MOVIE REVIEW: STREET FIGHTER

 

Estranged street fighters Ryu and Ken Masters get thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament -- a brutal clash of fists, fate and fury. However, behind the battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons from their past.

Director: Kitao Sakurai

Cast: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Joe Anoa'i, David Dastmalchian, Cody Rhodes, Eric André, Andrew Schulz, Vidyut Jammwal, Curtis Jackson, Jason Momoa

Release Date: October 16, 2026

 

Genre: Action

Rated PG 13 for violence/action, bloody images, strong language, sexual references, partial nudity and brief smoking.

Runtime: 1h 59m

Review:

The newest iteration of Street Fighter hit the screen with the energy of an unsupervised child at a playground with kinetic action paired with splashy visuals which almost makes you overlook the nonsensical plot.  Kitao Sakurai brings a late 90’s/early 2000’s aesthetic to his film and his candy-colored world populated with oversized characters and performances.  He has fun with the property dropping a boatload of easter eggs for fans of the games but never taking any of it overly seriously.  In a strange contrast, the animated flashback sequences are the only portions of the film that plays the story straight which makes those moments almost feel like they belong in a different film.  The animation is incredibly well done, and the voice acting is excellent throughout which clashes with the over-the-top live action scenes.  The live action portion of the film does offer up plenty of wonderfully choregraphed fight sequences that are well staged and fun throughout.  The ensemble cast is clearly having a ball hamming it up across the board with Noah Centineo’s Ken Masters and Callina Liang’s Chun Li doing most of the heavy lifting.  Centineo and Liang both look the part, but they also bring great screen charisma that makes their performances engaging and fun.  They balance the action and comedy with relative ease even when the jokes don’t land.  The large cast all plays off each other so well that there’s an infection energy to their exchanges whether it be David Dastmalchian channeling Raul Julia’s take on M. Bison.  His henchwomen, Cammy and Juli, played by Mel Jarnson and Rayna Vallandingham, both look like they could easily walk in and out of a Lady Gaga video.  Cody Rhodes and Vidyut Jammwal turn as Guile and Dhalsim feel like it needs more time since their bromance is just begging for more screentime which the film’s two-hour time could have easily worked it in with its hefty run.  Especially since the film starts to wear out its welcome as it starts to lose momentum with the finale doing more to set up a sequel as opposed to a wrapping up the story in a satisfying manner.  Street Fighter is far from a perfect film, but it still offers up plenty of fun for both fans of the game and causal movie goers looking for some mindless entertainment.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: PRESENCE

 

A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they're not alone.

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, Julia Fox

Release Date: January 19, 2025

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller

Rated R for violence, drug material, language, sexuality and teen drinking.

Runtime: 1h 25m

Review:

Steven Soderbergh's reverse perspective ghost story, Presence, is a solid bit of voyeuristic experimentation that's more engaging as a drama than a horror film.  The gliding, first person point of view can be a bit disorienting initially especially for people who have not played many first persons video games.  It gives the film an interesting look and feel as the camera serves as the character of the Presence with Soderbergh proving more than capable of communicating a boatload of information via movements and more standard ghost tropes over the course of the film's brisk runtime.  The film plays out in a series of short and extended sequences that play out like uninterrupted shots which are technically impressive.  Once the film settles in the central story it is far more focused on a portrait of a family fraying at the edges for a variety of reasons.  Lucy Liu toplines the cast as a domineering matriarch who's possibly involved in some sort of criminal endeavor and overly focused and forgiving of her eldest son.  Chris Sullivan is solid as the long-suffering father who's trying his best to keep his family together even though he's clearly at his breaking point.  Eddy Maday is appropriately douchey and entitled as the family's golden child.  Callina Liang plays the daughter who's broken from the recent loss of a friend which may be the Presence since it seems to be singularly focused on her.  The four of them have a natural family dynamic even if the characters are written a bit generically.  The script only gives us bits and pieces on their backstories but it’s enough to give us insight into the dysfunctional nature of their family unit.  West Mulholland's Ryan is far less subtle with the character written as far too creepy and strange as Tyler's friend who shows an immediate interest in Liang's Chloe.  It’s obvious that there's something off about his character early on that makes Chloe's interest in him seem far-fetched at best.   It makes the final act come off as far more predictable than it should have, especially since its script drops breadcrumbs every step of the way.  It ultimately keeps Presence from really knocking the concept out of the park even though it leaves you with a particularly goosebump inducing shot.  

B