Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

--PG-13-- I am torn...I don't know if this movie should be in the popcorn category, or the trash heap. My reasoning is if I throw trash cans up there I will have to admit I am ashamed I saw the movie, but the problem is why should I be ashamed? This is based on a video game franchise that has sold millions of copies for nearly two decades, additionally Jean-Claude Van Damme made an earlier film in this franchise back in the early '90's. So I just can't admit that I should be ashamed I saw this movie.

That just leaves popcorn, my problem here is I don't think it was even a popcorn worthy film. I saw this for another Monday morning early bird special with ten other people. Of those ten, six left during the movie, there was even a moment in which I wanted to leave...okay there were three or four.

Unlike the Van Damme version that was futuristic, cheesy and full of 1 : 1 fighting scenes, this Street Fighter incarnation was filled with story, and voice overs to explain "The Legend of Chun-Li." Which of course is the subtitle to the title Street Fighter. Ugh, the movie was filled with bad acting by Chris Klein (American Pie Trilogy), decent acting by Neil Mcdonough (Band of Brothers) and interspersed with mediocre acting by Michael-Clarke Duncan (Green Mile) and Kristin Kreuk (Smallville).

Oh Kristin! This brings me to perhaps my biggest hang-up...Kristin is not Asian, she isn't even half Asian. Since her character has a caucasian mother this could be explained away if they didn't cast younger versions of her character as Asian girls. Those girls at various stages of development looked absolutely nothing like the adult Chun-Li. Ugh!!! Huge casting mistakes, stupid directing, bad acting and limited action sequences mean I have to throw this movie onto the trash heap.





cah

Fired Up!

--PG-13-- I know...I know! So this is the story, I woke up late Monday morning...was bored...had no homework...nothing on TV...the showtime was perfect...and it was early bird $6 special. I also know that some of you won't care about my feeble excuses to why I saw this movie. But there might just be a few people out there that will secretly want to watch a couple of high school football jocks infiltrate a "cheer camp" and hook up with as many girls as possible.

For those of you, with that secret desire stashed away under that facade of a grown up, let me just say this...it wasn't bad. The movie is not about cheering, it isn't about hooking up with "chicks," or even about a creepy guy friendship. This movie is about change, and about how we all can have one idea of life and how if we try something else, for whatever reason, we might find a new joy and a new level of understanding about life, love and friendship.

Seriously, did you just read that drivel about life changing experiences? Who am I trying to kid? Let me just say that any movie which employs an alum of such awesome fare as Best In Show and A Mighty Wind deserves a viewing. John Michael Higgins is that alum, and he was pretty good, in an okay movie that gets firmly planted in the trash can department.



cah

The International

--R-- The International is a crime thriller that pits good vs. evil, big business vs. government, right vs. wrong. The movie definitely will leave you questioning the perils of capitalism and if fighting back against "the man" is even worth it. I know that this movie sounds heavy, one that seems too close to home to spend 2 hours at the movie for. Especially when you go to the movies to escape life and imagine living in an entirely different world. This movie won't let you escape the economic status of the world right now. Instead it will make you think about which bank holds your money, and what prè tell are they doing with it?

This film follows a somewhat "rogue" inter-pol agent, and New York ADA as they try and prosecute one of the worlds largest most influential banks. I know that The International sounds like a dramatic slow paced film, but I am here to emphatically state that it is not! In fact with heart pounding tension and acting that is top notch this movie is not just entertaining and insightful, but also one of those rare films that make you think about society, and what we as citizens can do to correct it.

This film is R, for its language and violence. None of the violence is gratuitous and the language flows easily with the script. In other words, yes there is a lot of shooting of guns and swearing, but if you are already desensitized to these types of movies, there is no reason why you won't enjoy this film. And as a bonus you might just learn something as well.


cah

A Reinvention

I am sure that it is quite obvious that I have been taking a sabbatical from my blog...my only excuse is I got a wee bit board with writing reviews, and to be honest there really hasn't been anything of significance to write about.

I know that one of my original desires was to write a review for every movie that I have ever seen...and well to be honest this is a hobby and I should enjoy it. So I decided that I will only be writing reviews about films that I feel like writing about.

I have seen a good 2-3 dozen new films since my last posting and I don't think any movie has moved me to the point of wanting to write one. So this is the deal about what movies I want to write reviews on. Why should I write about The Dark Knight when everyone is going to see it anyway? What does my opinion matter about such substantial films as that? Absolutely nothing! I am going to concentrate my efforts on writing reviews on films that my opinion might actually make a difference.

For those of you that still have been checking for reviews I am starting again so please come back, and I once again hope to entertain and enlighten once more.


cah