Hand 2 Hand

Fist 2 Fist is a well made, well acted movie. I really enjoyed the fight scenes, story lines, and comedic scenes (there were some real belly laugh moments). I saw the movie not expecting much; but walked away pleasantly surprised at having thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The story line was one you would see in a block buster Hollywood movie. A wise older man guiding the younger man with his years of experience and training to fight the bad guys. Along with a love interest story line, and saving the damsel from the bad guys.

It is timely with the popularity of MMA now a days. The lead and the crew are also very skilled martial artists. This makes for very exciting fight scenes.

This movie requires two viewings.

The first is for the martial arts, the story, the conflict, the characters, the martial arts, the twists and turns, and, of course, the martial arts.

The second is for the cinematography. This is not your typical one-weekend basement-budget hand-held camera movie, but a well-filmed and nicely-edited piece, with eye-catching angles, curious locations, fascinating faces, and varied lighting, from high noon to late night, from sun-baked outside desert to indoor fluorescent studio.

Jino Kang is (for me, at least) a Korean butt-kicking Ken Takakura, and Bill Duff is an interesting counter-foil (especially if you've seen him in the "Human Weapon" series. The rest of the cast are an eclectic melange that makes the movie seem that much more real.

Disclaimer: I had minor involvement with the making of this movie, but I enjoyed watching it anyway. :-)

There aren't too many Martial Arts films that has a decent plot, solid acting and great fight scenes, usually one or more ingredients are missing. Fist 2 Fist aka Hand 2 Hand has the right amount of everything that makes it a classic. I would rate it higher if it weren't for the under-funded budget. The plot is a basic revenge story with a fresh twist, cerebral enough to engage your thinking mind. The characters are cool, fun and captivating. To note, Tokyo Joe's sidekick, "Bruno" played by James Hiser was extremely entertaining. The acting skills of all the characters were commendable. Jino Kang's laconic style is visually arresting and palpable. Mimi, played by Melissa Tan was well played too. The generic, loud nagging spouse was restraint with brooding control and emphatically delivered. Tokyo Joe played by Bill Duff was likable villain, even though the character was diabolical and ominous. I didn't want anything tragic for the character(I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but nevertheless). The fight scenes are the best I have ever seen. Excellent choreography and visually striking (pun intended). Check it out and judge for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Fist 2 Fist is one of few realistic martial arts movies I have seen. The fighting scenes are well executed and choreographed but not flamboyant. Too many Hollywood films have ruined our perception of martial arts and have downgraded it to a circus display of flying artists executing unrealistic moves in the air. If you are seeking a fantasy film embellishing martial arts, Fist 2 Fist is not for you. But if you desire a peek at the real inner-city world of martial arts, and it's potential benefits to our society's youth, this one will entertain you. The director has done a nice job of relating the art to real-life situations; his compassion for others shines through. Further, the lead character's physical skill is nothing short of remarkable.

Though it is apparent that some of the actors are unseasoned, this minor shortcoming is overshadowed by the intensity of the fighting scenes. If you have any experience working out with other fighters, you will appreciate the high level of expertise of these athletes. During many of the scenes, I found myself mesmerized by the authenticity of the discussion and interaction during workouts. This film kept me glued to the t.v.

I recall reading a critical review of a recent Godzilla remake. The reporter commented on the lack of character development and plot. All I could think was, "Really? Are you kidding me?" I wrote a response saying that what a movie-goer wants to see in a Godzilla movie is a HUGE lizard wreaking havoc on the city-pure and simple. I somewhat have a similar view of martial arts movies. I want to see a lot of action scenes preformed by colorful characters. I went to see F2F with rather modest expectations, realizing that it was born from a modest budget. What I found was that it far exceeded my expectations. There were tons of well choreographed fight scenes (many more than the early Chuck Norris movies) and the characters were in fact quite colorful. I believe that Jino Kang was able to produce an amazing product given the restraints on assets. Like many, I am very much interested in seeing what he can produce with a little more $$$$. Go see the movie-it's worth your time!