Review by Stuart Barr
Stars Samuel L Jackson, Kellan Lutz, Johnny Messner,
Katia Winter, Daniel Dae Kim, Nina Dobrev | Written by Tony Giglio
UK certification 18 | UK RRP £17.99 | BD Region B | Runtime 90 minutes | Directed by Jonah Loop
Arena is based on the unoriginal premise of rich-douche-kidnaps-buff-guys-and-forces-them-to-fight-to-death-for-audience-of-jaded-idiots.
Of course, this being the 21st century, the gladiatorial bouts are broadcast on the internet to a global audience.
Despite copious blood and gratuitous nudity, the script, production values, and cast are anaemic.
Most crucially, the fight scenes are pitiful.
As the villain, Jackson isn’t even trying, just going through the motions.
I had no idea he was this desperate for work – frankly, this is the sort of film I would expect to see Michael Madsen in, not Nick Fury.
EXTRAS None