Blood and Bone

Reviews

John Chard
Profanity is a brutal vice. He who uses it, is not a gentleman. Michael Jai White is one of the baddest men on the planet, so it was inevitable that he would follow in the footsteps of Van Damme, Seagal, Norris etc etc into movies. A martial artist of supreme skill and deadly grace, White brings not only his imposing physique and skills to the film, but also a moody poise to the role of Isaiah Bone, an ex-convict who infiltrates an underground fight circuit to avenge the murder of a friend. There is absolutely no surprises in store here, narratively speaking, but the action, the choreography and the editing are high grade stuff. So strap yourself in and roll with it, let the kinetic fury grab you, and rejoice as another martial arts expert enters the fray late in the day. A terrific action film, hoo-hah! 7/10

tmdb28039023
Blood and Bone reminds me of a character in The Boondocks who had an irrational fear of going to jail and being anally raped. Here's an action movie where the difference between success and failure, victory and defeat, ultimately lies in the ability, or lack thereof, to avoid being sodomized. From the very start, writer Michael Andrews and director Ben Ramsey put the hero, Isaiah Bone (Michael Jai White), in a situation that could potentially get quite tight. In the prison lavatories, Bone is ambushed by a group of inmates with less than honorable intentions. Bone is of course a euphemism for the male organ (Isaiah is the name of an Israelite prophet from the 8th century BC, but I don't think there's much symbolism there), so we know that the hero is all man, and as such, he's not about to let anyone make him their bitch. Bone takes care of the would-be cornholers in typical MJW fashion, and I have to assume this happened immediately before his parole hearing, because by the time the opening credits have rolled, Bone is a free man. Basically, the whole point of this scene is to establish the main character's uber-heterosexuality. Bone goes to Los Angeles, where underground fights are taking place. One of the participants is gay, and in fact wins his fight, but don’t expect this to be some kind of 'empowerment'; the character, called Mommie Dearest (Ernest 'The Cat' Miller), is billed as "the homicidal homosexual, the crazy savage, the fear-inspiring queer [and] the battle-butt bandit," and fights in a wig with curlers. Fortunately, we never see him again. Bone makes a deal with street promoter Pinball (Dante Basco) to get him into the fight scene. That same night, Bone meets mob boss James (Eamonn Walker). Over the next few nights, Bone makes a name for himself on the underground fight circuit, defeating every fighter in his path and winning thousands of dollars in cash for himself and Pinball — though one guy refuses to pay, stuffing the money down his crotch presumably under the impression (and I don't blame him for trying) that this is where Bone draws the proverbial line in the sand; sadly for the dude, greed trumps homophobia. To make a dumb story short, James wants Bone to fight for him, Bone refuses, James coerces him by threatening someone else, Bone agrees while conceiving a plan to betray James, yada yada yada. There’s other stuff, but the climax is the highlight of the movie because it features the diabolical Julian Sands, as well as a Final Battle between Bone and a Badass in a Nice Suit (the outcome of the fight itself is also rather clever, as it turns out). When the smoke clears and the dust settles, James is arrested and thrown in the same prison from the opening where, during the closing credits, he is attacked in the showers and sodomized with a makeshift dagger — a fate that James, whom Bone has figuratively emasculated (even amputating his hand with a sword, very unsubtly emphasizing the idea of castration), lacks the physical or moral fortitude to avoid. Perphaps they should have called this Don’t Drop the Soap: The Movie.
Movie Recommendation
- No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers1990-01-25Two feuding brothers (one a policeman, the other a martial arts expert) of different political views, join forces to avenge the death of their father, a retired agent, killed by the mafia.More...
- Undisputed II: Last Man Standing2006-04-11Heavyweight Champ George "Iceman" Chambers is sent to a Russian jail on trumped-up drug charges. In order to win his freedom he must fight against the jailhouse fighting champ Uri Boyka in a battle to the death. This time he is not fighting for a title, he is fighting for his life!More...
- Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown2011-09-13Four fighters from different backgrounds come together to train under an ex MMA rising star and then ultimately have to fight each other and the traitor in their midst.More...
- Boy Wonder2010-08-11A young Brooklyn boy witnesses the brutal murder of his mother and grows up obsessed with finding her killer. Thus begins his life as a quiet, straight-A student by day and a self-appointed hero at night. But what is a real hero? And who decides what is right or wrong? As the boundaries blur, Sean's dual life wears on his psyche and his two worlds careen dangerously close to colliding. Like a graphic novel you can't put down, Boy Wonder challenges morality, distorting perceptions of what is right and what is justified, as it races to its shocking conclusion.More...
- 4Got102015-09-11Brian Barnes (Johnny Messner) wakes up in the desert wounded and with no memory and no idea why he's surrounded by eight bodies, a van with four million in cash and a van full of cocaine. Brian is pursued by not only notorious drug lord Danny Perez (Danny Trejo) who desperately want his money back, and DEA Agent Rooker (Dolph Lundgren), but also a by the corrupt Sheriff Olson (Michael Pare) who will stop at nothing to get his hand on the new found fortune. On the run, Brian discovers the more he remembers the less he wants to know about who he really is.More...
- Breaking News2004-06-10After a disastrous failure to stop a robber gang, the police attempt to redeem themselves through a series of publicity stunts and shootouts.More...
- Bad News Bears2005-07-22Morris Buttermaker is a burned-out minor league baseball player who loves to drink and can't keep his hands to himself. His long-suffering lawyer arranges for him to manage a local Little League team, and Buttermaker soon finds himself the head of a rag-tag group of misfit players. Through unconventional team-building exercises and his offbeat coaching style, Buttermaker helps his hapless Bears prepare to meet their rivals, the Yankees.More...
- Dirty Deeds2005-08-26According to a high school's lore, the "Dirty Deeds" are a daunting list of dares almost no student has ever completed. To win the student body's respect and get noticed by his crush, senior Zach is determined to finish the list in the allotted 24-hour time period. As the school's bullying jocks try to thwart him at every turn, Zach embarks on a wild journey, highlighted by beer swilling, grand theft auto and the snagging of an ex-homecoming queen's bra.More...
- Shade2003-05-18Tiffany, Charlie and Vernon are con artists looking to up the ante from their typical scams. They figure a good way of doing this is taking down Dean "The Dean" Stevens, a well-known cardsharp, in a rigged game. However, they first need enough money to enter a game with Stevens, so they decide to strike a deal with fellow crook Larry Jennings to scam a local gangster -- which turns out to be a bad idea.More...
- No desearás la mujer de tu hijo1950-05-18An elderly man falls in love with a beautiful young woman, without knowing that she is in love with his son.More...
- Haunted-3D2011-05-05A realtor finds himself accompanied by two ghostly entities inside a mansion. He learns of a violent event that took place years ago and is sent back in time to prevent it from happening.More...
- Henpecked1983-06-07Father of two kids who looks exactly like a rowdy takes advantage of this and go into different and funny events.More...
- Check Point2017-03-07In Port City, North Carolina, a vagrant discovers plans for an invasion. His attempts to warn law enforcement are ignored but when the Sheriff notices odd interactions with other townsfolk, he begins to look into the claim of a sleeper cell living amongst the locals.More...
- Born to Fight2004-08-05When a remote Thai village is overrun by terrorists armed with a nuclear missile, an elite undercover operative leads the most unique fighting force ever assembled in a heroic bid to save their nation.More...
- Revenge2007-10-18When Artem Kolchin, Denis Nikiforov, arrives in the U.S. to fight for the championship, he soon finds himself fighting for his life after he sends a young, aggressive boxer, who provokes him into sparring, into a coma and ultimately killing him. That is when Artem finds out that the young boxer was none other than the only son of Felix Mendez, the powerful Mexican mafia kingpin, played masterfully by Victor Herminio Lopez, and when the real fight begins.More...
- Thoughtcrimes2003-01-01Freya McAllister suddenly starts hearing voices in her head on the night of her High School Prom. One night Dr Michael Welles arrives telling Freya that she isn't crazy but that her voices are the thoughts of everyone around her. He teaches her to turn her telepathic powers into a powerful gift. What he doesn't say is that he works for the National Security Agency...More...
- Loner2010-12-12KGB agent film about Gromova. Illegally sentenced to 12 years. His fight for justice interpretation.More...
- The Insurrection2020-05-04A CEO (Wilma Elles) from the world’s largest telecommunications company is about to expose secrets of how the left wing media uses movies to control the masses at the behest of their deep state overseers in the political arena. As her secrets are revealed through a series of live broadcasts, her former associates send private military contractors to assassinate her. She hires a condemned ex-Commando (Michael Paré) to keep her alive long enough to get her crucial message out to the world.More...
- The Exorcist in the 21st Century2012-04-01The Exorcist in the 21st Century takes the viewer into the unknown and sinister world of exorcism in the Catholic Church. We meet one of the few exorcists in Europe, the Vatican approved José Antonio Fortea. He travels around the world on a mission to enlighten the masses about demonic possession. Constanza, a Colombian woman, is desperately looking for Fr. Forteas help. She claims to have been possessed by demons for nearly 15 years and she goes through a ritual of exorcism before she sees the Spanish exorcist as a last hope for spiritual liberation. The film follows both their journeys and gives a unique insight into one of the world most secret and mystical rites - the catholic ritual of exorcism.More...
- The Devil's Tomb2009-05-26Captain Mack leads an elite military unit on a search for a missing scientist, and comes face-to-face with an an ancient evil lying beneath the Middle Eastern desert. Evil that is not of this world. Evil that should never be unearthed.More...
Similar Movies
Breathless
1960-03-16A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he attempts to persuade a girl to run away to Italy with him.Batman Begins
2005-06-10Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.Terminator 2: Judgmen...
1991-07-03Set ten years after the events of the original, James Cameron’s classic sci-fi action flick tells the story of a second attempt to get rid of rebellion leader John Connor, this time targeting the boy himself. However, the rebellion has sent a reprogrammed terminator to protect Connor.Meet Joe Black
1998-11-12Bill Parrish has it all - success, wealth and power. Days before his 65th birthday, he receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, Joe Black, who soon reveals himself as Death. In exchange for extra time, Bill agrees to serve as Joe's earthly guide. But will he regret his choice when Joe unexpectedly falls in love with Bill's beautiful daughter Susan?True Romance
1993-09-09Clarence marries hooker Alabama, steals cocaine from her pimp, and tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke try to reclaim it.Miller's Crossing
1990-09-21Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.The Matrix
1999-03-31Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.The Matrix Revolution...
2003-11-05The human city of Zion defends itself against the massive invasion of the machines as Neo fights to end the war at another front while also opposing the rogue Agent Smith.The Electrical Life o...
2021-10-21The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain, whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever.Military Wives
2020-03-06Inspired by global phenomenon of military wives choirs, the story celebrates a band of misfit women who form a choir on a military base. As unexpected bonds of friendship flourish, music and laughter transform their lives, helping each other to overcome their fears for loved ones in combat.The Other Lamb
2020-04-03For her entire life, the cult she was born into has been all that teenage Selah has known. Along with a band of similarly cloistered young women she lives seemingly unstuck in time, cut off from modern society in a remote forest commune presided over by a man called Shepherd, a controlling, messiah-like figure with a frightening dark side. But when her insular world is rocked by a series of nightmarish visions and disturbing revelations, Selah begins to question everything about her existence—including her allegiance to the increasingly dangerous Shepherd.Fight Club
1999-10-15A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion.Die Hard
1988-07-15NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her offices Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.Chhakka Panja
2016-09-09Story of five friends Raja (Deepak Raj Giri), Saraswoti (Jeetu Nepal), Magne (Kedar Ghimire) and Buddhi (Buddhi Tamang). Raja is rich but illiterate and enjoys life, and tells his friends to not get married or hold any job. However, he secretly has affairs with married women.Then one day Raja gets married to Champa (Priyanka Karki), and the story enters a serious mode.One Night
2016-09-27PROMISE ME ONE THING. DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND. A story of 2 lonely strangers meeting up together on one lonely night in Bangkok.The Rainmaker
1997-11-18When Rudy Baylor, a young attorney with no clients, goes to work for a seedy ambulance chaser, he wants to help the parents of a terminally ill boy in their suit against an insurance company. But to take on corporate America, Rudy and a scrappy paralegal must open their own law firm.Kramer vs. Kramer
1979-12-07Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy.Undisputed
2002-07-17Monroe Hutchens is the heavyweight champion of Sweetwater, a maximum security prison. He was convicted to a life sentence due to a passionate crime. Iceman Chambers is the heavyweight champion, who lost his title due to a rape conviction to ten years in Sweetwater. When these two giants collide in the same prison, they fight against each other disputing who is the real champion.Extreme Ops
2002-11-27While filming an advertisement, some extreme sports enthusiasts unwittingly stop a group of terrorists.Vijayadasami
2007-09-21A welder must confront his evil brother who ruined his life in childhood.