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Starring
:
Sam
Bottoms
Masa
Funaki
Alexandra
Kamp
Allan
Kolman
Fred
Williamson
Pat
Morita
Action
:
Tatsuro
Koike
Alpha
Stunts
Writer
:
Eric
Koyanagi
Producer
:
Taka
Arai
Director
:
Makoto
Yokoyama
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SHADOW
FURY (2001)
Reviewed
by Tony Ryan
As
a fan of 80s style Hong Kong action, I am always looking
forward to any film that promises to deliver high tempo fight
scenes and insane stunt work. I am a big fan of the Alpha
Stunts team, and the choreographer of this film is a regular
cohort of that group. As a result, I have been looking forward
to seeing it ever since I saw the trailer on my preview copy
of 'Wicked
Game' many moons ago.
I
am sorry to report that 'Shadow Fury' does not live up to my
expectations, nor does it equal some of the other productions
Alpha Stunt team members have been attached to in the past
such as 'Wicked Game', 'Guyver
Dark Hero' or 'Drive'
to name a few. Although the fight scenes contained within the
film are typically well choreographed and executed, everything
else is below par, even for a straight-to-video flick.
The
plot is ludicrously generic and muddled, centring on the
futuristic theme of clones being used as killing machines.
This could be a useful backdrop for the high-octane stunt
work, but only serves to slow the film down as it becomes
increasingly concerned with amateurishly tackling themes of
human morals and loyalty. The dramatic performances are often
cringeworthy and the characters more like caricatures, which
might work if this was supposed to be a comedy, but it is only
funny in a bad way. The lead character played by Sam Bottoms
is wholly unlikeable and, as a result, lacks the empathy from
the audience needed to make his whining bearable. Funaki as
the clone Ninja killer is actually pretty good, but probably
only because he is the silent, moody type and flits from
antagonist to protagonist with ease.
In
conclusion, I only recommend Shadow Fury to Alpha Stunts
completists like me, as although the infrequent fight scenes
are fun to watch, the rest of the running time drags along too
painfully for most.
Rating:
 
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