THE EMPIRE
Straighten Your Gi and Tighten Your Belt! This Movie Is a Rollercoaster of Nostalgia!
I remember being all of 10 years old, pumping 20-cent coins into Street Fighter at the local arcade on the high street of Ōtaki, hoping my karate classes would make me just like Ryu. This was one of the first games that really hooked me on arcade gaming.
Ever since, through every iteration of the game I’ve played, I’ve been hooked. When the first Street Fighter movie came out with Jean-Claude Van Damme, I was well into my gaming and martial arts journey, and it really gave me a sense of video games coming to life. It was also the first time something I’d had at home, something that was mine, made it to the big screen with faces I knew and lines I recognised.
This new Street Fighter movie is that, times 10.
We were stoked to be invited along to the premiere at IMAX to see it on the big screen, share a few games of SFII with friends and new friends, and, of course, enjoy Street Fighter, starring Noah Centineo as Ken and Andrew Koji as Ryu.
Street Fighter’s Ryu and Ken reunite when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament. As they face a hidden conspiracy, they must confront each other and their pasts — or face destruction. It’s a fairly predictable storyline, with so many little hints, references and classic lines you’d hope would be in there, along with a few great little smirk-inducing moments where they’ve added a wink to memories some of us have held for more years than I care to admit.
The Movie
Kitao Sakurai is clearly a fan of the franchise, and no stone was left unturned in the research and care that went into this movie. “Fun” is the best word to describe the film. The characters are so well written (for the most part), honouring the history and memories of the game for generations. There are a few darker moments, particularly for Ryu and Ken, around whom the film unsurprisingly revolves. Ken is the wild-child rebel who wants to live life but struggles with his own demons, while stoic Ryu quietly gets on with doing what needs to be done.
Chun-Li (Callina Liang) features prominently in the film as both the fun, cheeky Chun-Li we remember from the games and a certified badass. Liang does a great job of balancing an iconic game character with the level of maturity needed for the more serious moments. I didn’t personally love David Dastmalchian as M. Bison. I would have preferred someone with a more intimidating stature, but the frightening nature of his megalomania was well done. Cody Rhodes as Guile was the biggest chad in the best possible way.
Overall, the tone of the film is really enjoyable. It’s big, and it’s right on the border of cheesy without going over the top. The personalities are huge, just like the game itself. I think they nailed the level of action for everyone while honouring the memories of so many fans.
I was, however, a little disappointed with Cammy. Those of you who know the game will remember that she was created under M. Bison as an assassin before becoming an operative for MI6 and joining Delta Red. We only see the Bison-created version of Cammy in this film, and it would have been nice to see her softer side. Perhaps we’ll get another film where we can see her come around to the more playful and likeable version of the character. Mel Jarnson plays a much more sinister, Harley Quinn-esque Cammy. But for me, I remember the cute, playful version played by Kylie Minogue in the 1994 film.
I did find myself wondering how the crop would look, having seen this on IMAX compared with what we might see on our TVs or standard screens. There are a lot of wide shots that push in towards the subject, with the protagonist of the scene in the foreground. While these shots are very effective on IMAX, it’ll be interesting to watch the film again on a 16:9 screen.
I would also mention that you have to reset your thinking to the era when this game was released. That’s the era the film evokes. It doesn’t feel dated; it feels like reliving old memories of good times. At a few points in the film, you find yourself thinking, “Damn, what did we used to get away with?” I can imagine a few members of the woke brigade not being impressed. However, to me, that’s part of what makes it great!
Verdict
Action-packed, with non-stop laughs and a fulfilling sense of nostalgia. Don’t be fooled into watching the 1994 version and thinking that’s what you’re going to get. This is cheeky, fun and thoroughly enjoyable if you’re a Street Fighter fan of any age.
It’s a fun, lightweight watch that both longtime fans and newcomers to Street Fighter will enjoy. Highly recommended to all gamers and action movie fans!
9/10 — Would watch again.
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