UFC 143 DVD Review (Kirk Haviland)

DVD Review UFC 143

Diaz vs Condit

February 4th, 2012. Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Nevada

We here at Entertainment Maven, in our attempt to bring you informed reviews of theatrical releases, home entertainment and special events, have decided that it’s time to acknowledge one of the largest growing forms of entertainment in the world. Of course what I am talking about is Mixed Martial Arts, and in particular the UFC. Now we will not be getting into live event coverage, there are plenty of avenues which cover the live events as they happen or shortly after, and while we do cover events we have decided they will be film related only at this time. So why are we going to be reviewing UFC DVDs?  Because there are only a handful of sites out there doing reviews of the actual DVD releases from UFC. Many fans can’t afford to pay out over $60 a month for pay-per-view events and wait for the DVD releases to see the full card. Also, there are some events you just need to own. These reviews will come in a DVD review format, only slightly different from our other DVD reviews, where we will discuss the main program (card) and list and discuss the special features for the disc. Then we will ultimately give our opinion on whether it’s worth your hard earned money. Now let’s step into the octagon for UFC 143!

UFC 143 was a card, like a good few these days, which saw a lot of turmoil. The Card was originally scheduled to be Nick Diaz vs Georges St. Pierre (GSP) after Carlos Condit stepped aside from the fight with GSP he was originally in line for. Condit was put into this main event for the Interim Championship after a training injury sidelined GSP for over 6 months. Condit’s original opponent Josh Koscheck was rescheduled to fight Mike Pierce.

The first disc of this 2 disc set features the pay-per-view card in its entirety. The Main Event Card goes as follows – Diaz vs. Condit / Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Wredum / Koscheck vs. Pierce / Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgenson / and Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks. The Main Card ultimately leaves us feeling a little flat. With only one fight ending with a stoppage the judges were busy in Vegas that night. The Nelson/Verdum fight is a bloody affair with both fighters going all out in by far the most entertaining bout. Conversely the Condit/Diaz fight is dull with a lot of posturing and striking at distance with very little grappling until round 5 and more jabs than dangerous strikes. The fight has become more infamous for Nick Diaz’s tirade after the fight and his “retirement” from MMA in the post-fight interview.

The 2nd disc has all the preliminary fights and special features. Prelim line up is as follows – Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway / Alex Caceres aka Bruce Leroy vs. Edwin Figueroa / Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope / Matthew Riddle vs. Henry Martinez / Rafeal Natal vs. Michael Kuiper / and Dan Stittgen vs. Stephen Thompson. Of the Prelim fights the standouts are the Stittgen vs. Thompson bout for a killer KO, Matt Brown vs. Chris Cope and Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway for a great submission. The most bizarre fight was Caceres vs. Figueroa as illegal blow deductions impact the result of the decision dramatically. For special features we get the return of the excellent Countdown to UFC programme. Given the level of bravado coming from the two headliners it certainly turned into a fun countdown show, and having Roy Nelson on it never hurts. We also get a behind the scenes short film and the complete broadcast of the official weigh-ins.

Ultimately UFC 143 Diaz vs. Condit is one of the UFC releases you might want to skip. With so many great cards and discs out from the UFC, and many more on the way soon,  143 is really only for completest and hard-core fans of the fighters on the card.

Till Next Time,

Movie Junkie TO (or in this case Octagon Junkie TO)

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Fantasia 2012 – Lloyd the Conqueror Review (Matt Hodgson)

Fantasia Film Festival 2012

Lloyd the Conqueror

Starring Evan Williams, Mike Smith, Brian Posehn, Tegan Moss, and Harland Williams

Directed by Michael Peterson

I decided to check out Lloyd the Conqueror in one of Fantasia’s late-afternoon time slots simply based on the poster alone. Not only did the poster look awesome, but the quote at the top, ‘In our heads this is friggin’ epic’, was hilarious. The film is about Live Action Role-Playing or LARPing, the real-life incarnation of a Dungeons and Dragons style role playing game. As it stands, I have never actually participated in LARPing or seen an actual LARP in progress, but from what I understand it is quite a popular hobby, taken very seriously by many. LARPing clubs exist across North America, and it was about high time I learned what the fuss was all about. While Lloyd the Conqueror wasn’t the side-splitting comedy I was expecting, it certainly its funny moments, but the real reason to see Lloyd is for the heart-warming LARPing story within.

Lloyd (Evan Williams), Patrick (Jesse Reid) and Oswald (Scott Patey) are a group of regular guys. They watch movies, play video games, drink beer, and slack off when it comes to school work. A particular ill-prepared class presentation lands them in the doghouse with their irritable teacher, Derek (Smith). Unfortunately for the friends, the subsequent terrible grade puts them in the undesirable position of losing their financial aid if they cannot get the grade up to a C. Derek would normally not give these lazy students a second chance, but it just so happens that the forces of a light need another team for Derek to demolish in his LARPing league. Without another team Derek will not be able to become this year’s champion and continue his tremendous win-streak. The friends join the league to try and save their financial aid, as Derek has promised them an A if they can defeat him. It doesn’t look like Lloyd and company have a hope in hell of defeating Derek, but that’s before Andy, a level 80 white wizard, takes them under his tutelage. Do Lloyd and his companions have what it takes to defeat the sinister Derek? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain, it’s going to be epic!

As I’ve already mentioned, I was expecting Lloyd the Conqueror to be hilarious. I had a bit of a problem with some of the dialogue driven humour that seemed to rely on crude jokes that felt a little dated. However, there were certainly plenty of comical moments that worked and the jokes drawn on the LARPing material were very funny, original, and intelligent. Brian Posehn and Mike Smith are the comedic veterans of the cast and they do an admirable job as polar-opposites. Andy is soft spoken and a true nerd, while Derek is abrasive, offensive, and must have had a very spoiled childhood. I can imagine a young Derek with the latest edition of the D&D monsters compendium in his hand while other less privileged children stare on in awe. The rest of the cast is also quite good, particularly Williams and Patey. I think Patey has a wonderful comedic career ahead of him if he chooses to go down that road.

The story of Lloyd is really what kept me glued to the screen. It was easy to identify with Lloyd and his friends and it was even easier to loathe Derek. It sounds strange to say it, but once the actual LARPing began, the movie gained a magical quality. Particularly effective was the juxtaposition of costumed LARPers and modern day technology, as cellphone towers or airplanes were often in the background of shots. Instead of being comedic, it really drives home just how creative and powerful the imaginations of LARPers are if they are able to disregard their mundane environments while enjoying their favourite pastime.

Funny, touching, informative, and entertaining. You will be rooting for Lloyd and against Derek until the final minutes.

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Fantasia 2012 – Dead Sushi Review (Matt Hodgson)

Fantasia Film Festival 2012

Dead Sushi (World Premiere)

Starring Rina Takeda, Shigeru Matsuzaki, Kentaro Shimazu, Takashi Nishina, and Asami

Directed by Noboru Iguchi

It was just the other night as I watched Iguchi’s other film at Fantasia, Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead, that I started thinking, ‘maybe I’m too old for this stuff.’ Shouts of ‘DANGER’ issued from the crowd while zombies walked backwards, hands on the floor, and behinds in the air as they pursued the heroes in Zombie Ass. Does something like that require a spoiler alert? Anyway, I thought I was going to need a break from crazy Japanese splatter movies. However, the following night was the world premiere of Dead Sushi, and was I really going to miss the wildly entertaining introduction and Q&A by the charismatic Noboru Iguchi himself? I decided to risk one more foray into the world of ridiculous Japanese horror, and am I ever glad I did!

‘I want sushi. I’m hungry. I want human. Sushi is hungry. Hungry!’ This is how the trailer for Dead Sushi promotes the movie, and really, this is all you need to know in terms of the story, although I don’t imagine it would be very professional of me to write a one sentence synopsis. Keiko (Takeda) is the daughter of a famous and unforgiving sushi chef. Her father has trained Keiko from a young age in martial arts and the art of sushi making. However, one day Keiko decides that she can’t take another scolding from her authoritarian father and leaves home in search of a happier life. She easily finds a job at a small resort working as a serving girl. After an encounter with a group of unhappy businessmen staying at the resort which almost costs Keiko her job, sushi begins to come to life and tries to eat everybody. I could go into more detail, but…why?

Noboru Iguchi has crafted a wildly entertaining movie. It’s silly, it’s ridiculous, but at the same time incredibly fresh, just like the delectable pieces of nigiri and sashimi that fly around the resort. Dead Sushi is absolutely hilarious and the audience participation during the screening at Fantasia is of the variety that some filmmakers can only dream of. There is a bit of a lull in the originality and hilarity for about 15 minutes near the end of the film, but a full-blown tuna transformation and a maki battleship save the day.

Rina Takeda is very charismatic on-screen and her martial arts skills are nothing to scoff at. The rest of the cast are great comedic talents, and despite the ridiculous nature of Dead Sushi, the script is actually quite intelligent. One of my favourite elements of the film was the sushi education that was embedded in the narrative. Attentive viewers will come out of dead sushi with a wealth of sushi information, specifically regarding the proper way to eat sushi and how to make the best sushi, although it may take some practice before you approach the skills of Keiko’s father. During the Q&A one audience member actually had the gall to ask how to make the best sushi despite the plethora of information already provided in the film. I’m calling you out right here: ‘please don’t waste a precious Q&A question on information we already know just so that you can get a free poster!’

Finally, a testament to Noboru Iguchi’s storytelling skills. Iguchi was actually able to endear a piece of Tamago (rolled-egg) nigiri to the audience. Keiko’s friend Eggy won over the hearts of everyone, however, Eggy’s story is a sad one. Keiko only befriends Eggy as he is looked down upon and abandoned by the rest of the sushi. I am deadly serious when I say that Tamago is one of the most disrespected pieces of sushi and it downright sickens me to see a piece of Tamago abandoned on a plate, the rest of the sushi in the customer’s belly. Tamago is delicious! Sushi bigotry is not ok!

I sincerely hope Iguchi continues to crank out more movies like Dead Sushi. Zombie Ass wasn’t really my cup of tea, but Dead Sushi is a wildly entertaining time with an audience, and I imagine it will play well with groups of friends over some nigiri platters and sake. Hotter than a mouthful of wasabi, Dead Sushi is original, bloody as hell, incredibly funny, and certainly worth your time. But remember, eat the sushi before it eats you!

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Fantasia 2012 – Sushi Girl Review (Matt Hodgson)

Fantasia Film Festival 2012

Sushi Girl (2012)

Starring Tony Todd, James Duval, Noah Hathaway, Mark Hamill, and Andy Mackenzie

Directed by Kern Saxton

MINOR SPOILERS

When I started Entertainment Maven a few years ago it was not because I was in love with movies, but rather with the art of storytelling. Movies, books, video games, lyrics, there are countless mediums through which a competent storytelling can tell an enticing tale. However, throughout my life it has become clear that film has become the storytelling method of choice. By critiquing movies and attending festivals I have one of the most enjoyable ‘jobs’ I can imagine. Also, it is no secret to my friends and family that I would like to write a screenplay of my own one day. It is probably this frame of reference that made Sushi Girl especially upsetting for me to watch.

A Tarantino inspired crime thriller, Sushi Girl is the story of a ruthless band of criminals who get together after their newest member, Fish (Noah Hathaway), is released from prison after a 6-year term. The group reunites in a beautifully decorated dining room over a delicate sushi dinner served on the even more delicate naked body of a sushi girl. Tony Todd, James Duval, Mark Hamill and Andy Mackenzie round out the group of hardened criminals, each possessing a uniquely dangerous personality. The dinner quickly turns ugly as despite being ‘business’ partners, the men don’t seem to be the best of friends. Soon enough we learn that the real reason for the dinner is to find out the whereabouts of the jewels that went missing at the end of their last job. The men blame Fish and are convinced he has stashed the jewels somewhere, and they seem ready to get the information out of him by any means possible.

As you can see, Sushi Girl has an absolutely stellar cast, enough players to interest even the casual moviegoer, and all of the primary actors deliver. Mark Hamill gives a great performance as the sadistic and flamboyant Crow, while Tony Todd simply resonates one badass dude. Jimmy Duval was also particularly good as a poor-decision-making screw-up who is really a good guy at heart. The Chinese Ming Dynasty dining location is absolutely gorgeous, an excellent and thoughtful choice for what is certainly a theatre-inspired, dialogue driven film. Add to these points the nail-biting intensity of having five killers in a room, none of whom fully trust the others, and Sushi Girl should have been a home-run. Unfortunately, Sushi Girl had problems from the first phase of making a film, the script writing phase.

I understand how passionate writers can be of their work, it is one of the most toiling journeys a person can make, from starring at a blank page to the completed work. However, screenwriters must be very vigilant in evaluating their initial ideas before embarking on the journey. I always ask myself: ‘Is the idea interesting?’ ‘Is it a story a lot of people would want to hear, or is it just for me?’ ‘Is the idea adding some interesting new aspect to the body of films already out there (even if it’s just a unique genre mash-up)? I’ve had to learn to ask myself these questions the hard way. Unfortunately for the writers of Sushi Girl, they hit upon a sure-fire way to make an uninspired movie by having one of their central characters tied to chair and tortured for about 30 minutes. Maybe it worked for some earlier filmmakers, but this has to be one of the most annoying cliches to permeate horror and crime films. Its like a parasite. Unfortunately the problems don’t end here.

The dialogue sounds like written dialogue, it may be true, but it’s never a good sign when it’s blatantly obvious. Some of the actors are able to save some of the lines, particularly Hamill and Todd, but mediocre to sub-par dialogue in a dialogue driven movie is a recipe for disaster. Also, brief appearances by Michael Biehn and Danny Trejo got an eruption of applause from the crowd, but their unimportant roles could have been played by unknown actors with more effectiveness as it made the film feel like a recent episodes of SNL where James Franco randomly appears for the audience to clap at in lieu of humourous writing. And of course what bit of original filmmaking would be complete without a twist ending?

The filmmakers of Sushi Girl had the ultimate golden horseshoe, an amazing veteran cast and a beautiful location. It actually pains me to say it as everyone involved in the film seemed absolutely dedicated to it, but Sushi Girl is not much more than a wasted opportunity, an opportunity that most filmmakers won’t get in their entire careers.

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Fantasia 2012 – Cold Steel Review (Matt Hodgson)

Fantasia Film Festival 2012

Cold Steel (2011)

Starring Peter Ho, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Jia Song, Micky Ho, and Ringo Yu

Directed by David Wu

Up until my Saturday afternoon screening of Cold Steel, I had yet to see anything at Fantasia that I had loved. I had of course been wowed, seen some great action, experienced some side splitting humour, but I hadn’t seen a feature film that captivated me for the entire run-time – until Cold Steel that is. Perhaps I should have anticipated that Cold Steel would be a hit. After all, it was written, directed, and edited by David Wu, the editor of one of my personal favourites in Brotherhood of the Wolf, but more importantly John Woo’s editor of choice who has worked on A Better Tomorrow, Bullet in the Head, and a little film called Hard Boiled. Cold Steel is action-packed, intelligent, and charming as hell. Now let me tell you why.

Cold Steel tells the story of a young hunter named Mu Lianfeng (Ho), a simple 19-year old man from a small village in 1938 China whose life takes a strange turn as he narrowly avoids a crashing plane from his treetop perch while hunting for boar in the forest. Having barely escaped with his life, Lianfeng approaches the site of the crash and has another close encounter with death as he rescues an American soldier from the wreck just before it explodes. Lianfeng takes the American to his small village, where Liu Yan (Jia Song) has made a makeshift hospital in her tea house. As the American heals he teaches the eager and gun-loving Lianfeng how to master and respect firearms. However, the story takes a deadly serious turn after the American leaves the small town and Liu Yan’s teahouse and staff become the target of abuse by some soldiers on a power-trip. Lianfeng gallantly saves the day, but at the cost of his freedom. He is lead out of town, presumably to jail, but the group of soldiers transporting him are ambushed by Japanese soldiers. Unexpectedly Lianfeng saves the day, single-handedly killing the group of attackers with a sniper rifle. Lianfeng is then given a choice, become a soldier and fight the Japanese or die.

Cold Steel has so much going for it that it’s difficult to summarize it in just a paragraph or two. Adapted by David Wu from a novel that caught his attention, the heart of the story is really about love, passion and obligation. Love for a partner, passion for a interest, and obligation towards a career or nation, these are the things that could make a young man like Lianfeng feel emotionally ripped to pieces and Cold Steel showcases this inner turmoil to perfection. Ho’s performance as Lianfeng is one of the most charismatic in years, it’s impossible not to feel for him as he discovers just how cruel and final life-choices can be. His penchant for parroting lines of advice given to him by people with much more world experience provided plenty of light-hearted moments which gave the audience the perfect break from the serious subject matter of the film. The rest of the cast support Ho very nicely, with Jia Song delivering a particularly convincing performance as Ho’s war-scarred love interest.

The action sequences are top-notch with many of the battles taking place at long distance, as the weapon of choice for Lianfeng is a sniper rifle, but the battles also get up close and personal. Even though Cold Steel is technically a war film, it doesn’t feel grisly like many others, as Lianfeng and his fellow soldiers are often sent on missions in enemy territory. The action scenes do not often depict the atrocities of war as in most other war films, and this is a refreshing change. Wu’s excellent and all-permeating sense of humour can even be found in the action sequences. Wu also demonstrates his competitive filmmaking spirit as one particular shot of Ho intentionally outdoes the incredible shot from the Bourne Identity series in which Matt Damon jumps off a roof and crashes through a window.

There isn’t much to say negatively about Cold Steel. Perhaps some of the imagery, particularly of a dying boar, could have been less blatant at times and credited the audience with more intelligence, but this is an issue with many films it seems. Also, there are only two Japanese characters in the entire film that even remotely resemble human beings, but I will be the first to admit that I don’t know enough about Japanese – Chinese relations throughout history and particularly during the time that this film is set in, and I probably never will.

In the end, Cold Steel is a remarkable film and the welcome return of David Wu to Chinese cinema. The only thing sharper than Lianfeng’s sight as he gazes down the scope of his rifle is the filmmaking and storytelling acumen of David Wu. Edge of your seat action, an intelligent self-awarness, charming humour, and a truly touching story, Cold Steel is a real winner. Don’t pass this one up, make it a point to see Cold Steel, you won’t regret it.

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