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While there have been comic books and animated adaptations of the popular game, Tekken the live action martial arts film is a franchise first. The production features a couple of established faces from previously popular martial arts films. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is perhaps best known as the villain Shang Tsung in another videogame adaption, Mortal Kombat. He portrays the similarly evil Heihachi in this movie, and I hate that character for being one of the hardest bosses of the 1990s videogame era. Tamlyn Tomita, recently seen on Eureka and 24, was introduced to North American audiences in The Karate Kid Part II. While you may not know their names, both of their faces are easily recognized. Tekken is not about their generation, though.

Instead, the focus is on Ian Anthony Dale (of The Event and Day Break) and Jon Foo (you don’t know him) as a father and son, Kazuya and Jin, who are not friends. It seems that papa may have been a bit rape-ish with Jin’s mother and that all of the men in the family have that dark streak. Jin wants to end the family curse, either with the aid of Heihachi or in spite of him. In order to do so, Jin must win The King of Iron Fist Tournament. This is a long description for a much more basic premise. People punch and kick one and another in a matter that you may find enjoyable if you enjoy the genre. If you are looking for anything other than an inscrutable plot, this probably isn’t the best choice. None of the videogames ever made a lick of sense, but it was always fun to kick someone in the face with a bear claw.

For LeBron James: 2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks

I really have nothing to add to the discussion about this title, which is self-explanatory. Like everyone else in the world, however, I enjoy drinking LeBron’s tears. Having said that, the latest ESPN The Magazine has a fabulous article about a form of cryogenic treatment used by all of the aging players on the oldest championship team in NBA history. What I take from the article is that Ted Williams’ head is stored at the wrong facility. Also, I suspect that missing pizza delivery specialist Philip J. Fry is trapped in the facility somewhere. Anyway, Dallas is the first NBA team in ages that seems like a real team rather than one prima donna and a bunch of also-rans. So, this disc is a good suggestion for the sports fan in your life, a person who I guarantee hates LeBron James. Everyone does.

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