe this film is just supposed to be a comedy.

Ok, I understand it's a Jet Li movie and that there isn't going to be a lot of deep thinking involved and Luc Besson and his cronies haven't turned out anything worthwhile since the Messenger. But the preview made it seem promising. I remembered how much I had enjoyed "Nikita", as corny as it was, and "The Big Blue" and thought "The One" was an enjoyable romp so I gave it a shot.

Over the top acting, bad pacing, lousy (cheeseball) story, shoddy camerawork and washed out colors. Wow, what a dissapointment! Talk about style (bad style at that) over substance. This film was all over the place and nothing seemed to gel. The Transporter was better than this and I hated that movie too.

It's not that I hate ridiculous action movies; I loved Hardboiled and the Killer. Or over the top melodramatic ones; I loved the Professional (Leon). The difference is is that those films worked and this one just doesn't. It is a shame because there was so much potential.

Yes "Danny, the Dog" was a dog of a movie too. Ok, so that line may not be the most original but neither was this movie

[–] FilmScholar 15 years ago

This review is intended as a joke, right?

[–] matt-scantlin 15 years ago

Miamiman72 - I couldn't agree more. Exactly what I thought. I watched this without any preconceived notions about "Jet Li" films, in fact hoping for a greater balance of drama to action. I was not disappointed.

Not a single shot is wasted, the story is succint, the cinematography breathtaking at times and you cannot fail to empathise with the main character(s).

This film is rich, subtle and beautiful. If you want a quick fill, look elsewhere. This is hearty and satisfying.

[–] yatgohoyan 15 years ago

I'd say Watchmen or Little Voice or Out For A Kill would be up there as some of the 'One of the worst movies I have ever seen'. One is long, drawn out drivel. One has Jane Horrocks in it and she makes anything bad. And one is just total crap.

This on the other hand, is not..

[–] wallace-r 13 years ago

By far, one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Uncertain how Luc Besson continues to be taken seriously, get funding, anything.... I'm all for an unusual story, something outside the status quo, but. . . Morgan Freeman plays the same wizened character that he always plays, the daughter figure is a horrible actress, and Jet Li's character's transformation is unbelievable (not to mention that his character is unbelievable to begin with). Suspension of disbelief is obviously essential to watching a fantastic movie, but when the plot is so incredibly obtuse and unbelievable, this takes one completely out of any notion of giving one's belief in the film.

[–] julieturtle2003 15 years ago

Wow - I'm surprised at your review. Like you, I'm not keen on cheesy martial arts movies, but I loved this movie! I'm in grad school for Psychology right now and the deep issues involving Dannay's upbringing are fascinating and powerful. Jet Li was fantastic in his portrayal of the range of emotions needed to adequately tell this story, and Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman were just as brilliant and powerful in their respective roles. I was completely blown away by this movie as, like you, I thought, "Jet Li = Poor Actor". I'm so glad to be wrong. I just bawled at the end of the movie too.

[–] joebagtas1987 15 years ago

yep i think people agreed with the opposite of all your points. a lot of the negatives there are just your opinion, that not many people agree with. the pacing here is great as well. what kind of pacing were you expecting.. give an example of a movie you think has great pacing

[–] snes4u 15 years ago

The film's style did not bother me. I liked the action. I thought the story had heart. I found Morgan Freeman's character a little too "good and wise," but I think that is my only complaint.

I thought Transporter was poo too.

Having said that, I do not follow the SNL skit reference/idea of yours.

I do not follow how the title "Danny the Dog" comes off as "pretentious" or "arthouse."

The film's style did not bother me. I liked the action. I thought the story had heart. I found Morgan Freeman's character a little too "good and wise," but I think that is my only complaint.

I feel that my taste in film is eclectic, like yours. I am surprised that you did not like it. It seems that the pacing/cinematography/editing threw you off. Those elements are quite subjective. I see that ideas of acting are subjective as well. I would be curious to know which characters you found to be "over the top?"

The film's style did not bother me. I liked the action. I thought the story had heart. I found Morgan Freeman's character a little too "good and wise," but I think that is my only complaint.

I thought Transporter was poo too.

[–] dragonofskies 15 years ago

I also love Li's martial arts movies(Legend, Last hero in china etc.), but i count this film one of his best. And his acting is great. It was good to see him in a drama role.

[–] freshboy3001 15 years ago

This film was an abomination. It shows how far Luc Besson has fallen. I can't believe it's score on IMDB and how people actually like it. Terrible standards.

4/10

Never let others dictate your opinion on a film: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=13340299

[–] greyskulster 15 years ago

quite the opposite...i expected a soulless action flick and ended up getting much much more...brings out the actor in jet li for once

[–] ntm7885 15 years ago

I still cant figure out how someone can like The One more than The Transporter and Unleashed!?

ntm7885.tk

[–] unforgiven_mirror 15 years ago

i Loved the movie.

I can't believe people are saying they were suprised at Jet Li's acting skills. Yeah some of his American movies were less than perfect, that can hardly be blamed on him. The Once Upon a Time in China trilogy is amazing as is Hero and all were made long before this movie.

[–] Li-1 15 years ago

I loved this film. I saw it in theaters, found it a great mix of action and drama. Li's performance is one of his best, and the closing fight with the man-in-white is still my favorite Jet Li fight scene of the decade.

[–] speedolitec 14 years ago

I just saw it for the 1st time last night. I didn't hate it, but it didn't do that much for me. I like Jet Li, but for whatever reason it seemed like something was missing.

[–] CptHowdy87 15 years ago

This film was an abomination. It shows how far Luc Besson has fallen. I can't believe it's score on IMDB and how people actually like it. Terrible standards.

4/10

Never let others dictate your opinion on a film: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=13340299

I'll certainly never let you dictate my opinion on a film.

*straight onto my ignore list*

[–] mad_mike1211 13 years ago

then you need to sort yourself out tbf to think this movie is that bad .. its defiantly one of the better movies out there

[–] j-jameson 14 years ago

This movie was one of the worst I think I've seen this year and its december.

Sometimes the public (imdb) can go wrong.. what are people thinking giving this one 7/10...

I give
2/10 for ... hmm.. I don't have anything good to say about this movie, only saw it for Morgan Freeman and this was one of his worst performances.

[–] GreatDarkKnight 14 years ago

Why would you see a martial arts movie for Morgan Freeman? You deserve any disappointment you got.

[–] k-jonesy 14 years ago

This is one of my favourite Jet Li films. I love the action, the story and the characters. Its very brutal and the fight scenes are more realistic than in most action films

[–] snes4u 12 years ago

"Why would you see a martial arts movie for Morgan Freeman? You deserve any disappointment you got."

-

What he said.

[–] dbb79 14 years ago

I remember seeing this when visiting someone... it was BAD. Damn this movie sucks. I can't understand the 7.1 since IMDB is correct a lot of times, but not this time. 6/10 is more like it.

[–] KebertXela195 14 years ago

How can you be "right" or "wrong" about a movie? It's your opinion on whether it's a good movie or bad movie, there is no right or wrong. If you thought it sucked, fine, but that doesn't mean that everyone or even the majority have to agree with you.