Belly Of The Beast Review
It's really damn good fun. Right from the start we have action and serious invincible Seagal style ass-kicking. The plot resolves around Seagal's daughter being kidnapped and his revenge. He's accompanied by a sidekick who long ago gave up on the way of killing and became a monk. Now he's back in action in order to help his best friend. Seagal indeed is huge and with some weight issues but that doesn't matter although it actually adds to the charm.
The bad guy has some big plans and intends to blame it all on a local terrorist group called Abu-karaf. He's also in league with a devastatingly hilariously looking shaman. This guy deserves Seagal's aikido bashing and boy is he gonna get it. I actually like this new direct-to-video career Seagal established for they provide us with immensely enjoyable action and off course badness which we all love. For example the daughter character. Oh man is that acting bad. And off course Seagal's lines which are really killer stuff here. Fighting scenes are really good not only because Seagal is in them but also because of the directing. From slow motion to fast switching frames and zoom-ins and matrix style camera rotation it's something special. Naturally it is overused and thus great. Hmmm the paranormal. Since the bad guy has his shaman throwing curses what will Seagal do? He'll be backed up by a huge number of good praying monks! Great stuff. The sidekick is surprisingly likable, not annoying at all. I expected the comic relief type but here we have a wise ex-monk with a gun. Well wise is questionable. Although the whole movie is great the final fight really blows everything standing in it's direction. I'll just say Seagal splits an arrow in half with a sword. Gotta see it to believe.
Guess what? Seagals wife is dead. I noticed this is almost the trademark of his movies. His wives are either already dead or wind up during the movie. Noticeable here is his deep "never ending" love which without much reasons disappears when WHAM he meets an asian prostitute and gets entangled in love. After seemingly being not interested. Yep he's good with women. Even better in fighting whole armies. I mean who would be stupid enough of even thinking of hitting Seagal. No way. Even if by some mysterious chance you do it, like here when he's in a police station, there will be no salvation for your soul. He kicks, destroys and annihilates. And ends with lines that make cheese seem like potatoes. If he released this earlier in his career it would surely be considered a classic now.
Near the end the partner gets killed. What follows is probably the most overblown funeral seen in direct-to-video productions. Once you see the elephants.. oh boy it's really something. Also worthy of mention is the bad guy henchman transvestite who kills with nails. Amazing. Or Finch, the old friend who's actually a betrayer. Man did they make him sleazy.
Easilly one of Seagal's most fun to watch. Even if not a fan. Highly recommended. What the hell are you waiting for, go grab this one right away or you will face some major slapping. Seagal is the man even if he should go on a diet.
