2020 Fight Film Recap: Best Martial Arts Film and Best Independent Film

29.03.2021Ravenside

 Best Martial Arts Film

Ip Man 4 (dir. Wilson Yip) (28%, 43 votes)

The mythology of Ip Man was finally formed by the third part, echoing in numerous third-party variations that tell us about the legendary Wing Chun master in his youth, old age, maturity and in any other age manifestations. 

Any of these variations bears a clear imprint of the interpretation of the character embodied Donnie Yen, from which even Wong Kar-Wai и Tony Leung could not resist, although they project was announced long before the first creation Wilson Yip.

In the fourth part, we are shown, perhaps, the final stage of Ip Man's wanderings through the prism of his relationship with his son, as well as with his student Bruce Lee (Danny Chan). It’s worth recalling here that using the Little Dragon figure, as we know, is always a win-win option for action films. Events are overshadowed by Ip Man's deteriorating health, which, in truth, does not prevent him from continuing to be the personification of the triumph of Chinese martial arts.

Wilson Yip and this time he didn’t reinvent the wheel, so old Ip Man again fights against karatekas, and in the finale he will have a fight against the archetypal white villain played by Scott Adkins.

Everyone, without exception, in the film has some kind of combat inferiority complex, because at every opportunity everyone rushes to find out “whose kung fu is better.”

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the main attraction of the film was the fight between Donnie and Scott, which fans had been waiting for. Scott had previously granted a similar request, clashing with Tony Jaa в "Triple Threat", although the battle itself didn’t stand out in anything special. 

So is the case and "Im Manom" - the titans met in the ring, but it is obvious that their time has passed somewhat, since everyone is not in their peak form, especially Donnie.

On the other hand, within the framework of the film’s style, both the choreography and dramaturgy of the battle do not go beyond the usual framework, which also includes the classic scheme when the hero rises from the ashes, as a result of which dignity and faith in justice defeat the enraged white threat. Everything is just like in a textbook, you don’t even want to joke.

Russian Raid (dir. Denis Kryuchkov) (19%, 29 votes)

The domestic film industry represented by “Russian raid” burst into our vote, one might say, by opening the door with his foot, just like the characters in the film burst into the unfortunate distillery.

The title of the film is ambiguous and for good reason. On the one hand, there is an associative PR parallel with the hit Indonesian action movie, on the other hand, there are still similarities in the plot: the heroes, step by step and floor by floor, capture and “clear” the building in hand-to-hand combat.

It all sounds and looks like a perestroika movie, but this is first and foremost a hand-to-hand action movie in the best traditions of the genre, and only then a raider horror story. At the head of everything is a stuntman from Jackie Chan's team Ivan Kotik, MMA fighter Vladimir Mineev and stunt coordinator, actor and stuntman Konstantin Adaev.

The assortment of characters is reminiscent of a comic book: here you have a brave warrior with a stone face and a personal vendetta, gopnik athletes who look like hockey players from the Soviet cartoon “Puck! Puck!”, thieves in law, corrupt security forces, a vile businessman cosplaying as Bezrukov, a security chief living by the law of bushido with a saber drawn.

There is a lot of hand-to-hand combat, MMA, combat crouching, sword fighting and overall very good choreography, although somewhat spoiled by post-processing and acceleration of movements. There is a lot of trash, parodies, surrealism and conventions to which we turn a blind eye, because there is an obvious and conscious storyboard on the screen. 

As a precedent for a faded genre in our country, it is bold, daring and, in general, even fresh, which is paradoxical, because there are more than enough references in the film.

Collectors 2 (dir. Jesse Johnson) (16%, 25 votes)

“Collectors 2” are not in the full sense of the word a film with BI, but, as it is fashionable to say now, “everyone understands everything.”

Adkins will drag the film into any nomination, even “best actress.”

The continuation of the adventures of the sweet couple Frenchy and Sue turned out to be less ironic and lax than the first film in the series, although the director Jesse Johnson tries not to lower the temperature. The second part came out more sterile, Adkins plays Adkins again, only perhaps even more simply (although, it would seem, much simpler), all the “accident” and spontaneity of his character has completely disappeared, now he is a seasoned fighter beaten by life. But Mandylor has kept his character almost unchanged and, as always, confidently pulls it off as an actor.

At all Jesse Johnson - is clearly a fan of films about frostbitten scoundrels and swindlers, and in this regard, throughout his entire film work (except, perhaps, the ridiculous "Triple Threat") a clear touch of his compatriot prevails Guy Ritchie, because stylistically Johnson is such a poor man's Richie. 

But we must admit that “Collectors 2”, despite being a niche B-movie, is trying to climb onto the top shelf. It hasn’t worked out yet, but the aspirations are laudable.

Independent martial arts film 2020

Contracts (dir. Alex Chung) (24%, 13 votes)

A stunt movie made by stuntmen, albeit a diligent one. There is a plot, but no script. There are ambitions, but no budget at all. There are characters, but no charismatic heroes. There is choreography, but no concept. But there are a lot of fights and a lot of blood. They took it here from the Koreans, there from the Indonesians. An inquisitive viewer will immediately see where “Contracts” fighting legs are growing.

A conventional story about some mercenaries (military, spies, special forces, it doesn’t matter) who are killed by another mercenary. Some kind of spy games in which, as a viewer, you have a hard time understanding who to root for, and out of all the short and similar heroes in bad clothes, one black thug stands out.

But the soundtrack to the film is quite strong and varied, much better than in the average amateur fighting game. This is both symphonic tension and melancholy piano. The latter, by the way, sounds worthy, but is not always appropriate, since the film already lacks visual brightness, energy and gloss, despite the fact that the fights, including the final one, try to increase the pace.

I wish I could fill it with life and at least acting, because the guys tried, but it doesn’t look serious yet.

Unbreakable (dir. Daniel Zirilli) (22%, 12 votes)

A cheap action movie was expected, but with good fight scenes, because the main characters Johnny Strong и Marko Zaror. It turned out that this is not just an action movie, but a fantasy about “supermans” and universal soldiers. Interesting? More likely no than yes.

Here we are swearing at Adkins and grumbling that he is standing still, however, if you think about it, Saror’s situation is much worse.

An excellent screen fighter, a spectacular and cinematic Chilean, he does not please us with decent projects, and every new film in which his screen time is more than 5 minutes is a step down. We don’t undertake to judge why, but we just state a fact - beauty and stature, as well as combat skills Marco Zarora They are usually used incompetently.

For science fiction from the director Daniela Zirilli There wasn’t enough money, there wasn’t enough imagination for fight scenes and choreography. 

The idea of ​​invulnerable soldiers fighting in some landfills and catacombs - who needs that in the 21st century? It’s better to have underground fights, by God, at least you can save money on locations.

Tribe: Getting Out Alive (dir. Matt Rutledge) (19%, 10 votes)

“Tribe: Get Out Alive” - this is any movie about zombies, plus "Wrong turn", a plus “Ghosts of Mars” - and all this was filmed on an iPhone in an abandoned cottage.

Very cheap, very crude and, in general, extremely unprincipled, despite the presence, by the way, of a charismatic Rossa O'Hennessy, who is the only one who dilutes this whole story with his emotional shouts and cozy physiognomy.

Zara Pitian - this is such a budget version Gina Carano. Type vaguely reminiscent Karen Shepard, - a titled karateka and taekwondoka, in fight films for some reason she looks expressionless, behaves without temperament, plays like a refrigerator door, despite the fact that she is not lacking in appearance. 

There’s not much to go into in detail. Fans of Pitian, if any, can watch it, although the heroine is not greatly developed either as an on-screen fighter or as a hot woman.

Home » Movie News » 2020 Fight Film Recap: Best Martial Arts Film and Best Independent Film
Tags: Contracts, Debt Collectors, Invincible, Ip Man 4, Tribal: Get Out Alive, Alex Chung, Vladimir Mineev, Denis Kryuchkov, Jesse W. Johnson, Johnny Strong, Donnie Yen, Daniel Zirilli, Zara Pitian, Ivan Kotik, results of action cinema 2020, Konstantin Adaev, Louis Mandylor, Marko Zaror, Matt Rutledge, Ross O'Hennessy, Russian raid, Scott Adkins, Wilson Yip

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