White Does Fight Club
After seeing off a group of prison thugs with precision and efficiency Isaiah Bone (Michael Jai White) is released and takes up a room in the home of Tamara (Nona Gaye). Bone quickly finds himself a manager to enter the world of high stakes illegal fighting where with the same speed and efficiency makes a name for himself as a lethal fighter bringing him to the attention of gangster James (Eamonn Walker) who starts to line him up for even bigger and deadlier opponents.
Here is my tip, watch the first 5 minutes of "Blood and Bone" and if you are not impressed by what you see in the opening scenes walk away. What I am on about is a shirtless Michael Jai White defeating I think it was 5 prisoners with the slickest fight moves you will have seen for a while. If it impresses you will be impressed by what is to come but if it does nothing for you pop a different movie in the box. It is plain and simple as that.
The reason I say that is because when it comes to storyline "Blood and Bone" is slim, contrived and extremely familiar as once again we follow a lethal good guy fighter into the world of illegal fighting where it is clear from the out set he has some ulterior motive for putting his pretty features on the line. I won't tell you what the ulterior motive is as for some it may come as a surprise but for the most it is pretty obvious from the outset as this is a movie which doesn't deviate from the path trodden by numerous other movies and action stars over the years.
But the familiarity of "Blood and Bone" is not an issue as it delivers what it intends to do and that is impressive action scenes, slickly filmed and even more slicky performed. And as such "Blood and Bone" owns a big level of gratitude to Michael Jai White who is impressive in every single fight scene delivering cool efficiency and deadly butt kickings. Yes director Ben Ramsey does a nice job of filming them but it is White's coolness that makes it sweet to watch.
What this all boils down to is that in a way "Black and Bone" is "AWOL" for a new generation with its story of a good guy fighting in illegal street bouts with an ulterior motive driving him on. But it is a movie which Michael Jai White makes good and if it wasn't for his slick ass kicking moves and coolness it would be tired.
