Overflowing with Asian and Anime nuance, and an abundance of martial arts spectacle and vision, Christophe Gans adventure epic, "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is a feast for the eyes and mind that will leave all those that consume, addicted and obsessed.

Review: I'm telling you right now: "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is porn.

And I'm not talking about the soft-core stuff with Shannon Tweed or Zalman King's "Red Shoe Diaries." I'm definitely and especially not ranting about Playboy or even anything that resembles scrambled Spice. What, my friend, am I talking about is the stuff you rent and buy and probably, specifically in this day and age, the stuff you download.

It's the same exact porn that when your girlfriend finds it, you tell her that you're "holding it for a friend." That when your friend discovers it in your secret directory on your computer, you tell them, "I thought it was the new Counterstrike Mod!" It's the dark and dirty stuff you're ashamed of and hide for the sole reason that it does something very peculiar to you: It gets you off.

"Brotherhood of the Wolf" is full on 360 degrees of penetration.

Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to sit in on a press screening of this film in San Diego. I had read numerous amounts of reviews for this film and through everything that is coming out in the action genre; this one was the most promising for the year. Even with all its praise and glory, I still had my doubts.

If anything, I wasn't sure if the French could pull off a martial arts adventure flick in the same vein as Asia. Strangely enough, Europe isn't even really known to be a melting pot of action superstars, let alone action films. Most of the European action films are made by Americans, "Ronin" being a good example. When I think of French films, I think towards Godard, Truffaut and Melville and remember such greats as "Breathless," "The 400 Blows" and "Le Samourai." But then again, there is always Luc Besson and his amazing "La Femme Nikita." I'm sure I could be wrong about all of this and be ahead of myself.

Fortunately, I was proven terribly wrong. And not only that, but I came across a film that does what America and any other country has failed at in emulating the Hong Kong style: become a film that surpasses its Asian influences and create a whole new entity on its own, therefore becoming a reinvention rather than a copy.

One of the most amazing aspects of "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is that it spans two and a half hours long and becomes more of a political and religious thriller than an action film. You could possibly take out all of the martial arts sequences and have a pretty good sizable story in your hands, but then again, you wouldn't want to. I'm just attempting to illustrate the fact that the story is complex and compelling and lives on its own rather than being filler in-between action.

The glory of the film is definitely Mark Dacascos and his mysterious and intriguing portrayal of Mani. With very few lines in the film, Mani's presence emits a darkened warrior in the same disposition as Aaron Kwok's Cloud from "Stormriders." His aura is brooding and menacing, and his martial art skills have the prowess and agility of a panther. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Dacascos is a freaking Victorian era, French ninja!

Samuel Le Bihan as the witty naturalist is charming and very charismatic in the lead. In a sense, we follow the film through his eyes as he reaches further into the mysteries of the beast of Gevauden. While it may seem that Mani may act as his body guard, Fronsac is capable of laying down some serious smack later on in the movie.

As for the other characters in the film, it's difficult to talk about them without giving spoilers to the film. So in Kung Fu Cult Cinema tradition, here are some ass-kissing, superlatives to help get you through the day.

Jean-Francois de Morangias (Vincent Cassel) - The one-armed gunman is an awesome idea. Overall character design is one of the coolest I've seen to date.

Marianne de Morangias (Emilie Dequenne) - Very beautiful and stunning; one of the most gorgeous profiles in the film. Perfect as Fronsac's love interest.

Silvia (Monica Bellucci) - This woman alone increases your manlihood by 6 inches.

Probably the one thing that everyone will be looking forward to the most is the action sequences. Known for his role of Mad Dog in John Woo's "Hard-Boiled" and being the action director in Yuen Woo Ping's "Tiger Cage," fight choreographer, Phillip Kwok, does some of the most eye-catching quarterstaff fighting ever! And the French kickboxing was pretty remarkable also.

Thank god, Van Damme wasn't in this, or else we'd be bombarded with a shirt less Jean-Claude in his trademark biker shorts doing his ridiculously overused jumping-spinning splits kick.

The sweeping cinematography in tandem with the fight scenes are usual Gans style, ala "Crying Freeman." Mixing up the pace with great editing alongside some of the coolest uses of slow motion, Gans is able to display ferocious spectacles of acrobatics in the form of Dacascos. It almost seems as if Gans was subconsciously making Dacascos and Le Bihan into iconic superheroes.

With an amazing production design and regal costuming, "Brotherhood of the Wolf" will not only stand out among the action films this coming year, but in general. Gans presents the film with more than just a genre sensibility, but a picture that encompasses every elements of what great cinema is all about. You can't help but root for the heroes, spurn the villains, and wish to make out with the beautiful ladies. It'l also get you excited in ways you've never known. It is a true film for those fanatical about martial arts and adventure movies and as epic as your old school favorites.