Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Belly of the Beast (2003)

  Belly of the Beast is the only Chin Siu Tung (Monkey Kung Fu,Chinese Ghost Story,Duel to the Death) Western movie so far starring Steven Seagal,Byron Mann (Street Fighter,Corruptor),Monica Lo(Naked Weapon),Tom Lu(Revolver).

  Steven Seagal plays Jake Hopper an ex CIA member whose daughter has been kidnapped in Thailand.He comes out of retirement to rescue her.Sort of like the B movie version of Taken with Liam Neeson.He recruits Sunti (Mann) to help him with his daughter.Sunti owes him his life for saving him 10 years ago.Sunti has then become a monk and leaves to go with Jake.There is a terrorist group known as the Abu Karaf,but Jake realizes that the kidnappers come from somewhere else in Thailand.General Jantapan (Tom Lu) is in charge of the military in Thailand and is working with the American goverment.Jake gets help at a night club in Thailand from waitress Lulu (Monica Lo).He has saved her from some locals so she returns the favor for Jake's search for his daughter.

 Not even the great Chin Siu Tung can make this a masterpiece.There are many flaws in this and lots of wire fu.In this movie Seagal is already overweight and he has a double.The double is half of his size and does flips and flying kicks.Seagal plays the cocky CIA officer like in every movie in his career so far.He does'nt even get a bruise or a hit.Half of the fighting scenes were edited with too many quick cuts so you can only see Seagal's ability half of the time.Trust me He's no Sammo Hung now that he gained so much weight.His fighting technique is his Aikido and looks like he was doing Tai Chi as well.The other fighters like Byron Mann and Tom Lu were edited greatly and they look good fighting on camera.Not enough action in hand to hand combat just more with shooting scenes.That's not why you go to see a Seagal movie.He is known for his quick hits and takedowns.There are a lot of exotic enemies that you don't see in your typical American action movie.Thai fighters with swords,a trannie,Thai monks and a witch doctor.Unless you are a hardcore Seagal fan and Chi Siu Tung fan then this one is for you.Worth a view first before you buy.Naked Weapon,Exit Wounds has better fighting IMO.

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