While most western genre-hounds who pay any attention to Russian film have been buzzing about the string of fantasy and horror related pictures rolling out of that country of late there has been a second trend that attracts a little less attention. Exploding right around the same time as the fantasy movement in Russia was a movement of big budget, glossy action pictures, films that clearly aimed to be a local equivalent of the Jerry Bruckheimer film. And of these, the leader was clearly the original Shadowboxing. Despite running arguably twenty minutes long, with a few too many sub-plots jammed in there, Shadowboxing - the story of an up and coming boxer on the run from gangsters, drug dealers and crooked police - was beautifully shot, glossed to a high sheen and anchored by an eminently likeable cast. It became an instant box office success and a sequel was immediately launched.
The first trailer for that sequel has just arrived and it looks every bit as glossy as its predecessor. Here's the synopsis:
The fight is far from over. Young boxer Artem Kolchin has made a come-back despite all odds, and is ready for a rematch. But in the wilds of America, the boxing ring is the last of Artem’s worries. Artem and his opponent will have to test their strength and bravery against a real enemy before they can go head to head in the championship.
There's a little bit of spice in the trailer, but nothing beyond what you'd see on late prime time television these days ...
