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Taekwondo shaped my life for the ten years and continues to impact me today. The small 7-year-old that came to his first introduction lesson in April of 2013 has blossomed into a confident and well-disciplined young man who is ready to defend himself under any circumstance. And so naturally, ever since then, I have loved watching martial arts films – from Bruce Lee classics like Enter the Dragon to the John Wick series. Because of this, I don't think it would be too much to say that I go into this genre more critically than a general audience member who just wants to experience some incredible action. I have eagerly awaited the day I watch the next truly great martial arts classic. Based on everything I had heard about Kenji Tanigaki's The Furious, I was prepared to walk out of the theater having had that moment. I'd heard virtually nothing but fantastic reviews and constant praise; I went into it with high hopes.
...Unfortunately, I left feeling incredibly underwhelmed.
I don't think I have ever seen a film this overhyped since Rogue One – big statement, I know. The fact that the main protagonist of The Furious was able to sprint at almost superhuman speed for 4-5 minutes was more surprising than any other element of the film itself. So, let's get into it: Why was I so disappointed?
Uneven Footing
The martial arts here are undeniably impressive. You cannot deny the tremendous amount of hours, sweat, and talent that have been put into these fight scenes. However, the action in this film slowly starts to overstay its welcome. So much of this film takes itself so seriously, with its intense father-daughter story as its emotional core, but several other moments had me unintentionally cracking up. It's really hard for me to tell whether Kenji Tanigaki was going for a purposefully campy action extravaganza or a deeply dark thriller, and it doesn't seem to fully commit to either.
I thought this was a mistake of the screenplay and direction, especially because this film depicts rather upsetting subject matter, child trafficking being the most prominent one. In no way is this topic a funny one, and the drastic swings between intense seriousness and extreme campiness made this a very tonally uneven viewing experience. Additionally, the humor that I'm assuming was actually meant to be funny fell completely flat. A film like Everything Everywhere All at Once is extremely over-the-top in its own way. However, with the Daniels behind the camera, the film, in my opinion, was able to perfectly balance its more emotional themes with just the right amount of camp to make it feel fresh and unique. In The Furious, the tonal shifts are more jarring than touching. I generally love when martial arts films swing for the fences, but in this case, it felt incredibly rocky.
Audio Issues
The English dialogue and line deliveries are cringe-worthy. It reminded me of some of the harder-to-watch Cobra Kai episodes and led me to believe that both the Mandarin and English languages in this film were present entirely as a demographic choice. There are some English-spoken scenes that aren't too bad, but for the most part, the horrendously dubbed English lines really affect it poorly. I honestly think that this whole film should've been in Mandarin. I mean, that would've made it better automatically. Parasite won Best Picture six years ago, clearly neither critics nor audiences have any issue with it being entirely in Korean.
Cinematography
In contrast to the audio, the cinematography was admittedly acceptable, but if you've seen films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or the Ip Man franchise, you've seen it all done better. There's a difference between amazing choreography and amazing cinematography. Excellent stunt work should be glorified with long wide shots and very few quick cuts; this film showcases that in spurts, but there's not enough. It seemed to me that the filmmakers assumed the consistent and unbelievably choreographed martial arts action would be all that people would want to see. Yes, they are extremely impressive, but after a while, it started to feel repetitive and too drawn out. Not to mention, there's very little emotional or thematic depth behind it. There is barely anything to differentiate this narrative from essentially any Jason Statham thriller.
Unwarranted Violence
I am more than fine with violence. I'm almost never bothered by it no matter how brutal it actually is. However, it does bother me when violence is present without any meaning. While this film is gloriously bloody and often satisfying to watch, there are quite a few instances where I felt like the violence was present just for the shock factor, with no purpose behind it. It reminded me of what director Nicolas Winding Refn does with his films, particularly in Only God Forgives (which I actually believe to be largely underrated). Mostly style, and the bare minimum where substance is concerned.
Again, I must reiterate... I did Taekwondo for ten years. I adore experiencing films with epic martial arts action and mind-blowing stunts. But is that really enough? Personally, I expect to see engrossing characters along with a plot that equally matches the visual magnificence of the advanced choreography. The Furious' stylistic action slowly begins to serve as a distraction from the immensely barebones plot. I wholeheartedly believe many critics and audiences have succumbed to this trick. Insane choreography and interesting set pieces equal a good film, right? I'm not falling into that trap.
This film was a major disappointment for me; it reaffirmed that certain films carry a type of spell that can easily lure people in, blinding them to all the flaws surrounding the action.
It strikes occasionally, but not nearly enough to leave a long-lasting mark.
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