Film Review: The Martial Artist - A Disjointed and Underwhelming MMA Drama
By Hammad Hassan
The Martial Artist, a Pak-USA co-production starring Shaz Khan-who also co-wrote, directed, and produced the film-is an ambitious but ultimately disappointing venture. Despite its promising premise, the film stumbles due to inconsistent storytelling, uneven lighting, shaky direction, and disjointed editing. What could have been a gripping sports drama about overcoming inner demons ends up as a frustrating watch, lacking both emotional depth and cinematic impact.
The central question-Can one achieve greatness without conquering their inner struggles?-is compelling, but the execution falls flat. Shaz Khan plays Ibby Bakran, an MMA fighter whose ego becomes his greatest adversary. However, the narrative is muddled, jumping between themes without clarity. Why does Ibby want to be the world's best fighter? The film hints at financial desperation but never digs deeper, leaving his motivation shallow and unconvincing.
The MMA championship, which should be the heart of the film, feels like an afterthought. If this tournament is such a prestigious event, why is its significance never established? Ibby wins his first fight with ease, only to descend into sudden, unexplained rage-a character shift that feels unearned. The screenplay tries to reinvent the sports genre but ends up feeling pretentious rather than profound.
Ibby's relationships suffer from the same lack of development. His mother disapproves of his career, but her reasons remain vague. A brief mention of his father being a former fighter goes nowhere, leaving a gap in the backstory. The abrupt death of his brother (a clumsy plot device) and the exit of his girlfriend (Sanam Saeed, wasted in a thankless role) add little emotional weight. When Ibby travels to Pakistan for redemption under his grandfather's (Dada) guidance, the film drowns in heavy-handed, unnatural dialogue that does little to advance the theme.
The final showdown against "Decan"-the league's grand champion-lacks buildup. Who is he? Why does defeating him matter? A sports film can transcend its genre by focusing on its core theme, but here, neither the stakes nor the opponent feels meaningful. The fight choreography is underwhelming, and the resolution fails to deliver a satisfying payoff. The film's biggest flaw is its self-indulgent writing-it feels like a passion project that forgot its audience.
The Martial Artist highlights a recurring issue in Indo-Pak cinema: the need for stronger scripts and seasoned writers. A film must engage viewers by posing compelling questions and answering them with emotional and logical coherence. Instead, this movie relies on half-baked scenes that push the plot forward artificially, leaving the audience disconnected.
Verdict: 2/10 - A well-intentioned but poorly executed drama with weak direction, a messy narrative, and no emotional resonance. Unless you're an MMA enthusiast with a high tolerance for disjointed storytelling, this is one to skip.
