The Street Fighter (Mini Webisodes)

[Sora]

Episode 1

Initial Thoughts:

Surprisingly a really fantastic start. I had really mediocre expectations on this from the trailer, but they really invested on the acting and plot here (perhaps even more than stuff about the game itself). For a no-low budget film, good acting and plot is saying A LOT.

What really sold this episode (and series) for me is how real it seems to be. Especially for people who are looking to become competitive now, you will inevitably run into the problem of life balance.

'How do I play competitively yet keep doing my job, living my life?'

'I have no time to play this since my life is too busy/messed up right now.'

Or probably the worst scenario of all (and the one that this film depicts): 'I have no job, and this is all I got'.

I won't sing praises to this right now, as its only been the first episode. But, this is a fantastic start and perhaps a sign of fighting game media going outside of the games itself. Looking forward to the next one.

PS.
Lisa Foiles is an added bonus. #allthatforlife

 

[Madnis]

having watched this thing, I have to say this.

This is horrible.

I liked the premise and I liked the idea of this story. The execution fell short. The acting was very wooden, and downright comical. That's partly to blame on the actors, and mainly to blame on the director and the actual lines of the script. were there parts that were supposed to be taken seriously? because some of those scenes were just laughable and in a sad way. if they're trying to suggest that having barely any budget means it can excuse a crappy screenplay, it doesn't. The lighting in certain shots could have definitely used some work. Not to mention, I didn't believe any of the characters. the actors had no chemistry with each other which accentuated their stiff acting and in some places over acting. The only relationship that felt natural was the gamer chick and the main character. and they didn't even really fully establish her role. I get the idea that she's a long time friend, childhood maybe? since they mentioned street fighter 2 so would suggest they have some history together. But who is she? an exgirlfriend? I thought she was the baby sitter at first. cause he was talkin about payin her. and then was like. welp, i don't have the cash. maybe next time.

yeah. for a pilot episode, this was fail. because not only do you want to introduce the premise, you want to set up your characters. solidify their relationships so the audience can follow along. showing me gameplay clips while two characters are supposed to be having a "life" moment/conversation isn't doing it. the strained relationship between father and son barely registered. and wasn't even really a strained relationship when you think about it, just a kid embarrassed to be seen with his parent. that's every fuckin kid. so, what kind of relationship does the kid and dad have exactly? a normal one from the looks of it. so what conflict do we have exactly?

how this thing went:
i got fired from my job.
let's play games.
maybe i should enter a tourney for cash.
but it seems childish.
let me dream on it.
yeah. i think i'ma do it.
hey son. watch me beat ass at a tournament.
son is like nah. i'm goin with my friends.
okay.

tell me when in there, should I begin to care for this guy and his plight? for that matter. WHAT PLIGHT? The fact that he has no job and no means of income? and he's going to use this tournament to get some money? is that it? he's going to win the respect of his son from beating ass in a tourney. he goin start hustlin niggas in $5 dollar money matches first to five?

yeah. i give no shits about that. why? because nothing in there made me care about this dude.

so let me get this straight.

you're getting fired from a publication. that paid well. how do i know? he's living in a house. a well furnished house. he's living comfortably. able to support him and his son. so he was paid well, and isn't necessarily fired, just downgraded to a freelancer. which then tells me.. You have a career. That tells me, you got references. Which then says you can write up a resume. So you have another opportunity to get another full time job. while having a freelance gig on the side? so.. then.. what does needing money have to do with anything? nigga you can get money. so what plight? hell, newspaper might be dying, but you got internet publications right? you work at a newspaper firm, that suggests journalism. CNN nigga. apply. right?

so knowing all this. why should I care about him?

they never established any real struggle for this guy and I'm sitting here wondering, who the fuck wrote this script so i can slap him with a 7-11 slurpee? get the ice all on him, then take a blowdryer and blow dry the shit out of all that so it get super sticky.

anyway, to summarize, I've seen better College pieces. and that's exactly what this felt like. some college fresh amateur film student turning this in for a grade.

to that end. I seen better. a lot better.

i give this show a some ol bull shit.

and i daresay, if you like this crap. you probably like tekken blood vengeance.

Harada ain't got no right to be shitten on NOONE after the crapfest that movie was. how dare he cosign this one and act like it's cool. that movie was a straight fuck you. with no regard for the audience. I expected better from the man who wrote Ghost in the Shell: SAC

this street fighter is almost just as bad, but it's some ol bull shit because it was only 8 minutes of a pilot. That doesn't mean it can't get better.

We're alive started very similarly with the wooden acting, but it had a better script, and it did in fact get better.

as this is a series, i'll give it the benefit of the doubt. but.. yeah. this pilot was some ol bull shit. let's see if it gets better.

 

[Sora]

snip

Why do I feel like I'm the one getting criticized? Lol.

Different strokes for different folks. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the series though.

I won't comment on anything you said (since most is a matter of taste) except for the apparent 'ridiculousness' of the plot. My answer is - it is dramaticized.

The plot isn't meant to be taken literally, like 'I'm out of work and now I'll hustle people for $5 Street Fighter'. You named a bunch of real life scenarios like making a resume, working freelance as alternatives and while that makes common sense, you can't really make a movie from that now can you? (Instead of The Street Fighter, you'd get The Freelance Writer -- hardly interesting)

And further to that point, you tell me on what kind of real life problem does 'I will play pro Street Fighter' make sense as a solution? No one, not even the best writer in the world could let that rock without making it cheesy as all hell. So if you wanted to make a movie that revolved around competitive Street Fighter, you either do a documentary or take some creative liberties with it. I think you are taking the plot WAY too seriously, and completely missed the value of the story because of it.

Look, here's me being fucking real. People ARE losing their jobs left and right. People ARE barely scraping by. Yet the same people STILL play Street Fighter competitively. The FGC has its roots from people on the streets -- criminals, drug dealers or otherwise people who have re-found their way through not only the game, but the community. Some of the biggest names in the FGC right now come from these hard-knock-life roots. This series does a really admirable job presenting (and dramaticizing) that real life hardship.

PS. I like this, yet I don't like Tekken Blood Vengeance. I'll have to ask you to keep your generalizations to yourself.

 

[Madnis]

I felt like i should quote you so you know i'm talking directly to you at this point.

dude, my review is my review.

how you feel, is how you feel. i'm not taking pot shots at you, or attacking your review or how you feel about the show, in truth. I don't care about you and your opinion on the show. i watched it. gave my reveiw, and left it at that.

this is what i came away with when i sat there and watched that crap.

if you feel some special connection with the show, hey. that's you. I didn't.

simple as that.

but the question that comes to my mind is, why are you defending this thing as if you wrote it, shot it, and know all the ins and outs of the inner workings of this production?

clearly, you have a connection.
you know what? fuck it. i'm lettin it go. and i'm telling you i'm letting it go because i'm tired of being the ass hole. it's too much energy spent, but i stand by my review.

it was some ol bull shit all the way. (using spill's review guide in case you're wondering.)

edit: on second thought, you know what? this can be a healthy discussion. and not some lame flame war, but an interesting topic on story telling. I'm going to come back during my lunch break and actually read your review. since you're all for it. and we'll discuss this show right proper.

i'll tell you where I felt things could have been better. and i think we can come to an understanding without me having to become the ass hole once again.

edit 2: sorry. had a daily to attend, gotta work. (like you care. HA!)

 

[Sora]

You're right -- your review is your review. I didn't attack any of your points that was a matter of preference or taste (if you think that the acting was wooden, that's perfectly fine. It actually made me think if I was being too biased about the story).

The only time I really didn't see your review contributing was when you did take a potshot at me by saying 'if you like this review, you must like Tekken: Blood Vengeance'. I don't thrash on your tastes, but don't thrash on mine.

I'm also not going to say I couldn't care less, as I genuinely do want to hear your thoughts on my reaction to your review. For example, if you can come up with a plot line for competitive street fighter that doesn't sound asinine or cheesy, let me know -- I'm really curious if that's possible.