Verdict: 3.5/5
Like many boys growing up, I played a variety of video games at my home in Penrith.
From ‘Super Mario Bros’ to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ and ‘NBA Hangtime’, I loved spending my mornings, afternoons and weekends on my Sega Master System, Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. Being an only child, I had a lot of time on my hands…
So, when I went to Hoyts SCREENX in Wetherill Park this week to watch ‘Street Fighter’ – the new live-action reboot of Capcom’s fighting game franchise – I was in nostalgia heaven from the very start.
Seeing these famous ‘Street Fighter’ characters come alive on the big screen, that I used to play with smashing buttons on an old Capcom video arcade machine, gave me literal goosebumps.
Even if you’ve only played the game a few times or just know of it, some of the characters are so iconic, that you’ll instantly recognise them the moment you see them!
The premise of the movie was also fairly easy to follow as well.
Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (played by Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (played by Noah Centineo) are pulled back into the fray when the mysterious Chun-Li (played by Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament – a brutal clash of fists, fate and fury.
Behind the battle royale is a deadly conspiracy that forces them to confront each other and the demons of their past. If they fail, it’s game over.
The film leans heavily into the arcade spirit of the classic games, packing in Hadoukens, signature moves, colourful fighters and plenty of fan-service elements while aiming to work as an action spectacle for both longtime players and newcomers.
On top of the key cast, ‘Street Fighter’ features several well-known faces from sports entertainment and pop culture.
Not only do WWE superstars Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes play characters in the movie, but so does Hollywood heartthrob Jason Momoa, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and champion Australian UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski – seriously!
Everywhere you turn, there’s someone or something that you’ll recognise.
‘Street Fighter’ also has a sensational soundtrack, with songs from the ‘90s you’ll know and love peppered throughout the two-hour duration of the film. And I can almost guarantee that you’ll be streaming 4 Non Blondes’ hit ‘What’s Up’ immediately after the film has finished – IYKYK.
Look, the new ‘Street Fighter’ film wasn’t made to win major awards or please those dusty old critics (you know the ones), but it’s sure to win you over as it captures the spirit of the games incredibly well, features some of the best action choreography I’ve seen in a long time and, well, because it just works as pure popcorn entertainment!
Oh, and if you get an opportunity to see ‘Street Fighter’ at a Hoyts SCREENX cinema – do it, as it adds a whole new dimension to the film!
See this movie at Hoyts.
