‘Art of Eight Limbs’ (2024) Movie Review - A Muay Thai Mashup with Some Wobbly Knees

Okay, folks, let's get into this. "Art of Eight Limbs" is one of those films that tries to pack a punch but ends up throwing a few too many air punches. It’s a mixed bag—a sweaty, adrenaline-filled mixed bag that makes you wish it hit as hard as the sport it's showcasing. Let’s break it down.*

The story centers on a CIA analyst, played by Ludi Lin, who is thrust into the underbelly of an international arms trade disguised as a Muay Thai tournament. It’s an action-packed premise that could easily carry a film if it weren’t for the occasional stumble. The plot is like a fighter with great footwork but poor stamina—promising in the first few rounds but losing steam by the time the final bell rings.

The film begins strong, introducing us to the protagonist's double life with some slick spy-vs-spy action sequences. But as the tournament starts, the narrative becomes as predictable as a low kick from a tired opponent. We've seen this trope before: the underdog infiltrates the bad guys, fights his way to the top, and uncovers a larger conspiracy. The problem isn’t that the film uses clichés—it’s that it uses them without adding anything fresh to the mix.

Let’s talk about what should have been the heart and soul of the film: the Muay Thai. If you’re going to name your movie after one of the most brutal combat sports in the world, you’d better make sure the fight scenes are top-notch. "Art of Eight Limbs" gives us some decent bouts, especially when it lets the camera stay on the fighters instead of cutting every half-second like it's got a nervous twitch. There are moments where you feel the raw intensity of the sport—knees, elbows, the whole shebang—but those moments are too few and far between. It’s almost as if the director wasn’t sure whether to make a martial arts film or a spy thriller and ended up with something that doesn’t fully satisfy fans of either genre. The fights are good, but they’re often interrupted by unnecessary plot detours that make you wish the camera would just stay in the ring.

Ludi Lin tries his best to juggle the dual role of analyst and undercover fighter, and to his credit, he’s one of the film’s saving graces. His physicality in the fight scenes is believable, and he carries the stoic determination of a man on a mission. But even Lin can't fully save the film from its uneven script. The supporting cast does what they can with what they’re given, but don’t expect anyone to be winning awards here. The villains are cardboard cutouts, evil for the sake of being evil, with motivations as thin as the paper they’re written on.

This is where the film really starts to fall apart. The direction is competent, but it lacks a clear vision. The editing, on the other hand, is like a badly stitched wound—there’s too much cutting going on, and it never quite heals. The film jumps from one scene to the next with little regard for pacing, making it difficult to stay invested in the story. The final act, which should be a crescendo of everything that’s been building up, instead feels like a rushed compilation of fight scenes thrown together with a flimsy excuse for a climax.

"Art of Eight Limbs" is the kind of movie you watch when you’re in the mood for something loud and fast, but not something you’ll remember the next day. It’s got enough action to keep you entertained, but it’s also riddled with missed opportunities and lazy writing. It’s like going to a Muay Thai match where the fighters keep slipping—sure, it’s still a fight, but you can’t help but wonder how much better it could have been if they had just kept their footing.

So, would I recommend it? If you’re a die-hard fan of Ludi Lin or just need your action fix, sure, give it a watch. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more substance, you might want to look elsewhere. "Art of Eight Limbs" might have the tools, but it doesn’t quite know how to use them.

Final score? I'd give it a round of applause for effort, but only a half-hearted one. It's a decent swing, but it doesn’t quite land the knockout punch.

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times