09-02-2007, 08:35 PM
starring Jet Li and Jason Stathan
If only the director could have afforded the Charlie's Angels threesome, this could have been a lot better. At least there would have been more eye candy while watching martial artist posers.
Okay, I'm being ironic and cynical. Jet Li has busted more incredible moves on screen than probably any other martial artist. And Stathan proved himself for me in The Transporter. But the director (and fight choreographer, if such an entity even existed on this project) could have used Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton to equal effect. What a waste!
The positives: Jason Stathan is very watchable on screen. Jet Li can be very watchable as well, if they let him venture from the cold-blooded robotic killer stereotype. Thankfully he did get to act a bit in the second half.
The negatives: Confusing plot, boring car chase, fights that seemed to have been filmed by putting the cameras on the fighters' arms. There are some quiet scenes made hectic because the director or editor saw fit to cut it apart into dozens of shots with weird timing tricks. I mean, these should have been quiet simple scenes! There is a scene where a woman gives Lee a suitcase of money, then strips, then retreats into the bedroom. But we, the audience, are not allowed into the bedroom. WTF!!!
Through much of the movie I was giving this a 3 out of 10. Near the end this slipped towards 2, because I was getting pissed at the cameraman. True, the camera did sit still in some scenes. Unfortunately, it was placed between the fighters. Limbs entered and exited the frame without context. Some of the fight scenes seemed well-planned and well laid out. But one after another they were rendered unintelligable. I got so mad I wanted to punch the cameraman in the mouth.
There was an interesting twist at the end, which preserved a 3 out of 10. But good god, what a waste of martial arts talent. Also, I was deeply disturbed seeing Jet Li driving around in these fancy sports cars, grinning ear to ear. Okay, I realize he's acting. Still, it short-circuits all his claims about quitting martial arts films to pursue Buddhism. I mean, my brain hurts from all that is wrong with this project as a vehicle for Jet Li.
I shoulda just looked at the posters, and let DM go to the actual watching.
--cranefly
If only the director could have afforded the Charlie's Angels threesome, this could have been a lot better. At least there would have been more eye candy while watching martial artist posers.
Okay, I'm being ironic and cynical. Jet Li has busted more incredible moves on screen than probably any other martial artist. And Stathan proved himself for me in The Transporter. But the director (and fight choreographer, if such an entity even existed on this project) could have used Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton to equal effect. What a waste!
The positives: Jason Stathan is very watchable on screen. Jet Li can be very watchable as well, if they let him venture from the cold-blooded robotic killer stereotype. Thankfully he did get to act a bit in the second half.
The negatives: Confusing plot, boring car chase, fights that seemed to have been filmed by putting the cameras on the fighters' arms. There are some quiet scenes made hectic because the director or editor saw fit to cut it apart into dozens of shots with weird timing tricks. I mean, these should have been quiet simple scenes! There is a scene where a woman gives Lee a suitcase of money, then strips, then retreats into the bedroom. But we, the audience, are not allowed into the bedroom. WTF!!!
Through much of the movie I was giving this a 3 out of 10. Near the end this slipped towards 2, because I was getting pissed at the cameraman. True, the camera did sit still in some scenes. Unfortunately, it was placed between the fighters. Limbs entered and exited the frame without context. Some of the fight scenes seemed well-planned and well laid out. But one after another they were rendered unintelligable. I got so mad I wanted to punch the cameraman in the mouth.
There was an interesting twist at the end, which preserved a 3 out of 10. But good god, what a waste of martial arts talent. Also, I was deeply disturbed seeing Jet Li driving around in these fancy sports cars, grinning ear to ear. Okay, I realize he's acting. Still, it short-circuits all his claims about quitting martial arts films to pursue Buddhism. I mean, my brain hurts from all that is wrong with this project as a vehicle for Jet Li.
I shoulda just looked at the posters, and let DM go to the actual watching.
--cranefly
I'm nobody's pony.
