- Jun 10, 2014
- 20,219
- 41,606
Founding Member
Yeah, I saw about 15 minutes of the first one when it came out. If the first sucks, then the second always swallows.
Film Reviews - what have you seen lately, what did you think?
- Thread starter TLB
- Start date
- Jul 15, 2014
- 28,778
- 47,915
Buddy, it's Aquaman... AQUAMAN!! He was the stupidest idea for a superhero 50 years ago. I mean, I remember thinking as a kid, "What? Does the Justice League REALLY need this guy? How da fuk does he even get to the Hall of Justice, the sewer?"
I mean, I wouldn't watch it even with Amber Heard (I have a "no Amber the minute she went Depp" rule).
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,930
- 4,683
Dude, global warming machines.
Its amazing how screwed up DC movies are. They have arguably the most famous 2 comic characters and can't figure it out. I have no hope for James Gunn to magically fix it unless they get back to the source material and stop trying to outwoke Marvel. EMO Batman isn't helping them either.
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,930
- 4,683
I don't know what they did, but she looked weird throughout the movie with her face changing sizes constantly from skinny to chunky. Not sure if they were trying to do "water" affects or purposely did her dirty.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Gundala (2019) <Prime>
IMDB: Indonesia's preeminent comic book superhero and his alter ego Sancaka enter the cinematic universe to battle the wicked Pengkor and his diabolical squad of orphan assassins.
TLB: Do not see this film. Staring at shadows on the wall will be more fulfilling. If you did NOT know ahead of time that this was an origin story, one for both our hero Gundala but also for the network of villains he has faced in Indonesian comic books for over 50 years...you would walk away thinking this was a mess (it was).
The good - first act is his childhood, well acted by the small kid and sets the stage for his issues with lightening, general labor and corruption issues in Indonesia, etc. Second act we bring in the villains, primarily Pengkor (kudos to the guy doing this role very well) as a mafia kingpin. The bad I won't knock too hard given this is comic book material, from Indonesia no less. But the third act involves Gundala (Clark Kent name is Sancaka) reluctantly embracing his powers and fighting for rightiousness and justice as Pengkor's plan to corrupt a generation is unleashed. Plot line is Pengkor poisoned the rice supply and all pregnant women will give birth to a generation without morals. Yes, I said 'no morals'. Gundala works with the good guys of gov't to quickly mass produce a vaccine for the pregnant women, only to discover Pengkor poisoned that as well...some get the shot before this is realized, which opens us up to future villains in this comic book universe. The ugly - third act has Gundala getting his butt kicked and some rando woman with a scarf zaps the bad guys and saves him, then disappears. We see her at the end in a cutaway scene that reveals she is Sri Asih, another super hero he teams with in the comics (and got her own movie in 2022...no, I won't watch that either). Also ugly - closing scenes show us another bad guy kingpin (not Pengkor) who returns a head to a long buried body and awakens an ancient evil being who will presumably be the arch enemy across future sequels. There is no explanation really given on this last minute addition of characters, other than this origin film is setting up future options.
Action scenes were minimal, but used the actors and were done in 1 take most times. CGI is ok, not over the top. Characters you got to know pretty well with Gundala and Pengkor and we get to understand and relate to their personalities, their drivers. The first tier of supporting cast aren't overly presented and do their part for the plot well enough. Overall story telling was decent for getting a new superhero to the screen and setting up sequel options based on villains. But the second half of the film gets a little hectic, exposing a ton of plot holes (I get it, it's a comic book, but some of these things are inexcusable). Then the random characters introduced at the end is irriating - necessary for sequels but do nothing for this film other than distract.
Final: 1.5/10. Kudos for being an Indonesian made film, and the fight scenes (very few, but decent) were on par. But overall, no, can't recommend this. I can only see this appealing to fans of Indonesian comics (I'm not one, don't know any).
IMDB: Indonesia's preeminent comic book superhero and his alter ego Sancaka enter the cinematic universe to battle the wicked Pengkor and his diabolical squad of orphan assassins.
TLB: Do not see this film. Staring at shadows on the wall will be more fulfilling. If you did NOT know ahead of time that this was an origin story, one for both our hero Gundala but also for the network of villains he has faced in Indonesian comic books for over 50 years...you would walk away thinking this was a mess (it was).
The good - first act is his childhood, well acted by the small kid and sets the stage for his issues with lightening, general labor and corruption issues in Indonesia, etc. Second act we bring in the villains, primarily Pengkor (kudos to the guy doing this role very well) as a mafia kingpin. The bad I won't knock too hard given this is comic book material, from Indonesia no less. But the third act involves Gundala (Clark Kent name is Sancaka) reluctantly embracing his powers and fighting for rightiousness and justice as Pengkor's plan to corrupt a generation is unleashed. Plot line is Pengkor poisoned the rice supply and all pregnant women will give birth to a generation without morals. Yes, I said 'no morals'. Gundala works with the good guys of gov't to quickly mass produce a vaccine for the pregnant women, only to discover Pengkor poisoned that as well...some get the shot before this is realized, which opens us up to future villains in this comic book universe. The ugly - third act has Gundala getting his butt kicked and some rando woman with a scarf zaps the bad guys and saves him, then disappears. We see her at the end in a cutaway scene that reveals she is Sri Asih, another super hero he teams with in the comics (and got her own movie in 2022...no, I won't watch that either). Also ugly - closing scenes show us another bad guy kingpin (not Pengkor) who returns a head to a long buried body and awakens an ancient evil being who will presumably be the arch enemy across future sequels. There is no explanation really given on this last minute addition of characters, other than this origin film is setting up future options.
Action scenes were minimal, but used the actors and were done in 1 take most times. CGI is ok, not over the top. Characters you got to know pretty well with Gundala and Pengkor and we get to understand and relate to their personalities, their drivers. The first tier of supporting cast aren't overly presented and do their part for the plot well enough. Overall story telling was decent for getting a new superhero to the screen and setting up sequel options based on villains. But the second half of the film gets a little hectic, exposing a ton of plot holes (I get it, it's a comic book, but some of these things are inexcusable). Then the random characters introduced at the end is irriating - necessary for sequels but do nothing for this film other than distract.
Final: 1.5/10. Kudos for being an Indonesian made film, and the fight scenes (very few, but decent) were on par. But overall, no, can't recommend this. I can only see this appealing to fans of Indonesian comics (I'm not one, don't know any).
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Dune: Part Two (2024) <Theater - IMAX>
IMDB: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.
TLB: Fist part was 2.5h and I said it moved slow at times but didn't really drag. This one was 2.75h, also kinda slow without dragging. However, I was warned ahead of time that the first part was setting up the foundation, and he second was trying like hell to pack a massive amount in...so maybe it might go to fast thru some things or start feeling a bit in a blender. Yes, a lot happened, but it dodn't feel too fast or choppy - long but kept you with it, staying on pace and on track.
From the first part: House Harkonnen was pulled off managing the spice planet by the emporer and House Atreides was put in place - not as a gift/reward, but to set them up to be slaughtered (Emporer felt they were getting too much sway politically). Part one closed with the (nearly) entire House Atreides wiped out and Harkonnens coming back in with some backup by the emporer. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), son of the slain duke, escapes to the spice planet natives (Fermen) with his mother (part of the Bene Gesserit sect who serve as advisors throughout the empire, while guiding their own agenda of controlling the house heads). Paul was being rumored by the Fremen as their possible messiah, his mother is pushing him to be THE prophecized being of their sect, and he resists both wanting to just be a fighter among the Fremen.
Part two he emerges, accepting his role in the universe and taking the mantle of messiah for the Fremen. Part two is his coming to terms with this and what it means, his initial love with a Fremen native (Zendaya) and eventually having to drop her due to political reasons as he takes on his fated role. We have the big fight between Fremen and Harkonnen, and call the emporer down to the surface (nice cameo by Christopher Walken, but man is he getting/looking oooollllld). Film concludes with Paul taking the emporers position, but all the other houses don't accept it so we close with the Fremen leaving the planet to set those other houses straight on who is the boss. Or, in other words, the opening book is finished and there are others in the printed series lined up to be made into movies - not sure if this film making group will do so, the 1984 attempt did not follow up.
Overall, very good cast with lots of new characters brought into Part two (and a few older ones resurface). Chalamet was perfect for the role, able to carry the young duke's son as he transitions into a man, and ultimately a leader. Good writing of interplay with various subplots (Fremen with thier messiah complex, Bene Gesserit with their prophecy and internal power struggles, and of course some fuedal blood line issues), but the main story of Paul's ascendency remains always front and center and is executed well throughout. My only complaint would be a bit of the blood line issues tangling things up in the end, but I suppose that is setting up sequels. Mostly though, I am pleased with the overall delivery after enjoying part one so much - the magestic vistas, the story telling, the characters you actually care about, etc. All kept on mark.
Final: 8.0/10. While the first one intended to 'wow' the audience, the second was definitely deeper and in doing so it was a little bumpy. Both could have been shorter, but the length doesn't kill you like other films would.
IMDB: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.
TLB: Fist part was 2.5h and I said it moved slow at times but didn't really drag. This one was 2.75h, also kinda slow without dragging. However, I was warned ahead of time that the first part was setting up the foundation, and he second was trying like hell to pack a massive amount in...so maybe it might go to fast thru some things or start feeling a bit in a blender. Yes, a lot happened, but it dodn't feel too fast or choppy - long but kept you with it, staying on pace and on track.
From the first part: House Harkonnen was pulled off managing the spice planet by the emporer and House Atreides was put in place - not as a gift/reward, but to set them up to be slaughtered (Emporer felt they were getting too much sway politically). Part one closed with the (nearly) entire House Atreides wiped out and Harkonnens coming back in with some backup by the emporer. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), son of the slain duke, escapes to the spice planet natives (Fermen) with his mother (part of the Bene Gesserit sect who serve as advisors throughout the empire, while guiding their own agenda of controlling the house heads). Paul was being rumored by the Fremen as their possible messiah, his mother is pushing him to be THE prophecized being of their sect, and he resists both wanting to just be a fighter among the Fremen.
Part two he emerges, accepting his role in the universe and taking the mantle of messiah for the Fremen. Part two is his coming to terms with this and what it means, his initial love with a Fremen native (Zendaya) and eventually having to drop her due to political reasons as he takes on his fated role. We have the big fight between Fremen and Harkonnen, and call the emporer down to the surface (nice cameo by Christopher Walken, but man is he getting/looking oooollllld). Film concludes with Paul taking the emporers position, but all the other houses don't accept it so we close with the Fremen leaving the planet to set those other houses straight on who is the boss. Or, in other words, the opening book is finished and there are others in the printed series lined up to be made into movies - not sure if this film making group will do so, the 1984 attempt did not follow up.
Overall, very good cast with lots of new characters brought into Part two (and a few older ones resurface). Chalamet was perfect for the role, able to carry the young duke's son as he transitions into a man, and ultimately a leader. Good writing of interplay with various subplots (Fremen with thier messiah complex, Bene Gesserit with their prophecy and internal power struggles, and of course some fuedal blood line issues), but the main story of Paul's ascendency remains always front and center and is executed well throughout. My only complaint would be a bit of the blood line issues tangling things up in the end, but I suppose that is setting up sequels. Mostly though, I am pleased with the overall delivery after enjoying part one so much - the magestic vistas, the story telling, the characters you actually care about, etc. All kept on mark.
Final: 8.0/10. While the first one intended to 'wow' the audience, the second was definitely deeper and in doing so it was a little bumpy. Both could have been shorter, but the length doesn't kill you like other films would.
- Jul 15, 2014
- 28,778
- 47,915
- Jul 23, 2014
- 11,956
- 27,418
The granddaughter is getting a little older and we can now almost sit through an entire movie- so…
We watched two surprisingly good movies-
Inside Out (I believe the sequel comes out this summer) - very funny, especially if you have a daughter.
And believe it or not- the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2023 version) was actually very good as well.
We watched two surprisingly good movies-
Inside Out (I believe the sequel comes out this summer) - very funny, especially if you have a daughter.
And believe it or not- the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2023 version) was actually very good as well.
- Jun 12, 2014
- 16,358
- 14,824
Founding Member
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 2023 was a lot better than I expected. But having that 90's music and feel helped out a lot.
- Jul 23, 2014
- 11,956
- 27,418
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2023) <Netflix>
I am rage. I watched all of the second part (2h) and was so overwhelmed by Samurai 7 inference I paused, looked up more about the origins of Samurai 7 (and how it was adapted for Magnificent 7 western), then downloaded a 'background and references' for the original Samurai 7 and watched THAT before returning to finish this Part 2.
Both my kids walked thru independently and asked if I was watching part of the Star Wars franchise. It isn't. However, it is a Star Wars version of Magnificent 7 western on a strange planet. I am sick with the villain, the 2 main leads, and all the supporting group. If you liked the first, maybe you can handle the second - I did it because I have to finish things, and all it did was make me angrier and angrier.
Final: 2.5/10 Not the worst thing ever, but my Lord I am praying there isn't a part 3 (though they set up for one). I just can't take another one.
I am rage. I watched all of the second part (2h) and was so overwhelmed by Samurai 7 inference I paused, looked up more about the origins of Samurai 7 (and how it was adapted for Magnificent 7 western), then downloaded a 'background and references' for the original Samurai 7 and watched THAT before returning to finish this Part 2.
Both my kids walked thru independently and asked if I was watching part of the Star Wars franchise. It isn't. However, it is a Star Wars version of Magnificent 7 western on a strange planet. I am sick with the villain, the 2 main leads, and all the supporting group. If you liked the first, maybe you can handle the second - I did it because I have to finish things, and all it did was make me angrier and angrier.
Final: 2.5/10 Not the worst thing ever, but my Lord I am praying there isn't a part 3 (though they set up for one). I just can't take another one.
- Aug 11, 2015
- 8,387
- 16,138
- Aug 11, 2015
- 8,387
- 16,138
BritBox Gems:
Shetland - Really good cop show set on the Shetland Islands north of the Scottish mainland. The scenery and feel of that isolated yet charming place give it a special flavor. Makes me want to go there. 8 of 10
Line of Duty - Cops investigating cops. 8 of 10
A Confession - Excellent true story that hones In on the “caution” - the UK version f Miranda rights. 8 of 10
Little Boy Blue - True story also about tracking down the killer and accessories to the shooting death of an 11-year-old. 8 of 10
Shetland - Really good cop show set on the Shetland Islands north of the Scottish mainland. The scenery and feel of that isolated yet charming place give it a special flavor. Makes me want to go there. 8 of 10
Line of Duty - Cops investigating cops. 8 of 10
A Confession - Excellent true story that hones In on the “caution” - the UK version f Miranda rights. 8 of 10
Little Boy Blue - True story also about tracking down the killer and accessories to the shooting death of an 11-year-old. 8 of 10
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Psychokenises (2018) <Netflix>
IDMB: After drinking water from a mountain spring, a bank security guard gains telekinetic superpowers, which he must use to save his estranged daughter from an evil construction company, as a superhero.
TLB: Korean film, guy drinks water that has been polluted by chemicals. Guy gains telekinetic powers. Guy has been a bank guard living a nobody existence for years. Returns to his daughter to try and help her when his estranged wife dies. Guy uses powers to fight mafia/union on behalf of daughter and poor citizens.
Special effects decent. Plot is tired, characters bland.
Final: 3/10 not horrible?
Short review, no imdb or links - travel to china for 2 weeks, typing on phone in airport. Expect more reviews soon.
EDIT - added imdb & link because OCD. Ain't much to add to what I wrote. Yay 8h layover!
IDMB: After drinking water from a mountain spring, a bank security guard gains telekinetic superpowers, which he must use to save his estranged daughter from an evil construction company, as a superhero.
TLB: Korean film, guy drinks water that has been polluted by chemicals. Guy gains telekinetic powers. Guy has been a bank guard living a nobody existence for years. Returns to his daughter to try and help her when his estranged wife dies. Guy uses powers to fight mafia/union on behalf of daughter and poor citizens.
Special effects decent. Plot is tired, characters bland.
Final: 3/10 not horrible?
Short review, no imdb or links - travel to china for 2 weeks, typing on phone in airport. Expect more reviews soon.
EDIT - added imdb & link because OCD. Ain't much to add to what I wrote. Yay 8h layover!
Last edited:
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Infinite (2021) <Netflix>
IMDB: A man discovers that his hallucinations are actually visions from past lives.
TLB: Marky Mark is a schizophrenic struggling loner with realistic dreams/memories of places and eras he has never been. We open with him forging a sword to sell to a drug dealer in return for psych meds (can't go to docs, been too many times). Deal goes bad, he is arrested, and two parties start pursuing him. He is rescued by the 'Believers', half of the small population of earth that when reincarnated they regain all their past knowledge (hence Wahlberg's mis-diagnosed schizophrenia) to carry forward. Believers think their purpose is to improve the human condition. They have no real leader per se. Opposite them are the 'Nihlists' led by Bathurst (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and they simply want it all to end - no more life on earth, so they can finally stop living these lives. Bathurst developed a device (the 'egg') that can destroy the world, and in the most recent lives Treadwell (Wahlberg) stole it and hid it somewhere. Now in this life, both sides want to get to the current version of Treadwell in hopes he can regain his memory and tell them where it is hidden.
Some cool effects (driving a mustang that can swap the driver from left to right side; a closing fight sequence involving walking on plane wings (good) and fighting over a falling object afterward (hokey). Premise of reincarnation is the lever for this one, but there are some logic holes we can skip over along the way. All in all, decent action film with enough fiction to keep it moving.
Final: 7.5/10 Not a MUST SEE, but a good watch.
IMDB: A man discovers that his hallucinations are actually visions from past lives.
TLB: Marky Mark is a schizophrenic struggling loner with realistic dreams/memories of places and eras he has never been. We open with him forging a sword to sell to a drug dealer in return for psych meds (can't go to docs, been too many times). Deal goes bad, he is arrested, and two parties start pursuing him. He is rescued by the 'Believers', half of the small population of earth that when reincarnated they regain all their past knowledge (hence Wahlberg's mis-diagnosed schizophrenia) to carry forward. Believers think their purpose is to improve the human condition. They have no real leader per se. Opposite them are the 'Nihlists' led by Bathurst (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and they simply want it all to end - no more life on earth, so they can finally stop living these lives. Bathurst developed a device (the 'egg') that can destroy the world, and in the most recent lives Treadwell (Wahlberg) stole it and hid it somewhere. Now in this life, both sides want to get to the current version of Treadwell in hopes he can regain his memory and tell them where it is hidden.
Some cool effects (driving a mustang that can swap the driver from left to right side; a closing fight sequence involving walking on plane wings (good) and fighting over a falling object afterward (hokey). Premise of reincarnation is the lever for this one, but there are some logic holes we can skip over along the way. All in all, decent action film with enough fiction to keep it moving.
Final: 7.5/10 Not a MUST SEE, but a good watch.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Shake Rattle & Roll Extreme (2023) <Netflix>
IMDB: Glitch: The daughter was watching a popular kids' show in the 70's until it came to life. Mukbang: A group of influencers visited a mansion when two of them became monsters. Rage: Everyone watches the meteor shower until a virus spreads.
TLB: Fark me. Ok, so I went to download what was billed as a horror anthology. What I didn't know at the time was that it is a Filipino franchise. In looking up the IMDB link I found they have over 15 releases dating back to the mid 80's.
3 parts:
Despite attractive casting, you never see more than shoulders or feet in a shower. Audio was 30% in English, 5% in Spanish, and the rest in Filipino (get subs, they help!). Only saving factor is the middle story, and not even for horror. Overall horror was still 80's quality, just in higher def.
Final: 3.5/10, would have been 1/10 if it weren't for the humor of Mukbang.
IMDB: Glitch: The daughter was watching a popular kids' show in the 70's until it came to life. Mukbang: A group of influencers visited a mansion when two of them became monsters. Rage: Everyone watches the meteor shower until a virus spreads.
TLB: Fark me. Ok, so I went to download what was billed as a horror anthology. What I didn't know at the time was that it is a Filipino franchise. In looking up the IMDB link I found they have over 15 releases dating back to the mid 80's.
3 parts:
- Glitch: I thought it was just the opening 10min set about a mom yelling at a missing baby daddy and asking the baby (12yo girl?) to go back and watch tv or something, then the daughter goes full exorcist on throwing the momma about the house somehow. No, Glitch includes the subsequent 30 min in Manila where a mom, her teen son, her (12yo) daughter, and their nanny are living. Daughter likes watching a kids show about Gary the Goat and being a general terrorizing brat. Mom is MILFY, teen son has a semi-hot girlfriend, similar to the opening segment in that kid is not getting attention and retreats to Gary for comfort, even singing his song about how Gary is my friend and needs to come be with me to the end. Spoiler - Gary shows up, and he is Baal, kills the dog, the nanny, the gf, and I think the son. This segment has no redeeming value.
- Mukbang: One more crappy premise used, we have a group gather at a house and the host is raising demons who take over the guests. This aspect is mostly yawn....however, I have to give this segment credit for carrying the film. The guests are all social media influencers, and the casting was spot on, the acting was spot on, and the writing took this up a notch. Not to Airplane level, but it did have steady humor throughout - either at the characters, their situations, or their reactions. This was a good bit of FUN in a loooong asssssed flight across the continent.
- Rage: Meteor shower = Zombie Apocalypse. Skip it.
Despite attractive casting, you never see more than shoulders or feet in a shower. Audio was 30% in English, 5% in Spanish, and the rest in Filipino (get subs, they help!). Only saving factor is the middle story, and not even for horror. Overall horror was still 80's quality, just in higher def.
Final: 3.5/10, would have been 1/10 if it weren't for the humor of Mukbang.
Last edited:
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) <Netflix>
IMDB: A Philadelphia police officer struggles with a lifelong obsession to track down a mysterious serial killer whose crimes defy explanation.
TLB: Seems I already watched this back in January. I recognized I'd seen it but didn't recall what I thought of it...opinion hasn't changed.
Final: 6.5/10, again.
IMDB: A Philadelphia police officer struggles with a lifelong obsession to track down a mysterious serial killer whose crimes defy explanation.
TLB: Seems I already watched this back in January. I recognized I'd seen it but didn't recall what I thought of it...opinion hasn't changed.
Final: 6.5/10, again.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,433
- 27,141
Fistful of Vengeance (2022) <Netflix>
IMDB: Kai Jin, a young Chinatown chef in present day San Francisco, becomes entangled with the Chinese Triad's pursuit of deadly ancient powers known as the "Wu Xing. <<< No, I didn't leave off the closing quote mark, they did. And forget about 'Chinatown Chef in present day San Fran' as it is wholly irrelevant. Hell, I didn't even know it was a thing.
TLB: Kai (Iko Uwais) is one of 3 tight friends. For those unfamiliar, he is the current top martial arts film maker of the Filipino film industry. The other two characters are Lu xin (Lewis Tan, another well built fighter) and Tommy (Lawrence Kao, the non-comic relief for the two fighters). Trio sets off to find the killers of Tommy's sister, presumably people seeking some ancient power. Kai has somehow inherited the spirit of the Wu Assassin (they remind us of this frequently), and it turns out our villains are a male and female duo (ying-yang) of an ancient warrior spirit who was imprisoned when the ancient Wu Assassin killed him and split some charm in half (Tommy's sister had half the charm, now in Tommy's hands). They are joined in their quest by a few chicks, and the bad guys have a kinda hot chick assassin on their side as well.
Lots of fight scenes. Some interesting camera work (ie, drone(?) flying between a car chase in a parking garage vs fist fight on a nearby rooftop). Kinda weak plot and crap writing (what did you expect? It is a FIGHT film). The story DOES try to make it more than just a fight film...but doesn't succeed much.
Final: 5/10, there have been better fight films. See one of those.
IMDB: Kai Jin, a young Chinatown chef in present day San Francisco, becomes entangled with the Chinese Triad's pursuit of deadly ancient powers known as the "Wu Xing. <<< No, I didn't leave off the closing quote mark, they did. And forget about 'Chinatown Chef in present day San Fran' as it is wholly irrelevant. Hell, I didn't even know it was a thing.
TLB: Kai (Iko Uwais) is one of 3 tight friends. For those unfamiliar, he is the current top martial arts film maker of the Filipino film industry. The other two characters are Lu xin (Lewis Tan, another well built fighter) and Tommy (Lawrence Kao, the non-comic relief for the two fighters). Trio sets off to find the killers of Tommy's sister, presumably people seeking some ancient power. Kai has somehow inherited the spirit of the Wu Assassin (they remind us of this frequently), and it turns out our villains are a male and female duo (ying-yang) of an ancient warrior spirit who was imprisoned when the ancient Wu Assassin killed him and split some charm in half (Tommy's sister had half the charm, now in Tommy's hands). They are joined in their quest by a few chicks, and the bad guys have a kinda hot chick assassin on their side as well.
Lots of fight scenes. Some interesting camera work (ie, drone(?) flying between a car chase in a parking garage vs fist fight on a nearby rooftop). Kinda weak plot and crap writing (what did you expect? It is a FIGHT film). The story DOES try to make it more than just a fight film...but doesn't succeed much.
Final: 5/10, there have been better fight films. See one of those.
