Blood & Bone DVD: Review By Solar XI

Usually given minor roles or something where you get that "where's that guy from?" fee. Michael Jai White has prominently rose to fame with recent success in the films "The Dark Knight" and Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?"and the recent comedy exploitation parody "Black Dynamite". In lesser known roles he has proved his tough guy-ness and successfully played both hero and bad guy in his films.

Blood and Bone tells the story of an ex-convict named Bone, who as an excellent fighter, fights for money for unknown reasons. He meets Pinball (Dante Basco), a young fight promoter who sets Bone's fights and also keeps a percentage of the profit. Eventually Bone meets James (Eamonn Walker), a gangster who arranges with Pinball to set fights with his fighter Hammerman (Bob Sapp) who ultimately wins leaving James to all bets.

Most of the fight scenes are pretty muched choreograghed, though I'm pretty sure all actors did their own stunts. Michael Jai White, who practices whatever style, easily meshes it with street fighting along with Bone's secret ways gives the audience this ninja themed film. Ironically there is fight sequence with swords.

The director, Ben Ramsey, directs a good film but doesn't completely connect his characters. There is character evolvement within Bone, himself and only. White brings the character to life, mainly because he is a total stand-up and versatile actor. He does bring a hardened emotion of sadness that Ramsey is able to capture. The possible love interest Tamara, played by Nona Gaye, leaves the audience to wonder if Bone loves at all. Ramsey does leave audience to wonder about a sequel.

The writer is on the money. Michael Andrews nails a complete story involving slight romance and intense action which sometimes sadly come out as a horrible concotion that shouldn't have even been green lighted. Andrews knows where to keep the fans wanting more fighting. Ramsey does complete the void but slacks a bit in scenes involving conversations and story development. Most of the films comical sense comes from Basco's character Pinball. Pinball comes off naive and soon becomes a "go with the flow" kind of guy.

I've never been the one to own direct-to-DVD films (mostly due to bad experiences and excruciating disappointments) but this definitely something enjoyable. It is the only straight-to-shelves movie I've seen that was distributed by Sony Pictures.