THEM Anime Reviews
Home Reviews Extras Forums
AKA: N/A
Genre: Action, Game-based
Length: Movie, 90 minutes
Distributor: Currently licensed by Discotek Media.
Content Rating: 13+ (violence, brief nudity)
Related Series: Street Fighter II V, Street Fighter II Alpha
Also Recommended:
Notes: Based on the video game.

Sony's original license for this movie has since expired, although it remains licensed under Manga Entertainment's auspices.
Rating:

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie

Synopsis

Street Fighter is based on the video game that started the entire one-on-one street fighting craze: Street Fighter II. A plot summary would really be a formality here, since you aren


Review

Let's ignore the plot for now, which while better than most martial-arts flicks of its type, is simply an excuse for the fighting. Suffice to say, though, that the story is light-years ahead of the wretched excuse of a movie the live-action Street Fighter was, and a lot more faithful to the original character designs, too (what did they DO to Ken and Ryu? Argh!)

The animation and art are simply astounding. One watches this movie for the action sequences, and one definitely isn't disappointed. From the beginning to the end, the fighting and action is fluid, lightning fast, and smooth. The fighting styles of each character are done with remarkable detail and attention; an avid fan of the game can actually recognize "normal" moves (you know, ones that don’t need a special joystick motion to activate) unique to each character in the sequences. Even the "special moves" (the ones where you have to mangle to joystick to execute) are done realistically and believably. You'd think you really could do a Hurricane Kick, if you just practiced enough.

The soundtrack is a bit disappointing, though. The American release took the liberty of toying with the original track, substituting Alice in Chains and the like (no joke) for a lot of the music. Not bad, but not as good as it could be. And the dubbing is BAD. Really really bad. Some of the worst I've heard outside of Clash of the Bionoids.

Overall, not bad at all, although the lack of plot keeps it from being a Great. Want pure martial arts action? Street Fighter, man. Substance? Go elsewhere.

Carlos/Giancarla Ross and Raphael See

Recommended Audience: Lots of realistic martial arts violence, so probably not one for the kiddies. There's a thirty-second shower scene (of Chun Li, or course) that's snipped in some versions of the movie.



Version(s) Viewed: VHS, English dub
Review Status: Full (1/1)
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie © 1994 Capcom Co Ltd
 
© 1996-2015 THEM Anime Reviews. All rights reserved.