Street Fighter is the kind of movie you’ll either love or hate. I personally love it because it doesn’t hide what to expect. It’s exactly what the previews show. It’s cheesy, quirky, and stays true to Street Fighter lore. Well, sort of. Though I liked the movie, I felt that something was missing. Certain characters were underutilized. One in particular was Guile, played by Cody Rhodes, who is famous for his Flash Kicks and Sonic Booms. Other than one scene in which he kicks Vega, played by Orville Peck, which was actually shown in the preview, that was practically the bulk of the action he got. It would’ve been better if the audience had gotten a little more of Guile.
The other character who I felt was underused was Dan Hibiki, played by Andrew Schulz. In the movie, he’s Ken’s confidant and promoter. Ken, played by Noah Centineo, is his cash cow, so he clings to him like glue. We discover somewhere along the way that he also studied under Gouken, played by Don Lee, who is Ken and Ryu’s master. Ryu is played by Andrew Koji. There was just so much potential in Dan that the screenwriters failed to realize. He could’ve been lured into joining Bison, played by David Dastmalchian, and whether they made him betray his friend or not, it would’ve been interesting either way.
Callina Liang was absolutely great, and she stole the show as Chun-Li. She may be the best Chun-Li on the big screen yet, with no disrespect to the others, of course. She actually just glowed. Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim was great, and surprisingly, Jason Momoa as Blanka turned out to be really good. I know, I know, I seem like I’m overpraising the movie now, but I almost got swayed into not seeing it because some people thought it wasn’t that good. I say, if you’re truly a Street Fighter fan, see this movie. There’s apparently a part two. Yes, they left the story unfinished because there’s another part to come.
Ryu as a man who has given up was acceptable, and I never got the feeling that the writers went overboard. This version of Ryu is in a constant battle with himself, trying to contain the evil within him caused by a dark influence known as the Satsui no Hado. This internal battle is a theme throughout the movie and the franchise. By staying away from conflict, he avoids fighting and therefore doesn’t risk awakening the evil within him.
Bison differs in some ways between the game and movie versions. In the movie, he hasn’t quite established Psycho Power yet. He’s in the midst of acquiring it, and to do so, he plans to unleash the Satsui no Hado hidden within Ryu. The plot isn’t confusing at all, as many claim it to be. It’s pretty self-explanatory. Bison wants Psycho Power, so he lures Ryu out of hiding by revamping the World Warrior Tournament. Chun-Li and her friends get in the way. Simple as that. No fluff. Akuma, played by Ramon Reigns was great despite all the naysayers. Take the movie as is. It's supposed to be illogical, cheesy, and impossible. Once you see beyond that, you will love this movie.
I don’t want to reveal too much because I want people to watch it, and the more people who watch it, the more likely it is that there will be a sequel. I already can’t wait.
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Solid watch. Fans will enjoy it, and it delivers more than expected.
Key Takeaways
· The movie is cheesy, quirky, and mostly delivers exactly what the previews promise.
· Guile and Dan Hibiki are underused, even though both characters had more potential.
· Callina Liang stands out as Chun-Li, while Vidyut Jammwal and Jason Momoa are also strong as Dhalsim and Blanka.
· Ryu’s struggle with the Satsui no Hado gives his character more depth without going overboard.
· Bison’s plan to gain Psycho Power is straightforward, making the plot easier to follow than some viewers claim.
· It’s a fun movie for Street Fighter fans, and the unfinished story leaves plenty of room for a sequel.
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