Month: December 2022

Today’s quick review: Gabriel. Gabriel (Andy Whitfield), the last of the archangels, descends into Purgatory to free it from the Fallen, seven fallen angels who have laid claim to the souls trapped there. Burdened by the darkness of the city and the limitations of his mortal form, Gabriel begins to hunt down the Fallen one by one. But to reclaim the city, he must find a way to defeat Sammael (Dwaine Stevenson), the powerful leader of the Fallen.

Gabriel is a dark fantasy movie with noir influences. Set in a bleak cityscape, Gabriel aims to be a gritty, modern take on the battle between good and evil. To its credit, the movie has all the ingredients it needs to make this happen: an oppressive atmosphere, a determined hero, and a situation where his faith could turn the tide of a losing battle. Unfortunately, the movie’s execution leaves much to be desired, rending it an unsatisfying watch.

Gabriel runs into a few issues that keep it from ever gaining traction. Cheap special effects and poor fight choreography rob the action scenes of their impact. The story has a few interesting conflicts as Gabriel finds out what happened to his brethren, but there isn’t enough depth or character development to make them work. Finally, overactive direction and flaky acting undermine the sense of atmosphere the movie tries to build up.

Gabriel is a movie with a lot of missed potential. Fans of urban fantasy and the dark, action-oriented side of the genre will appreciate what the movie is trying to do. Its ideas are not groundbreaking, but they could have formed the basis for an enjoyable popcorn flick. But as it stands, Gabriel does not have the skill or the budget it needs to bring its vision to life. Those interested in the premise would be better off looking elsewhere.

For a dark fantasy movie with a similar cosmology and more distinctive characters, try Ghost Rider or Constantine. For a dark sci-fi action movie in a similar vein, check out the Blade or Underworld series. For a surreal science fiction movie with a brooding atmosphere and a better sense of mystery, try Dark City.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a decent premise with lackluster execution.

Today’s quick review: Merantau. Yuda (Iko Uwais), a young man from a rural Indonesian village, leaves home on a coming-of-age journey and travels to Jakarta, where he hopes to teach the martial art of silat. But his plans are derailed when he steps in to protect Astri (Sisca Jessica) from her pimp Johni (Alex Abbad). Now Yuda must fight through Johni’s men to keep him from selling Astri to Ratger (Mads Koudal), a ruthless human trafficker.

Merantau is an Indonesian crime drama and martial arts action movie. Iko Uwais stars as a faithful son who ventures out into the world, only to find it a much crueler place than he realized. This simple premise is the basis for a well-crafted story with plenty of action, an earnest hero, and a meaningful dramatic arc. Merantau does not reinvent the martial arts genre, but it does provide a polished take on some familiar story beats.

Merantau’s greatest strength is its stunt work. Yuda is a competent fighter who has the skills to go up against Johni’s men, but he often finds himself outnumbered and overwhelmed. The stunts are put together well, but they are not as brutally shocking as later films with Iwo Ukais and director Gareth Evans. Instead, Yuda is a restrained fighter who seeks to disable rather than kill, and most of the fights feel like out-of-control street brawls.

Merantau is a solid pick for anyone in the mood for a grounded martial arts movie with a fair amount of drama. Merantau does not have the expertise or the novely to leave a strong mark on the genre, but it manages to tell a satisfying story filled with tense fight scenes. Give it a shot if you are looking for a martial arts movie with strong fundamentals. Skip it if you are looking for a lighter story with more exaggerated stunts.

For a much more violent martial arts movie with the same director and most of the same cast, try The Raid: Redemption. For a darker crime drama with a more elaborate story and more violence, try The Raid 2. For a Thai martial arts film about a young man from a rural village who travels to the city to right an injustice, try Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior or The Protector.

6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a simple but satisfying story and solid stunt work.