I've always said -- the most important theme I look for in for movies is originality. There is nothing worse than seeing a movie with the same played out twists, turns, and plot that you've seen a million times before. The one thing that REDBELT has going for it is originality.
It takes some time but eventually the movie incorporates some MMA themes and has a newer martial arts twist to it. Cool cool - I'm feeling ya so far.
Then BAM! Round house kick to the viewers head and its over -- just when it was starting to get good!
Unfortunately, REDBELT suffers from plenty of other downfalls. At times it can be a little too ancient Jiu Jitsu preachy. It's been a long time since people have embraced a martial arts movie (no I'm not talking about Karate Kid -- ok, maybe I am.) and I don't know if people can be ever driven back to excitement from this genre.
Crouching Tiger was the last serious time America went gah gah over martial arts. Even then, people were blown away from the fight scenes, something REDBELT is missing a lot of.
The movie always felt like it was heading in opposite directions at various times. First were talking philiosphy then were talking about a suspended cop then a lawsuit. In addition, the movie has a very bizzare supporting cast. Specifcially, Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor in a guest cameo role. (I kept waiting for Wilson to appear in a fight scene -- his face hidden behind a gong or something).
I'm not saying its an awful movie, but it doesn't necessarily have to be at the top of your rental queue. I could also understand if it's not at the top of your queue b/c 'Dawson's Creek' Season 5 is.
REDBELT gets to 2 karate chops to the face out of 5.
BOOK IT.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Movie Review: REDBELT
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1 comments:
I feel like your Dawson's Creek comment is a direct shot at me. I've told you countless times that my wife is watching it. And she's not up to season five yet, she's only on two. Dick.
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