Where to watch Jiu Jitsu
2 Stars
When Jake Barnes, a master Jiu Jitsu fighter, refuses to face Brax, an indomitable alien creature, the future of humanity hangs in the balance. Injured and suffering from severe amnesia, Jake is captured by a military squad unequipped to fight the merciless intruder who has descended upon the planet. Jake is rescued by Wylie, and an ancient order of Jiu Jitsu fighters who must help him recover his memory and regain his strength in order to band together and defeat Brax in an epic battle that will determine the fate of mankind.
Jiu-jitsu is oddly titled; there is nothing in this film pertaining to the Brazilian martial art. It is derivative of so many other movies that spotting the “inspirations” can become a drinking game. The faux comic book style of Jiu-jitsu and the polished visual design make the movie watchable at the moment, but there is nothing memorable otherwise. Well, experiencing Nicolas Cage channeling Yoda and Dennis Hopper’s character from Apocalypse Now is something that verges on unforgettable.
Alain Moussi and Tony Jaa bring physical grace to the movie; Cage is the wildcard, and Frank Grillo is sorely underused. Jiu Jitsu is packed with plenty of action, and it’s well choreographed, notably an oner that switches POV perspectives during an extended hand-to-hand battle; it’s the lame story that makes the film sag while it lurches from one set piece to another. With all the talent on-screen, I was expecting a lot more from Jiu-Jitsu, and while it’s got high-energy action, it becomes monotonous 20 minutes before the movie ends.
Directed by: Dimitri Logothetis
Written by: Dimitri Logothetis, Jim McGrath
Starring: Alain Moussi, Nicolas Cage, Raymond Pinharry