Instant Favorite.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

A Masterpiece!

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Even though the movie was kinda cool and all, it has such a huge hole in it's plot that the ending of the movie is just wrong. That's why i am giving it such a low score.At the gas station (01:06:35) The player ('Longshot' Topuzov) is never killed. So (Joshua Harlow) should never have won and the tracking device should have exploded and have both killed (Joshua Harlow and 'Longshot' Topuzov).What a fake and bad ending how can one produce something bad like this? Don't they go over the movie and see if there are any mistakes with it before releasing it into the world? What a plot mistake!!!!

An OTT gore-fest from the start, it's a clunky B-movie in terms of action, plot and dialogue, but if you accept it as that you'll be fine with it. Presumably some of the actors are more stunt performers than actors judging from of the delivery, fists talking louder than script, but the characters' abilities as assassins are truly terrible to the extent that most crazed lunatics would be embarrassed at the lack of stealth and accuracy. That a drunken priest and the world's 'greatest' hit-man are at the moral centre of the film tells you all you need to know. Robert Carlyle is his likable self, and Ving Rhames has a stone-faced nobility despite his profession, Kelly Hu's character is not very convincing (not her fault though, blame the writer), but it's Ian Somerhalder who steels all his scenes as the completely barking Texan gunslinger and all round psychopath. The gore has a touch of Bad-Taste-with-a-budget about it, but as long as your expectations are not great this'll probably do the job.

THE TOURNAMENT is another in the string of films 'inspired' by the success of BATTLE ROYALE which feature armed opponents battling each other to the death in a specific location. The difference? This time around, that location happens to be Middlesborough, of all places! Middlesbrough is a run-down city in the north of England that just so happens to be famous for…well, absolutely nothing. So the choice to have it as the film's setting is unusual, to say the least, and seeing Hollywood stars prowling the streets is nothing if not incongruous. But then THE TOURNAMENT is a slightly quirky British production, so we shouldn't be too surprised.As for how this all stands as a film, it comes across as a mix between THE CONDEMNED and DEATH RACE and offers little we haven't seen before (aside from the setting, of course). Robert Carlyle plays a boozy priest (is there any other kind in the movies?) who unwittingly becomes caught up in a battle between the world's greatest assassins. The storyline is paper thin so the filmmakers wisely choose to focus on the action instead, which is pretty good.The various set-pieces are explosive and ultra-violent, seemingly designed to showcase the latest effects technology of human bodies exploding into clouds of splattery gore. The camera-work isn't too shoddy, as at least we can see some of what's going on, unlike in many modern-day shaky-cam action flicks. The actors playing the assassins are a fun assortment, ranging from pretty heroine Kelly Hu to martial arts supremo Scott Adkins (sadly underutilised) and CASINO ROYALE's parkour enthusiast Sebastien Foucan. Carlyle gives good value for money as always and it's always a pleasure to see Liam Cunningham in a film, although his role as this film's villain is fairly pathetic. Ving Rhames gives a typically larger than life turn in an extended cameo.Things pick up for the ludicrous but entertaining climax, which manages to drag in a classic double-decker bus for some high-speed action before the strictly routine ending. And it's true, you know; THE TOURNAMENT is predictable in the extreme, offering absolutely nothing that hasn't already been done (and done better). But you know what? I enjoyed it. It's not something you'll want to watch more than once, but as an example of adult-orientated action cinema it works.

The film kinda get the reality shows essence, with a pinch of Predator script ("every seven years...") but with assassins as participants and very rich and influent people manipulating the situation. Not that original but, you know...Robert Carlyle and Ian Somerhalder are great in this movie and they are the highlight of acting on it. Robert pass us the humanity factor, being very convincing as always. What a such outstanding actor! I'm a huge fan of him. And Ian is really good as the mad man. He's really surprised me... The role of Ving Rhames was badly made, not appearing he is a great hit-man. It seemed something was missing... Well, thumbs down to the writers. Kelly Hu was so-so in her character but, I don't know, there are so many excellent Chinese actresses to play a role like that... Why her? Really good acting too of Liam Cunningham. His voice looks like those trailer movies' narrators and his presence was strong.One more time, Scott Adkins was underused in a film... When, when, when someone is going to give him a proper attention? He deserves it! His fight with Kelly is great, the best of the movie, but due to laziness (or whatever happened) of writers, he's like a Yuri Boyka's clone, as a Russian assassin... Anyone there remembered a certain Isaac Florentine's movies? Sebastien Foucan, although was good playing a parkour guy (again), they let him with more participation... What a sin! Another thing that made me really admired was the special effects of explosions, mainly body explosions! They surpassed themselves on that! Excellent indeed. The blood effects are awesome too.While not a blockbuster, I recommend "The Tournament" without hesitate. It is definitely a much better choice than many of so called "action movies" out there. With more money, and perhaps time, to writers, it would be an enormous hit.