The Art Of War III: Retribution (aka Intervention/2008/Sony
DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C-
Anthony
‘Tretch’ Criss (of Naughty By Nature) takes over the role Wesley Snipes
established for Gerry Lively’s The Art
Of War III: Retribution (2008), though this seems to have been produced at
the same time as last film with Snipes, so it is hard to tell how relabeled
this production was. However, it is an
unintentional howler of a production and so bad, you might have to see it once
just to look on in amazement at how bad.
The
martial arts scenes offer some of the wackiest choreography we have seen in a
while, the gunfire is so bad that it is as if the squibs were making cameo
appearances, editing that is like John Woo on a kegger and the storyline and
dialogue (by Joe Halpin) are cable-TV bad except when they are unintentionally
funny. The convoluted tale of Koreans,
Russians, U.S. Intelligence and shady characters makes little sense and in the
end, it is one big laugh that would otherwise be one big yawn.
The
Islamic Terrorist subplot is so bad, it too would be insulting if it were not
so bad. You can just tell how instantly
old this is because this would have never been made during the Obama Years but
is definitely a Bush II product; not because it is political but because it is
so silly! It is not attempting anything
political… or much else for that matter.
If you need a good laugh, see it.
Otherwise, skip it.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is soft too often for a new production,
especially when in comes to many indoor scenes.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not very good in the sound effects
department and the mix can be compressed.
Dialogue is more hit than miss, but the soundfield is on the choppy
side. Trailers for other Sony releases are
the only extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
