Genre: Sport

Michael Jai White returns to direct and star in the third instalment of the unlikely ‘Never Back Down’ franchise, and he delivers another solidly enjoyable entry.

There is a solid mix of winning visual gags, one-liners and absurdism that makes ‘Never Say Die’ entertaining even for those of us who do not speak Mandarin.

Much is left out that would have made this a much more well-rounded work – a missed opportunity perhaps, but certainly not an unimpressive two hour drama despite this.

As is often the case with Chow’s movies, what really sets it apart from other outings in the genre is the inclusion of a heartfelt story.

Much of the problem with ‘Speed Angels’ is its apparent contentment with clichés and a dogged determination to be utterly mundane.

It would take something quite exceptional to take such cliched elements and make them stand out from the crowd and while it’s an enjoyable feel-good film it’s not the kind of the production that leaves much of a lasting impression.

Imbued with that understated eccentricity that many Japanese comedies have used so effectively, Masayuki Suo’s homage to his country’s unique culture proves to be a winning effort.

By the time the end credits start to run, there is the definite feeling that strong potential has been wasted.

Despite its obvious shortcomings, ‘The Foul King’ is an excellent advert for Korean cinema and retains a strong entertainment value even during its weaker moments.

If you’re a fan of the manga/anime or enjoy superhuman sports movies like ‘Shaolin Soccer’, I would strongly advise you to seek out ‘The Prince Of Tennis’.

It takes the established formula and characters from the show, and then just tacks on a rather flimsy story to drag it out to feature length.

If like me, you have already come to terms with how often Jackie does use doubles, compared to how much we are led to believe, then the film is worth four stars due to the quality car and fight action.