Redbelt (Ws Dub Sub Ac3 Dol) [Blu-ray] [2008] [US Import]

The best thing to do is not to read any reviews for this film, go into it blind and you will be richly rewarded.
So, in effect, stop reading now!!!!
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Mike Terry, a ju-jitsu instructor in a struggling martial arts practice, where a turn of events occurs that tumbles him into whole new situations, both good, bad and tragic.
Whatever the world throws at him, Mike tries to do the honourable thing, an ancient notion, sometimes at odds with the modern money chasing world.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Redbelt, the many twists and turns are rarely telegraphed as per much of the current hollywood fare, the soundtrack too doesn't give the game away with bombast and fanfare either, leaving the actual acting and story to do the storytelling on it's own for once.
Chiwetel, is ably supported thru this movie by Tim Allen, playing it straight, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, and a host of lesser known, but very able actors.
I won't give the game away, just see this film and enjoy the ride.
Honour is restored.

I will not reveal any of the plot here, and others have talked about the basics, so I will just say that this is very obviously a film made, and heavily influenced by, real martial artists. Their is action in it, not like in a traditional action film, but the fights are well done and very technical. Martial Artists will get a kick out of seeing some very well executed Ju Jitsu and Judo techniques on the mats. But above and beyond that is the message the film delivers, about honour, decency, courage, responsibility, loyalty. All the things that Martial Arts asks of it's practitioners. It does not preach to the viewer, but it makes you think. And that is this films strength.

Absolutely amazing, a must buy. Especially at the price.

I watched this film purely because Chiwetel Ejiofor stars. Ejiofor's performance in "Dirty Pretty Things" was superb and I have been keen to see another silky, powerful performance from him. Sadly, many of his more recent efforts, while achieving commercial success, have not shown off his acting chops. Thankfully, Redbelt does. Redbelt is a very accomplished film. If I have a criticism, I would say that it is not particularly "cinematic." However, that is not to say that you shouldn't seek it out. If you like David Mamet's gritty cop shows, this has a similar feel and multi-layered storyline.

The film deals with the fundamental tenets of all true martial arts and compares them to the temptations of big business - here, movies, pro MMA fights and to an extent, fashion. Ejiofor's character is a warrior, but the story is about finding a way to prevail in seemingly impossible circumstances, the whole time struggling to maintain his integrity, and that of the art he has dedicated himself to. Not all of his fights are physical and this is where the film scores for me. While some other reviewers have criticised the story for lacking credibility, I felt that the story more than carried itself. All effects had a plausible cause and the snowballing problems could be real enough.

Additionally, those who have criticised the fights might be well versed in chop socky films (nothing wrong with that!), but Redbelt does a fine job of showing off Jiu Jitsu. Moreover, Ejiofor's fights are far more entertaining than anything I have seen from Steven Siegal - a bona fide Jiu Jitsu martial artist. Jiu Jitsu doesn't have the "wow!" factor of kung fu, but if you appreciate the skill of close quarters grappling, Redbelt has some excellent scenes.

While many Hong Kong Kung Fu films from the past tried to communicate the principles of martial arts, few survived the translation process. The stripped back approach Mamet has chosen for Redbelt, along with the West Coast setting, really help to put the principles into a setting that will be easier to understand for Western audiences. Although there were some highly predictable set pieces to the film, I would say that it represents it genre very well.