The Furious
I'm a lifelong fan of martial arts films. So when I learned about this movie last year, I was instantly hyped. The buzz for it far exceeded expectations. I figured it would be a niche thing that I'd love along with other martial arts film fiends. But I guess Lionsgate aggressively marketed the film, and while it wasn't a box office smash like Obsession or Backrooms, it managed to garner a sizable audience. High praise was given to the film, comparing it to The Raid. I've heard it dubbed the best action movie of the decade. I wasn't skeptical of this praise because I'm such a sucker for martial arts films. I had to establish that first in this little review. So I'm happy to say that The Furious lived up to the hype! This was an incredible action film. The pacing was super fast. Some of the best martial arts films barely go over 90 minutes. This film is 113 minutes, and it justifies that. Along with the fast pacing is an excellent buildup of action sequences. For most of the film, it felt like each action sequence was better than the last. It also felt like the movie peaked early, and I wondered how they would top that. I would then be amazed that they topped it! A great variety of fight scenes. Weapons, hand-to-hand combat, wrestling, painful and dizzying stunts, and people taking fatal blows and continuing to fight! It was so nuts, and I never felt like the movie dragged on or got repetitive. A lot of the fights looked raw and grimy, while others looked meticulously crafted...but still raw and grimy! It's impossible not to think of The Raid when watching this because that film had a similar philosophy with brutal realism along with lively cinematography and editing. I would say there's a wider showcase of martial arts styles in The Furious, along with a mix of influences that differ from The Raid. Director Kenji Tanigaki worked under Donnie Yen on multiple films, and I think that influence shows. Super fast close combat and bone-crunching sound design. Xie Miao played Jet Li's son in The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father is a Hero. That mattered because his fighting reminded me so much of Jet Li. Even how he dressed for most of the film looked like what Jet Li wore in some of his non-period pieces, like Kiss of the Dragon. Xie Miao delivered the dizzyingly fast strikes with intense precision like Jet Li, but also had a mean streak and tenacity that separated him from Li. I also got some Jackie Chan vibes, specifically with the heavy usage of props. The Chan vibes were most prominent in the final act of the movie, with weapons that call back to classic Chan films like Project A and First Strike.
Joe Taslim, who was Bi Han/Subzero/Noob Saibot in the Mortal Kombat films, is kind of a co-lead along with Xie Miao. He was also in The Raid. He definitely kicks ass in here, and I was treated to the natural charm and aura he exhibited in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, specifically in that opening sequence. The smile, the swagger, and the intensity that was in that sequence were on display in The Furious. I think if The Furious was made in the 80s, Joe Taslim's character would definitely be the lead. Yayan Ruhian is another actor who was in The Raid. Oh my goodness, he was kind of a monster in the movie, looking so wild and scary, all while wearing a red tracksuit. He delivered with amazing archery, bladework, and hand-to-hand combat! Brian Le, who got to flex a bit in Everything Everywhere All At Once, got an even bigger showcase in this film! My goodness, this guy was like a broken fighting game character, a sub-boss that would always stop you from reaching the top of an arcade ladder. Referencing pro wrestling, the guy is like a Samoan tank. I also got serious Sammo Hung vibes from the guy. I knew he would be a highlight in the film, remembering his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once and the unfairly canceled The Brothers Sun. But oh my goodness, he over-delivered for me! I didn't expect this guy to go super hard, he was like the bison in Yellowstone Park that recently fucked up that old man! I was also pleasantly surprised by Joey Iwanaga, who seemed like he'd be a jobber, but turned out to be absolutely vicious. He was sick with the kicks, reminding me a bit of Ken Lo. The whole stunt team definitely deserves a shout-out. I winced so many times, it's astounding some of these performers weren't permanently injured. Also, shout-out to the little girl who played Xie Miao's daughter, Yang Enyou! Even she kicked ass! This movie is very violent and even gory!
I was also surprised by the soundtrack! It was pretty badass with metal music playing for some of the fight scenes! The first end credits song was from Flying Lotus, which was dope. The movie also made me laugh several times. Most of the laughs came from sheer disbelief and shock over the action in the movie. I also found the English dubbing pretty comical at times. Apparently, the movie was meant to be mostly dubbed in English. There's quite a bit of Mandarin and Filipino. I think they intended for the English dubbing to be a little off as a tribute to the dubbing of old martial arts films. It is a little jarring, but I got over it. The plot is very simple, but there was a twist that I wasn't prepared for. I'm so glad it happened because it just added another layer to what would become an ungodly awesome third act. That final act is one of the best 20 or so minutes of action I've seen in a long time. That section also delivered something I've been imagining lately. Something that I wasn't sure if other action films delivered. If so, then it's definitely a rarity. This movie brought that to life in a very creative and exhilarating way.
I really don't have any major complaints with the film. The camera would be a little too jittery in certain sequences, especially in a section of the second act. That's essentially a nitpick. I haven't seen The Raid in well over a decade, so I can't say for sure if The Furious is better than that. I lean more toward it being up there! When I watched The Raid, it felt brand new. The Furious doesn't feel that much new. Instead, it's just an awesome mix of Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian ingredients. Kenji Tanigaki made a massive statement as an action film director. I can't wait to see what he cooks up next. I also look forward to what the other major cast members do next.
The Furious has surpassed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Obsession as my favorite movie of 2026 so far! It's the first movie released this year that gets this rating! This is an instant classic!
9/10
I'm a lifelong fan of martial arts films. So when I learned about this movie last year, I was instantly hyped. The buzz for it far exceeded expectations. I figured it would be a niche thing that I'd love along with other martial arts film fiends. But I guess Lionsgate aggressively marketed the film, and while it wasn't a box office smash like Obsession or Backrooms, it managed to garner a sizable audience. High praise was given to the film, comparing it to The Raid. I've heard it dubbed the best action movie of the decade. I wasn't skeptical of this praise because I'm such a sucker for martial arts films. I had to establish that first in this little review. So I'm happy to say that The Furious lived up to the hype! This was an incredible action film. The pacing was super fast. Some of the best martial arts films barely go over 90 minutes. This film is 113 minutes, and it justifies that. Along with the fast pacing is an excellent buildup of action sequences. For most of the film, it felt like each action sequence was better than the last. It also felt like the movie peaked early, and I wondered how they would top that. I would then be amazed that they topped it! A great variety of fight scenes. Weapons, hand-to-hand combat, wrestling, painful and dizzying stunts, and people taking fatal blows and continuing to fight! It was so nuts, and I never felt like the movie dragged on or got repetitive. A lot of the fights looked raw and grimy, while others looked meticulously crafted...but still raw and grimy! It's impossible not to think of The Raid when watching this because that film had a similar philosophy with brutal realism along with lively cinematography and editing. I would say there's a wider showcase of martial arts styles in The Furious, along with a mix of influences that differ from The Raid. Director Kenji Tanigaki worked under Donnie Yen on multiple films, and I think that influence shows. Super fast close combat and bone-crunching sound design. Xie Miao played Jet Li's son in The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father is a Hero. That mattered because his fighting reminded me so much of Jet Li. Even how he dressed for most of the film looked like what Jet Li wore in some of his non-period pieces, like Kiss of the Dragon. Xie Miao delivered the dizzyingly fast strikes with intense precision like Jet Li, but also had a mean streak and tenacity that separated him from Li. I also got some Jackie Chan vibes, specifically with the heavy usage of props. The Chan vibes were most prominent in the final act of the movie, with weapons that call back to classic Chan films like Project A and First Strike.
Joe Taslim, who was Bi Han/Subzero/Noob Saibot in the Mortal Kombat films, is kind of a co-lead along with Xie Miao. He was also in The Raid. He definitely kicks ass in here, and I was treated to the natural charm and aura he exhibited in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, specifically in that opening sequence. The smile, the swagger, and the intensity that was in that sequence were on display in The Furious. I think if The Furious was made in the 80s, Joe Taslim's character would definitely be the lead. Yayan Ruhian is another actor who was in The Raid. Oh my goodness, he was kind of a monster in the movie, looking so wild and scary, all while wearing a red tracksuit. He delivered with amazing archery, bladework, and hand-to-hand combat! Brian Le, who got to flex a bit in Everything Everywhere All At Once, got an even bigger showcase in this film! My goodness, this guy was like a broken fighting game character, a sub-boss that would always stop you from reaching the top of an arcade ladder. Referencing pro wrestling, the guy is like a Samoan tank. I also got serious Sammo Hung vibes from the guy. I knew he would be a highlight in the film, remembering his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once and the unfairly canceled The Brothers Sun. But oh my goodness, he over-delivered for me! I didn't expect this guy to go super hard, he was like the bison in Yellowstone Park that recently fucked up that old man! I was also pleasantly surprised by Joey Iwanaga, who seemed like he'd be a jobber, but turned out to be absolutely vicious. He was sick with the kicks, reminding me a bit of Ken Lo. The whole stunt team definitely deserves a shout-out. I winced so many times, it's astounding some of these performers weren't permanently injured. Also, shout-out to the little girl who played Xie Miao's daughter, Yang Enyou! Even she kicked ass! This movie is very violent and even gory!
I was also surprised by the soundtrack! It was pretty badass with metal music playing for some of the fight scenes! The first end credits song was from Flying Lotus, which was dope. The movie also made me laugh several times. Most of the laughs came from sheer disbelief and shock over the action in the movie. I also found the English dubbing pretty comical at times. Apparently, the movie was meant to be mostly dubbed in English. There's quite a bit of Mandarin and Filipino. I think they intended for the English dubbing to be a little off as a tribute to the dubbing of old martial arts films. It is a little jarring, but I got over it. The plot is very simple, but there was a twist that I wasn't prepared for. I'm so glad it happened because it just added another layer to what would become an ungodly awesome third act. That final act is one of the best 20 or so minutes of action I've seen in a long time. That section also delivered something I've been imagining lately. Something that I wasn't sure if other action films delivered. If so, then it's definitely a rarity. This movie brought that to life in a very creative and exhilarating way.
I really don't have any major complaints with the film. The camera would be a little too jittery in certain sequences, especially in a section of the second act. That's essentially a nitpick. I haven't seen The Raid in well over a decade, so I can't say for sure if The Furious is better than that. I lean more toward it being up there! When I watched The Raid, it felt brand new. The Furious doesn't feel that much new. Instead, it's just an awesome mix of Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian ingredients. Kenji Tanigaki made a massive statement as an action film director. I can't wait to see what he cooks up next. I also look forward to what the other major cast members do next.
The Furious has surpassed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Obsession as my favorite movie of 2026 so far! It's the first movie released this year that gets this rating! This is an instant classic!
9/10
