Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)

Just what I expected

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I heard a lot of bad reviews but I honestly think that this movie doesn't deserve it. Chun-Li was always my favourite character and to see a film just of her was so entertaining. I watched it when it first came out and I'm watching it again. It's better now. And Vega and Chun-Li always had bad blood. It's fun to watch them fight.

This terrible movie makes Van Damme movie look like a masterpiece in comparison. The movie makers were promising a more mature picture that will change the fate of movies based on computer games forever. Promises , promises… The movie seems to follow "Batman begins". The story about Chun Li reminds me quite a lot of Wayne's story – similar motivation , traveling around the world , finding a teacher from secret society , becoming an urban legend. The inspiration is good , but it's badly made.The movie wants to be realistic , yet the fights defy the laws of gravity and there are magical powers too. The Dark knight trilogy had more or less far fetched science fiction gadgets , but bringing a magic into movie is a completely different thing. I mean seriously it just looks stupid and laughable when other characters seem to treat it as something natural . Either the movie makers should make a movie in fantastical world (like Van Damme's movie) where magic would be natural or set the movie in real world and don't use it . You can't have both the realistic world and magic . Same goes for the over the top fights . The lack of gravity in "Matrix" makes sense , here it doesn't.The acting is awful . The only good actor here is Michael Clarke Duncan (RIP) , but even he is limited by terrible dialogue lines. It's sad to see him in another crappy movie. I guess it was really hard for him to find a good role worthy his talent considering his physical appearance. Kristin Kreuk who plays the main role is pretty and actually OK . She puts a heart in her performance , but she can't save this big mess. Other actors and actresses should never do anything related to movie making.I doubt that fans of computer game will be satisfied with this movie as adaptation . With the exception of Chun Li other characters who appear here barely resemble the characters from the game. Especially Vega who was supposed to be bad ass , yet ends pathetic. I understand the need for changes , but in the end Van Damme's movie has much more cheesy charm and reminds the game better. It also doesn't take itself too seriously like "Chun Li movie" .Bad acting , dialogue , badly written screenplay , many scenes who were supposed to be awesome are laughable (the seduction of Bison's assistant , soul into child , escape from torture and many more) , dumb fights , weak special effects. Jesus ,seriously better watch Van Damme's movie . At least is unpretentious and funny.I give it 1/10.

With the title "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li", you know in advance that this is not going to be an Oscar contender. However, regardless of Academy Award potential (in this case none), a movie needs a good story, good acting, decent effects, etc., nothing of which was present in this horrible feature. The story lacked cohesiveness and jumped around without direction. The actors' performances were extremely wooden; most of the time, they seemed to just shuffle from one scene to another. Cinematically, instead of having a big screen feel, the framing appeared more like the film was shot for TV. Fight scenes were badly staged and choreographed - in this day and age of special effects, actors don't need to know how to fight to look like they know how to fight.In summary, I cannot think of anything redeeming about this movie. If you really want to see a "Street Fighter" movie, watch the 1994 "Street Fighter" movie. That one is pretty bad as well but at least you'll have a few laughs while you suffer though it.

Plot Summary: Kristen Kreuk lends tired clichés to a montage depicting her childhood relationship with her father. Suddenly Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan) bursts through the kitchen window, catches a can of frozen OJ that has been kicked at him, laughs maniacally and starts a fight with Chun-Li's (Kreuk's) father. Kung-fu ensues, and Bison reveals that he moves so quickly gusts of wind herald his arrival. Bison and Balrog kidnap Chun-Li's father. Fast forward: wealthy Juliard grad and concert pianist Chun-Li decides that some old lady's translation of a vague ancient scroll she received in the mail is a convincing argument for her to abscond to Bangkok to live on the street while she searches for some guy named Gen. Eventually Gen becomes her master, we discover her father is still alive and the financial backbone of Bison's criminal organization, the most unlikely interpol agent you ever could cast (Klein) is bumping rap music while maintaining a healthy sexual interest in a Thai detective (Bloodgood) and doing no useful police work, Chun-Li lures a lesbian to a bathroom to beat information out of her, Vega appears briefly, and the diabolical plot of Bison to tear down the slums of Bangkok and develop townhouses is revealed. Two Hadouken-like energy blobs are fired off in total.Good: Kreuk surprisingly, hearing her say "these streets" in a wistful tone particularly satisfying in a bad>good way. Some decent kung-fu, hilariously awful four man gun-circle around Kreuk which she dispatches handily by break dancing, Klein being a total weirdo, Klein noticing the most obviously placed bomb/wireless-router with an L.E.D glued onto the front ever and jumping out of the buildings as it explodes. Lots of heartless death. Kreuk/Lesbian hench-woman share strange courting ritual that resembles bad dancing.Bad: It's all bad in some respect.Ugly: Use of screen-time, involvement of police, bad guy's endgame, casting in general (not Kreuk), lack of commitment to either realism or "powers" of street fighters: instead movie treads awkward middle ground, Bison's backstory, Vega's character, the Hadouken-like energy ball thingy, cops losing a tail due to imposed make-out/cover-up of surveillance by Klein, Bison manipulates well-connected businessmen and crime bosses like they are twelve and openly confronts police forces with armed security forces bearing the logo of his company. In short the plot.Strangely watchable if you can remain un-phased by all the terrible things that make this a terrible movie in order to appreciate kreuk kicking ass and Klein sucking it in their respective roles.