Unleashed

Danny grew up treated like an animal, trained to fight and kept on a collar for his handler's profit. His life is a string of brutal bouts until a car crash gives him a chance to slip away. A blind piano tuner takes him in, offering shelter, kindness and a new language of music that starts to loosen Danny's hard edges. As he learns to recognize melody and gentle routine, the film watches how habit and violence pull at him, while old loyalties and those who exploited him start to resurface. The story stays focused on his emotional awakening and the consequences of a past that won't easily stay buried.

Released in 2005, Unleashed was directed by Louis Leterrier and created by Luc Besson. The cast is led by Jet Li and Morgan Freeman, with Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon and Vincent Regan in supporting roles, giving the film a mix of physical presence and veteran character acting.

At the box office the film performed modestly, earning most of its audience through international theatrical runs and later home video. It never became a blockbuster, but it recouped attention among action fans and found a wider viewership after its initial release through rentals and DVD circulation.

The movie left an impression because it pairs spare, often elegant music with sudden, brutal combat, a contrast that people still talk about. Jet Li's restrained turn, set against a tender piano score and occasional grim set pieces, gave the film a distinctive tone that other action films of the era didn't try to copy exactly, but which influenced how emotion and fight choreography could sit together on screen.

Critics were mixed to positive, reflected by an average near 6.9 out of 10 from viewers. Many praised the fight choreography and the performances, especially the odd-couple bond at the center, while noting tonal shifts that don't always settle. Major themes include freedom versus control, the humanizing power of art and how exploitation warps identity and loyalty.