Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009)

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009)
Starring: Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

The origin story of the characters from Capcom’s popular Street Fighter video game is detailed in The Legend of Chun-Li, a live-action martial arts thriller from Doom helmer Andrzej Bartkowiak. Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk gives a spirited turn in the title role, a concert pianist turned global crime fighter who cracks her share of heads while in pursuit of the mobsters who have kidnapped her father. Neal McDonough and Michael Clarke Duncan glower effectively as Bison, the nefarious mastermind behind the abduction, and his henchman, Balrog, respectively. The film’s offbeat cast, which includes Chris Klein and Moon Bloodgood as detectives, Black Eyed Peas singer Taboo as the claw-wielding Vega, and Hong Kong stars Pei-pei Cheng, Josie Ho and Edmund Chen in supporting roles, is the most inspired element of the film, which relies too often on well-worn action and kung fu movie clichés to fill out moments between fight sequences; the film’s target audience--fans of the game--may find this less engaging than younger, less discerning moviegoers with a yen for any flavor of punch-up. --Paul Gaita

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