More snobbish critics often claim that martial arts movies resemble porn - plot and characters are nothing more than a cheap excuse for action, so such films by definition lack depth. Well, some martial arts films actually have depth, while other martial arts films look like they could have depth. No Exit a.k.a. Fatal Combat, 1995 Canadian action film belongs to the latter category.
The movie begins with the chilling monologue by Armstrong (played by Richard Fitzpatrick), media tycoon who claims that the audience wants to see real violence on the screen. In the next scene we find that the Canadian martial arts movies' star Jeff Wincott here plays rather unusual character of John Stoneman, mild-mannered ethics professor who teaches non-violent conflict resolution to university students. However, despite his pacifist views Stoneman happens to be martial arts expert and is therefore kidnapped by Armstrong's goons. It turns out that Armstrong designed "No Exit" - televised game in which toughest men on Earth fight to the death in order to entertain wealthy viewers all over the world. Stoneman must renounce his pacifism and instead use his martial skills not only to survive but also to destroy Armstrong's sickening project.
Few films are as disappointing as No Exit. What begins as potentially interesting drama about the role of violence in modern society soon turns into just another martial arts film. Or, to be precise, just another very bad martial arts film. Whole game of "No Exit" - television spectacle that was supposed to be the most attractive show on Earth - looks less spectacular than average street fight, thus revealing filmmakers' lack of budget. To make things even worse, Damian Lee directs this film so ineptly that many shots and scenes are simply repeated without any dramatic or artistic purpose. Actually, it seems that No Exit doesn't have any purpose - the fights in the film are even bellow low budget standards. Because of that, No Exit deserved its descent in the obscurity.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on November 18th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/29807-no-exit?language=en-US
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