UNLEASHED

THIS FILM IS IN THE TRADITION OF THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, SNATCH , RUSH HOUR -- IF YOU SAW THOSE FILMS AND LIKED THEM, YOU WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE.

IT IS NOT GIVING AWAY ANY SECRET INFORMATION TO TELL YOU THAT A BOY WAS RAISED LIKE A DOG, SO HE COULD FIGHT THE ENEMIES OF HIS MASTER, A GLASGOW, MINI GANGSTER, PLAYED BY BOB HOSKINS. THINK OF JACK NICHOLSON'S JOKER IN BATMAN, TO GET AN IDEA OF THIS VILLAINOUS CHARACTER.

MORGAN FREEMAN GIVES THE FILM A LOT OF SUBSTANCE AND CREDENCE AS A NEW FOUND AND ONLY, FRIEND OF THE UNFORTUNATE DOGMAN.

JET LI IS TOO OLD TO PLAY THIS DOGMAN ROLE, THAT IS OBVIOUS, BUT IT IS A GOOD ROLE AND HE DOES A GOOD JOB, DESPITE YOU KNOWING HE MIGHT HAVE A SON, WHO IS THE RIGHT AGE FOR THIS PART.


BEFORE SEEING IT, I DISMISSED THIS FILM AS JUST ANOTHER KARATE PICTURE - I WAS LUCKY, MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME, IT HAS A FULLY DRAWN PLOT AND IF YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE RAPID MEDICAL RECOVERY TIME OF THE MUCH WOUNDED CHARACTERS, THIS IS A GOOD ACTION PICTURE.

PLEASE DON'T GO IF VIOLENCE ON THE BIG SCREEN UPSETS YOU - VIOLENCE IS AT THE HEART OF THIS STORY - FREEDOM AND CONTROLLING VIOLENCE IS THE THEME. AT TIMES, THE FILM IS ALMOST COMIC BOOKISH AND YET, AT TIMES, IT IS ON A HIGHER PLANE ---> THE MORGAN FREEMAN INFLUENCE AT WORK.

A SECOND PIECE OF ADVICE - DON'T MOVE TO GLASGOW, IF YOU BELIEVE IN POLICE PROTECTION -- I DON'T THINK ONE POLICEMAN IS SHOWN IN THIS FILM, THOUGH FIGHTS AND GUNFIRE GO ON FOR TWENTY MINUTES AT A TIME IN PUBLIC PLACES.