The Great Challenge (2004)

Six parkour adepts open a gym in Bangkok. When the new gym starts to attract the area's kids, a local gang feels challenged. Their Eurasian leader Kien attacks the foreigners while they are training on a scaffold.

Director:

Julien Seri

Writers:

Bruno Guiblet (dialogue), Philippe Lyon (scenario & dialogue)

Stars:

Williams Belle, Châu Belle Dinh, Malik Diouf

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Williams Belle	...	Williams
Châu Belle Dinh	...	Kien (as Chau Belle)
Malik Diouf	...	Kenjee
Yann Hnautra	...	Yann
Guylain N'Guba-Boyeke	...	Yaguy (as Guylain)
Charles Perrière	...	Logan
Laurent Piemontesi	...	Léo
Elodie Yung	...	Tsu
Santi Sudaros	...	Kitano
Burt Kwouk	...	Wong
Ian Kay	...	Terry (as Ian Kay)
Charles Jarman	...	Johnny
Gary Stoner	...	Ned
Jason Hunjan	...	Un sportif anglais
Tony Christian	...	Un sportif anglais

Storyline

Six parkour adepts open a gym in Bangkok. When the new gym starts to attract the area's kids, a local gang feels challenged. Their Eurasian leader Kien attacks the foreigners while they are training on a scaffold.

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Plot Keywords:

parkour | yakuza | triads | tattoo | sword | 

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Taglines:

A Mortal Fighter. An Eternal Combat.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site [France]

Country:

UK France Spain

Language:

French Japanese English

Release Date:

23 June 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

The Great Challenge

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$903,038 (France), 25 June 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dan Films, TF1 Films Production, UGC YM

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)

User Reviews

Incoherent film with some "Wow" moments

I thought about suggesting that it might be a good idea to watch "Yamakasi 2 / The Great Challenge / Sons Of The Wind" with the sound off (it would at least eliminate the absurd French dubbing of every character in Bangkok, even local small children and Asian mobsters), but then you would not be able to listen to some pretty driving music....I'm not sure if the plot would make any less sense, though. For example, the final battle must have set some sort of record for "highest number of participants", but even our heroes seem confused as to whom they are fighting or why. If you forget about the plot and concentrate on the action, this movie does have some scenes that will have you going "Wow!", although sometimes the cutting is a bit too frantic. All the leads here (from the Luc Besson - discovered group Yamakasi) are obviously gifted athletes, and following Xin Xin Xiong's choreography, they come off as high-level martial artists as well. Special mention must be made of Elodie Yung, who is not only absolutely gorgeous and impressively fit, but a great fighter too. Her scorpion kicks rival those of Cynthia Rothrock! **1/2 out of 4.