This movie was not quite what I hope it to be. I mean, is good in terms of animation, script and voice acting, but lacks in story impact for the fans of the game (and we know that the real Street Fighter story would work better than this one, while this has at least some basis). In this movie, we know a young martial artist named Ryu. His sensei Gouken was killed some time ago by a man named Gouki (we, the game's fans, know that Gouki and Gouken were actually brothers, but this is not mentioned in the movie at all, maybe because is just not relevant). This Gouki uses the power of the Satsui no Hadou, wich is no other that the 'Evil Intent'. Ryu is feeling that power inside him, and try to find out how to defeat it. Just in this stage of his life, a kid shows up reclaiming being his young brother. This boy also has the power of Satsui no Hadou and manifests it. Things are not getting any good to Ryu. The script open many storyline gates, but the one that really matters is Ryu's internal fight, while not the character's life itself. So, when the movie ends, all other storylines remain opened, while only the important one closes. This is very risky for a script, but I think it works fine. I mean, in the real life at the end of one dilemma, other possible dilemmas might not get solved. This is what happens to Street Fighter Zero. However, some of this dilemmas actually needed to be solved, like Sakura's. For example, Chun Li has her own dilemmas, but she actually gets in Ryu's way, so to know some about her was obvious. But what impact had Sakura on Ryu's trial? None. It was, in fact, in the other way: Ryu has a strike on Sakura's trail. That would work for a Sakura movie, but not for a Ryu movie. I felt Sakura's incursion very rushed, like a fan service thing. However, in the whole, Street Fighter Zero is a good, but not excellent movie. It could be better, just that. And an advice: This movie is not for those who look for a lot of anime action. This is more like Ang Lee's Crouching Tigger, Hidden Dragon. It has some action, but the spirit lays in the inner fight.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Street Fighter II: V
(1995)
The best product of the Street Fighter world
7 January 2004
Ryu has no bandana in his head, some characters don't appear at all, Sagat is Ryu's fried, Dhalsim is not a fighter, Chun Li is a 15 year-old girl and his father, being alive, is Fei Long's sifu. In abstract, this japanese series is not even faithful to the original plot of the game. If you're a Street Fighter fan you might say "Then this series sucks!". That affirmation is far to long from reality -and I myself am a Street Fighter fan. Street Fighter II V is probably one of the greatest stories in whole anime, and one of the the best martial arts plots ever. We're before a very realistic story, narrated in the very realistic way possible for a 90's anime (except for a chapter or two). No one here has special powers or unreal moves. They're just martial artists, as real as Jackie Chan or Jet Li can be (without special effects). And when the 'hadouken' makes its presence, is not in a fantastic way, but a real one. Not just a power up like a Kamehame (Dragon Ball) that you can do like you walk of talk. Is based on a real work of investigation from the production team. In this series, you get to know Bodi Darma, the spiritual basis of martial arts, an the principles of Kundalini. Also, you get to know some places in the world, being as faithful as they can be in anime. From USA to Hong Kong, to India and Spain. The character's are for real too, not too cartoonish (for their personalities). Ken, being rich, changes his cloths almost every day, while Ryu has only 3 shirts and 2 pants (count if you don't believe me); and a pair of "Jordan" shoes that Ken gave him. Bison is not just "the bad guy". He has some napoleonic spirit in him, and the power he has is no different from the one Ryu and Ken have (in the game, every character's power is 'different' or with different origins. In the real world that can't be true). I can say, with no regrets, that the all Street Fighter things out there (games, movies, comics), this was the one I enjoyed more. And the one with most value. Totally recommended!
Street Fighter
(1994)
As bad as it gets
7 January 2004
Many know this, but I just had to say it: This movie sucks! Sucks for the Street Fighter fans, and for the general audience. Sucks at all! Plain characters, horrible story, horrible Bison (Sorry, Raúl Julia. You didn't deserve this part). Horrible main character (Van Damme stinks as a Guile, and Guile is not even the main Street Fighter character). Stinks at all! If for some divine joke you get to see it, try thinking in flowers or Freakzoid's relax-o-vision. If you even got it on DVD, put your cold glasses on it. Period!
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