DOA: Dead or Alive

Name: DOA: Dead or Alive
Genre: Action, Adventure
Released: June 15, 2007
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Devon Aoki, Jaime Pressly, Sarah Carter

2007

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 195 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 195 Ratings

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Doa: Dead Or Alive

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Movie Details & Credits

Dimension Films | Release Date: June 15, 2007 | PG-13

Starring: Devon Aoki, Jaime Pressly, Sarah Carter

Summary: Based on Tecmo's best-selling "Dead or Alive" videogame franchise, DOA: Dead or Alive features four beautiful women who begin as rivals in a secret invitational-only martial arts contest, but find themselves teaming up with one another against a sinister force. (Weinstein Co.)

Director: Corey Yuen

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Luke Y. Thompson

Praise be to director Corey Yuen (The Transporter) for delivering one of the year's purest entertainments -- the best butt-kicking PG-13 bikini jiggle fest since the first Charlie's Angels flick. Read full review

Gregory Kirschling

If you only ever see one bad movie about warrior chicks who meet on a tropical isle for a fight contest, make it DOA: Dead or Alive. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Free of blood, bruises and visible trauma, DOA revels in its fakery. And though the film presents more exuberant female flesh than hiring day at Hooters, it's strictly for titillation. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

The action has more to do with digital effects than true martial artistry, and is targeted squarely at adolescent boys too young to rent porn and gamers too lazy to yank their own joysticks. Read full review

Joe Leydon

So insubstantial that it practically evaporates on screen. Read full review

Jack Mathews

"Charlie's Angels," "Survivor," "American Gladiators" and "Girls Gone Wild" are just some of the bad influences on Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen's laughably silly adaptation of the video game DOA: Dead or Alive. Read full review

Josh Rosenblatt

A piece of garbage and the best argument for reading books since the first pop-up appeared. Read full review

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User Reviews

Zerasight

Apr 10, 2017

I remember watching this movie as a kid without knowledge about the whole DOA series behind that and the movie worked just fine. Now I know the whole plot behind the series and I watched it again and I must admit that it's still awesome. Everyone who searches for a funny and compact movieI remember watching this movie as a kid without knowledge about the whole DOA series behind that and the movie worked just fine. Now I know the whole plot behind the series and I watched it again and I must admit that it's still awesome. Everyone who searches for a funny and compact movie with lots of action and somewhat sexy moments should give this one a try.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

StephenC.

Jun 16, 2007

I don't know what these guys are talking about. Great movie, wicked action, excellent choreography, great acting, hot babes. I love all of this guy's stuff. Can't wait for a sequel!!

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AnonymousMoss

Feb 28, 2009

i haven't played the game so i guess i can't really compare, but i personally loved the movie! the acting was bad yes but i'm a sucker for fighting movies with girls who can actually kick ass as the main character, and i think this movie did an amazing job with that despite i haven't played the game so i guess i can't really compare, but i personally loved the movie! the acting was bad yes but i'm a sucker for fighting movies with girls who can actually kick ass as the main character, and i think this movie did an amazing job with that despite the not so great acting.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

RainyD

Jan 26, 2008

It's certainly not as bad as many might imagine.A fun little flick with good action and decent enough acting.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

WilliamT

Apr 25, 2008

It's so horrendously silly, shallow and riddled with slow-motion effects FOR EVERY SINGLE FIGHT that you can't help but enjoy it somehow.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

TheQuietGamer

May 10, 2020

Tries to distract you from its sloppy action and bad acting with T 'n' A. While a defining aspect of the Dead or Alive games has always been how sexualized their fighters are, the series has survived on more than just jiggle physics alone. The developers at Team Ninja crafted a genuinelyTries to distract you from its sloppy action and bad acting with T 'n' A. While a defining aspect of the Dead or Alive games has always been how sexualized their fighters are, the series has survived on more than just jiggle physics alone. The developers at Team Ninja crafted a genuinely competitive and high-quality battle system that has allowed the franchise to remain one of the most notable names in the genre for years. This film adaptation fails to capture the same thrill of combat however, as the actors seem to have been selected based on their looks and willingness to show some skin as opposed to having any actual skill in martial arts.

Leaning more heavily on the sex appeal to try and cover this up wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but there's only so much tantalizing you can do with a PG-13 rating and panning shots over women in swimsuits aren't enough to draw attention away from the flaws when they're this glaring. It fails at being a successful homage to Hong Kong action cinema as I was more interested in a single volleyball sequence that served as a nice reference to Tecmo's pervier spin-off titles than I was in any of the shoddy displays of wire fu. Then there's the story and tone to think about...

The plot is about as predictable as you can get. A bunch of competitors get invited to an island tournament and, big surprise, the rich dude throwing it together exploits them for his own ulterior (and incredibly obvious) motives. There are several supporting narratives running alongside this that only serve to muddy things up to the point where it actually feels like there's too much going on and never end up going anywhere interesting. Like, did any time seriously need to be dedicated to watching Zack sexually harass Tina Armstrong? I think not.

As often as ridiculousness can be a bad movie's best friend by allowing them to become something stupidly fun, there are plenty in the same vein as this one that go too far with it and look even dorkier than they otherwise would have. The film immediately opens over a terrible CGI palace in what appears to be feudalistic Japan where Devon Aoki is giving a horrendous performance before literally flying over it's walls and revealing she has some kind of futuristic hang glider backpack hidden under her kimono. It's an incredibly jarring way to start things off and to its fault doesn't get any less absurd or goofy from there.

Despite all that's wrong with it I can't not give DOA credit for having all female leads. This is far from the height of feminism, but it at least lets the women be strong AND sexy while carrying a style of film usually headlined by men. Sadly, it isn't steamy or well-choreographed enough to act as a good vehicle for them, lagging behind the likes of Lara Croft and Resident Evil to a staggering degree. Not just on the empowerment front, but as a representation of video games onscreen as well. Plus, those films even did a better job of serving their intended purpose of arousing the excitement of teenage boys with more impressive displays of flesh and violence. All that's left for this to offer is disappointment.

4.3/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

CalH.

Jun 13, 2007

How could you guys not have got this yet. Australia and the UK got it last year and its the worst movie ever. I really mean this, never see this movie. consider yourselves lucky that it took the USA so long to get this film. Avoid at all costs. [Ed: Thanks, Cal]

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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