It's a big, ridiculous martial-arts epic full of imaginatively staged death and dismemberment, and a worthy, respectful tribute to the masters of chop-socky cinema. I'd call it the best movie ever directed by a major hiphop artist if the compliment didn't feel so backhanded; instead, let's just say it's the first movie ever directed by a major hip-hop artist that feels like the work of an actual directoralbeit one who's not above servicing fans by needle-dropping "Shame on a nikka" under his movie's opening fight scene.