Sometimes you’re just looking for a movie that can knock you out with its bravura showmanship. I love action movies that let me better appreciate the work, with complex choreography and long takes that shows off the professionalism of the stunt performers and the brilliant choreographers. Fans of propulsive, intense, and acrobatic martial arts movies should have more than enough to satisfy with The Furious, a Chinese action movie that wipes the floor with the competition. The story is simple: a father trying to locate his daughter taken by human traffickers. That’s all we need for some truly bone-crushing fights and high-wire stunt-work, especially when you have two of the stars of The Raid. I was in heaven just watching the gloriously creative fights that were constantly shifting, making clear use of moves, countermoves, organic complications, and key uses of geography. I won’t pretend I was emotionally invested in this movie, but as long as people were getting punched or kicked in the face, then I was happy. I loved the big guy in overalls (Brian Le) and the different physicality he had while still being shockingly nimble. The camerawork by director Kenji Tanigaki, a stunt coordinator whose previous directing work is mostly comedic, is fluid and brimming with energy, easily ratcheting up excitement as various fighters continue to improvise and adapt. There’s a five-way fight in the climax that is awash in dozens of intricate moves, bodies dancing between one another to their unique rhythms, that it can become overwhelming to the senses. The Furious isn’t going to be for everyone as it’s quite simply a rehashing of genre thrills but with excellent execution, but if this is your genre, then you’re in for one sweet punch to the face.

Nate’s Grade: B+