Review of Blood and Bone (2009) by Cale R — 07 Jan 2011

I have lost count of the sheer number of excellent films that deserve to be seen by a large audience that end up being relegated to direct to DVD fare. Blood and Bone is the latest entry on that list as it's a well written and thoroughly entertaining film featuring the leading martial artist working in cinema today, Michael jai White.

An ex-con takes the underground fighting world of L.A. by storm as he fights us way up the ranks. It soon becomes clear that he has ulterior motives for doing what he's doing and intends to bring down a drug lord and keep a promise to a fellow inmate.

Usually the plot in a martial arts film plays second fiddle to the fight scenes but credit must be given to director Ben Ramsey for ensuring that we get an interesting and engaging storyline to go along with the action. It's never predictable and is actually quite touching in parts with a strong ending. The character of Bone played by Michael Jai White is an interesting one, he's an ex-con but we are never told why and he is very much a man of principals leading us to believe he was in prison on good intentions. The fight scenes are simply breathtaking, White is an incredible martial artist and some of the moves he pulls off have to be seen to be believed. The fights are bloody, brutal and very realistic and never over the top and prove yet again that White is the greatest martial artist working in Hollywood today.

It really is a travesty that Blood and Bone failed to get a cinema release; it's an entertaining film with brilliant fight scenes and a strong plot and one I would recommend to all, including those who usually avoid martial arts films.