Underground (2007/I)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Chee Keong Cheung

Writers:

Chee Keong Cheung (writer)
Oliver Morran (writer)

Release Date:

2007 (UK)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

There can be only one winner...

Plot:

In the UK suburbs, an underground tournament is set to challenge twelve fighters from different backgrounds to compete for the price of £500,000...

Plot Keywords:

Tournament | Fighting | Martial Arts

Cast

Mark Strange	...	Mark, The Homeless
Nathan Lewis	...	Nathan, The Ex-Convict
Joey Ansah	...	Joey, The Model
Leon Sua	...	Leon, the Triad
Glenn Salvage	...	Father Salvage, The Priest
Beau Fowler	...	Bo, the Delinquent
Shane Steyn	...	Sgt. Shane Steyn, The Police Officer
Liang Yang	...	Liang, the Foreigner
Zara Phythian	...	Zara, The Teacher
William Mickleburgh	...	William, The Instructor
Scott Houston	...	Scott, the Kid
Chris Smith	...	Corporal Smith, The Soldier
Fidel Nanton	...	Fidel
Danny John-Jules	...	Lamont Gaines
Gary Webster	...	Brandon Glover

Runtime:

UK:95 min

Country:

UK

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA | Argentina:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Lancaster, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Intense Productions

This film ain't a knock-out

A film that sounds like a rehash of Kickboxer or Dead or alive and it is but with more of the hash. That is the messy kind of hash rather than the weed kind of hash.

The film places 12 fighters against each other in a series of elimination bouts which take place in various 'street' arenas, with the aim of finding the ultimate winner. Much like a computer game, say, Tekken. The film feels like a computer game too and having as much depth as a paddling pool this point is further endorsed. The character development also follows suit.

We are thrown straight into the first fight within minutes of the film starting and with very little background on each fighter given at this point. This leads too the viewer not really caring for the fighters. Win or lose. This feeling is further struck home by the fact that the fighters in the film don't speak, only the suits running the show do. Furthermore the fighters are only known as the pigeonhole of the life they lead e.g The Homeless, The teacher, The Model etc.

The fights scenes are quite convincing and shot well with very little confusion and good fluidity. This is where the film gets 3 of the stars I have given it. The rest of the filmed is...awful.