Arena Wars

I watched the first 5 minutes and could hardly believe a movie could be so bad so immediately. I then gave it another 10 minutes. Let's just say I have regrets. Please save yourselves the mind melting wtf's of this movie.

Acting 0 stars Script 0 stars Direction 0 stars Sets 1 star for the set designers and builders who did their best on a budget of 30 nickels and a bucket of pi*s

Micheal Madsen and the guy playing the second host look almost like crypt keepers on deaths door.

Movies like this always baffle me at the thought of how many HORRIBLE actors are available to fill such a cast. Everyone else is phoning it in for their mini paycheck.

Many people will like the design of the killers but proceed at your own risk.

The shows premise is a direct rip off of Schwarzenegger's 1987 film, "The Running Man" except it doesn't have the amazing Arnold Schwarzenegger. Many characters are direct derivatives from that show, and they are poorly portrayed by unknown "actors" and "actresses". Ultimately the storyline is mundane and incredibly predictable. Acting by any of the main characters is poor at best, and Michael Madsen needed more sarcastic screen time, which he doesn't get. The set must have cost less than the arena for American Gladiators, and the action sequences were choreographed by a 12 year old boy. Skip it.

I have to say that I harbored absolutely zero expectations to the 2024 movie "Arena Wars" given a cast ensemble with the likes of Michael Madsen, Eric Roberts and Robert LaSardo as the most prominent names and performers. Yet, I still opted to watch the movie on account of it being a movie that I had never seen, nor actually ever heard about.

The concept of "Arena Wars" was simplistic, so very, very simplistic. It was essentially just watching inmates serving life sentences going up against armed gladiators on TV for entertaining the masses and for a chance to achieve freedom. That was basically everything the movie was offering. Writers Brandon Slagle, Michael Mahal and Sonny Mahal didn't exactly put together an outstanding or memorable script or storyline.

The acting performances in the movie were fair, though I can't claim to be a fan of neither Michael Madsen or Eric Roberts, both of which look like they have been replaced by replicas from Wish with zero on screen energy.

I will say that there was actually enough senseless violence and action in the movie to keep it relatively afloat, at least to a level where it was a watchable enough movie.

While "Arena Wars" was a semi-watchable movie, it is hardly one that warrants more than just a single viewing.

My rating of director Brandon Slagle's 2024 movie "Arena Wars" lands on a four out of ten stars.

I watch a lot of B grade movies and I never write reviews but this was something else.

It's not even fun bad, it's just bad.

Don't waste your time. This entire thing was filmed in one room. Sure the sets change but it's all small sets. The acting is shockingly bad. There isn't even one character you want to get behind.

The main guy tries to be a generic marine but is hard to believe.

The audience watching the arena wars always have the same clothes even though there are days apart at times.

Almost every shot is close ups so they don't have to reveal the lack of sets and how small they are.

Please don't watch it whatever you do.

Sorry to tell the honest truth about this movie but it is wholeheartedly horrible. There are no redeeming qualities in this movie. It looks extremely low budget and the special effects are noticeably awful. The acting is compromised of very weak and uninspired even with some notable acting veterans. None of which are remotely likeable characters. First off consider this movie is pretty much straight to video, it is still not worth a rental.

As the title suggests, the prior 4 reviews are false and don't represent the film in any way. I mean what is this "A fun take on a rather overused style". People need to stop with his reviews. He is nothing but a studio shill whom never really knows what he's saying + he types like a robot.

Bottom line. Skip this movie. The best thing about it is probably the cover poster.