Fighting

So, humans think they know a thing or two about fighting eh? Well, your martial skills are no match for the mighty Nebulon Channing Tatum. Nebulon was not expecting great things, but I followed the recommendations of the great human guru Kermode, plus everything else out at the moment sounds like utter dross.

Channing, apart from having the best name ever, is a down on his luck guy struggling to make it in New York City. When an attempt to rip him off lets him demonstrate his punching abilities he is recruited into the world of underground fights by an uber laid-back yet impressive Terrence Howard.

The plot is pretty run of the mill, there's nothing new here and it includes a few points which seem designed to serve the plot rather than the characters, in particular Channing's tendency to get screamingly angry at seemingly irrelevant things. But, there are a few things which set this film apart from the cinematic dregs. Firstly, the city is filmed in such a way that you feel like you are really there, experiencing every street crazy and grimy alley with the protagonists. Nebulon plans to use this film to acclimatise our first wave of troops destined for New York. Secondly, the whole thing is done in a very understated and none tacky way, including the fight scenes which are both brutal and kinetic, thanks in part to the sound.

Overall, this manages to rise above the other dross in the multiplexes at the moment and Nebulon was glad he bothered to get disguised and beam down to earth for this.