BUTTOCKS play a large yet perfectly formed role in the frenetic martial arts adventure DOA: Dead Or Alive.
Most characters get their gluteus maximus kicked, and in the case of the four leading ladies, lingered over in slow-motion close-up.
The chests of the fighting femmes receive an inordinate amount of attention too in this adaptation of a popular video game.
Expert swordswoman Princess Kasumi (Devon Aoki), superstar wrestler Tina Armstrong (Jaime Pressly) and beautiful yet deadly thief Christie (Holly Valance) accept invitations to DOA, a secret marital arts tournament.
Tournament organiser Dr Victor Donovan (Eric Roberts) explains the rules: No weapons are allowed in DOA, except the human weapon. You must knock out your opponent. Losers will be sent home.' And so the battles begin, whittling down the original 16 competitors.
DOA: Dead Or Alive follows the template of the videogames, giving each of the protagonists a nominal back-story, while pursuing the action sequences with relentless vigour.
The leading actresses look fabulous, a vision of glossed lips and perfectly conditioned hair that tosses wonderfully when they somersault out of danger. Roberts sinks his teeth into the scenery as the pitiful villain of the piece, who learns to his cost that beneath the tiny scraps of fabric which pass for bikinis, these beauties are little beasts.
No swearing, no sex, violence Rating: Two stars
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