"Fearless" is a riveting martial arts film that is packed with exciting, imaginative battle scenes accompanied with a touch of tragedy. It’s about a principled fighter’s struggle to regain his honor and restore his tarnished family name.

The film makes excellent use of Jet Li’s astounding athletic talents. Often, his dizzying stunts and on-screen grace seem almost superhuman. "Fearless" showcases his fighting skills as perfectly as "The General" exhibited Buster Keaton’s acrobatics.

Li has made more than his share of classic action films, including

"Hero" and "Once Upon a Time in China and America," which is one of the greatest kung fu westerns

Jet Li has reached his 40’s, so it was only a matter of time before he started slowing down. Sadly, he has said that "Fearless" will be his last wushu (or Chinese martial arts) movie.

Director Ronny Yu’s previous works have ranged from brilliantly idiosyncratic to completely pedestrian. His "Bride with White Hair" is the weirdest action/fantasy masterpiece I’ve ever seen, but "Bride of Chucky" was a formulaic hackwork with few redeeming qualities (except for Yu’s obligatory kung fu scene, which involved a killer doll).

"Fearless" is one of Yu’s most memorable projects, and it has the scope and breadth of a historical epic. The only drawback is that Yu occasionally overuses the slow motion effect in battle scenes.

Unfortunately, the American cut of the film is at least 40 minutes shorter than the various Asian cuts. In my recent interview with him, Li told me that the cuts made the drastic change in his character seem overly abrupt. The American cut is also missing all of the footage of Michelle Yeoh, including an exciting duel between her and Jet Li. Hopefully, a director’s cut will surface on DVD in the U.S.A.

In most martial arts flicks, the paper thin stories are just there to justify the action scenes. But the story here is fascinating, and inspiring. "Fearless" is loosely based on the martial arts master, Master Huo Yuanjia (played by Li).

Early in the film, Huo gains fame for his martial arts mastery and becomes drunk on his own fame. His life seems perfect until he has a vicious feud with another master. As a result of the petty squabble, Huo’s mom and his daughter are coldly murdered.

The emotionally broken Huo goes off to a far away place and gains wisdom through his suffering. He befriends a beautiful blind woman and her grandmother, and learns what it means to be a caring human being.

When he returns to his home town he is stronger, more mature, and more formidable. He helps establish an international sporting event and he battles people from different countries that utilize different fighting styles. He challenges an American boxer, as well as champions from the U.K., Japan, and France. Whenever he defeats an opponent it seems to symbolize the defeat of foreign imperialism.

Many may balk at my high rating, but I am judging "Fearless" as a martial arts film. Since it’s a superior and masterful film of its type, the high rating is justified.