Movie: Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Production: 20th Century Fox

It has been years since we’ve seen a live action Street Fighter film hit the theatres, as a matter fact a good one at that. The Street Fighter game franchise series has been a megahit amongst gamers since the early 90s and the last live action film based on the franchise with then mega action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, in a nutshell, did extremely bad at the box office during that year of release. What other way to put it then to say after that upset filmmakers were afraid to take that route again because of the first experience they had, however I really don’t blame them for that. Now 15 years later, 20th Century Fox releases ‘The Legend of Chun Li,’ the first film in quite possibly a series of films to chronicle the life of each character following their descent into the Street Fighter realms where they all eventually encounter the arch nemesis M. Bison and Shadowloo (spelled Shadoloo in the film).

The casted director of the film, Andrzej Bartkowiak, is no stranger to martial arts and it’s following, as he was the original director of ‘Romeo Must Die,’ ‘Exit Wounds,’ and ‘Cradle 2 the Grave,’ which all starred now troubled Hip-Hop artist, DMX. The characters of the film are played by well-known actors and actresses and were chosen practically for their portrayal of the image into the part and role. Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk was chosen to play the lead heroine Chun Li alongside Robin Shou as Gen who was once the lead character in another game series live action film, Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat.’ Heavyweight Michael Clark Duncan was casted to portray the role of Balrog, which I think he fits interestingly. In the film Balrog is portrayed as Bison’s overexerted muscleman that comes at his beck and call. Chris Klein and Moon Bloodgood play opposite each other as partners in an anti-crime organization called Interpol as Detective Charlie Nash and Detective Maya Sunee. Hip-Hop artists have always seemed to make their way into Hollywood one way or another, this time around the one you’d least expect made an appearance in this international franchise film. It seems as though the Black Eyed Peas are eyeing their future in the movie business and like other artists they might even succeed. Taboo guest features in his first film as the Spaniard masked hitman with the one three bladed claw, Vega. Sometime in May, don’t be surprised if you happen to see Will.i.am in an upcoming Marvel film. Neal McDonough was casted to play the antagonist M. Bison as a sadistic overrated businessman, much less his original stature as portrayed in the game. I have to admit though; it kept the film more realistic.

The location they chose to set the origins and landmark of the whole film was practically in my own backyard, Bangkok, Thailand and Hong Kong, China. The film was actually geographically correct in this one whereas they used real locations in Bangkok then making up location spots as they did in the previous film. One thing you might find interesting about the film was the music that Bartkowiak chose to feature in the film. We are all quite aware that he is an avid fan of Hip-Hop, but what surprised me was his interest in Ace Hood. When you watch the film you’ll notice that he plays out the whole ‘Get ‘Em’ track in the club scene like it was a favorite choice or track he really admired. As a matter of fact, you even hear a hint of it as Detective Nash first steps out of his car when meeting with Detective Maya for the first time.

If you decide to read further down just be aware that this does contain spoilers. The plot of the film is based loosely on Chun Li finding her father as he was taken by Bison when she was just a small child. Her father was kept alive and imprisoned by Bison under the illusion that if he forfeits his life to assist Bison in his reign over the Shadoloo Empire that Chun Li and his wife would never be harmed. As a child she excelled in classical piano and learned the art of Kung Fu from her mediocre father. As she got older thoughts of her father still lingered in her head while her ailing mother was in her deathbed. After a concert recital, Chun Li receives Bison and his crime syndicates in Bangkok. Gen further trains Chun Li where her father left off and teaches her to stay focused and learn the power of the Kidoken. Throughout the whole film, the only time she uses her infamous ‘Spinning Bird Kick’ technique was during the club scene where she fought off Bison’s goons. When Chun Li is later captured by Bison and his goons, she finally meets face to face with her father after many years. They converse for a minute then Bison kills him in front of Chun Li’s eyes, he promised him he’d have a chance to say to good-bye to her. A distraught and angered Chun Li breaks free and manages to escape. Towards the end of the film, Gen, Chun Li, Nash, and Maya all meet up at a shipyard where practically everyone faces off, Interpol agents against Shadoloo goons. Gen even faces off with Balrog and Bison; it was kind of ironic to see “Liu Kang” going at with Street Fighter characters. Gen eventually defeats Balrog and gets his ass whooped by Bison. Chun Li comes in and rescues Gen before Bison can finish him off. She defeats him with a Kidoken and avenges her father’s death. During the conclusion of the film, Chun Li is back at home in Hong Kong where she returns to her ordinary roots. Gen shows up once again and tells her that it isn’t over that it has just started. This is when they hint the synopsis of the next installment in the Street Fighter character chronicles, he shows her a poster advertising a ‘Street Fighter tournament’ in Japan where one great fighter is rumored to appear, Gen refers to him as “Ryu something.”

All in the all, the film was quite entertaining. It was a great improvement in directing, writing, and character development than the last one. It wasn’t cheesy and over-exaggerated. Hopefully they do much better job with Ryu in the plot and the choosing of the actor, I cannot emphasize how their choice of the actor will determine many different areas on what the direction the film will go in. Now if you’re a real avid fan of the Street Fighter game series, you need to check this movie out for yourself. It is much more brutal with better fight choreography.