Lost Phoenix

Lost Phoenix is a fish-out-of-water scenario for its protagonist, who awakens from a coma amidst a world of chaos in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic era. With no memory and a lack of information regarding his identity provided to him, he is suddenly on the run from the authorities, desperately trying to prove who he is. As he begins to uncover the truth about his past, he’s drawn further into one man's plot to incite the next U.S. Civil War.

The piece has an effective opening credits crawl which fits the espionage narrative backdrop tonally. The viewer is then immediately thrust into the havoc the central protagonist faces, surrounded by a conflict that unfolds with urgency. While discord frequently looms over the protagonist, the piece then slowly meanders to a grinding halt with poorly integrated uses of ADR within scenes of dialogue, which feel stilted and awkward to witness as a viewer. The performances themselves feel robotic, which is the point for the protagonist; however, the lack of chemistry between characters doesn't help, as it feels forced and unnatural. The narrative also conveys a politically charged message through its inclusion of a Black Lives Matter protest sequence, which was a pivotal event during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the piece does not further explore these themes.

Action sequences are frequently peppered throughout the narrative; while the fight choreography is impressive and fun to experience as a viewer, the use of slow motion and quick cuts in the editing makes it jarring and incomprehensible at times. Its use of VFX feels incredibly cartoony, perhaps due to budget constraints, and an odd use of indistinct imagery is present during set pieces. The direction sadly feels flat and uninspired, further hindering these sequences with a poor use of shot composition that fails to make the scenes feel more visceral. Also, the musical score is oddly utilised and feels out of touch with the material entirely, with its more upbeat theme during scenes of distress for the protagonist. There is a severe lack of tension, despite the consistent conflict that the characters must endure. The plotting becomes overly convoluted with a plethora of supporting characters interjecting their involvement with the primary narrative focus.

While the performances are serviceable, the supporting cast is generally fun to watch, with some amusing gags and comedic one-liners that make the experience more enjoyable and less self-serious. However, the characters are tough to connect with due to their selfish and violent tendencies within the narrative. The central antagonist is oddly motivated by greed and lacks any other notable character traits that would make him a memorable individual among the supporting cast. Another aspect of the piece that falters is its pacing; it's upsettingly slow and uneven, with either scenes going on too long or scenes quickly erupting into an action set piece. The editing can also be incredibly jarring due to its rapid cuts, which can become confusing for the viewer to comprehend what's occurring. A unique formal choice, however, is the use of a colour grade change within the opening and flashback sequences.

Lost Phoenix is a meandering experience, lacking cohesion and featuring baffling creative decisions in the editing. While the action is solid, and the supporting cast helps alleviate the pacing, the narrative's conclusion is unfortunately underwhelming. This is due to its overly perplexing nature and the minimal character growth for the central character. On the other hand, there is some resolution within the characterisation which is satisfying. It's just a shame that the buildup to the climax may leave a sour taste in audiences’ mouths.