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Touches You

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I didn't run into that lead before, or that sidekick. The movie seems a low budget one from the 1990s, if not a direct-to-video as well. The opening credits have some Asian dudes, and the director's last name is "Wang" ! So, those were my thoughts while getting into that movie. I felt "Ok, another martial arts crap", but – to tell you the truth – it wasn't the usual crap. It was something really better. The fights are adeptly choreographed and fervently delivered. This time, while the lead hits one bad guy, the rest of the bad guys don't stand idiotically, waving their hands in the air pointlessly as some goons in old Atari game. The moves happen in such a snappy pace, and the editing doesn't annoy you while savoring them. Wanna one word : the fights here are amazing, enjoyable and – this is the best part – believable.Despite being in an infamous "V" movie, some action moments do impress. Things like exploding the motel and the space rocket-shaped nightclub were utterly ambitious. I knew later that the last was a miniature, but that didn't deny being different and inspiring. (Mark Dacascos) is a fine martial artist. His tragedy is in his metal face. He makes (Jet Li) seem like (Robert De Niro). True he tried to look nice while his singing scene, but save that, he was as nice as a robot.(Brittany Murphy) shines in her long cameo. She was like a psychotic version of Marilyn Monroe, yet in a good funny way. I loved the fact that she got to steal the camera from everybody for a while. Maybe they dumped her half way through the movie because of that itself !The character of (Vic Madison), played by (John Pyper-Ferguson), was interesting. For a villain he was a determined fierce loser, who leads his men by instructions taken from Sesame Street. In any other movie of the same kind, he would have been the determined fierce only. This unserious spirit distinguished the movie, like when Tchaikovsky's (Romeo and Juliet) overture spurts out unexpectedly in one moment during a big fight !Now to the problems : (Kadeem Hardison) was unfunny, with punch lines from hell (more like "punish" lines indeed !). I couldn't figure out how he turned into Kung Fu master along the way ! And his relationship with his wife, or any other female, was useless, which leads us to the script. The plot is thinner than an ant on a diet. It's just an obvious excuse to fabricate some fights every now and then, otherwise it's some sci-fi mumbo jumbo about super soldier (or something close to that !). The lead was unbeatable, any sign of weakness from his side was out, which let some unseen bore steal in. I hated dispensing with (Murphy) so early. She could have evolved as one of the 2 leads' love, but no such luck. Though, what I hated more was the 2 leads' final decision of killing (Pyper-Ferguson) character in cold blood. That was the most inhuman thing I have had from these leads who were pretty much human seconds before that.Anyway, this movie managed to dot the i's and cross the t's for a very important formula in the martial arts movies. The formula of taciturn Asian fighter with noisy Afro-American laughingstock as buddies in a buddy action comedy. Because right in the next year, Hong Kong superstar (Jackie Chan) would apply it, with (Chris Tucker), in an American movie named (Rush Hour – 1998), and (Sammo Hung), another Hong Kong action star, would do the very same, with (Arsenio Hall) in an American TV show named (Martial Law – 1998). And after 20 years of struggling, this formula in specific was the lucky charm for the Asian martial artists to be finally accepted in American works (enough to remember that Rush Hour's tag-line was "the fastest hands in the east versus the fastest tongue in the west !).During (Drive) I kept thinking that (Jackie Chan) watched it, felt jealous, and learned himself a lesson. Well, (Drive) is fun pure action. With bigger budget, better script, and cinematic release, it could have made (Chan) very jealous I must say. If you haven't watched it, just do, believe me.. it's cooler than it looks.

Not to be confused with the boring artsy movie with the same title . This Drive came first and has all the entertainment value the other Drive lacks . While this direct to video action/comedy won't blow anyones mind, it definitely delivers the goods for action. Drive is very fast paced Hong Kong styled action movie . Actor/martial artist Mark Dacascos is on the run from a rogue government corporation from Hong Kong that want to recover a bio energy module placed in his chest. He kidnaps Kadeem Hardinson to drive him to LA and remove /sell the module for 5 million dollars.In the process of getting to their destination they are pursued by a bad guy that looks like Ted Nugent and there are lots of fine choreographed fights and John Woo styled shootouts.As far as direct to video action flicks go , Drive is better than most. Mark Dacascos is very under rated as well and deserves more larger , wide release film projects.

I stumbled upon this film about 7 or so years ago in the video store, and on a whim picked it out. I must admit to being fairly entertained with what I saw. The fight scenes are gloriously over the top and well choreographed, so much so I think I was laughing at several points during the film.The plot is about as complex as a glass of water, but forget that for now, this is a film you watch for the action, for the cheesy comedy factor, for the hyper-kinetic, lighting quick scenes of martial arts mayhem. The fight scenes come frequent enough and do not disappoint. There are killer ninja robots, gun wielding assassins who burst through windows on stunt bikes, and a large supply of hapless henchmen who couldn't shoot a barn door at 3 paces.Marc Dacascos shows of his talents in the lead role as Toby Wang, the hero and scene stealer of the film, Kadeem Hardison is on hand as Malik, the out of luck barfly who gets caught up in the ordeal, then there is Brittany Murphy in one pre-famous roles as a the ditsy daughter of a Motel owning couple.

Okay, Okay, this is a shocker, especially considering who the producer was, but Drive is a wonderfully entertaining film. The action set pieces are great, the pacing is tight (well, with two small exceptions), and the special effects aren't asked to do too much. The plot is thin, the characters thinly written, and the end seems a little rushed. BUT, that's okay. Dacascos and Hardison do a great job of fleshing out their characters and adding zip to the dialog. Pyper-Ferguson transcends the limitations of his role and Tracey Walter is, well, as quirky as ever. Also surprisingly good was Brittany Murphy as Deliverance, the nutty hotel clerk.While no awards will ever be sent its way, it is well worth a rental and, maybe, a re-viewing.