Belly of the Beast
by Siu-Tung Ching
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Byron Mann, Monica Lo, Sara Malakul Lane, Steven Seagal, Tom WuDirector: Siu-Tung Ching
Brand: SEAGAL,STEVEN
Writer: Steven Seagal
Producer: Avi Lerner
Producer: Charles Wang
Producer: D.J. Carson
Producer: Danny Dimbort
Producer: Gary Howsam
Writer: James Townsend
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Thai (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-12-30
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Belly of the Beast
Movie Review: Belly of Seagal
Summary: 5 Stars
If you ever had the morbid curiosity or even the love of Seagal films, then this entry should get a few laughs.
Seagal is now firmly in straight to DVD territory, now over 50 and with an ever-expanding face. He's getting paid quite well to make the same film over and over and over again, now with Asian directors and other assorted action hacks who are experienced at making the same film over and over and over again.
The story, plot, etc, are totally irrelevant. This one takes place mostly in Thailand, and looks to have been photographed there, so we have exotic locations as one drawing point. However, you may have difficulty figuring out where the action is happening because the direction and editing are appalling--the film is borderline incomprehensible, and probably for the better.
As for the action, it's quite funny. Seagal nows seems firmly dedicated to avoiding any and all stunts except for very amusing shots of him sliding across the floor (being pulled by wire hoisted by at least four men, I bet) or a quick tumble in the frame. The action scenes are all the same. A lot of constipated closeups of Seagal grunting, squatting, and moving his hands around martial-arts style that, though probably just a bit theatrical, is downright funny. People fly through the air like Crouching Tiger, making a lot of faces before being dispatched by Seagal, or rather his stuntman. The violence is not the brutal, wrist-snapping, bone-crunching spectacles of his American films, which seem like masterpieces of cinema compared to this, but rather the more fluid, theatrical fight scenes of a Jackie Chan, except everybody (presumably) dies after being sliced, smacked, and thrown through walls and other convenient pieces of the set. And there's always a nod towards Seagal's ridiculous ego and absurdity, which he is apparently unaware of. Go ahead and count the number of times Seagal's character is shown in a fight scene with his head cut out, followed by a closeup of Seagal, followed by a shot of his 'character' flying through the air, which only heavy duty wires could accomplish even if it was Seagal.
Seagal would actually be perfect for an hourly TV show like this, sort of a Walker Texas Ranger show with international spies as the gimmick. Your TV may have difficulty accomodating the countless closeups of Seagal's bloated, tanned face, but it would be good fun and many chuckles on a weekly basis.
Only die-hard and extremely morbid Seagal fans need apply to this one. There is too much to talk about here, from the cheap titilation to the absolutely unacceptable hints of a Seagal love-scene, with a Thai prostitute of all people. Oh, and don't forget the Buddhist sub-plot. The man should really be applauded for trying.
Summary of Belly of the Beast
An action-packed thriller starring Steven Seagal about an ex-CIA agent?s quest to find his kidnapped daughter that leads him down a trail of intrigue, corruption, danger and betrayal. Two girls are kidnapped by a group of Islamic fundamentalists known as the Abu Karaf. One girl is a senator?s daughter, who will be used as a political pawn. The other girl, Jessica, is seemingly inconsequential ? just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But what the Abu Karaf could not possibly know that they picked the wrong girl. Jessica?s father, Jake Hopper, is ex-CIA and will and will stop at nothing to get his daughter back.Similar DVD Movies
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