Jet Li's Fearless (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [SOUNDTRACK]

Shigeru Umebayashi (Composer), ARIGAT Orchestra (Orchestra), China Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Hideyo Takakuwa (Performer), Midori Takada (Performer), Hitoshi Konno (Performer), Liu Yunzhi (Performer), Michiko Hirayama (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Hideyo Takakuwa, Midori Takada, Hitoshi Konno, Liu Yunzhi, Michiko Hirayama
• Orchestra: ARIGAT Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra
• Composer: Shigeru Umebayashi
• Audio CD (September 5, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Lakeshore Records
• ASIN: B000H7JCP0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #175,852 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Contemplative and elegiac, this score for Jet Li's martial-arts movie is light years away from your usual Hollywood action music--even when the pace picks up, it remains evocative and elegant, with a tinge of underlying melancholy. For this we have to thank Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi (formerly of the rock band EX), who also gave us marvelous scores for Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love and Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers. Here he relies on roiling percussion, ethereal choirs, and Japanese and Chinese flutes to suggest both the 19th-century setting of the film and an end-of-an-era mood. Look for "Habanera" from Carmen buried toward the end, performed by Japanese soprano Michiko Hayashi and--befitting such a relatively pared-down album--a lone piano. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting accompaniment, November 15, 2006

By	M. Joseph Swanson "Sensei" (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the distinguishing marks of a great film is its score.
A great soundtrack is in itself beautiful and aids in telling the story, yet does not distract your attention from the events onscreen.

Fearless was aided by a diverse and appropriate film score, ranging from the haunting flute and strings of the main theme to the blood-stirring drums of the fight scene in Shanghai.
I was caught off-guard by several tracks on this particular CD that I had missed during the film, but which stand on their own as moving pieces of music.

The only problem with this particular soundtrack CD is that it seems to be plagued by bad recording or production.
The treble and bass seem to be off a bit, and I had to play with my equalizer to get a more balanced sound. Also, the volume seems to cut in and out a bit with some tracks.
Not enough to be entirely disruptive, but enough that you may notice it.
For example, where the drums at the Shanghai fight scene should be loud and deep, they turn out a bit soft and treble-y.
This can be mostly remedied by adjusting your equalizer, but for this reason I only gave the product 4 stars.

With that caveat, I highly recommend this CD to everyone who enjoyed the film.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fight scenes!, January 3, 2007

By	A. Rose-Shapiro (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Plenty of great fights scenes and gorgeous cinematography in what is supposedly Jet Li's last martial arts film. Definitely a DVD that you'll want to own, because you'll watch it again and again. The story provides a back drop to the unfortunate history of China's occupation by foreign governments and the susequent abuse of its people and resources. Jet Li's charachter is inspirational and fascinating to watch. Buy it and you'll be glad that you have a copy of your own!