Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li
by Andrzej Bartkowiak
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Actor: Chris Klein, Kristin Kreuk, Moon Bloodgood, Neal McDonough, Robin ShouDirector: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Brand: KREUK,KRISTIN
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
Published: 2009-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2009-06-30
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
DVD Reviews of Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li
DVD Review: Kristin Kreuk and Moon Bloodgood Deserved a Better Movie!
Summary: 2 Stars
The awesome "Street Fighter" video game franchise was first brought to life by Hollywood in 1994 featuring a "cartoonish" Jean Claude Van-Damme, Ming Na-Wen, Kylie Minogue and Raul Julia as the despot named Bison. The movie was a disaster and it was no wonder why it failed miserably in the box-office. Hollywood should've taken pointers from Japan for "Street Fighter: The Animated Movie", which was undeniably the best movie adapted from the franchise to date. Director Andrezj Bartkowiak now brings us another film very, very loosely based on the enduring video game franshise in "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li". Nope, it isn't any better than Van Damme's movie. So why did I waste my time watching this movie? One name: Kristin Kreuk.
Many years have passed since a criminal mastermind named Bison (Neal McDonough) has abducted Xiang, the father to a girl named Chun-Li. Now, Bison rules the streets of Bangkok under the empire of Shadaloo; with his cohorts Balrog (Michael Clark Duncan), Vega (Taboo), and vixen Cantana (Josie Ho). They strike terror and panic into the hearts of its inhabitants. Chun-Li (Kristin Kreuk) is now grown up and has traveled to Bangkok in search of a mysterious man named Gen (Robin Shou) so that she may find her destiny. Under the tutelage of master Gen, Chun-Li learns how to channel her CHI and become a better fighter. Now, the young female warrior must try her best to take Bison down, with Interpol agents Nash (miscast Chris Klein) and sexy Maya (Moon Bloodgood) hot on her trail...
I am puzzled as to how and why this movie would carry the "Street Fighter" moniker. The film is a departure from the 1994 movie and carries very little references to the video game franchise. The movie only features a few characters and while I understand perfectly that this is a movie about Chun-Li, but it doesn't really fit into any of the "Street Fighter" mythos. The movie does abandon a cartoonish feel, and replaces it with a straight-forward revenge premise; it is grittier and concentrates on Asian mysticism while adding the workings of a crime drama. The once colorful characters are replaced with a feeling of realism with the screenplay exercising a serious tone. Writer Justin Marks desperately tries to make the characters his own by incorporating new mythos, sidestepping video game tie-ins and resisting the temptation for the film to become another fight saga. The ambition is there, but sadly, this is a "Street-Fighter" movie and fans would like to see a lot of mano-o-mano brawls.
I wouldn't really mind a re-imagining of the mythos and I can appreciate a bold approach but the direction just fumbles the ball. Andrezj Bartkowiak's resume includes "Cradle to the Grave", "Exit Wounds" and "Romeo Must Die", so how can he end up with a project like this? What were they thinking--that someone who directed movies starring DMX can pull off a project like this?! The storytelling is rather a little clumsy with holes that open so wide that the state of California may be able to fit. I also felt that it was edited badly and since I saw the deleted scenes of the film in the Dvd, there were significant scenes that were edited out from the unrated cut. The inept directing and storytelling skills of Bartkowiak is on display as the movie slowly looses any small momentum it may have gained from the opening act.
All right, everything can be forgiven as long as an action movie has loads of action right? Well, the fight scenes choreographed by Dion Lam looks rather flashy with elaborate use of wire work accompanied with a `street-fighter-like" finishing effect. Some moves are decent, but most of them feels more like a simple exhibition than real encounters full of intensity. The set-ups are quite formulaic and I think the movie was restrained by its budget as the camerawork and editing of the fights could have been better. Kristin Kreuk did some of the stunts but most of the fights are unusually shot in a manner that intentionally hides the faces. Neal McDonough looked real clumsy in the fight scenes as he stumbles in counting off his moves much like John Saxon in `Enter the Dragon". Robin Shou has more experience in action movies after "Mortal Kombat" so he looks comfortable. Note to Hollywood, it is better to teach a martial artist how to act than to teach an actor to do martial arts.
The acting by Kristin Kreuk is as competent as in her performance in the TV show "Smallville"; sure it is decent but the direction can offer Kreuk very little support. Chris Klein looks like a metro sexual "Dirty Harry" as he tries desperately to look like a ragged, unkempt tough guy. Klein is just horrible in his portrayal and his character so one-dimensional. Moon Bloodgood is a sight to behold, and her sexy looks are definitely a welcome distraction for the viewer. McDonough's Bison is horrible; another note to Hollywood, a villain should be evil enough to be hated and loved enough to hate.
"Street Fighter the Legend of Chun-Li" should have done better without the "Street Fighter" brand then maybe I'll give it a higher rating. The film is so lacking in video game tributes and when you have a member of the Black-eyed peas and Chris Klein, you know it's headed straight to the cleaners. It would have acceptable if the drag-out brawls were spectacular but the movie is just hampered by bad editing, direction and budget. I like Kristin Kreuk and Moon Bloodgood but not enough to become interested in its hinted-at sequel although it does promise to right several mistakes in this movie. (Here's hoping that Chris Kattan and Will Farrell doesn't star as Ryu and Ken) Well, just give me Japan's "Street Fighter" anime instead.
Skip it! [1 ½ Stars]
Video/Audio: 2.35 ratio anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is for the most part good, although a bit soft on certain scenes. Black levels are good though. The dvd is better when up-converted to 1080p. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track is powerful enough and clear.
Extras: The deleted scenes are worth checking out as it fulfills the film's plot gaps.
Description of Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: UN
Release Date: 30-JUN-2009
Media Type: DVD
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
Stills from Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (Click for larger image)
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