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Saw It--It's Incredible--Ask Away..Best DTV ever?

posted 11 years ago by Ivan_Drago21
46 replies | jump to latest

Saw Ninja Shadow of a Tear last night at a Festival in Austin, Texas. I missed the premiere that had Adkins in attendance, but Florentine was in attendance.

If you have missed it, the film is getting amazing reviews (google).

I consider myself a DTV action expert, and this was amazing. It was probably the best of all-time (I need to see it once more to make that claim).

Incredible action, no shaky cam, no quick edits, beautiful framed, very little use of slo-mo, amazing choreography, etc...

Movie didn't look cheap and Adkins kills it like usual.

One particular fight in the dojo with Adkins against 6 dudes was filmed in a single take and it was one of the best fights I have seen on film.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

For reference, this is Florentine's best work (both Undisputeds are great) and it is on par or better than Unisol Regen. Only other dtv in the conversation is the excellent Blood and Bone.

[–] afnakfanfnskejfnsfsn 11 years ago

I'd like to say that this is one of the best movie last year. The choreography of the fight scenes are just amazing that I can't even take my eyes off the tv monitor. I can really tell that all the actors have done their best and it's evident on the screen.

EDIT: Well call me evil but I was really expected him to kill the taxi driver and the torture doctor too. Shame it did not happen :(

[–] Crematory 11 years ago

I saw both parts. I knew that the firstone had bad reviews but I've decidedto see it anyway because of Scott. It was not that bad 5.5/10 in my rank. However the second part...amazing. Plot still sucked here or there but generally everythingwas better in this instance. 8/10 in my opinion :)

[–] thunderpants16 11 years ago

Ivandrago,..ok I appreciated your enthusiasm for this movie but either you're 100% honest or a very good planter.

Well never mind that it's a DTV,..how would you rate on its own? to me a movie is good regardless whether it made 400 million or 5 mil. How about this, can you list your top 5 martial arts/action films since 2000 to keep it simple. Like how would this movie stack up against something like Blood & Bone?

[–] Ivan_Drago21 11 years ago

Either I am a 100% honest or I am a very good planter? Not sure how that has any application as I made my disgust known for the first Ninja very clear and I also have thought Isaac has made some horrible movies.

On its own, it is a really good movie with obvious limitations from a budget standpoint. From a dtv perspective, it is a 10. I have seen every dtv of note and the only one I could possibly see someone making a coherent argument against Ninja II would be Universal Soldier Regeneration. I have cut my collection down from 700 movies to around 75 and both of the above are in my blu-ray collection. I wouldn't keep them if I didn't love them and believe in their replay value.

I liked Blood and Bone but it unfortunately doesn't age well. The biggest problem with Blood and Bone is if you rewatch it, at no point does Bone ever go through any turmoil or threat. He easily dispatches everyone and though it is cool the first time, it really diminishes it with further viewing. Whether it is Klitschko or Bones Jones or John McClane or Rocky Balboa, watching our hero steamroll the bad guys with not a scratch or threat is just not that fun.

The guy at the end of Blood and Bone is MJW's sparring partner in real life so there was no reason whatsoever (most likely budget) that they couldn't have inflicted more damage on each other. Or even during the montage at least have one guy put up a decent fight. Sapp and everyone else involved just got rolled.

MJW and Eamonn Walker are clearly two amazing actors and it is a shame that they couldn't have made Blood and Bone just a tad more realistic from a fight perspective as it could have been near flawless.

From 2000 on, most action movies are just awful due to shaky cam and quick editing and actors who are unable (or won't) take a bump. I have given up on the fight game being appropriately applied on screen so that is why I get so much enjoyment when a Ninja II or Unisol Regen are released. Guys bigger than 130 pounds doing amazing action choreography. Movies like the last two Fast and the Furious, last two Mission Impossibles, last two Star Treks, Craig Bonds, etc are all excellent action movies.

[–] Day_ImFivebyFive 10 years ago

I read your review. I'm just curious: why do you watch so many DTV action movies?

[–] Ivan_Drago21 10 years ago

I watch them because Hollywood (and most importantly Directors) no longer know how to or understand how to frame an effective action sequence.

So part of me hopes for and watches the highest regarded DTV action movies so I can at least get some sort of action fix.

[–] Day_ImFivebyFive 10 years ago

You really think you're gonna get better action from DTV directors than mainstream ones? What about movies like The Raid, Raid 2, John Wick, etc.? Those are amazing action wise, and I doubt you'd get better (let alone anywhere near that level) action from a DTV movie...

[–] Ivan_Drago21 10 years ago

Yes.

The Raids were a mess with fights that were too long and still involving 130 pounders. And the second one had terrible pacing.

Actually going to see John Wick tomorrow and am excited as everything I have heard is great action with little edits.

Unisol Regen, Ninja II, Undisputed 3 for example are better than anything Hollywood has done from an action standpoint.

[–] Day_ImFivebyFive 10 years ago

What?! The Raid (and Raid 2) had awesome action, what's wrong with you?! And we're talking about action, not pacing (though I do have to agree with you on the pacing of Raid 2, it wasn't the best)

I'm gonna have to check out Unisol, Ninja II, and Undisputed.

[–] Thenewnexus 10 years ago

"I'm gonna have to check out Unisol, Ninja II, and Undisputed."

You really should man especially the Undisputed Sequels,I actually agree with the Op that many of those theatrical action films are not that great,The Raid movies are great sure,John Wick was really good and the Expendables are fun,but I enjoy straight to dvd stuff more

You want tah fack wit me? You ah fACKING chioah boi compahed tu me ah chioah boi

[–] Thenewnexus 10 years ago

Amen Brother 

The best action is in the DTV stuff,there are few big budget action films I like but for the most part a lot of them are pretty bad,Movies like Ninja 2 or just about anything Scott Adkins is in are better than all those big budget movies
John Wick was a really good movie,but that one is one of the few good action movies in Hollywood,but I have seen DTV stuff that is way better

Have you seen the new Michael Jai White movie Falcon Rising? That is how action/martial arts movies should be made

You want tah fack wit me? You ah fACKING chioah boi compahed tu me ah chioah boi

[–] thirdeye55 10 years ago

Yeah I randomly nabbed this and the first one, watched 'em back to back with no expectations - and was pretty floored. The action is top-notch, and while the plotting and acting leave much to be desired, it WORKS because both movies feel like a very intentional throwback to 80's martial arts films. Beautifully done.