by Hamlet Pericles

Created on: October 01, 2009   Last Updated: October 05, 2009

Directed by Ben Ramsey, BLOOD and BONE is a direct-to-DVD martial arts movie, released on September 15, 2009 via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The movie stars Michael Jai White, Julian Sands, Eamonn Walker, Dante Basco, Nona Gaye, and Michelle Belegrin.

Leading character Michael Jai White, assuming the role as Isaiah Bone, delivers a stand-alone and explosive performance like none other. The tagline of the movie, In A World Without Rules, He Makes His Own, and subtitle, Destroy Your Enemy, say it all and could not be more fitting.

When Bone is released from prison, he rents a small room in a moderate house from Angela (Nona Gaye), a foster mother, and prepares his mission. He later goes to an underground fight scene and watches from afar. He makes his way into the car of Pinball (Dante Basco), a fight organizer, and convinces him to put him in a fight with any fighter to prove himself. The fight is quickly organized and he wins. Thereafter, Pinball not only becomes his friend but his unofficial manager.

Although Bone wins money through his fights, these fights are not driven primarily by money but rather a "take care of my wife and kid" promise - a promise that he realizes will only be fulfilled if he gets into the underworld of street fighting and befriends and shakes hand with the enemy. Thus, that is exactly what he does.

Blood and Bone is no doubt one of the best martial arts films in years. It is not the typical fight movie, where the main character goes to various scenes to fight the best fighters and crowned the champion after he defeats the most-feared/best fighter at the end. Blood and Bone is much more; it has a story line (that is well written), a purpose (that is driven by reunion), and a promise (that Bone fulfils at the end).

When he completes his mission, he leaves. Instead of taking a ride from Pinball, he walks down the street and into the sunlight with his backpack on his back like a lone warrior. This scene resembles the final scene of Street Fighter 2: The Animated Movie, where Ryu takes the same route (until evil Bison comes driving down the road in a semi truck with a wicked smile on his face). This film ends perfectly and has room for a sequel.

In fact, Blood and Bone typifies a perfect film for White, because he is a professional martial artist who holds seven black belts in various disciplines; again, 7 black belts. More important, what he shows in this film is something that should not be missed by anyone with an eye.

White lights

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