07-16-2011, 10:05 AM
Another from Johnny Tri Nguyen, who is championing Vietnamese fight flicks now. But this one is all about Veronica Ngo Thanh Van, who co-starred in Rebel and steals the show in Clash. Here, she's the newest femme fatale. A beauty queen pop singer in 'nam, she brings more to the table than Jeeja. Jeeja may have mastered Meyrairuth, but Veronica can tango in a slinky red dress and stilleto heels. Backed with Nguyen's balletic fight choreography, which is ramped up with some ground fighting with flair now, it's a winning combo.
Clash alternates between 'nam urban hip hop sensibilities to a director that's seen way too many John Woo flicks. The 'nam stuff is solid, a crumbling peek into Saigon ghettos and rap seems to suit Vietnamese alright. The melodrama, complete with gratuitous slo-mo and Italian opera, works for a spell, then gets over played, especially with the death scene flashbacks. Why do death scenes have obligatory flashbacks all the time now? Just die already. If the audience cares about the character, we don't need the flashback. The plot? Recover the laptop. That's all you really need to know.
The first half is great and had me spellbound thinking it was all about Veronica, she's the new fight film queen, gorgeous eyes, long and agile, quick accurate kicks, and can totally rock tough chick mode. The film BEGINS WITH A SWORD FIGHT, a machete fight even! The fights are all excellent. Nguyen has some great moves, some even worthy of rewinding and replaying. There's way to much crappy gun fu - how can you miss a motorcycle crossing a field with a machine gun, or some one you've drawn a bead on just a few feet away? The second half doesn't keep up the fight pace with the start, and opts to squeeze in a little too much melodrama, although the fight finale is worth the wait.
Ultimately, I'm down with Nguyen and Van - they are bringing Vovinam out with style and flair. Maybe DOOM worthy. Depends
Clash alternates between 'nam urban hip hop sensibilities to a director that's seen way too many John Woo flicks. The 'nam stuff is solid, a crumbling peek into Saigon ghettos and rap seems to suit Vietnamese alright. The melodrama, complete with gratuitous slo-mo and Italian opera, works for a spell, then gets over played, especially with the death scene flashbacks. Why do death scenes have obligatory flashbacks all the time now? Just die already. If the audience cares about the character, we don't need the flashback. The plot? Recover the laptop. That's all you really need to know.
The first half is great and had me spellbound thinking it was all about Veronica, she's the new fight film queen, gorgeous eyes, long and agile, quick accurate kicks, and can totally rock tough chick mode. The film BEGINS WITH A SWORD FIGHT, a machete fight even! The fights are all excellent. Nguyen has some great moves, some even worthy of rewinding and replaying. There's way to much crappy gun fu - how can you miss a motorcycle crossing a field with a machine gun, or some one you've drawn a bead on just a few feet away? The second half doesn't keep up the fight pace with the start, and opts to squeeze in a little too much melodrama, although the fight finale is worth the wait.
Ultimately, I'm down with Nguyen and Van - they are bringing Vovinam out with style and flair. Maybe DOOM worthy. Depends
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
