Movies based on video games have rarely been able to hold up to the expectations of fans. Tekken is no exception, possibly being the worst, most low-budget video game adaptation I've ever seen. Despite extremely low expectations, I found myself highly disappointed, and feeling cheated of the measly $ 4.00 I spent to watch it. It failed to live up to its roots on nearly all levels from the characters, to story, to action style.
First let me start on the characters. The diverse roster of characters found in the Tekken games is one of its strongest selling points. Each character has a unique personality and fighting style, a formula that has made Tekken so special to its fans. Unfortunately, Tekken the movie was not able to replicate any of the few characters that it featured from the original game. Out of the more than 40 possible characters, it included only the following: Jin, Kazuya, Heihachi, Christie, Steve, Law, Bryan, Raven, Nina, Anna, Eddie, Yoshimitsu, Dragunov, Miguel, Jack and Jun. The movie failed to include the old time original characters that fans have grown so fond of. No Paul, no King, no Xiaoyu, no Hwoarang, no mention of Devil or the Devil gene, no Kuma, no Lee, and no Lei. With the characters that were included, there were several inconsistencies with their personalities and fighting styles. First of all, the only character that seemed to recognizably retain his or her fighting style from the game was Eddie Gordo. All the others fought with the same generic kicks and punches seen in any ordinary fight seen. The inconsistencies extended to character personalities as well, with Heihachi being an honorable protagonist who quietly resigned himself to an execution by gunfire. Jin Kazaman, a pensive, introspective loner, is presented in the movie as a juvenile playboy, only able to defeat opponents by recalling advice from his dead mother. These are merely a few of the many things the movies missed out completely on.
The movie was also unable to follow the plot and universe established in the video game. Unlike the game, the movie is set in a dystopian future wherein corporations rule the world, with each fighter representing a different corporation. It also failed to mention the devil gene, one of the most pivotal plot points in the entire game. It did not incorporate any key gameplay elements that make Tekken unique. Although juggling as it is presented in the game is highly implausible in a live action movie, it could have been presented in the following manner: Fighter gets launched in the air by a powerful uppercut, time slows down showing super speed of Tekken fighters, while launched opponent is in the air, slowly falling down, Tekken fighter throws extremely high speed jabs and punches at launched opponent until opponent falls. However, no effort was made to incorporate any such features into the movie.
Removing the consistency facts with the game, it would suffice to say that acting was terrible, action was terrible, costumes were terrible, and dialogue were terrible. The movie fails to please both its hardcore fans, and even non-fans of the game. I, as an avid Tekken fan, and person who appreciates fine film, refuse to recognize this as a Tekken film adaptation. Hopefully, Hollywood takes notice that this movie made some money despite its horrible quality, and someone decides to create a better remake that will live up to fans expectations.
First let me start on the characters. The diverse roster of characters found in the Tekken games is one of its strongest selling points. Each character has a unique personality and fighting style, a formula that has made Tekken so special to its fans. Unfortunately, Tekken the movie was not able to replicate any of the few characters that it featured from the original game. Out of the more than 40 possible characters, it included only the following: Jin, Kazuya, Heihachi, Christie, Steve, Law, Bryan, Raven, Nina, Anna, Eddie, Yoshimitsu, Dragunov, Miguel, Jack and Jun. The movie failed to include the old time original characters that fans have grown so fond of. No Paul, no King, no Xiaoyu, no Hwoarang, no mention of Devil or the Devil gene, no Kuma, no Lee, and no Lei. With the characters that were included, there were several inconsistencies with their personalities and fighting styles. First of all, the only character that seemed to recognizably retain his or her fighting style from the game was Eddie Gordo. All the others fought with the same generic kicks and punches seen in any ordinary fight seen. The inconsistencies extended to character personalities as well, with Heihachi being an honorable protagonist who quietly resigned himself to an execution by gunfire. Jin Kazaman, a pensive, introspective loner, is presented in the movie as a juvenile playboy, only able to defeat opponents by recalling advice from his dead mother. These are merely a few of the many things the movies missed out completely on.
The movie was also unable to follow the plot and universe established in the video game. Unlike the game, the movie is set in a dystopian future wherein corporations rule the world, with each fighter representing a different corporation. It also failed to mention the devil gene, one of the most pivotal plot points in the entire game. It did not incorporate any key gameplay elements that make Tekken unique. Although juggling as it is presented in the game is highly implausible in a live action movie, it could have been presented in the following manner: Fighter gets launched in the air by a powerful uppercut, time slows down showing super speed of Tekken fighters, while launched opponent is in the air, slowly falling down, Tekken fighter throws extremely high speed jabs and punches at launched opponent until opponent falls. However, no effort was made to incorporate any such features into the movie.
Removing the consistency facts with the game, it would suffice to say that acting was terrible, action was terrible, costumes were terrible, and dialogue were terrible. The movie fails to please both its hardcore fans, and even non-fans of the game. I, as an avid Tekken fan, and person who appreciates fine film, refuse to recognize this as a Tekken film adaptation. Hopefully, Hollywood takes notice that this movie made some money despite its horrible quality, and someone decides to create a better remake that will live up to fans expectations.
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