DVD Review: Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li: Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough, Robin Shou, Moon Bloodgood, Josie Ho, Michael Clark Duncan, Andrzej Bartkowiak: Movies & TV

Jul02

DVD Review: Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li: Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough, Robin Shou, Moon Bloodgood, Josie Ho, Michael Clark Duncan, Andrzej Bartkowiak: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 2 July, 07:47 PM

Amazon.com
The origin story of the characters from Capcom’s popular Street Fighter video game is detailed in The Legend of Chun-Li, a live-action martial arts thriller from Doom helmer Andrzej Bartkowiak. Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk gives a spirited turn in the title role, a concert pianist turned global crime fighter who cracks her share of heads while in pursuit of the mobsters who have kidnapped her father. Neal McDonough and Michael Clarke Duncan glower effectively as Bison, the nefarious mastermind behind the abduction, and his henchman, Balrog, respectively. The film’s offbeat cast, which includes Chris Klein and Moon Bloodgood as detectives, Black Eyed Peas singer Taboo as the claw-wielding Vega, and Hong Kong stars Pei-pei Cheng, Josie Ho and Edmund Chen in supporting roles, is the most inspired element of the film, which relies too often on well-worn action and kung fu movie clichés to fill out moments between fight sequences; the film’s target audience–fans of the game–may find this less engaging than younger, less discerning moviegoers with a yen for any flavor of punch-up. –Paul Gaita

Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/30/2009 Run time: 172 minutes Rating: Pg13

I went in hoping to enjoy, and I did!,

By T. Mack -

Ok, if you are a REALLY huge fan of the video game then you may actually dislike this movie, but then again maybe you won’t. I on the other hand have played the game but was not as into it as other gamers, So I went into this movie expecting another hot action film and that is exactly what I got! There is a lot of wire work but its no worse then other movies that are out now! The lead Kristin Kreuk is hottness, and her acting is raised pretty high if you put her up against her co-stars! Shes the light that shines in this movie. The fact that she did pretty much all of her own stunt work just adds to the pot! It’s a female taking control, a female ruling the screen and a female kicking butt and thats what I love to see in my action films! The movie was geared towards gamers but a girl like myself who enjoys watching actions films such as Tomb Raider, Underworld where women are strong, Independent, kicking butts and taking names, this movie can easily join the list…my list and will! If you pay attention to only the negative reviews (1 star & 2 stars) and you’ve never seen it before you are going to automatically have their negativity inplanted. I say read the positives first, watch it and come up with your own conclusion! I’d recommend this movie to anyone who wants to sit back and enjoy a cool female action flick!

OK movie. But you do get the animated motion comic as a Bonus Disc.,

By John (Detroit, MI United States) -

While the movie didn’t exactly burn up the box office with a rather questionable story line this DVD package does come with a 2nd Bonus Disk that contains the complete Street Fighter: Round One - FIGHT! animated motion comic (available at amazon) that features all the main characters of the Street Fighter universe - including Ryu & Ken. So this perhaps isn’t something to pass-up.

ARCADE TO SCREEN ONE MORE TIME,

By Mark Turner -

The arcade games of the 70s and 80s were rife with storylines that not only developed the game play but led to countless books, comics and late on movies. But for some reason these game films never quite took off. Granted a few were disastrous (HOUSE OF THE DEAD) while others were puff pieces for stars like Jean Claude Van Damme in the first STREET FIGHTER film. Now we have another film to add to the list.- STREET FIGHTER THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI.

Kristin Kreuk makes the jump from small screen (where she plays Lana Lang on SMALLVILLE) to large in the role of the title character. Beginning with her voice over narration telling us where it all began, we see a young girl who dreams of being a concert pianist. Encouraged by her father, he also trains her in Wushu, a form of martial arts. Good thing because her father is later kidnapped by Bison (Neal McDonough) and his right hand man Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan).

Years later, the dream is near reality as Chun-Li is about to make her debut as a pianist. But an ancient scroll in Chinese arrives and she finds someone to interpret for her. This interpretation leads her down another path where she is eventually introduced to Gen (Robin Shou) who beings her training in the hopes of helping her find her father and to take on the evil empire being created by Bison.

As this story unfolds we are also given the tale of her father who has been kept a prisoner to help Bison in his plans. His only payment is to get glimpses of his daughter on occasion via pictures and video. We also get to glimpse the true treachery of Bison as he eliminates his competition to take over a vast underground criminal empire.

Not enough story for you? How about an INTERPOL detective played by Chris Klein who is working with a Bangkok detective named Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood) to try and take down Bison. Then there’s the whole revelation of how Bison came to be as bad as he is that involves ritual murder and his unborn child. Yes, it may be based on a game but you can’t fault the film makers for wanting to have plenty of story.

Chun-Li trains with Gen, learning to harness her anger and delve deep inside to find that power that will make her a formidable opponent. At the same time she sneaks out to learn more about the world around her, Bison and his gang and where she can find her father. The answer to that last part is a sad moment indeed.

A final showdown between the main fighter based characters is inevitable. The skill with which these fights take place ranks high, involving gymnastics, martial arts and wire work that gels nicely. Stars not known for this sort of performance do well in their roles and come out on top.

I am sure that many who played the game will find something to complain about. Either Chun-Li doesn’t wear the same outfit of do her hair right or something else. Having never been a big fan of the game I walked away thinking I’d just seen a decent action film with more story than most.

Sure there is a lot of lose ends that seem to be tied up too neatly by the film’s end. And a lot of circumstances might be hard to believe. But let’s review shall we? The movie…note I said MOVIE…is based on a video game. This is not KING LEAR. It delivers plenty of action, enough martial arts sequences to be acceptable to fans and a fun time for viewers just looking for a bit of escape.

Kreuk does a great job in the lead role, taking on the mantle of Chun-Li as if it were laid out for her long ago. McDonough does his usual despicable bad guy turn and does it well. He truly seems evil. And Robin Shou, who I thought I recognized (he played Lui Kang in the MORTAL KOMBAT films), turns in a fine performance as the mentor who deals with an unwilling pupil who learns and grows as the film progresses.

This film is not high art. It is not deep thought. It is pure fun and entertainment. If you go in thinking this you’ll walk away finding a satisfying time. Depending on who else is watching it in your home, the film comes in rated and unrated editions, the unrated offering a tad more blood and violence. But then again, wasn’t that what the game was all about? Still, use caution with younger children.

One final note. In deciding whether to give this film 3 or 4 stars I went back to the best question I could come up with. Would I sit down and watch this movie again? The answer being yes made me vote 4 stars. Its not the best film ever, but it was fun to watch.
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