Month: October 2020

Today’s quick review: Tears of the Sun. Lt. A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) and his men are sent into Nigeria in the midst of a rebellion to extract Dr. Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci), an American by marriage who’s running an aid hospital there. Kendricks refuses to leave without her patients, so Waters sets out for the extraction site with dozens of civilians in tow. But to make it out, they’ll have to outrun the rebel forces pursuing them.

Tears of the Sun is a war drama and action movie about a hardened Navy lieutenant on a mission to rescue a doctor from a war-torn country. Waters must choose between following his orders to save only Dr. Kendricks and jeopardizing the mission by trying to get her patients out of the country as well. The calculus of that decision drives much of the film’s moral conflict, while the trek through a jungle in wartime provides a sharp element of danger.

The heart of the film is the tension between Lt. Waters and Dr. Kendricks. Waters is a cold man who follows his orders to the letter, while Kendricks is willing to risk everything for the sake of her patients. Neither one is easy to like, but their characters are well developed and their conflicting stances are well-justified. Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci do an excellent job of bringing them to life, even if the result is tension and strife.

The external conflict deals with the trek through miles of jungle to get to the extraction zone. The rebels are hot on their heels, and Kendricks’ sick and elderly patients threaten to slow the group down to a risky degree. The fighting, such as it is, is tense and realistic. Tears of the Sun does a good job of portraying the tactics and considerations of a special forces team on a covert rescue mission; the mechanics of their journey are fascinating.

The downside of Tears of the Sun is that it focuses on this journey to the exclusion of all else. There’s no sharp distinction between the beginning of the movie and the end of it. To the extent that the characters change, the changes are understated, albeit meaningful. This means that anyone not interested in the initial premise will find little to catch their interest along the way. It also puts pressure on the two leads to carry the film.

Tears of the Sun makes for a single-minded but effective watch, chronicling a dangerous journey through enemy territory and the hard moral choices along the way. Those in the mood for something tense, dramatic, and lifelike should look no further. Those hoping for a popcorn action movie, more blatant heroism, or a more intricate, multifaceted plot should try elsewhere.

For a gritty action movie with a similar premise, try Rambo. For a political thriller set in Africa, try The Constant Gardener.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a narrow but naturally dramatic premise.

“Ideals are peaceful. History is violent.” —Wardaddy

Today’s quick review: Fury. In April 1945, Sgt. Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) leads the crew of Fury, a battle-worn tank, in the Allied push across Germany. Facing superior weaponry and dwindling support, Wardaddy and his men (Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal, and Shia LaBeouf) must rely on each other to survive. But their tight-knit unit is changed by the arrival of Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman), an inexperienced soldier with dangerous scruples.

Fury is a war movie that follows the induction of an innocent young man to the horrors of war. Norman Ellison must overcome his crippling fear to have any hope of surviving. But to do so, he’ll have to let go of the morals he knew and adopt the hardened pragmatism practiced by Wardaddy and his men. Fury is a brutal look at the darker side of war that features tense tank action, sharp moral conflict, and a roster of strong dramatic performances.

Much of Fury revolves around the conflict between Ellison and the rest of Wardaddy’s crew. The men view him as a coward and a liability, and they take every opportunity to make that sentiment known. For his part, Ellison is trapped in a sitaution he wants no part of, a typist assigned to a seasoned tank crew as a replacement. Watching that dynamic change, one harrowing experience at a time, is the main payoff of the film.

The external conflict is handled just as well. Fury and her crew are survivors. Their tenacity, luck, and willingness to make hard choices are what keep them alive in the face of untold dangers. The film does a good job of conveying this looming danger and the lack of resources they have to fall back on. Even when in formation with other soldiers, Wardaddy’s men are alone, and that isolation bolsters the tensions within the group.

Perhaps necessarily, Fury does not make for a very pleasant watch. The movie’s explicit gore and high body count place it on the harsher, more realistic side of the war genre. Wardaddy and his men have no sympathy or mercy for their enemy, and even their treatment of civilians borders on abusive. What’s more, the men are personally obnoxious; their redeeming qualities are brotherhood and bravery, not any nicety of character.

As such, Fury makes for a trying but rewarding watch. Those willing to brave its darker moments will be rewarded with rich character arcs and tense combat situations. Those who are averse to violence, prefer idealistic characters, or want a more hopeful story will want to look elsewhere.

For another dramatic look at war, try Dunkirk, Enemy at the Gates, or Apocalypse Now. For a more fanciful take on World War II starring Brad Pitt, try Inglourious Basterds. For an innocent rookie dragged into a compromising situation, try Training Day.

7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for heavy but effective wartime drama.

Today’s quick review: Railroad Tigers. During the Japanese occupation of China, Ma Yuan (Jackie Chan) leads the Tigers, a band of rebels who harry the Japanese by hijacking trains and supplies. When a dying Chinese soldier passes his mission on to Ma, he takes the Tigers on their most daring raid yet: blowing up a bridge needed by the Japanese army. But to pull it off, the Tigers will need to outwit the sharp Captain Yamaguchi (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi).

Railroad Tigers is a historical Chinese action movie starring Jackie Chan. Railroad Tigers differs from Chan’s usual work in terms of tone and focus. The film has plenty of action, including some acrobatics, but no real martial arts. The plot is fundamentally serious, but likable characters and the humor worked in around the edges keep the tone light and adventurous. And while Jackie Chan leaves the cast, the mission is genuinely a team effort.

Railroad Tigers hits a sweet spot. The combination of a dramatic plot and comedic details makes for a story that moves along briskly but carries meaning. The story itself is a cross between a war movie and a caper that ramps up into an impressive, action-packed finale. The Tigers are brave and endearing without much in the way of dedicated character development, imbuing the movie with heart in a way that’s earnest and effortless.

Railroad Tigers is a solid pick for action fans, those looking for a light adventure, those looking for something with a little weight, and everyone in between. The movie doesn’t reach the heights of comedy Jackie Chan is known for, nor the dramatic depths its wartime setting might suggest. But those willing to roll with the film’s punches will find it to be an effective hybrid and a fun popcorn watch.

For a war drama from Jackie Chan with a more serious tone, try Little Big Soldier. For a similar type of mission in a sci-fi setting and without the comedy, try Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. For a Korean action comedy set in the same era, try The Good, The Bad, The Weird.

5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a fine balance between action, comedy, and drama.

Today’s quick review: Return to the 36th Chamber. To protect the workers of a dye mill from the wage-slashing Chief Ma (Jiang Dao), Chou Jen Chieh (Liu Jia Hui) poses as a Shaolin monk and tries to intimidate Ma and his men. But when the disguise backfires, he only ends up making the situation worse. To make up for his mistake, Chou must con his way into a real Shaolin temple and gain the martial arts training he needs to save the mill’s employees.

Return to the 36th Chamber is a martial arts action comedy about a friendly swindler who gets caught up in a labor dispute, following Chou in his journey from cheat to unlikely hero. Return to the 36th Chamber features a simple but functional story that delivers a good mixture of action and humor. Slapstick, character-driven antics, and feats of martial prowess are the film’s bread and butter, making it a modest but satisfying watch.

Tonally, Return to the 36th Chamber goes through a peculiar arc. It opens as a drama as Chief Ma cracks down on his workers, shifts to a comedy as Chou enters the scene, and ends up an action movie as he’s exposed to true Shaolin martial arts. Each segment works well enough, but the movie doesn’t come into its own until its hero begins his training. His unconventional, protracted training regime is one of the film’s most distinctive qualities.

Return to the 36th Chamber never goes far beyond the basics. The jokes mainly revolve around Chou’s attempts to lie his way out of trouble and the tight spots they get him into. The story fits the same template as many others in the genre and, apart from the tangents of Chou’s failed schemes, is a straight shot from start to finish. The martial arts on display is skillful and fairly creative, but not to the degree of the best films in the genre.

As a result, Return to the 36th Chamber is a good pick for fans of the genre looking for something light and a poor one for anyone looking for mind-blowing stunts or innovative storytelling. Return to the 36th Chamber is a cleanly executed action comedy that delivers what it promises. For a martial arts comedy that tries something similar with more sharper execution, try The Legend of Drunken Master.

7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for basic but satisfying action and comedy.

Today’s quick review: Justice, My Foot!. Sung Sai-Kit (Stephen Chow), a fast-talking lawyer willing to take any case for the right price, retires from his practice when his dubious actions come back to bite him. But when Yeung Sau-Chun (Carrie Ng) is falsely accused of murder her husband, Sung’s wife (Anita Mui) convinces him to take her case. To prove her innocence, Sung will have to outwit the corrupt Magistrate Ho (Man-Tat Ng).

Justice, My Foot! is a madcap Chinese comedy with a touch of martial arts action. Stephen Chow stars as Sung, an unscrupulous lawyer with a knack for talking circles around his foes. Anita Mui plays opposite him as Sung’s wife, who strong-arms her husband out of and back into the legal profession. Two strong leads and a cavalcade of ridiculous situations give the movie a decent comedic foundation, but its writing and tone don’t quite hit the mark.

Justice, My Foot!’s greatest strength is its acting. Stephen Chow and Anita Mui are made for each other, and their back-and-forth is the bedrock of the film’s comedy. Spot-on timing from the lead duo and an eager supporting cast give the movie the talent it needs to bring its humor to life. The movie tends to bounce around, focusing as much on quirky tangents as it does on the main plot. The antics are topped off with a very light dusting of action.

But the particulars of Justice, My Foot! won’t appeal to everyone. The humor ranges from Sung’s clever, circular arguments in the courtroom to crass, lowbrow gags that bring little to the table. The individual scenes are hit-or-miss; in general, the script is decent but outclassed by the actors performing it. The movie’s flippant treatment of death can be jarring at times, and many of its situations don’t translate easily for a Western audience.

Still, Justice, My Foot! has enough to offer to be worth a watch for fans of ridiculous comedy. Its eclectic style and tendency to shoot wide with its comedy mean that it won’t be a reliable pick. But the pairing of Chow and Mui and a few clever scenes give it some upside for the right viewer. For a Stephen Chow comedy with more action and broader appeal, try Kung Fu Hustle or Shaolin Soccer.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid comedy acting with a mixed script.

Today’s quick review: Sword Master. After the untimely death of his rival, master swordsman Yen Shih-San (Peter Ho) loses his sole purpose in life. Learning that he suffers from a fatal illness, Yen searches for a peaceful way to spend his final days. Meanwhile, Ah Chi (Kenny Lin), a penniless man with nothing left to live for, takes a job at a brothel and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Li (Jiang Mengjie), one of the girls there.

Sword Master is a martial arts action movie about two men on meandering courses through life. The separate tales of Yen Shih-San and Ah Chi intertwine to form a broader one about the world of martial arts, power struggles, and violence that they inhabit. Sword Master features fanciful action, multifaceted characters, and a nicely complex plot. However, its stunts, acting, and writing only live up to some of their potential.

Sword Master has an interesting story to tell, but it does so in a sidelong manner. The opening of the film is a series of disjointed incidents that aren’t clearly framed, making it hard to anticipate what events will be important and how they fit together. But Sword Master does find its footing later on. The movie has a specific backstory in mind for its characters, and revealing it makes sense of all the loose pieces of the early film.

Regarding its action, Sword Master is as far on the fantasy side of the genre as it’s possible to get without dipping into outright magic. Its stunts make no pretense of realism, mainly consisting of exaggerated sword fights fueled by special effects. Neither the special effects nor the choreography are especially polished, but they suffice to get the job done. The resulting fights are breezy and entertaining and still carry some narrative weight.

Where Sword Master falls short is its execution. An unclear plot trajectory, middling writing and acting, and philosophical musings that never quite hit home all keep the movie from living up to the promise held by its better parts. These are not major failings, especially for viewers willing to stick around long enough for the plot to get traction, but they do put a cap on what the film can accomplish.

Sword Master is worth a shot if you’re a fan of the more fanciful side of the martial arts genre and don’t mind piecing together an intriguing plot. Sword Master is not a skillful enough film to make good on every idea it hopes to, but it gets enough right to engage the right viewer. Skip it if you’re looking for grounded action or a robust drama. For a martial arts movie with similar strengths but better execution, try Hero.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action and a plot that comes together well.

Today’s quick review: Dragon Tiger Gate. After years of separation, Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse) finds his older brother Dragon (Donnie Yen) working as a bodyguard for Ma Kun (Chan Koon Tai), a Hong Kong crime boss. Tiger implores Dragon to return home to Dragon Tiger Gate, the martial arts school their father founded, in spite of his criminal ties. But the situation turns dangerous when Ma’s boss Shibumi (Yu Kang) takes an interest in the brothers.

Dragon Tiger Gate is a martial arts action movie about a pair of brothers on opposite sides of the law. As a disciple of Dragon Tiger Gate, Tiger uses his kung fu to fight for justice against criminals like his brother’s gang. This explicit moral conflict gives Dragon Tiger Gate something of a superhero vibe, especially when combined with the film’s light tone, colorful visuals, inventive camerawork, and lax approach to physics.

But Dragon Tiger Gate doesn’t live up to its promise. The plot loses its way as it tries to escalate the conflict. The tensions set up in the first half of the film peter out limply in the second, and the film’s attempts to reclaim the drama are slapdash and forced. More generally, Dragon Tiger Gate doesn’t know what to do with its leads. The film builds to a reconciliation that never quite happens, making much of the build-up moot.

The fights suffer from a similar decay. The early fight scenes are flashy brawls whose average stunt work is buoyed by plenty of enthusiasm. There’s no pretense at realism, but their energy and creativity make them fun to watch. The later fights tend to be one-on-one, so the defecits in choreography and realism are more keenly felt. The fights in the second half of the film rely less on creativity than special effects that aren’t up to the task.

Dragon Tiger Gate is worth a peek for action fans who are interested in the colorful, the energetic, and the offbeat. It holds some value as an unfettered romp set in a universe tailor-made for adventure. But neither its writing nor its action is up to the challenge, leaving it a mediocre watch even for fans of its vision. For action films that play in a similar space, try Bunraku, The Warrior’s Way, or The Man with the Iron Fists.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for energy and style let down by flawed execution.

Today’s quick review: Fighting. Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum), a young ex-wrestler, makes a meager living peddling junk on the streets of New York. His brawling skill catches the attention of Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard), a down-on-his-luck hustler, who introduces him to the world of underground fighting. Shawn fights and wins, but each victory takes him closer to an opponent he may not be able to beat: his old rival Evan Hailey (Brian White).

Fighting is an action movie and crime drama about a pair of street hustlers trying to cash in on one’s talent for fighting. The movie follows Shawn MacArthur through the ups and downs of his fighting career, a no-name participant in a shabby underground ring that could yet make him a fortune. Fighting emphasizes its characters over the fights themselves, aiming for drama rather than raw spectacle. In this it is only partially successful.

Fighting has an odd flavor to it. The film lives and breathes the city of New York, and in particular scraping out a living in it by any means possible. Everyone in the film has an angle, from Shawn and Harvey down to strangers on the street. This makes Fighting a deliberately lonely watch. Even the film’s leads are just in it for a quick buck, and their few scraps of friendship and altruism aren’t enough to endear them to the audience.

Fighting’s action takes a similar tack: grounded and realistic, but missing the spark to make it engrossing. Shawn fights only a handful of times throughout the movie, and his style is scrappy and improvised. There are no exotic martial arts styles or elaborate stunts on display, just glorified street fights with a prize for the winner. This leads to fights that are earnest but lack both the flash and the tension they would have otherwise.

The story suffers from similar problems. In principle, Fighting is about two losers who pick themselves up by their bootstraps with their persistence, ingenuity, and friendship. In practice, Shawn and Harvey bounce from one fight to the next without much ever changing. Shawn never hones his skill, the stakes are primarily money, and what drama the film does attempt to inject never amounts to much.

The result is a movie that dances to its own beat but ends up suffering for it. Fighting might be worth a watch if you’re interested in a grounded story about struggling for success. Its cast, unique tones and theme, and smattering of action mean that it does offer something to prospective viewers. But neither its story nor its characters are strong enough to carry it as a drama, and its appeal as an action flick is limited.

For a martial arts contest with better action, try Blood and Bone, Man of Tai Chi, or Kickboxer. For a drama about a similar pair of gamblers trying to make big, try Mississippi Grind. For a action-oriented crime movie about a young man who gets in over his head, try Tracers.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a credible attempt at drama without the skill to pull it off.

Today’s quick review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Famed warrior Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) leaves the solitude of her home to pay respects to a departed friend. But the visit turns violent when the warlord Hades Dai (Jason Scott Lee) sends his men to steal the Green Destiny, a legendary blade in the friend’s possession. To protect the sword, Shu Lien enlists Silent Wolf (Donnie Yen) and the last warriors of the Iron Way.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is a martial arts drama that picks up eighteen years after the events of the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Shu Lien has settled into retirement, the Iron Way has faded in prominence, and Hades Dai has grown in power. But the reappearance of the Green Destiny threatens to tip the balance. Only the loyalty and skill of the warriors protecting it can prevent Dai from claiming it for his own.

Sword of Destiny has many of the attributes that made its predecessor successful. The fights are a mixture of acrobatic wire stunts and grounded, weapons-based combat. The cast consists of talented martial artists capable of solid dramatic performances. The story weaves together old plot threads and new ones, expanding on Shu Lien’s story from the first film and using the newcomer Hades Dai to bridge the two stories.

Yet Sword of Destiny does not rise to the heights of its predecessor. The fights are engaging but not as masterful as in the original. The choreography trades speed and precision for a greater reliance on special effects. The story has interesting ideas but relies on contrivance to maneuver its plot into place. There are still traces of the subtle character motivations of the original, but they are no longer the driving force.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is a credible entry into the martial arts genre that lacks the superlative quality of the original. Taken on its own, Sword of Destiny is a solid martial arts film that benefits from a strong cast, decent stunt work, and a sober and reasonably complex story. But neither its action nor its drama has the artistry needed to match its predecessor, making Sword of Destiny a fine but unexceptional pick.

For a martial arts drama that uses the same formula to greater success, try the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. For a martial arts drama with plenty of intrigue and a heavier emphasis on romance, try House of Flying Daggers. For another martial arts movie with an intricate plot and a focus on wire stunts, try Hero.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a decent mixture of action and drama, without quite enough skill at either to truly excel.

Today’s quick review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hoping to live out the rest of his days in peace, famed warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) gives his sword Green Destiny to his friend Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) for safekeeping. But when the sword is stolen by Jen (Zhang Ziyi), the governor’s daughter, Li must come out of retirement to reclaim his sword and take his revenge on Jen’s master: the notorious Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei).

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese martial arts drama and romance. The story involves a pair of veteran warriors who have yet to acknowledge their love for one another and a talented but reckless young thief led down by a dark path by her master. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon delivers spectacle and story in equal measure. High-flying stunts, nuanced characters, and a rich story make it a robust movie with plenty to offer.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is most notable for its action. The fight scenes are a combination of graceful wire stunts and sharply choreographed exchanges with a variety of weapons. These direct exchanges help ground the action and show off the actors’ considerable skill. The mixture of the two styes of fighting gives the movie a healthy balance between flash and substance. Clear, uncluttered camerawork does justice to the quality of the stunts.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon invests just as much in its story. The conflict centers on Jen, a young noblewoman torn between her family, her master, and her love. The depth of the character, the tangle of plot threads she is involved in, and Zhang Ziyi’s able performance all make Jen a worthy lynchpin for the story. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh are also excellent together: calm, disciplined warriors whose love is tempered by duty.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an excellent pick that stands out among a crowded genre. Its combination of top-notch action and solid storytelling will be enough to please a wide variety of fans. Skip it when you’re in the mood for an action movie that’s lighter, has a simpler plot, or sticks solely to realistic action. For another martial arts drama of similar caliber, try Hero or House of Flying Daggers.

7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for sharp, imaginative stunts and a well-told dramatic story.