Vício Perfeito

This was an ok movie but it would've been better if they would've picked another actress instead of Kiana Madeira as "Sienna". She was a horrible actress. She needs to be in Lifetime movies. You could tell that she was trying a little too hard with her facial expressions. She was definitely over acting. It's hard to explain, just watch the movie and see for yourself. About 30 minutes after it started I almost stopped watching it because her acting was so bad. The plot was all right though. She gets cheated on and trains her new boyfriend to fight in the ring against her cheating ex boyfriend. It was predictable but it was entertaining.

Everything in this movie just feels off. The dialogue is choppy and a lot of times feels like it's written by a highschooler, a lot of the acting is so so, the main characters motivation and drive seems to flip flop all over the place and some of the editing is just confusing. And what is with the constant narrating?! It was so condescending to the audience. Heaven forbid we would be given a chance to figure some of the plot out for ourselves! No, every single feeling and thought needs to be rammed down our throats through narration just so there can't be a shred of doubt about what the writer means. Even though most of the times the female lead is literally describing what we are looking at! The only reason I'm giving this 5 stars is because there are some moments where I feel the main characters have some chemistry. Mainly when they are being playful and there is witty banter. The moments they are having 'a heartfelt moment' felt so forced to me and the dialogue in these scenes was so bad, it becomes funny. Alas though, I don't think this is meant to be a comedy.

Well if it isn't "Beautiful Disaster" (2023) - Mark II! "Sienna" (Kiana Madeira) is a fight trainer who gets a bit narked when her cage-fighting boyfriend "Jax" (Matthew Noszka) hooks up with her little sister. Not only narked, but now homeless! Luckily her pal knows of fellow fighter "Kayden" (Ross Butler - think Henry Golding with muscles) who might have a room to spare. Unsurprisingly he's not interested, but after a meet at a fight where things get a little bit heated, she manages to convince him that only with her help can he hope to win out against the more experienced, and ruthless "Jax". What now ensues is about as predictable as it gets as they gradually fall in lust - even stopping to get a condom from the drawer amidst some rather comically bouncy sex - before a denouement that you can see from space. Everyone is easy enough on the eye, and some of the fight scenes do convey some of the athleticism, stamina and skill (as well as the ocassional brutality) of this gruelling sport; but the acting is pretty terrible and the whole thing - especially at the end - is hugely over-scripted. It's neither perfect nor addictive, this - really just a mediocre romantic drama at best that you will soon forget.

It was really enjoyable to see an Asian male lead play a strong, sexy, masculine and romantic role. Rare and really wonderful. Kiana Madiera and Ross Butler have great chemistry together and really sold both the mixed martial arts (MMA) training and the romance.

Sienna is an MMA trainer working out of the gym if a famous former MMA fighter and surrogate father figure, Julian. While training clients she attends school to get her business degree to eventually partner with Julian in the gym. Things seem to be on track, until she finds out Jax, their best client who is also her boyfriend, is sleeping with her teenage sister Beth. Desperate to find a cheep place to stay, her friend steers her to a room in a basement apartment and Kayden.

Kayden ends up being an MMA fighter in the underground illegal fights and a big winner until Jax shows up on the scene. Sienna eventually becomes both his roommate and trainer. Sienna is also realizing how toxic her and Jax's relationship really was...how he gaslighted her and prevented her from pursuing her own goals. Training Kayden, Sienna is hoping to get some revenge on Jax.

Testosterone heavy MMA story with an equally tough girl and a heavy message about girls being able to do it on their own. There is an equally heavy message about women being valued for more than just their looks...ie they can take a face punch in a fight.

This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it. I am a hardcore romantic and I think this will appeal to other romantics out there. It has the added benefit of really showcasing a physically fit and strong Asian male (something that is rare in the Western film industry).

Watched the movie, and Enjoyed it. It is a good movie from various aspects... ... such as directing, acting, cinema-photographing, atmosphere, the ambiance of the gym-s and the fights, the training, the movements, and the devotion of the young actors for conveying the characters.

When reading the actors background, you don't notice any martial arts experience there, but... they obviously trained much, and well, for their roles in that movie making. Precise, direct, economic movement fighting.

And kudos for the director for her courage in that MMA direction. She deserves it. The director did not prolong the fights for the sake of attracting "fight oriented" audience. But retained the focus on the story.

The movie as story telling, is not perfect, but it is believable and flowing. As the phrase goes... "kurz und scharf" (= "brief and sharp" = ~ "straight and to the point").

That movie's name, and subsequently its "description" here and elsewhere... are misleading and not fit with its contents. Pity. It might draw 'wrong' viewers to it. I wish the description would be changed...

Usually I refrain from writing reviews here, but prefer to be reading them. But now... as this movie is still fresh in the arena... :-) and I see only one review ...which missed entirely the whole point of that movie making (and pulls to misleading directions...), I thought to do something about it... also, at times, I look at the movie and its fights from a different perspective, as been dealing with various martial arts (mainly Budo Taijutsu) for over 46 years, (as part of "way of life" although dealing with visual arts, design and architecture as my mainstream).

So. In short, watch and enjoy.