DVD – Street Fighter Alpha – Generations

The OVA Alpha Generations serves as a prequel to the popular Street Fighter continuity that includes two movies, a TV series, and another OVA. (There’s also a live-action Street Fighter based on the same video game.) Ryu returns to the mountains where he lived as a child to visit the grave of his original martial arts master: Gouken was killed by Gouki, a renegade student who embraced the “dark Hadou.” Much of the backstory is related by an old monk who helps Ryu in his training and explains the ancient origins of the evil Hadou that turned Gouki into a demon. The monk’s wisdom and the gentle presence of his granddaughter prepare Ryu for his inevitable battle with Gouki. The minimal plot unfolds in disjointed fragments, but fans of the Street Fighter series aren’t looking for compelling narratives: As four members of Japanese cast say in the special feature, “watch the fighting scenes.” (Unrated, suitable for ages 15 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) –Charles Solomon