D O A

[GeneChing]

Sword hotties rock. Jaime Pressly? Say no more. Check out our latest e-zine dispatch: DOA: "DEAD OR ALIVE," "DEAD ON ARRIVAL," or "DRIVE ONCE AGAIN?" by Dr. Craig Reid

[GeneChing]

Martial arts film DOA an absurd kick
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
MEDIANEWS CORRESPONDENT
Article Launched: 06/15/2007 10:09:34 AM PDT

MOVIES, summer movies in particular, and trash have always made comfortable bedfellows. Year after year, studios rack their collective brains for new ways to package trash, making it bigger and shinier.

That's what Corey Yuen has done with the new movie "DOA: Dead or Alive," based on the video game of the same name. Yuen doesn't need to pay tribute to anything. He was there.

A fight choreographer and director, he has worked often with Jet Li and he helmed 2002's "The Transporter," one of the most ridiculously entertaining Grade-B movies of recent years. Admittedly, he's not the most talented filmmaker ever to emerge from Hong Kong, but that still ranks him several notches above the average Hollywood action director. "DOA: Dead or Alive" starts fast, moves fast and ends before you know it.

Like a cross between "Charlie's Angels" and "Enter the Dragon," the action revolves around an annual fight tournament on a remote island.

The best fighters in the world, each with a different style, are invited to join. Among this year's combatants we have Tina (Jaime Pressly), the daughter of a professional wrestler; Christie (Holly Valance), a British master thief; and Kasumi (Devon Aoki), a Japanese princess whose brother attended the tournament the previous year and never returned.

The man in charge of the tournament, Donovan (Eric Roberts), has a preposterous evil scheme brewing. Using nanotechnology, he records all the fighters' moves and downloads them into a pair of sunglasses, so he can anticipate any move and win any battle. Our three heroines must team up to defeat him. A swordswoman with purple hair (Natassia Malthe) and the rollerblading Helena (Sarah Carter) eventually help.

Like "Grindhouse," the film shies away from eroticism but contains plenty of skimpy outfits and perfectly sculpted bodies. Yuen's computer-assisted action sequences move with speed and precision, slowing down to catch a particularly impressive move, or speeding up to pump the adrenaline. (One great fight scene takes place in a forest of bamboo trees.) Occasionally, the film tries to explain its plot, and that's where it runs into trouble. The script, by J.F. Lawton ("Under Siege") and newcomers Adam and Seth Gross, is riddled with annoying expositional dialogue. For example, by leaving her temple and her people, the princess has become a "shinobi," or "outcast." Characters bring this up at least four times, using both terms each time, as if translating back and forth makes it sound more impressive.

Likewise, don't expect any brilliant performances; there's very little room here for emoting. Most of the scant space is devoted to cute girls, sharp swords and serious butt-kicking. In short, "DOA: Dead or Alive" is unquestionably brain-dead, but also a great example of unpretentious, second-gear celluloid, generated quickly, cheaply -- and for the fun of it.

Starring: Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Holly Valance, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe, Eric Roberts, Matthew Marsden, Brian J. White, Collin Chou, Kane Kosugi
Director: Corey Yuen
Rated: PG-13 for pervasive martial arts and action violence, some sexuality and nudity
Opens today: Bay Area theaters
Running time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Sword hotties rule!

[Scott R. Brown]

I have seen DOA. It is a fairly good "B" movie. It is cute and sexy. The plot is simple, the action is humorous, not great, but not absolutely terrible. It is sort of tongue-in-cheek. It is tailored for 13-17 year old boys. There are a lot of skimpy outfits and even a gratuitous volleyball game. Jaime Pressly's father is a Hulk Hogan knock off; their relationship is close and humorous. They even have a few wimpy guys, one knocks out a MA by kicking his shoe off at him and hits him in the head. There is only one reasonably good action scene, the now required 1 against 100 fight scene.

I enjoyed watching it, but I wouldn't pay to go see it, I am WAY out of the age range it is marketed for. I would watch it if it was playing on TV on a Saturday afternoon or I would watch it at the theater with my sons if they wanted to go see it. They wouldn' want to though, one is 11 and one is 16. I am the only one in the family who loves good bad movies, LOL!!

[xcakid]

Well, not many games made to movie turn out well. I think I will wait for the DVD instead of shelling out $7 in a theater. Will watch it though, just put it on my Netflix que. Jaime Presley is HOT!!! Not real blonde though based on her Playboy pics. That is somewhat disappointing.

[doug maverick]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3lZ2vD5TztU

[sanjuro_ronin]

OI VEY !!!!

I have a weakness for Sarah Carter, one of the few blondes I actually like, now I must add that one too.

Shame on you !!

[BlueTravesty]

The assumption that people only play DOA for the... ahem... "detailed physics engine" is either based on a lack of experience with the game, apathy or antipathy towards fighting games in general, or sour grapes from dedicated fanboys of other fighting game franchises.

Granted, I think Virtua Fighter is an overall better more detailed game, but there's a certain ease of use and "flash" factor that DOA has. Plus, DOA has some of the most visually rewarding throws in any fighting game without a lot of clunky setup.

[Lamassu]

I've always liked the game series they made for the Playstation and PS2, especially the first one. Yeah, it's just a fighter game, but at least it's 3D fighting (like Soul Caliber), which I've always preferred to the side scrolling Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat franchise. It's got the two great elements to catch my attention and keep me entertained: martial arts and T&A. What's wrong with that? I haven't seen the movie (apparently I missed it when it was out in theaters; no advertising or anything), but I'm definately going to pick up a copy when it comes out on DVD. Considering the two basic elements that drew me to the video game are no doubt in the movie as well, I doubt I'll be disappointed.

[Shaolinlueb]

i heard it was awful, but the chicks were hot.

[jethro]

Eric Roberts has a good fight, but the rest of the movie is a complete waste of time.

[Lamassu]

Well, I just bought a copy of DOA online from ebay, and should get it in the mail in the next couple of weeks. Honestly, I don't know why everybody's so critical about the movie, it's not Oscar material or anything like that. This movie wasn't produced to demonstrate terrific acting capabilities and engage you in a deep and clever plotline, it was made to bring a video game onto the silver screen, a video game about martial arts and T&A. I don't really understand what more critics would expect from a concept like this. The plots to the DOA video games are weak in of themselves, so it's not like the movie is misrepresenting the franchise in any way.

[Shaolinlueb]

yeah but if the t&a isnt good then? i dont expect good acting.

[Lamassu]

yeah but if the t&a isnt good then? i dont expect good acting.

I don't know man, that trailer looked pretty d@mn good, and my copy is the asian 'unrated' version (or so I'm told). I checked with the seller and he said it's region 0 and should work in my DVD player. The important thing is I didn't pay more than what it would cost if I bought a ticket and saw it in theaters ($10.00). Anyway, I'll check it out and let you know if the T&A is any good or not. Oh, how I do love my cheesecake!

[jethro]

Well, I just bought a copy of DOA online from ebay, and should get it in the mail in the next couple of weeks. Honestly, I don't know why everybody's so critical about the movie, it's not Oscar material or anything like that. This movie wasn't produced to demonstrate terrific acting capabilities and engage you in a deep and clever plotline, it was made to bring a video game onto the silver screen, a video game about martial arts and T&A. I don't really understand what more critics would expect from a concept like this. The plots to the DOA video games are weak in of themselves, so it's not like the movie is misrepresenting the franchise in any way.

I watched it for the fights, and they sucked.

[Lamassu]

Okay, I got the DVD in the mail yesterday, and watched the movie. All I can say is that was perfect! Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, I loves my cheesecake. I'm not a real video game geek, I'll play something so long as it's got my attention, and I didn't expect this movie to rival "Hero" or "House of the Flying Daggers" in terms of cutting edge martial art action, but I found it really gratifying and it replicated the feel of playing DOA on my Playstation perfectly. Truth be told, I didn't pick up the first DOA video game for it's plot and character development, and the movie focuses on the true spirit of DOA: T&A.