OllieSuave-007 Jet Li stars in one of his earlier films, playing young soldier Jet during post-WW II who takes on Americans who have been bullying him and those he loves.Li shows off some intense and impressive martial arts moves, particular in the exciting boxing scenes. However, I thought much of the movie is consumed in violence and lack of character development, making the film suffer with its overkill scenes and lack of redeeming qualities. The ending, I thought, was ***spoiler ahead*** somewhat anti-climatic and Jet's fate is left ambiguous at one point. ***spoiler ends***. Overall, not one of the better Jet Li flicks.Grade D+

callanvass This is a good enough Jet vehicle, that's entertaining for the most part, with above average fight scenes and a decent story. All the characters are good, and it had some pretty intense scenes, plus Jet Li is simply amazing in this!. The last fight is extremely tense and somewhat emotional, and it was awesome to see Jet unleash his anger in this one! plus it had a couple of shocking moments as well. One thing I didn't particularly care for was the women abuse, and it did take a little while to get going, plus the dubbing is simply awful. This is a very rare Jet film, so I was lucky to catch it on Spike TV, and I thought Kurt Roland Petersson played a very effective villain and was one big guy, plus Paulo Tocha played the prick very well. It's at times very dark, and also quite violent, plus I think this should be a bit higher then 4.9. It's well made and decently written, and for a 1st time director Jet did a pretty good job, plus it was nice to see they let Jet use his real fighting ability!. This is a good enough Jet vehicle, that's entertaining for the most part, with above average fight scenes and a decent story, and I say it's well worth the watch!. The Direction is pretty good. Jet Li does a pretty good job here with good camera work, solid angles and keeping the film at a nice pace for the most part. The Acting is good. Jet Li is amazing as always and is amazing here, he is extremely likable, very intense, aggressive, funny, as always had a lot of charisma, kicked that ass, and it was great that they let him use his real ability, as it really made the film more enjoyable and livened up the fight scenes a lot in my opinion (Jet Rules!!!!!!). Kurt Roland Petersson is good as the villain, he was big, intimidating, and looked quite menacing, and is also quite a good fighter, he had a couple of great fights with Jet!. Jia Song is OK as the love interest but didn't have much to do. Paulo Tocha played a real good prick that you love to hate, he's also a great fighter as shown in Bloodsport. Erkang Zhao is good as Jet's teacher I dug him. Rest of the cast are OK. Overall well worth the watch!. *** out of 5

dasa108 This is probably the most dramatical movie made by Jet Li. In this movie, he surpased any other movie focus in martial arts, and remember some first movies of John Woo. I checked the way Jet Li uses to direct himself. Even considering that one expert composed and directed the action sequences, Jet Li gives to the stars the chance to show some dramatical situations, and some smell anti American is floating around all the movie. Jet Li show how to be beaten in your movie, and watching the movie I remembered Rocky Balboa. Jet Li has some debt with Stallone. Good plot. I liked. You remain with stress all the movie. You can't trust in nobody, thats the message in the movie. Only your friends can save you, and also the prostitutes. Good fights. I recommended this picture for anyone who likes action, drama, and Jet Li.

sarastro7 Born To Defence, directed by and starring Jet Li before he got really famous, is a low-budget and shoddily acted but nonetheless serious movie. It takes place at the end of World War II, with the defeat of the Japanese. Jet Li and his buddies were soldiers in the war, fighting bitterly for China against Japan. As they return, they find the Americans made out to be the only war heroes, and present in such force that the situation is akin to occupation. The U.S. soldiers behave very insensitively, and Jet soon becomes entangled with them. After they destroy his best friend's rickshaw, which was his livelihood, he attacks them but is thrown in jail. He seethes with anger and escapes from his cell, only to find that the American soldiers have abducted his girlfriend (the best friend's daughter). Her father pursues them, but ends up being thrown off a roof. The girl is so distressed that she jumps off, too. In the old factory nearby, Jet makes his final stand against the soldiers (esp. their captain, who is a big strong fighter, and also a relatively honorable man, which fact is however lost in translation, as Jet can't understand English).Compared to the bad action movies that prospered in the rental video market in the '80ies, Jet Li's Born To Defence is not bad. It is indeed dominated by terrible acting (though mostly by the Americans), and contains plenty of senselessly brutal violence. But it is saved by a serious and intense story about the tragedies that can come from inter-cultural lack of understanding.6 out of 10.