The King of Fighters is yet another entry in the loathed video game to theater camp. While I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as something like Super Mario Bros. or anything Uwe Boll has touched, it’s certainly not a very good movie either. Getting away from how they translated the game, which I couldn’t care less about seeing I’ve never even played it, the martial arts elements are nothing special and the acting, especially on the part of Ray Park, was atrocious.
The King of Fighters (2010)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Action, Martial Arts, Fantasy
Well Go USA | NR – 93 min. – $39.98 | July 26, 2011
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Gordon Chan
Writer(s): Rita Augustine and Chris Chow (story), Rita Augustine and Matthew Ryan Fischer (screenplay)
Cast: Maggie Q, Sean Farris, Ray Park, David Leitch, Will Yun Lee
DISC INFO:
Features: Theatrical Trailer
Number of Discs: 1
Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Video: 1080p/Widescreen 2.40
Subtitles: English SDH
Region(s): NA
THE MOVIE – 4/5
Having reviewed a couple video game to feature film adaptations, I’m seeing a trend where they take some 1 on 1 fighting game and try to build some thin story around it to make it coherent and feature-length. While I didn’t have a big problem with Tekken, I can say that neither Dragonball Evolution nor Street Fighter: The Legend of Chu-Li were very good films at all. Between them, you have bad acting, poor direction and stories that were clichéd and, when it comes right down to it, inane and/or boring.
The story, if you can call it that, involves a woman named Mai (MAGGIE Q) who is dating Iori (WILL YUN LEE) who is the head of one of three clans. Mai is just one of many fighters who can be transported into another dimension where they challenge one another in a spirited fight using what looks like a Bluetooth device. In the real world, Iori is hosting a showing of some high value relics from each of the clans that, once put together, can transport one to the other dimension and become quite powerful… I guess. In any case, for whatever reason these valuable pieces are not heavily guarded nor have some kind of security device surrounding them.
The villain of our story, Rugal (RAY PARK) takes advantage and uses them as a first step to becoming… THE KIND OF FIGHTERS! But before he can do so, we discover that one of the items, a sword from the Kusangi clan, was a fake and thus Rugal cannot seal the deal as it were. Through some confusing plot devices, or just plain don’t give a rat’s ass syndrome, they must find the surviving Kusangi member in order to get the real sword, but unfortunately this man is in a catatonic state, though soon enough it’s discovered he has a son named Kyo (SEAN FARIS who must’ve been cast by the same people in charge of casting Legend of Chu-Li). At first he’s very reluctant to help because, for one, he doesn’t believe in other dimensions and also Iori knows something about his father which we don’t find out until the inevitable revelation towards the end.
In any case, Kyo eventually helps out by giving the sword which is the only way Rugal can be beaten. Rugal in the meantime has recruited, via some kind of mind control, two hot chicks to fight his fights for him. So, Mai, Kyo and others I don’t care to name go in and out of this other dimension with urgency because as Rugal gains more power, because he’s taking down (killing) other fighters, the two dimensions of that world and ours will collide and all hell will break loose.
The King of Fighters isn’t a terrible film by any stretch, but it is the poster child of mediocrity. The martial arts fights, while blocked well to make for believable impacts, are nothing new as it’s all been done before in countless other similar films. Director Gordon Chan doesn’t break new ground whatsoever between the fight scenes and the actual look of the film. See, it seems whenever a director needs to make a film look “different” from the others, he or she will merely tilt the camera and boy does Chan do this often where literally 95% of the shots are at an angle.
As far as the cast goes, I feel somewhat sorry for Maggie Q and, in part, for Ray Park. First, in regards to Park, he’s not a good actor… at all. Yes, as a stuntman he’s one of the best and I assume he took on this part as he’s able to show off his flexibility and acting ability but man the lines he delivers and how he delivers them is stunningly awful. Now, as for Maggie Q, she comes out better than the rest being able to deliver (and take) believable punches as well as keep a straight face while trying to convey such a ridiculous story.
The film was directed, as I mentioned before, by Gordon Chan who previously helmed the bland Medallion starring Jackie Chan. The story was written by Rita Augustine (debut) and Chris Chow (Fearless, Blood: The Last Vampire) with screenplay being credited for Augustine and Matthew Ryan Fischer (debut). I’ll commend these guys and gal for at least attempting to put together a story but for all the problems Tekken might’ve had, I’m a firm believer in simpler is better.
I’ve mentioned this in many other reviews, but I’m not a gamer so I have no loyalties to any of the video game adaptations be it Tekken, Street Fighter or now The King of Fighters, but whether you are a loyal fan of the series or never even heard of it, either way it’s just not a very good film. Maggie Q comes out clean I suppose but the dialogue these actors have to deliver is atrocious as is the acting ability of Ray Park.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0.5/5
The disc only includes the theatrical trailer. There’s also a second disc containing the DVD Copy.
VIDEO – 4.25/5
The King of Fighters flip kicks its way onto Blu-ray with a sharp looking 1080p high-def transfer. The widescreen, 2.40 aspect ratio, presentation looks great with fine looking detail levels where you can see every pore and thread especially in close-ups and even background elements look good.
AUDIO – 3.75/5
The Blu-ray receives a common DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and mostly sounds good, but nothing more than that. There’s depth and clarity with each punch, kick and grunt and the score also sounds clean as well. That being said, I wasn’t overly enamored with the track as it doesn’t really stand out. The center speaker was primarily used for the dialogue, for which there’s plenty for the exposition while the front and rear channels get used ambient noises, though it is a little soft.
OVERALL – 2.0/5
Overall, The King of Fighters is yet another entry in the loathed video game to theater camp. While I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as something like Super Mario Bros. or anything Uwe Boll has touched, it’s certainly not a very good movie either. Getting away from how they translated the game, which I couldn’t care less about seeing I’ve never even played it, the martial arts elements are nothing special and the acting, especially on the part of Ray Park, was atrocious. Skip this one at all costs.
Brian Oliver, The Movieman
Published: 08/04/2011
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2.