My quick rating - 3.8/10. First off, a big thanks to Sonny Mahal for giving me the opportunity to check out Arena Wars in advance. The movie features a solid cast with Michael Madsen, Eric Roberts, and Robert LaSardo who are all personal favorites of mine. Roberts doesn't have much to say in this one and unfortunately, LaSardo's time onscreen was short-lived. Madsen does stick around as the TV shows sleazy host and does provide some of the humor that is needed all the way into the credits. Set in 2045, the plot revolves around convicted criminals who are given the chance to compete in the world's top televised sporting event, Arena Wars. The goal? Survive seven rooms and seven of the country's most vicious killers to regain their freedom. I was hoping this was going to setup some memorable kills but I ended up a bit disappointed in the tame murders instead of drenching the rooms with gore. Similar concepts have been explored before, with JCVD in Death Warrant, Goldberg in Half Past Dead 2, and the movie that this flick immediately reminded me of, American Samurai. The villains in each stage felt akin to those in Running Man, though not quite as grandiose. Luke Bender, portrayed by John Wells, seemed a bit tentative during his fight scenes. It's hard to pinpoint if this was due to choreography issues or inexperience. A touch of subtle humor was woven in, which was a nice addition. The "innocent man" angle had potential but could have been more fleshed out with flashbacks or more vivid descriptions. Out of the convicts, the character of MMA fighter Billie, played by Kylie Fulmer, stood out as one of the more intriguing figures. Interestingly, the action scenes not centered around the main character were some of the film's highlights. The low budget is apparent, with audio issues at times and the reuse of the same sets. However, knowing this going in helps set expectations. Despite borrowing heavily from other films, the movie still manages to be enjoyable. It’s not one of the best offerings from Mahal Empire, but it’s a fun ride if you’re in the mood for some action-packed escapism.
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