There is a question that has plagued filmgoers for generations, sparked by legendary films like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and Stallone's "Over the Top."
The question is: When do movies like these get so bad that they can’t help but be some of the greatest works in cinematic history? At what point is a movie so terribly campy and awful that it becomes entertaining again?
"DOA," the constantly delayed video game film from kung fu director Corey Yuen, might just be the answer to the question. It’s in constant flux between being so bad it’s really bad and so bad that it’s amazing.
For those not in the know, the game "DOA," which stands for Dead or Alive, is a fighting game best known for its female fighters' impressive – ahem - assets. The movie doesn’t diverge much from this premise, focusing on three lead female fighters all with incredibly small back stories and even less clothing. I’d tell you their names but it doesn’t really matter. It’s a 15-year-old boy's dream, and Yuen should be given a special Oscar for his mastery of the almost-but-not-quite-naked shot — such as in an opening fight that consists of a female fighter getting dressed as she kicks the butt of some police men.
Aside from the semi-inspired fighting, the acting is laughable, the plotting is atrocious and if the word continuity was even uttered on set by someone, one of the muscle-bound male fighters must have escorted him or her away. Top this all off with Eric Roberts as the lead villain with a hair only drunk, old Elvis could have pulled off, and you have something that constantly waffles back and forth between fun bad and make-it-stop bad.
By the time the movie gets to the slow motion, bikini-clad volleyball match, you realize the film has steadily grown on you.
If only we could pinpoint the exact moment that switch was flipped, filmgoers everywhere would be able to know exactly how a movie becomes so bad it’s good.
All someone has to do is watch "DOA" and its gorgeous scantly clad leads play volleyball in slow motion over and over again.
Any takers?
<1b>— Matthew Razak