I’m going to let y’all in on a little secret. This is actually the second draft of this review. The first version I wrote was a soggy mess of fanboy drool. I realized that some people might be completely new to the Street Fighter franchise so references to the video games might fly right over the heads of the uninitiated.

So, I’m going to try something very different by writing two reviews for the same movie. The first portion of the article will review the film itself while the second part will hit on all the fan stuff that my fellow World Warriors would totally comprehend. Enjoy!

Round I - The Movie

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li is an action adventure flick about a young girl named Chun Li (Kristin Kreuk) who practices Chopin in the morning and gets Wu Shu lessons from her father (Edmund Chen) in the afternoon. One tragic evening Mr. Li is abducted by a group of thugs. Chun Li is too pint sized to fight the intruders so all she can do is watch as her father is dragged into a car and driven right out of her life.

Many years have passed and Chun Li has grown into an accomplished pianist. Though she still mourns the loss of her father she carries on with her career and the caring of her sick mother (Emilze Junqueira). One day, Chun Li receives an antique scroll. What looks like an ornate congratulatory gift is actually the key to a whole new destiny for Ms. Li. The scroll will lead her to Bangkok and in Bangkok she will find a man named Gen (Robin Shou) and that man will teach the young musician how to unleash a symphony of pain upon the forces of misjustice.

Now, don’t go thinking this is some featherweight chick flick just because the lead character is a woman. And you should also put that notion out of your mind that this is an “all action, no plot” kind of movie. This film is about a girl who is given the opportunity to right a major wrong. It is a decision that will mark a drastic change in her life. In fact, if she falters this new path could lead to a quick death.

I never thought of Kristin Kreuk as a leading lady. When I heard that she had been cast as Chun Li I was very skeptical, at first. I didn’t think the pretty little heartbreaker from Smallville was strong enough to portray the emotional and physical demands of "The Strongest Woman in the World". There are rare (very rare) moments when I am pleased to admit my misjudgments. Take a picture because this is one of those moments. Ms. Kreuk gets my respect for the stunt work she did but I was more in awe of her dramatic chops. I am a major Chun Li fan and Kreuk portrayed Chun Li as the hero I know and admire.

Eventually, we learn that the man who abducted Mr. Li is Bison (Neal McDonough). At first glance, Bison seems like a mild mannered businessman. But underneath the polite gestures and tailored suits is a ruthless despot on the rise. McDonough gives the Shadowloo (or Shadow-lao as pronounced in the film) leader a personality akin to a rattlesnake. If you keep your distance he might not harm you but if you get too close he will strike and you better pray you move fast enough to dodge his attack.

Michael Clark Duncan plays Balrog, Bison’s personal bodyguard. Balrog is just as menacing as his boss and has the massive muscles to back up his threats. Vega (Taboo) is Bison’s top assassin. The stealth fighter wears a shiny facemask and wields a deadly set of claws. Bison’s henchwoman, Cantana (Josie Ho), seems like the typical ice queen but she carries a big surprise that will make way for one of the best scenes in the movie. (hint: it takes place in a bathroom)

In Chun Li’s corner is her trainer/mentor, Gen, played by Robin Shou. In Mortal Kombat he played the pupil to Christopher Lambert’s “Raiden”. This time Shou gets to wear the mantle of “master” as he prepares his young student for the fights of her life. Li also gets some assistance from the long arms of the law. Homicide Detective Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood) teams up with US agent Charlie Nash (Chris Klein) to investigate the sudden uprising in crime on Bangkok’s streets. With Maya’s homefield knowledge and Charlie’s Shadowloo intel combined they have a decent shot at shutting down Bison’s criminal empire for good.

The fighting is fierce and very Hong Kong influenced. There’s even a cameo from legendary actress Cheng Pei Pei whom most would recognize as “Jade Fox” in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but kung fu devotees would see an even greater significance to Pei Pei’s appearance. Cheng Pei Pei played many a heroine in a number of Shaw Brothers productions including the 1966 classic Come Drink With Me (which I happen to own on DVD).

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li is an exceptional action flick with a solid plot and some surprisingly effective performances. This bears absolutely no resemblance to the shlocky 1994 Street Fighter movie that starred Jean Claude Van Damme. Though I do wish the stunt cameras hadn’t moved so swiftly at times so I could see all the details of the fantastic choreography I highly recommend this movie.

Round II – World Warrior Edition

The story is mostly based on the Chun Li’s origin tale established in Street Fighter Alpha minus the police badge. Key points such as Chun Li witnessing Bison harm her father and her tutelage under Gen is fully realized in SF: The Legend of Chun Li. I think screenwriter, Justin Marks, is due some praise for adapting the SF universe to the real world while keeping true to the spirit of the SF mythology.

Kristin Kreuk nails it. She is Chun Li. She delivers the tears at her mother’s funeral and she delivers the flying kicks with the same passion and intensity. I also liked the add-ons to her origin such as her musical career and scenes with her mother. Nothing wrong with the traditional single father set-up Chun Li usually has but it was touching to see her full family intact. Chun-Li fans, you may now breathe a cleansing sigh of relief.

Speaking of Mr. Li, his role is changed from Hong Kong police official to international businessman. Not a big deal since he still gets bullied by Shadowloo and still serves as one of Chun Li’s major motivations for going vigilante. Again, Marks gets applause for preserving Mr. Li’s fighting skills.

He may be a businessman in this story but he ain’t no pushover. It took me awhile to warm to Chris Klein’s interpretation of Charlie. I always imagined that Charlie was a straight-laced military officer who was a lot calmer than his hot-headed buddy, Guile. In this movie, Charlie is depicted as a cocky and slightly obnoxious agent. He also doesn’t get to show off much of his fighting skills. No Sonic Booms or Somersault Kicks. On the other hand, Charlie gets a better deal in this adaptation than he did back in 1994. Blanka transformation, indeed. Hhmph!

Balrog is back and he’s bad! Another wrong Hollywood corrected was restoring Balrog’s malevolent roots after he was erroneously made a hero in 1994’s Street Fighter. Balrog fans are gonna love Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance. To be honest I never thought of Balrog as much of a threat in the SF games but Duncan makes him very threating and downright scary in Legend of Chun Li. I now have a newfound respect for the boxer / bodyguard.

However, Vega fans might be ticked because I'm a Vega fan and I'm kind of ticked. The character’s redesign wasn’t so hard to accept. Long and unbraided black hair? Stainless steel Shredder mask? Black ninja jumpsuit? Those are okay changes. Even his intro scene where he dispatches a group of gangster bosses off screen is a sweet appetizer for the carnage we’ll see him inflict onscreen. Then the inevitable Vega / Chun Li fight scene commences and it is over very quickly. Even a younger version of Vega should’ve been able to give Chun Li a longer run for her money. Perhaps it might help to look at the scene from a different perspective? Like maybe Vega sorely overestimated the girl and went easier on her than he should have. His arrogance allowed her to gain the upper hand and win the fight quicker than expected. I got nothing against the Black Eye Peas member, Taboo, but I felt cheated that I couldn’t see more of his skills and I felt even more robbed of by the lack of Vega coverage. Better luck next film, I guess. 

Ah and Mr. M. Bison. Talk about changes. Blonde, blue eyed, Irish accent, no dictator jumpsuit, no cape, not even the captain’s hat. Bison appears to be reduced to a suit. Tailored jacket, matching tie, and cufflinks? This is a very different look for the Shadowloo boss. However, in the context of this real world based reality “Corporate Bison” is a perfect fit. Despite the business attire, Neal McDonough still portrays a very powerful and intimidating man with the cajones of his namesake. Marks attempts to give the mysterious villain an origin that includes an impoverished childhood on the streets of Bangkok and an explanation of Bison’s spiritually based powers. While I liked Raul Julia’s maniacal version McDonough’s “cool-as-a-cucumber” approach is just as monstrous......and kind of sexy.

Aside from his long beard being ripped off his face and plunked on his head Gen isn’t altered that much. He’s still a repentant criminal that hopes to atone for his sins by training Chun Li and plotting to defeat Bison. Plus, Robin Shou portrays him so I don’t even have to say anything more about Gen. He’s in good hands.

Remember that pathetic flash that Ryu did in Street Fighter? Well, say goodbye to that poor excuse for a fireball because Chun Li’s "Kikoken" is here and is a lot more than a quick flash of light. Though the fireball is one of the more fantastical parts of the story it is done in a respectful and mature way rather than as an effects gimmick. The Kikoken is just another part of Chun Li’s arsenal and a familiar part of her video game counterpart.

There is yet another SF character that appears later in the film. I honestly thought it was going to be Cammy but, alas, it was not. This is a very alternate version of the original character but part of the character’s game canon stays intact. That part is a connection to Bison’s “soul” power.

I am overjoyed to share with you, my fellow World Warriors, that Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li is absolutely and positively nothing like the hack-joke we were served in 1994. This is the serious live action adaptation we’ve been waiting for. Is it flawless? No. There were some things I would’ve written differently especially in the final act. But for the most part, this is a major step in the right direction and a validation that SF can be made into a seriously dramatic piece. The conclusion offers a worthwhile opportunity for a like-minded sequel or even another “Legend” film starring Ryu or Guile or any other SF character.

Of course, that will strongly depend on the box office receipts so tell a friend and then tell your mama. If you saw it once then see it again, if you can afford it. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li is worth supporting.