Tapped Out

Direct-to-video MMA films have always been an easy target. While MMA has long since captured the mainstream, more traditional karate and kickboxing flicks have metaphorically beaten the small screen cage fighter to the ground and kicked him as he lay. TAPPED OUT shows that the subgenre is finally getting to its feet, ready to be taken seriously. Despite the film's occasionally ridiculous narrative decisions and other shortcomings, I am genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. This is a serious coming-of-age story with a martial arts theme, and I definitely recommend it.

The story: A maladjusted teenager (Cody Hackman) working off his community service at a local karate dojo embarks on a quest to confront the murderer of his parents (Krzysztof Soszynski).

There are many reasons that this movie might have failed, not limited to its curious casting and status as a KARATE KID knockoff, but it perseveres. At first glance, Cody Hackman appears to be your average prettyboy but turns out to be a real-life competitor who delivers an strong performance as a steadily-improving martial artist. His sensei is played, of all people, by old Michael Biehn, and Biehn somehow manages to be 100% convincing as an instructor. The screenplay the two of them act out is also to its film's credit: the journey of the main character is refreshingly nuanced, with significant victories and setbacks throughout that are not directly tied to the buildup of the ending. Different forces pull him in different directions in a lifelike manner, and even when the movie resorts to moments of clichéd stupidity, these are at least grounded in logic. Stupid decisions are addressed in an almost self-aware manner by the script, and traditional martial arts are not downplayed.

Like most movies marketed as MMA flicks, there is some disappointment in the false advertising of TAPPED OUT: UFC megastars Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida are prominently featured on the DVD cover, but are in the film for only ten minutes. Additionally, the ground & pound fight scenes are not about to outdo the likes of NINJA II's. With that said, the brawls are still a solid highlight of the film. Admirably foregoing slow motion and featuring decent editing, the dozen fights are at worst bearable and at best downright exciting. The choreography is far from ground-breaking – there's some intricate grappling, but that's it – yet the pace and dramatic components of the fights are admirable. I found myself actually holding my breath during some of the later matches simply because the filmmakers did such a good job of making them such close contests between characters I had invested in.

There is no guarantee that traditional fight fans will enjoy this as much as me, and even I teetered on whether to give this a lower rating simply because it wouldn't matter to me if I never saw Cody Hackman in a martial arts movie again. While it may not have rewatch value, this action-drama is worth at least a single viewing and will probably do the trick for general martial arts devotees and MMA nuts alike. Rent it!

Again and again... David vs Goliath stuff! I remember Karate Kid trilogy - Ralph was such a lamer... Real "Karate guys" were taking him apart (spanking his ass) but some lucky punch, disqualifications via illegal punches made him a hero/winner, even thou he was a pitiful wax-in, was-out guy (LAMER)...

I am an UFC fan, and I (think) I know (watched every UFC spectacle + TUF 01-19 steel going) if there is any chance for a guy weighing (i don't know for the fact)... like 135 pounds to take over that BEAST.. The Polish Experiment - 205 (when fit) - Krzysztof Soszynski! That one arm choke near the end... guys... get real... Someone should talk to Cody and tell him to use "telephone move" to protect... Look at the UFC 173!... Btw... he was 99% off due to choke, but he was able to move out of going asleep!... Get real! Btw... he had just 6 week to train... In a real world - even his temp coaches - Anderson Silva & Lyoto Machida could'n help him. The difference in muscle mass and experience is just enormous! Watchable, but not real - Cody... do not co-produce movies you're in! (as Stallone, Schwarzenegger... etc!)

I scored tickets last night to the Toronto premiere and I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. It looked like another crappy MMA movie, but it was anything but that. After watching the trailer I expected there to be a lot more action, but I wasn't disappointed by it. I'd also consider the film more of a drama, as most of the fighting is left for the final act. When there is action, though, it's extremely violent and realistic. People seemed to be on the edge of their seats and I felt every punch.

The film had a lot of funny moments, and the acting was pretty solid throughout. The biggest surprise was UFC Fighter Krzysztof Soszynsy as the villain, Dominic. He stole every scene he was in, and he played the part well. He really came off as a menacing bad guy that you just wanted to see die. It was great to see Michael Biehn playing a Mr. Miyagi and I really bought into the fact that he knew how to kick serious ass as a Karate Instructor. There's also a few references to the original Karate Kid, and it definitely helps that Martin Kove made an appearance.

MMA Fans may be a bit disappointed that Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida don't have a lot of screen time, but I'll tell you their scenes were hands down the best part of the film. I don't want to give it away, but the entire audience loved it and it was actually quiet comedic.

I will say there were weak elements with some of the editing and some of the acting was shoddy at times, but it didn't take you out of it too much. The movie starts off a bit slow, but it really ramps up in the third act when the main character starts training for the tournament.

Overall, I think people will be pretty surprised that there's a lot more depth to this film than your typical fight movie. Also considering this was done on a small budget, they really made it look sharp. It's definitely worth seeing when it comes out.

I was also expecting a movie like those Hector Echavarria MMA movies from a couple years back. They where OK, but had predictable stories, decent fighting yet nothing especially crazy, they also had a bunch of MMA fighters doing cameo to market the project like this one.

But the comparing stop there. The story in this one is really well written and i could really feel for the hero trough the movie. Some people mention there is not much action til later in the movie, i didn't even really notice it, the story really kept me on the edge and i loved how the hero trained. Although it does take some references from a couple known movies(like Karate Kid) i really like how it mix so well a good old Karate setting that remind older movies with todays MMA.

The villain really play his part well, he is truly believable. He does have very little lines but he did a pretty good job when he had ones. The fighting also has an authentic feel to it and the fight choreographers really mixed well a more realistic set-up with some "movie moves".

Of course if you expect Anderson Silva or Lytto Machida to have big roles in this, don't. They seem like the lead on the covers but they have very little screen time, more like an extended cameo, but again what you expected really? They can't really act, there just there to promote the movie.

Really Tapped Out is really one of 2014 best surprise for me. I wasn't expecting much yet i got a strong martial art movie that i enjoy from beginning to end. The hero, the love interest, the villain, the sensei/trainer, they where all memorable characters that i felt for.

Give this a chance you won't regret it.

This was a controversial production in 2014, an MMA film out of a country that specializes in bad sequels, Lifetime movies, and every bad X-Mas movie you have ever seen.

It was ambitious for its humble beginnings, casting the usual Canadian unknowns -- the sole exception being Michael Biehn, one of the Godfathers of the Canadian film industry -- and throwing in some cameos of top MMA fighters.

The controversy even spread to the IMDb where, at the time of release, it appeared that the first reviews were front-loaded by first-time-reviewers (reviewers with only 1 review to their name) who could only gape in wonder at the excellence of the film....?

So, on a second viewing, I say look beyond the controversy and, in spite of a few fails here and there, you will find one of the most satisfying MMA films in recent memory, an unusual but oddly comfortable mix of Karate Kid and Death Wish.

Way under-rated by the critics, props should be given for a script which (like my all-time fave, WARRIOR) knows how to build and build and build without ever getting in its own way.

Here is the unvarnished truth -- while everyone loves MMA - duh! -- there are very few films in that genre that this reviewer can recommend.

This is one of them. Catch it if you can.