Genre: Action
Director: Dwight H. Little
Cast: Jon Foo, Luke Goss, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Chiaki Kuriyama, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Gary Daniels, Cung Le, Nathan Jones
RunTime: 1 hr 33 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: NC-16 (Violence)
Official Website: http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/tekken/

Opening Day: 29 July 2010

Synopsis:

TEKKEN is set in a world that has given rise to a new civilization run not by governments, but rather six, all powerful corporations.

JIN infiltrates the great walls of TEKKEN by winning the coveted wildcard position in the Iron Fist Tournament - the most important event of the year. One fighter represents each of the ruling Corporations and the winner of the tournament affords its sponsoring corporation the distinction as the most powerful in the world. JIN and the other fighters are set to battle each other in the most incredible, groundbreaking fighting ever seen on screen. The fighters soon realize, however, they are merely pawns in a bigger game. KAZUYA, MISHIMA?s son, desperately wants to overthrow his father and take control of TEKKEN. KAZUYA plans to make the tournament a ?To The Death? bloodbath, designed to kill JIN, who he has discovered is his illegitimate son and who threatens his birthright of inheriting TEKKEN CORP. The contestants decide to fight their way out creating a battle for the ages.

Thirsty for power, KAZUYA has his father arrested and imprisoned. But as JIN discovers the truth about his Grandfather, he and the other fighters find and rescue MISHIMA. As the group makes it?s daring escape, they are found by KAZUYA and his deadly Jacks. In an impossible situation and about to be killed by KAZUYA, JIN turns the tables on him. Although JIN spares his life, it is clear that KAZUYA is finished and JIN becomes the new leader of Tekken, determined to turn it in to a force of good in the world.

Movie Review:

Tekken, a popular game turn movie at the hands of unknown TV director, Dwight Little was definitely a cue of what was to come. Besides directing a handful of TV series and films like Free Willy 2 and Mark For Death, i wasn’t feeling good about it.

With the baring overcast from the fans of the sub-culture, its a daunting task to take upon and not screw it up. It might have been an easy task for me to appreciate, coming from a non-fan point of view and treat it as a pure mindless fighting flick. I was even putting up a frame of mind, thinking of how i enjoyed all those B-grade movies back in the 80’s and was watching such a nostalgic set-up. But somehow, at the back of my mind, i knew i was going to witness a car-crash and had no way to stop it.

Unfortunately, predictions do come true and i hope the fans go easy on them for the travesty and disservice created.

The problem of such genre is that, there are too many characters introduced in such a short time. It only viable if it’s made into a mini-series to fully pledge such a layouts. And with a working plot of a revenge seeking son, taking part a tournament which his mother’s murderer will be in, with the help of his able grandfather get even, would clearly view such a world as flat as a pancake.

But as with all feature film, I'll have to give credit to where it’s due. You have to admit that Jon Foo makes a convincing Jin Kazama (and could break well into the Hollywood mold given the right opportunity) and Ian Anthony Dale looks sinister enough to act as Kazuya Mishima. Costumes were carbon copy and very much appriceated. Action is top notch and definitely lifts it above the usual video game movie fare but unfortunately, a poorly-written story sheds every shred of known plot existence that had built up from the game era. Many plots were dumbed down and new one introduced with no proper build-up or even sustaining it. Stiff acting just added the salt to the would.

The only positive takeaway from this film is the number of people that are definitely going to watch the film..just to criticise the hell out of it when they’re done. If you are a fan of the video game, please advise to watch with low expectations.

Movie Rating:



Review by Lokman B S

(Game over. Next player please.)