Skin Trade (2014)

I'm only writing this review after seeing some of below 5 rating slating this film off. Firstly its a B rated movie with a decent cast in my opinion. It could have been better maybe by giving the characters a little more depth but at the end of the day its an action film with an easy to follow plot and generally entertaining. Some of the fight scenes work well as expected with Tony Jaa. Definitely worth a watch if you like movies with fight sequences(not badly choreograhped might i add!) and although it may not have award winning acting Its still watchable although could have been better with more depth in the plot. Ron Pearlman could have featured more to make this film better and as mentioned the characters don't really offer any empathy.

Fmovies: OK, I am not a studio guy but whoever tells you this movie is trash is really pretentious. I have seen many B movies and most are just plain boring clichés. This one is not original but is a solid, well made piece of entertainment. Redundant and extra cheesy dialog at times, however action scenes are very good, including the martial arts ones (Tony Jaa and Michael Jai White...enough said). Great cast (Dolph Lundgren and Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman and several other well known names...) with very decent acting at the very least. Production value is excellent.

On the bad side, movie is indeed a cliché with a very formulaic dialog. Acting is ... overacting to wooden at times. However, for what it is - a surprisingly fun and satisfying B movie I give it a 7 with no regrets.

I knew the cast and the IMDb score, giving it a little leeway considering there were fewer than two hundred votes. Turns out most of them must be from the studio because this is just trash. Thankfully, we kind of expected that but I couldn't stop myself from nodding off. Thankfully the loud punches (seriously, they're ridiculous) jolted me up. The action starts out tame and improves as the film goes on. However the plot is bobbins and failed to maintain my interest, despite the fact it kinda takes place here (Cambodia) a little too. It's a dumb film with some half decent fights and terrible acting.

DVD release this should be, however, Asian markets will surely make up most of the cinema takings.

Skin Trade fmovies. I love the big Swede and have always been a fan. I've stuck with him through thick and thin and have suffered through countless turkeys he churned out during his mid 90's career slump, after Johnny Mnemonic tanked (in which Dolph was the only highlight). That said it's no wonder my expectations were... modest when I heard about this project.

Dolph's directed a series of films at this point in his career. Some excellent (Command Performance) and some kind of "meh"(The Defender, Missionary Man). Originally set to star and direct, for Skin Trade Dolph instead takes a producing role besides starring alongside Thai martial arts sensation Tony Jaa. He couldn't have made a better decision to be honest. Producing, directing, writing and starring probably would've spread him a little too thin.

Storywise this is fairly by the books revenge stuff, but it's perfectly paced and the most stylish Dolph Lundgren vehicle I've ever seen. The Thai locations give the film an exciting flair giving the film a beautiful look. It's really well shot. They clearly spent their money well in that regard. The fight scenes are expertly shot flattering the performers to the utmost of their respective abilities. Very exciting stuff. The Jaa/Jai fight is fantastic! The scuffle between Jaa and Lundgren is intense and cool with convincing rage from both combatants. If only the Expendables 1 fight scene between Jet Li and Lundgren had been as well made as this scene.

The acting is what you would expect from these guys. Let's face it neither Dolph, Jaa or Jai White are stellar actors and they never will be. I have to say Tony Jaa comes out on top of the entire cast. His emoting is genuine and he's a convincing brawler when it's time to throw down. Dolph is subdued and performs well. The guy, awesome as he is, can be cheesy sometimes but here he's very good and his anger very believable as he goes after Ron Pearlman and his human trafficking goons. Pearlman is always good value for money but his part is a typical bad guy part.

I was worried at first how they were gonna be able to balance such a serious subject as human trafficking with a balls to the walls action flick extravaganza. That fear was completely unwarranted as this film really works well and fires on all cylinders. Very very much recommended. Go see this in cinemas if you have the chance. The film and Dolph (this has been his pet project for many years) truly deserves it.

For a guy as wasted and talented as Lundgren (he sadly can't catch a break in the business anymore) I'm amazed at his tenacity in getting this off the ground. It's a great ride and his absolute best film in many years. Well performed, expertly photographed and exciting with a gripping story and subject. This belongs on the big screen as a wide release. It's coming to cinemas in the US (I'm guessing in a limited capacity). Go see it if you can. This film kicks all kinds of behind.

If producing and writing his own stuff is what it takes to get out of the cesspool of DTV hell he's been stuck in for the past 15 years, then go for it man! You have my respect and I hope this film will become a success that puts you back on the map again with audiences.

'SKIN TRADE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Dolph Lundgren co-wrote and co-stars in this martial arts action flick, alongside Thai superstar Tony Jaa; in his American film debut (in a lead role). Lundgren and Jaa play NYC and Thai detectives, taking on human traffickers in S.E. Asia. The movie was directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham and written by Lundgren, Gabriel Dowrick, Steven Elder and John Hyams (doing uncredited rewrites). It costars Michael Jai White, Ron Perlman, Peter Weller and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. For a low budget B action flick it's pretty well-made; but how can you go wrong with this cast (it's an action movie lover's dream)!

When NYC cop Nick Cassidy (Lundgren) kills the son of a Serbian gangster, Viktor Dragovic (Perlman), his wife and daughter are killed, out of revenge, and Nick ends up in the hospital. When he gets out, he goes rogue and tracks Dragovic to S.E. Asia; the mobster runs a human trafficking ring there. Nick is then pursued by a corrupt F.B.I. agent, named Reed (Jai White), and a Thai Detective, named Tony Vitayakul (Jaa); Tony thinks that Cassidy killed his partner. Nick will stop at nothing to avenge his family and put a stop to the human trafficking network.

The movie reminds me, a lot, of old 80s and 90s buddy B action films; most notably 'SHOWDOWN IN LITTLE TOKYO' (starring Lundgren and Brandon Lee). It's better made though. With a budget of $9 million, the film has decent enough production values and Uekrongtham's directing is more than adequate. Lundgren did a good enough job writing the script and he's not bad as the action lead either (even at 57-years-old). It's great to see Jaa breaking into American action films as well (between this and 'FURIOUS SEVEN'); hopefully it leads to bigger things. With the additions of Jai White, Weller, Perlman and Tagawa, what more can you really ask for?! It's not a great action film, but it is fun.

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Expectations are admittedly low for many direct to DVD action titles to star many of the former action heroes from the 80's/90's like Steven Seagal, JCVD and Dolph Lundgren. Skin Trade proves to be one of Dolph's best films to have come out in years and a gem amongst the many B action films you can find at your local Wal Mart bin. Although Dolph kicks ass in the film, the main reason to watch is Tony Jaa. It's good to see him back in action in something worth watching after the atrocious Ong Bak 3. His Acting is surprisingly good and he gets a fair amount of dialogue to practice his English skills and crack one liners. I hope to see him in many more movies like this in the future. Another surprise is the supporting cast of the film. Michael Jai White , Peter Weller and Ron Perlman definitely elevate the film above the typical mediocre status these movies have. Although the story is a bit cliché and familiar, what group of people deserve there comeuppance in an action film more than human traffickers. The movie definitely provides on the hard hitting bloody action that fans will expect. The intense fight sequences pack a solid adrenaline rush. Overall, exceeded my expectations and is a movie that action buffs will enjoy .

7/10