Arena Wars

Arena Wars: After having watched several movies of a certain major or independent studio, one can be able to predict how the next films will be. In most instances, once a studio’s brand is established, received movies are produced with that audience in mind. If I go to watch a movie produced by Disney, I will probably get the usual compelling family drama with a strong message of good triumphing over evil, involving a journey by a main character who has likely evolved to a level where there can be a sequel.

While watching any horror movie by Blumhouse, I would expect a young adult film that contains a couple of scare scenes and enough violent action for horror lovers who still maintain a less than 13 rating. And Asylum films, for all I care, might be just another silly fake vietname (actually pronounced as “Wilhelm” in most stupid movies) that comes with a cheap thrill.

Let’s consider the case of the Mahal Empire. It has been pleasing watching them for this long and now they have about a dozen, some people might say, mediocre pieces. The Mahal Empire’s prime strategy has been to source money commercially through crowdsourcing platforms and Inidiegogo specifically, creating well-known face and names films and a sprinkling of sponsored actors a shoot with lesser known star actors. None of this is a knock, these are the expectations.

I have watched all of the movies produced by the Mahal Empire and I have to say that I am impressed by their progress as the years roll by. Arena Wars” can be described as a production of a sophisticated studio. The set design, the entire budget of the production, the combat designs, and even the costumes over (by a mile) whatever we have previously witnessed from the Mahal Empire.

“Arena Wars” is in my opinion the best and the most satisfying movie that came out of these independent filmmakers.

The year is 2045 around the time of the not so distant future and the story entails prisoners who have an opportunity to earn their freedom by fighting in an arena for the entertainment of a bloodthirsty crowd. There is not much more to it from that point, and for a movie like this, there doesn’t need to be. The protagonists are cardboard cutouts, but once more, this level of depth and motivation is not what we are after. For the most part, the aims of the film are achieved, and some comic relief is inserted quite deliberately in between scenes of violence.

The Mahal Empire has had quite a few projects in the past that, while largely fun, do have some blatant blunders. Thankfully, with “Arena Wars,” there’s Director Brandon Slagle who skillfully blends the veteran actors with less seasoned ones and makes the most out of the narrative.

Many crowdfunded filmmakers provide incentives where wannabe actors get a chance to add to their portfolio and fans can be part of a movie and that is fair enough – even as a pay-and-play aspect has existed in the sliver screen for quite a while, especially since Hollywood came into being.

What the majority seem to neglect though is how to effectively integrate these types of actors seamlessly into the story and plot of the film. These actors can often be seen in what appears to be a receiving line, following in some wedding instead of stage blocking designed for a motion picture, with each of them being able to deliver the lines they have been bought into mouthing in a manner that is totally away from the film. The end product in such cases is always that of an amateur production seeking to give everyone a role. This is not the case for “Arena Wars.” Of course the film has some of this, but it primarily works within the storyline and more importantly, does not compromise the authenticity of this world.

“Arena Wars” cast features some familiar names in Michael Madsen and Eric Roberts, alongside seasoned veterans such as Robert LaSardo and Robert Donovan. The rest of the cast is composed of Mahal Empire actors in habitual rotation, who many of them are now slowly establishing themselves as performers.

With brothers Sonny and Michael Mahal’s story work does Slagle take the lead as the main writer. With this kind of story, it is the usual “Running Man,” “Death Race,” kind of narrative, where the inmates will fight for their lives in a bid for freedom. With such an action film, there are also norms, and they are also well met by Slagle, as they have been throughout the film.

What Slagle does best with “Arena Wars” is making use of the resources that he has been given for the making of this film. His script works with the strengths and weaknesses of the actors and more so where most of these crowdfunded films get it wrong. It tells one complete narrative, that does not only please its backers, but also entertains an average viewer.

I got to know about the Mahal Empire when I first watched ‘Art of the Dead’. This was a fun, entertaining reasonably produced film. Since then, there has been substantial expansion in the scale of their movies. The most recent ones, “Bermuda Island” and “Night of the Tommyknockers” chew well, big, and entertaining B-movies, more in line with the kind of faith that the audience has to Asylum and SyFy Channel movies.

“Arena Wars” has the feeling that things are different somehow. This is how the Mahal Empire’s effects and influences in this film would be so far removed from the viewer who never witnessed it before. This has the features of an average action movie whether someone wants it or not. It has a simple storyline, a few interesting characters, a little bit of nakedness and loads of expected violence.

Even though “Arena Wars” does not revolutionize the action movie norms, it does tell some persistent activists of independent cinema how to make this industry more efficient and effective without wasting time making repeats.

And yes, for the last few years, the story has been the same with several indie filmmakers identifiable and proud of them crowdfunding a film – headlining the fact that they do not come from a film school background, so yes, they are shooting a film which they will improvise during the undesirable to the audience scenario, only to end up ruining not only the experience for the crew, the cast, but in particular the end consumers. And yet, “Arena Wars” wins when so many films fail.

It goes without saying that most films made with crowdfunding are frequently made from a filmmaker’s ego and not their vision. “Arena Wars” is an independent feature film and introduces directors like Brandon Slagle. A different director, working with the same script and resources, could have done worse. Slagle manages to surpass all odds and does it remarkably well.

“Arena Wars” conveys to the audience including aspiring filmmakers that this is what is achievable when resources are applied effectively, there is a room full of devoted people, and a leader in the name of Slagle who has the experience and knows exactly what he is doing.

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