Shadow Fury

• USA • 2001 • 89m •

• Directed by: Makoto Yokoyama. • Starring: Sam Bottoms, Masakatsu Funaki, Alexandra Kamp, Bas Rutten, Fred Williamson, Pat Morita, Allan Kolman, C.G. Walker, Gregory Vahanian, Billy Rieck, Richard Alan Johnston, Sean Vincent Biggins, John Stork. • Music by: Shinnosuke Sorimachi.

A group of scientists at the Nova Corporation, a leader in cloning research, have made miraculous advances in the replication of human beings. When one of their colleagues, a mad scientist by the name of Dr. Oh, creates an "Obedience Strain" that will allow him mind the clones, Nova Corp casts him out and revokes his license. Dr. Oh vows revenge and creates a clone that is the perfect killing machine.

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Review:

In the near future, a vengeful scientist, Dr. Oh (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita) sics a ninja clone (Masakatsu Funaki) on his former associates. Panicking, they obtain the services of a sullen killer for hire (Sam Bottoms) to go after the ninja. But our supposed antagonist is actually struggling against the compulsion to kill since it is something he's been conditioned to do, and not something he truly wants to do. The ninja falls in love with a sweet-natured hooker (C.G. Walker), ultimately teaming up with the hitman to exact some old-fashioned justice.

For a routine B movie with a rather familiar storyline, "Shadow Fury" entertains adequately. Certainly, if you're a fan of mixed martial artist Funaki, you may be amused; his performance is stiff, but it does seem to suit the role. He gets the most to do with his character, which adds some weight since he is living that old science-fiction trope of an automaton discovering or strengthening their humanity. For MMA fans, it will be nice to see Funaki square off against his peer Bas Rutten, although the latter only comes in near the end. Morita, a.k.a. "Mr. Miyagi", does look like he's having some fun playing a cliched role, even sporting cliched mad-scientist hair.

A lot of the writing and acting is pretty cheesy. Still, it's fun to watch Allan Kolman do his thing as the villainous Dr. Hillier. You may recognize him from another creepy role as a parasite victim in David Cronenberg's "Shivers". Fans of Taylor Lautner (from the "Twilight" series) will note that the actor (nine years old at the time) plays the youngest incarnation of the Rutten character, who matures at a very rapid pace. Fred "The Hammer" Williamson is kind of wasted as a bar owner who doubles as a weapons dealer.

The action scenes are decent enough. "Shadow Fury" won't knock anybody's socks off, but it holds the attention. There's also a fair amount of gore, a bunch of explosions, the sexily dressed Walker, and a reasonable amount of poignancy to make this an okay viewing.

Review by Hey_Sweden from the Internet Movie Database.

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