Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li

Directed by: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Starring: Kristin Kreuk, Robin Shou, Chris Klien, Neal McDonough, Moon Bloodgood, Michael Clarke Duncan

Synopsis: Based on the characters from the videogame franchise: following the death of her mother, Chun Li travels to Bangkok to find Gen (Shou), who will help her hone her already formidable martial arts skills. She also crosses paths with Bison, head of the Shadaloo organization and the man responsible for her father’s disappearance many years previously. In the meantime, two cops, Nash and Sunee, are trying to take down the Shadaloo organisation.



Review:I went into this movie with the lowest of expectations – The Legend of Chun Li had garnered so much negative press that I could not help but feel myself being pushed away. However that in itself is kind of a recommendation, isn’t it? It’s almost a challenge to my curiosity...

Streetfighter: Legend of Chun Li turns out not to be the worst movie of the year. In fact, a lot of it was downright entertaining. There are some dreadful moments too, and for the first time in ages I found myself making snarky comments at the screen (this mainly had to do with the fact that Shadaloo is an organisation full of people who can’t shoot straight and would rather see watermelons explode in slo-mo than killing their target – see also the villains in Bad Boys).

Kristin Kreuk, who plays Lana Lang on Smallville, would not be my first choice for the role of Chun Li but she does an overall decent job in the role. Robin Shou is as reliable as ever (although looking a lot older since his starring role in Mortal Kombat). Michael Clark Duncan is very good as Balrog.

I do have two major issue with this movie, and that is it’s classification certificate. In the US, this was released as a PG-13. In the UK it was a 15, which is much more appropriate. A lot of the scenes which I found entertaining and a little edgy for this type of movie were all adult situations. In one scene, Chun Li uses her body and sexy dance moves to seduce Bison’s girlfriend, Cantana. When Bison finds out, he literally uses Cantana as a punching bag, beating her to death. There are a number of similar scenes throughout which gives the film a schizoid feel – PG-13, Dragonball-style kids movie, or hard-hitting edgy action?

The other problem the movie has is the constant narration from Chun Li – you’d think the film-makers would be familiar with the adage that a picture speaks a thousand words, but no: this narration is on the same level of pedantry as 10,000BC.

Verdict:

A film that tries harder than critics have given it credit for, Streetfighter: Legend of Chun Li is a noble failure, hampered by too much narration and an uneven style that’s torn between being kid- friendly or more hard-edged.

6 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)