Back Kick Heaven
I don't know many people that have seen this film; however, the few I do know don't seem to like it. I can't understand why this is. It seems to include all the ingredients necessary to make a martial arts masterpiece... insane martial arts moves... intricate plot... sublime acting and Mikey Graham from Irish Boy Band Boyzone.
The lead actor/character, James Bennett, is perhaps the most significant martial arts actor since the late great Bruce Lee. He delivers a fantastic acting performance delivering his lines with the eloquence of a Shakespearean actor while delivering his back kicks with the ferocity of a kangaroo. Indeed Bennett's back kick is certainly his most effective weapon which is why he chooses to use it all the time.
Another character of note is Bennett's mentor the monk. Every great martial arts film has a mysterious elderly master and fatal deviation is no different. However, it does approach this aspect of the genre in a unique way. The monk, Bennett's master and trainer, doesn't seem to have any training himself. Basically he just gives Bennett Yoga like advice and hides behind trees.
Last but certainly not least is the performance of Mikey Graham. Mikey Graham was a member of an Irish boy band called Boyzone which enjoyed major success in Ireland and Britain throughout the late nineties. Always the bride's maid and never the bride, Mikey had always been considered one of the less important members of the band. He was never as popular with the fans as his colleagues were. Fatal Deviation was expected to put Mikey to the forefront... it should have. Playing an extremely brutal gangster was always going to be tough for the clean cut pop star but his stellar performance was comparable with that of Daniel Day Lewis in "Gangs of New York." Look out for his use of "angry eyebrows" to portray how angry he feels.
To conclude I feel the film has been unduly criticized, and for true martial arts fans this is a must see.
The lead actor/character, James Bennett, is perhaps the most significant martial arts actor since the late great Bruce Lee. He delivers a fantastic acting performance delivering his lines with the eloquence of a Shakespearean actor while delivering his back kicks with the ferocity of a kangaroo. Indeed Bennett's back kick is certainly his most effective weapon which is why he chooses to use it all the time.
Another character of note is Bennett's mentor the monk. Every great martial arts film has a mysterious elderly master and fatal deviation is no different. However, it does approach this aspect of the genre in a unique way. The monk, Bennett's master and trainer, doesn't seem to have any training himself. Basically he just gives Bennett Yoga like advice and hides behind trees.
Last but certainly not least is the performance of Mikey Graham. Mikey Graham was a member of an Irish boy band called Boyzone which enjoyed major success in Ireland and Britain throughout the late nineties. Always the bride's maid and never the bride, Mikey had always been considered one of the less important members of the band. He was never as popular with the fans as his colleagues were. Fatal Deviation was expected to put Mikey to the forefront... it should have. Playing an extremely brutal gangster was always going to be tough for the clean cut pop star but his stellar performance was comparable with that of Daniel Day Lewis in "Gangs of New York." Look out for his use of "angry eyebrows" to portray how angry he feels.
To conclude I feel the film has been unduly criticized, and for true martial arts fans this is a must see.
- crazymother
- Mar 17, 2008