Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (20th Century Fox)
Lana Lang Kicks Butt
Kristin Kreuk made a name for herself by playing Lana Lang in the TV series Smallville. Now she has moved to the big screen and is the star of the new film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. She has the title role and she is a street fighter who can take care of herself and even beat up the bad guys. The movie isnt much but her performance is enjoyable to watch.
Chun-Li (Kreuk) is the daughter of a business man. One day he is abducted by a man named Bison (Neal McDonough) and his main henchman Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan). Chun-Li doesnt know if he is dead or alive. Years later after her mother dies Chun-Li decides to get revenge for her father.
She is helped in this quest by a group who all have a web tattooed on their hands. Gen (Robin Shou) is the head of the order of the web. He promises to help Chun-Li in her pursuit of Bison.
Also on Bisons trail are Interpol Agent Charlie Nash (Chris Klein) and Police Detective Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood). They have kind of a love/hate thing going on and it livens up the movie.
Kreuk is good as Chun-Li. She acts the part convincingly and even has the physical requirements down pat. You never doubt that every physical feat she accomplishes is plausible. At the other end of the spectrum, Klein is laughable as Nash. He speaks his lines like he has the lead in a comedy and is playing a caricature of the villain. He even rolls his eyes and sneers.
McDonough plays the actual villain in the piece and he is completely convincing. With his cold blue eyes and shocking mass of white hair he is a presence in the film. You can believe that every intent he has is a bad one.
The movie is rated PG-13 for violence and profanity.
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li is based on a video game and you can see the relationship between the fighting in the movie and the fighting the game would involve. The movie should spark even more interest in the game.
The film comes across as a movie that many will want to watch on DVD. It is fun and enjoyable but not worth the price of a ticket for admission. Better to rent it when you and your friends can all watch it together and save a few bucks.
I scored Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li a gamey 5 out of 10.
