TKO

For individuals that focus in on fighting-sports movies, TKO originally was named Urban Assault. The movie features Andre McCoy (stunt double for Lawrence Fishburne in The Matrix), Daz Crawford (Blade II, Game Over, Wentworth), and Anthony Ray Parker (The Marine, Xena, and Two-Eleven). These actors come together in a story that focuses in on an unlicensed fight tournament that is held by a crime syndicate at the bottom of a high-rise building. Where this tournament has been going on for a few years, the two trainers – Mick (Crawford) and Martin (Paul Green, from Game Over and Komodo Vs. Cobra) – are forced to put their careers on the line.

The individuals are forced to find the best of the best in terms of fighters, and if their fighter loses, they are forced to leave the company. However, there seems to be an easy way for these individuals to be victorious – Zendo, who had won the tournament in the past but had retired for a more holy, mystical life – is looking to avenge eir brother in the ring and take back the title one last time. As one can likely expect, there is tons of fight footage here. Where this is a Western production, TKO’s fight sequences are top-notch, rivaling what is currently being released in Korea, China, and Japan.

The fight sequences balance out any stilted or otherwise unreleastic acting from the crew, but let me be clear here: for individuals that have typically either been fighters or behind the scenes, the acting here is solid. There is not much in the way of additional features beyond the original trailers for the movies, along with English and Spanish subtitles. However, this is not a major concern considering the high-impact nature and spastic energy which arcs through the film. Individuals that are looking for a philosophical puzzle or a psychological thriller will not be completely satisfied by the film, but director Declan Mulvey puts a strong foot forward in TKO, eir first feature film.

I would like to see exactly how Mulvey evolves as a director in the years to come, and I have to applaud Lionsgate for continuing to give new directors the chance they need to get their name out and about. Individuals that want to see a fight movie in the current period would do well to see TKO: the storyline blends together common elements from previous films and makes them germane for the late oughts.

Rating: 7.0/10

TKO / 2008 Lionsgate / 91 Minutes / http://www.lionsgate.com /