Funny, but not slapstick
Street Fighter doesn’t need to be over an hour and a half of seriousness. Zangief can add comedy because it fits his look and what he’s been like in the game. Vega’s narcissism can be entertaining especially when someone shuts him up (Chun Li did it in the animated movie).
There are also moments where serious characters like Guile and Bison can have moments where they’re accidentally funny. This is how a Street Fighter movie can be fun without being over the top. The last thing anyone wants is another Jean-Claude Van Damme speech. However, the scene above is an example of the perfect balance.
Evil M. Bison
One thing both Street Fighter movies got right is Bison being an evil terrorist. This needs to happen again. Marvel Studios’ villains may be sympathetic, but Bison shouldn’t be. He’s a killer willing to use science to augment himself and control other people. There’s no reason that this shouldn’t be the case in this movie. It’s worked in video games for decades. And, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
What other things are needed to finally create a good Street Fighter live-action movie? Let us know in the comments below.