Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Lady Bloodfight. Jane Jones (Amy Johnston), a fighter from Pittsburgh, travels to Hong Kong to test her mettle in the Kumite, a lethal fighting tournament that draws women from all over the world. There, she catches the attention of Shu (Muriel Hofmann), a finalist from the last tournament, who trains Jane to fight as her student. But Shu’s rival Wai (Kathy Wu) has a student of her own: Ling Chao (Jenny Wu), an aggressive, talented fighter.

Lady Bloodfight is a gritty martial arts movie. Lady Bloodfight fits the mold of the classic fighting tournament movie, with only slight variations on the usual story elements. The movie is notable for its mixture of different martial arts styles, its willingness to show blood, and its predominantly female cast. However, its execution is never more than adequate, limiting its appeal to action fans who aren’t that picky.

True to its premise, Lady Bloodfight delivers plenty of fighting. The focus is on one-on-one martial arts matches with no rules and no weapons, but the movie does dip its toes into armed combat and street brawling. The fights are reliably scrappy, with lots of blood and the occasional major injury. The stunts are not as impressive as the best of the genre, but they do get the job done. Overall, the action is competent but not memorable.

Lady Bloodfight’s shortcomings are typical of budget action movies. The dialog is far from brilliant, but there are only a handful of lines that are actively bad. Likewise, the characters are just adequate. Jane isn’t given quite enough development to pull off the underdog role, but she manages to avoid the usual protagonist pitfalls of arrogance and stupidity. The film also resorts to contrived drama in a few places to keep the story moving.

Watch Lady Bloodfight if you need some action and aren’t particular about story. Decent martial arts, an acceptable plot, and a lack of glaring weaknesses make it a fine, if unexceptional, choice. Those looking for a better martial arts movie should check out the work of Tony Jaa or Jet Li. For a budget martial arts film with a similar plot and more obvious flaws, check out Kickboxer: Vengeance.

5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for serviceable action and mediocre writing.

Today’s quick review: Hercules. Robbed of his godhood as a baby, Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera, grows up on Earth as a mortal, an outcast due to his enormous strength. As a young man, he learns of his true parentage and sets out to reclaim his place as a god by becoming a hero. But Hades needs Hercules out of the way so can conquer Olympus, and he sends a cavalcade of monsters against the hero in the hope of bringing him down.

Hercules is an animated comedy adventure from Disney. Hercules retells the Greek myth of Hercules with a modified plot, a family-friendly tone, and a slew of modern jokes. The movie sports the typical Disney quality: strong animation, vivid voice acting, memorable songs, and sharp writing. However, a loose plot and an odd visual style place it a notch below Disney’s best.

Hercules’ hidden strength is its humor. In addition to the usual assortment of kid-friendly jokes and slapstick, Hercules is packed with jokes and references that only an adult would catch. The movie delights in dropping modern humor into Ancient Greece, and it slips in quite a few allusions to Greek history and myth. The volume of these jokes is impressive, and they help keep the movie interesting and surprising throughout.

As far as its visuals go, Hercules keeps up Disney’s tradition of smooth, high-quality animation. But Hercules has a more cartoonish style than usual, with exaggerated character designs, cartoon-style sight gags, and rubbery motion. Coupled with the movie’s present-day humor and original plot, the animation cements Hercules as a loose, fun adaptation rather than a faithful one. As such, the movie misses out on the beauty of some of Disney’s better works.

Watch Hercules when you are in the mood for a fun, smart Disney comedy. Your enjoyment of the movie will depend on how much you get out of its stylistic choices and sense of humor, but the raw quality is there, barring some slight deficiencies. Skip it if you are looking for a masterpiece or a straight adaptation of the myth.

7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good humor and music held back somewhat by its goofy tone.

“Release the Kraken!” —Zeus

Today’s quick review: Clash of the Titans. In an age of impiety, the god Zeus (Liam Neeson) allows Hades (Ralph Fiennes) to terrorize the people of Argos to inspire their fear and worship. But when Hades kills the family of Perseus (Sam Worthington), the lost son of Zeus, the young man embarks on a quest to slay Hades’ monster the Kraken, rescue the princess of Argos, and earn the opportunity to kill Hades himself.

Clash of the Titans is a fantasy action movie loosely adapted from Greek mythology. A remake of the original film, Clash of the Titans swaps its predecessor’s stop motion monsters for modern CGI. Fittingly enough, the movie’s two biggest draws are its action and its visual effects. These are good enough to make the movie a fine popcorn flick, but its mediocre writing and acting keep it from being anything more.

Clash of the Titans is a monster movie at heart. Its biggest action sequences involve Perseus squaring off against Greek mythology’s most fearsome monsters, including the Scorpion, the Medusa, and the Kraken, a variant on the sea monster Cetus. The action is fast-paced and visually interesting, but it lacks the tight choreography needed to be truly impressive. The usual tricks, like quick cuts and feigned blows, are more obvious than in similar films.

The visual effects of the movie are generally good, but they break down in a few noticeable places. Ironically, the CGI holds up best during the action scenes. The monsters look convincingly real a good portion of the time, but quirks like the Scorpion’s odd movement periodically break the illusion. For the lesser monsters and scenery shots, the CGI has clear flaws that keep the world from being fully immersive.

As for the other parts of the movie, Clash of the Titans is somewhat weaker. The core of the plot is the myth of Perseus, but the film plays fast and loose with the details. The script is adequate but uninspired. The supporting cast has some excellent actors, including Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Mads Mikkelsen, but the roles never give them a chance to shine. The rest of the acting is also somewhat wooden.

Watch Clash of the Titans when you are in the mood for some decent fantasy action. The movie’s generally solid action scenes and CGI give it enough to work with as an action movie, but its script and acting leave something to be desired. Skip it if you aren’t an action fan or you are looking for a more polished special effects experience. For a similarly action-heavy take on Greek mythology, check out Immortals.

5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for offering action and spectacle but little else.

Today’s quick review: Little Miss Sunshine. When their young daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) makes it into a beauty pageant in California, Richard (Greg Kinear) and Sheryl (Toni Collette) Hoover pile their family into a VW Bus to drive there. Their passengerse include their withdrawn teenage son Dwayne (Paul Dano), Richard’s untamable father (Alan Arkin), and Sheryl’s suicidal brother Frank (Steve Carell).

Little Miss Sunshine is a comedy about a dysfunctional family and their unlucky trip to a beauty pageant. Little Miss Sunshine features capable direction, a well-written script, and an interesting cast of characters, with strong performances in particular from Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, and Steve Carell. The family’s personal struggles in their lives and their misfortunes along the road give the film a steady and pleasing source of humor.

Even though Little Miss Sunshine is a competent comedy, its best moments are its emotional ones. The Hoovers make for an interesting and likeable family, just odd enough to be funny while still keeping their humanity. The movie does an excellent job of capturing the disappointments in life and the little ways people get through them. The light, bittersweet soundtrack underscores these moments perfectly, contributing to a very tidy package.

Watch Little Miss Sunshine if you are looking for a sweet and well-executed comedy. Little Miss Sunshine has a unique tone that blends comedy and sentimentality in just the right proportions. How successful this combination will be for you will depend on your taste, but Little Miss Sunshine is worth taking the time to find out. For a quirkier film with similar dynamics, check out Fantastic Mr. Fox.

7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for good humor, touching moments, and fine craftsmanship.

Today’s quick review: Dunkirk. As the British army prepares to evacuate from Dunkirk in World War II, a pair of British soldiers struggle to get off the beach and into a rescue ship. Meanwhile, a civilian boat with a small crew sets sail from England to help with the evacuation. And in the skies overhead, a trio of fighter pilots attempt to fend off the German bombers long enough for the ships to get clear.

Dunkirk is a war movie from writer and director Christopher Nolan. Dunkirk depicts one of the crucial battles of World War II, in which hundreds of thousands of allied British and French troops raced to evacuate from Dunkirk to avoid being overrun by the German army. The movie offers a tense, visceral look at the events of the battle from three perspectives. Dunkirk’s craftsmanship and sense of scale make it a very strong film.

Dunkirk takes an unconventional approach to storytelling. The three plot threads each start at different points in time and proceed from there. The stories progress at different rates, and they eventually reach a point where they overlap, showing the same events from different perspectives. This conceit can make the movie confusing to watch, but it leads to some interesting payoff as details from the first pass through a scene become important when it is revisited.

Dunkirk’s other attributes also separate it from both typical war movies and Christopher Nolan’s other work. Unlike Inception or The Dark Knight, Dunkirk has no intricate, orchestrated plot to chew on. Instead, the complexity comes from a myriad of smaller events that fit together in subtle ways. The mystery of the movie lies in its storytelling and in the chaos of the events it depicts, not in complicated schemes or revelations.

Unusually for a war movie, Dunkirk is a very reactive film. The movie captures a pivotal retreat rather than a bold advance, and the action takes place away from the main fighting. The only main characters in the film who get to fight back are the fighter pilots; the rest must do the best they can in the face of bombs, torpedoes, and enemy fire. As such, Dunkirk’s focus is on a different kind of heroism: survival and courage in the face of terrible odds.

In spite of the one-sided nature of the battle, Dunkirk makes for an effective action movie. The dogfights are impressive and thrilling without feeling artificial. The soldiers’ attempts to escape the beach are consistently tense and unpredictable. Danger arrives without warning or hesitation, dashing hopes with brutal efficiency. As a result, the film’s victories are hard-won and meaningful, even when helped along by chance.

For all its strengths, Dunkirk has a few drawbacks that may dampen some viewers’ experiences. The chief drawback is that the film can be difficult to watch. The nonlinear storytelling takes effort to follow, and the problem is exacerbated by characters who look similar, are rarely named, and occupy crowded environments. The constant tension, the noise of battle, and the organic plot also may not appeal to everyone.

Watch Dunkirk if you are a fan of well-crafted movies. Its action, historical setting, and craftsmanship are enough to make Dunkirk a worthwhile watch even for those who are not normally fans of war movies. However, those who are expecting either a Christopher Nolan plot or a gung ho action movie may want to give it a pass. Skip it if you are uncomfortable with life-or-death situations or loud noises.

8.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for tense action, unconventional storytelling, and a masterful tone.

Today’s quick review: The Monuments Men. As the tide turns in World War II, Frank Stokes (George Clooney) convinces the U.S. Army to assemble a team of art experts to recover, catalog, and protect the priceless works of art stolen by the Nazis. His team includes painting expert James Granger (Matt Damon), architect Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), sculptor Walter Garfield (John Goodman), and a handful of other men who fight their own small part of the war.

The Monuments Men is a war comedy with dramatic elements that chronicles the recovery of thousands of pieces of art from German stockpiles. The Monuments Men features an ensemble cast, some charming moments, and an interesting historical premise. However, its lack of a clear vision, its subdued comedy, and its misuse of its cast keep it from living up to its full potential. The result is an amusing but unfocused movie that gets caught between comedy and drama.

The Monuments Men’s main failing is its lack of an overarching plot. The story follows Stokes’ men around Europe as they search for Nazi stashes of art. Their adventures are largely isolated incidents, with only the trails of a few particular pieces to tie them together. As such, The Monuments Men has little in the way of an emotional arc. Individual segments are quaint, somber, or hopeful, but the characters are rarely driving the action.

The Monuments Men also mishandles its comedy. The humor consists of wry banter between friends, just enough to keep the tone light without making the movie overtly funny. Between its restrained humor, a couple of dramatic events, and its historical premise and themes, The Monuments Men has a hard time staking out a clear identity for itself. Every time it starts to make progress in one direction, it shifts to another.

Watch The Monuments Men if you are looking for a somewhat lighter war movie. The individual scenes are still entertaining enough to be worthwhile, and the movie’s cast remains impressive. However, The Monuments Men lacks the vision to weave its scraps into a compelling story or to make the most of the actors it has at its disposal. Skip it if you are looking for an energetic comedy or a heartfelt war drama.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent writing and acting let down by a poor plot and an unclear tone.

Today’s quick review: Max Payne. Obsessed with the unsolved murder of his wife and child, Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg), a police detective with a bad reputation, spends his nights tracking down the few remaining leads in the case. His investigation leads him to a hallucinogenic street drug and the community surrounding it. But when Max is tied to a pair of murders, his erratic behavior earns him the distrust of his fellow police.

Max Payne is a crime mystery with noir influences and a dash of action. Based on the video game series, Max Payne features a stern protagonist, a moody atmosphere, and slow-motion action scenes. The movie aims to be a dark revenge story, with Max as the only cop with the determination to see the case through to the end. However, the movie’s mediocre plot and back-loaded action keep it from holding any real interest.

Max Payne’s greatest strength is its atmosphere. Shadowy streets, flickering lights, and snow and rain give the movie the gloomy feeling of a noir. Throwing a touch of fantasy into the mix, the movie also shows glimpses of the winged figures hallucinated by the users of the drug. To top it all off, Max Payne has a handful of slow-motion shots that lend some elegance to the action. The result is a film with an unusually strong visual style.

Where Max Payne stumbles is its plot. The mystery Max is trying to solve never grips the viewer the way it is meant to. The supporting characters are not all that interesting, the drug subplot is more flash than substance, and none of the plot twists feel worthwhile. Ultimately the plot is a workmanlike one, fit for an action movie, in a film that wants it to be more.

Max Payne struggles on the action side as well. Nearly all the action scenes of note happen in the last half-hour of the film. The atmosphere and unfolding mystery help keep the tension up in the meantime, but one or two extra action scenes would have made the film more exciting without much cost to the plot. The action scenes themselves are fine, but the slow-motion shots aren’t enough to make them memorable.

Watch Max Payne when you are in the mood for an action movie and are willing to sacrifice writing for atmosphere. Max Payne manages to be a watchable and occasionally interesting film, but its flaws keep it from competing with the better entries in its genres. Most viewers would be better off watching Sin City for visual style, L.A. Confidential for crime mystery, or one of the many other action movies out there for action.

5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for good atmosphere, a lacking plot, and back-loaded action.

Today’s quick review: The Man with the Iron Fists. A shipment of gold through a troubled Chinese village draws out a host of killers and treasure-seekers. Among them are Jack Knife (Russell Crowe), a debonair Englishman; Madame Blossom (Lucy Liu), a brothel owner; Brass Body (David Bautista), a metal-skinned assassin; and Zen Yi (Cung Le), a vengeful son. Caught in the middle of the violence is an honest blacksmith (RZA) who wants nothing more than peace.

The Man with the Iron Fists is a martial arts action movie that injects modern attitude into a traditional genre. Featuring colorful characters, gory action, and an arsenal of unusual weapons, The Man with the Iron Fists plenty of violence in a stylish package. The film lacks the extra polish needed to qualify as artistic the way Tarantino movies arguably do, but its action and creativity make it a fun, schlocky watch for the right viewer.

The Man with the Iron Fists is a movie that plays to its strengths. The film’s action is bloody, high-impact, and frequent. The martial arts are an excuse to showcase the film’s unconventional weapons, including bladed armor, razor fans, and the titular iron fists. The character designs are consistently good, offering a variety of interesting gimmicks for the fight scenes to take advantage of.

However, The Man with the Iron Fists has imperfections that keep it from reaching its full potential. The writing is never that clever or engaging. The film’s more over-the-top elements flip-flop between cool and ridiculous. The rap soundtrack usually has the right effect, but it often cuts out abruptly when the tone of the scene changes. None of these flaws are dealbreakers, but they are noticeable signs of miscalibration.

Watch The Man with the Iron Fists when you are in the mood for some mindless, bloody violence backed by strong character designs and creative weaponry. The Man with the Iron Fists falls short of its complete vision, but its execution is good enough to make it worth checking out for action fans. Those looking for bloody action with better presentation should check out Kill Bill. Anime fans looking for something similar should check out Samurai Champloo or Afro Samurai.

5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for good action and creativity.

Today’s quick review: Extraction. When Leonard Turner (Bruce Willis), a CIA agent near the end of his career, is kidnapped, his son Harry (Kellan Lutz), an aspiring field agent, disobeys orders in an attempt to rescue him. With the help of Victoria (Gina Carano), the agent officially assigned to the mission, Harry hunts down the terrorist group he believes responsible, racing to find them before they can activate a dangerous cryptographic device.

Extraction is an action movie that follows the usual recipe of lone CIA operatives, doomsday devices, and treachery. Its basic premise is just fine by the standards of the genre. However, Extraction’s execution leaves something to be desired. Its strongest feature is its action, a blend of serviceable close-quarters fighting and unconvincing gunplay. Its acting and writing are deeply flawed, making the movie a difficult one to invest in.

Extraction suffers from a host of problems typical of budget action films. The plot has little in the way of depth, and its plot twists feel arbitrary. Several key plot points are never properly explained, making the events of the story needlessly confusing. The dialogue is consistently weak, with uninspired writing and stiff delivery. Extraction also makes very little use of Bruce Willis, giving him only two or three scenes and minimal action.

There are other areas where Extraction falls short. The movie’s soundtrack, opening credits, and treatment of its chase scenes are incongruously intense. The supposed chemistry between Harry and Victoria is close to nonexistent. Harry’s character gets caught between competing action hero archetypes; the movie can’t decide whether he should be an inexperienced rookie or a talented prodigy, and his reckless tactics belie his dream of becoming a field agent.

Overall, Extraction feels half-baked. The movie’s major elements are all ones that other action films have used to good effect, but they are stitched together haphazardly with no real vision. Although the movie has just enough action to be watchable, Extraction offers nothing else of interest. Most viewers would be better off watching The Recruit, Safehouse, or one of the many other action movies out there.

4.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.0 for a poor plot and barely passable action.

Today’s quick review: Vexille. Ten years after Japan seals itself off from the world, SWORD, an elite unit in the US military, finds evidence that Daima Heavy Industries, Japan’s premier robotics company, has invented lifelike androids. To assess this new threat, SWORD sends a team past Japan’s shield with reconnaissance equipment. But when the mission goes south, team members Vexille and Leon must find a way to stop Daima from within.

Vexille is a Japanese animated science fiction movie set in a future where robots are ubiquitous. Vexille’s two main draws are its action and its mysterious sci-fi plot. The action pits SWORD’s exosuits against the robotic drones of Daima Heavy Industries. The plot revolves around the question of just what has happened to Japan over the last decade, as well as the endgame of Daima’s dangerous technological research.

Visually, Vexille is decent but not great. The animation uses CGI that splits the difference between a cell-shaded style reminiscent of traditional anime and a more realistic style that gives some texture to the objects and the environments. The movement feels stiff in places, and neither the visual design nor the level of detail are enough to leave a lasting impact. Still, Vexille does have a competent, consistent look that serves the needs of the story.

From a story perspective, Vexille has a few interesting ideas but fails to back them up. The sealing off of Japan makes for a good hook, but once the veil of secrecy is lifted, Vexille does little else with the concept. The movie touches on some potent themes, such as the loss of humanity in an automated world, but it spends little time developing them. Likewise, the characters receive only the minimum amount of development they need for the plot.

From an action perspective, Vexille offers just enough to get by. The exosuits are fun to watch in action, but there are few moments where they truly get to shine. The animation style keeps the action from doing anything too weighty or complicated; what’s left over is mostly guns against armor, a couple of chase scenes, and one or two more elaborate moments towards the end. As such, Vexille makes for a fine action movie, but not a remarkable one.

Watch Vexille if you are a fan of the anime side of the science fiction genre and are looking for something new to nosh on. Vexille has enough in the way of quality to be an enjoyable watch, but it lacks the follow-through to be a must-see. For a somewhat more interesting film in the same vein, check out Appleseed. For a CGI anime with fast-paced action and detailed graphics, check out Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for an interesting premise and decent execution, held back by mediocre action and thin world-building.