Plot: Russell Hatch an Interpol operative who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong.
Review: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.
Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch,...
Review: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.
Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chika Kanamoto, Emerson Min, Sticky Fingaz, Ji Yong Lee, Andrey Ivchenko, Kristanna Loken, Shannen Doherty, Cynthia Rothrock, Weston Cage, Kris Van Damme | Written by James Cullen Bressack, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alethea Hnatko-Cho | Directed by James Cullen Bressack
Jean-Claude Van Damme has kept a fairly low profile compared to many other 80s action heroes. And that includes such non-genre appearances as voice acting in kids films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, Minions: The Rise of Gru as well as a cameo in the French comedy Haters. However, Darkness of Man sees him return to the Dtv action spotlight
As the film opens, Russel Hatch lies in a puddle of his own blood, bleeding out from several bullet wounds. He tells us in voice-over that, like every story, this began with a woman. And we go back to Miami two years prior when Hatch was an Interpol agent.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has kept a fairly low profile compared to many other 80s action heroes. And that includes such non-genre appearances as voice acting in kids films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, Minions: The Rise of Gru as well as a cameo in the French comedy Haters. However, Darkness of Man sees him return to the Dtv action spotlight
As the film opens, Russel Hatch lies in a puddle of his own blood, bleeding out from several bullet wounds. He tells us in voice-over that, like every story, this began with a woman. And we go back to Miami two years prior when Hatch was an Interpol agent.
- 5/13/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
If you love action classics like Kickboxer and Bloodsport, a whole host of 80s and 90s martial arts superstars return to the screen in the action thriller The Last Kumite, coming to Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Uhd/Bd Steelbook, as well as digital platforms in the UK and Ireland from 13th May… And I’ve got my pre-order in already!
When Karate champion Michael Rivers (Mathis Landwehr) wins the last tournament of his career, shady businessman Ron Hall (Matthias Hues) offers him the opportunity to fight in an illegal, deadly Kumite in Bulgaria with the world’s best martial artists. Michael declines, only to find out later that his daughter Bree has been kidnapped and that in order to rescue her, he is left with no other option but to fight in the deadly tournament. When he finally gets to Bulgaria, he finds out that he is not the only...
When Karate champion Michael Rivers (Mathis Landwehr) wins the last tournament of his career, shady businessman Ron Hall (Matthias Hues) offers him the opportunity to fight in an illegal, deadly Kumite in Bulgaria with the world’s best martial artists. Michael declines, only to find out later that his daughter Bree has been kidnapped and that in order to rescue her, he is left with no other option but to fight in the deadly tournament. When he finally gets to Bulgaria, he finds out that he is not the only...
- 4/29/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
From left: Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma in Monkey ManPhoto: Universal Studios
Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped and...
Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped and...
- 4/17/2024
- by Ian Spelling
- avclub.com
The legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in action in the upcoming thriller Darkness of Man, which is set to receive a digital release on May 21st. With that date just a couple months away, a trailer for the film has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above!
Directed by James Cullen Bressack, who crafted the story with Jcvd and wrote the screenplay with Alethea Hnatko-Cho, Darkness of Man has the following synopsis: Russell Hatch (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.
Van Damme is joined in the cast by Emerson Min...
Directed by James Cullen Bressack, who crafted the story with Jcvd and wrote the screenplay with Alethea Hnatko-Cho, Darkness of Man has the following synopsis: Russell Hatch (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.
Van Damme is joined in the cast by Emerson Min...
- 3/25/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Ever since Rocky took the world by storm in 1976, people have been enamored with the idea of an underdog fighting his way to victory. There is something about two people entering an arena and just seeing who is the best. Movies help us find the themes and metaphors we can use for this mentality in our everyday life. If you’re in a funk and then play the Rocky theme, you suddenly become more motivated than ever to get over that mountain called life. With Creed IV reportedly in the works, we figured this would be a great time to put together a list of the best fighting movies other than Rocky.
Warrior (2011)
Tommy returns home after a stint in the Marines to find his father has cleaned himself up. They begin training for an upcoming mixed martial arts tournament offering the sport’s biggest payday. Tommy’s estranged...
Warrior (2011)
Tommy returns home after a stint in the Marines to find his father has cleaned himself up. They begin training for an upcoming mixed martial arts tournament offering the sport’s biggest payday. Tommy’s estranged...
- 3/24/2024
- by Bryan Wolford
- JoBlo.com
While Bloodsport, the 1988 martial arts tournament movie, is widely considered by fans to be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best film, it almost never saw the light of day. Indeed, according to Nick De Semlyen’s book, “Last Action Heroes” (buy it here), the film was deemed unreleasable by Cannon Pictures head Menachem Golan. The film sat on the shelf for fourteen months and was considered so bad that Golan intended to release the movie direct-to-video.
Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.
According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when the movie wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.
Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.
According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when the movie wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.
- 3/13/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Marco Brambilla's 1993 film "Demolition Man" has a pretty wild premise. In the near-future of 1996, a wildly destructive criminal named Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is at large and taking hostages in Los Angeles. The cop sent in to apprehend Pheonix is John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), an officer so reckless that he's earned the nickname of Demolition Man. When Spartan finds and confronts Pheonix, he explodes the building they're in. They both escape, but an investigation reveals the bodies of the hostages in the rubble. Oops. Spartan didn't handle that operation very well.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
- 3/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
When it first came out in 1992, Mortal Kombat was the talk of the town. Every kid and their mother knew about it. Literally. The sheer violence and gore featured in the once-arcade game, had mothers taking to news outlets and politicians to get the game banned. Quite reminiscent of Kyle’s mom from South Park, one could say. Despite major censorship calls and aiding the birth of the Esrb, Mortal Kombat flourished, thanks in part to the controversies surrounding it.
Infamy of its gore aside, the game quickly became popular amongst players for its array of characters. The base roster still lives on in the modern iterations of the fighting game. Whether Liu Kang was your go-to or Thunder God Raiden, or perhaps Scorpion, everyone had their favorite pick. But amongst the ninjas and Gods alike, one character stood out that didn’t quite fit this bill… And that was Johnny Cage.
Infamy of its gore aside, the game quickly became popular amongst players for its array of characters. The base roster still lives on in the modern iterations of the fighting game. Whether Liu Kang was your go-to or Thunder God Raiden, or perhaps Scorpion, everyone had their favorite pick. But amongst the ninjas and Gods alike, one character stood out that didn’t quite fit this bill… And that was Johnny Cage.
- 3/4/2024
- by Divyashree Shashidhar
- FandomWire
In 1989, the movie Best of the Best had a somewhat abbreviated run in theaters. Only grossing a mere $1.7 million, the movie was a major hit on home video and cable. That’s why, three years later, a sequel, Best of the Best 2, hit theaters… for a while. While the first film has maintained a certain cult status, the sequel, and the two more that followed, have been largely forgotten – until now on this edition of The Best Movie You Never Saw.
Best of the Best 2 came from the same creative team behind the original, including director Robert Radler and producer/ star Phillip Rhee. Intriguingly, it was co-written by a TV actor of the time named John Allen Nelson, who starred on Baywatch for a few seasons, played Paul The Wine Guy on Friends, and has shown up as a guest actor on most of the biggest shows on TV.
Best of the Best 2 came from the same creative team behind the original, including director Robert Radler and producer/ star Phillip Rhee. Intriguingly, it was co-written by a TV actor of the time named John Allen Nelson, who starred on Baywatch for a few seasons, played Paul The Wine Guy on Friends, and has shown up as a guest actor on most of the biggest shows on TV.
- 2/11/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Friends, Bialyans, DC fans, lend me your ears. We come not to bury the DC Extended Universe, but to praise it. Yes, the franchise has met its ignoble end with the bloated but lackluster Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and yes, the franchise gave us the internet scourge known as Snyder Bros.
But no one who loves superhero movies can dismiss the entire ordeal. There will be time to analyze the many mistakes of DC’s first live-action cinematic universe or to continue looking forward to what James Gunn and Peter Safran have in store for DC Studios. For now, let’s look at the good things accomplished by the Dceu, a massive project that saw 15 movies released in 11 years. Here are eight great aspects to the Dceu, aspects that deserve to live on under Gunn and Safran’s tenure, and should be adopted by Marvel, unless the MCU wants to suffer the same fate.
But no one who loves superhero movies can dismiss the entire ordeal. There will be time to analyze the many mistakes of DC’s first live-action cinematic universe or to continue looking forward to what James Gunn and Peter Safran have in store for DC Studios. For now, let’s look at the good things accomplished by the Dceu, a massive project that saw 15 movies released in 11 years. Here are eight great aspects to the Dceu, aspects that deserve to live on under Gunn and Safran’s tenure, and should be adopted by Marvel, unless the MCU wants to suffer the same fate.
- 1/2/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Throwback martial arts action film The Last Kumite heads to streaming in 2024, and here’s the trailer.
There is no question that the 1980s was a vintage time for action films, particularly in Hong Kong. There was a fruitful period in the mid 1980s when Hong Kong directors would hire American martial artists to go toe to toe with onscreen, both to broaden the international appeal and show a wide range of styles.
From Cynthia Rothrock going up against Sammo Hung in Shanghai Express to Richard Norton’s multiple bust ups with Jackie Chan in the likes of City Hunter and Mr Nice Guy, these performers went on to headline a series of low budget American action films that have since gained a cult following, perhaps most notably the China O’Brien series and the numerous No Retreat, No Surrender sequels
The Last Kumite looks set to be a throwback to that style,...
There is no question that the 1980s was a vintage time for action films, particularly in Hong Kong. There was a fruitful period in the mid 1980s when Hong Kong directors would hire American martial artists to go toe to toe with onscreen, both to broaden the international appeal and show a wide range of styles.
From Cynthia Rothrock going up against Sammo Hung in Shanghai Express to Richard Norton’s multiple bust ups with Jackie Chan in the likes of City Hunter and Mr Nice Guy, these performers went on to headline a series of low budget American action films that have since gained a cult following, perhaps most notably the China O’Brien series and the numerous No Retreat, No Surrender sequels
The Last Kumite looks set to be a throwback to that style,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
"It's time!" Capelight Pictures has unveiled a first look teaser for an upcoming 80s / 90s throwback movie called The Last Kumite, directed by filmmaker Ross W. Clarkson. This indie project has been funded on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo, being readied for release in 2024. It's going direct-to-vod in the spring. The Last Kumite is a new spin on the great martial arts films of the 80s & 90s that are still loved amongst action film fans as much today as they were decades ago. The filmmakers describe it as "a new take on the tournament movie inspired by the likes of Bloodsport, Kickboxer and No Retreat No Surrender." Following a martial arts fighter who discovers other martial artists have also been "forced to fight to save their loved ones." Starring newcomer Mathis Landwehr as Michael in the lead role, with a massive throwback cast including Cynthia Rothrock, Michel Qissi, Matthias Hues, Richard Norton,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Kicking October to the curb and bringing in some November goodness is a fresh slate of new content headed to Paramount Global’s streamer Paramount+, including the sequel to the hit 1997 film “Good Burger.”
Paramount+ started off November by adding more than 30 titles to its library, some of which include “Above the Rim,” Season 15 of “Ink Master,” “Gladiator” and “The Color Purple.”
And if you’re looking for some holiday movies to watch with the family, you can deck the halls with “Happy Christmas,” “Mistletoe Ranch” or “Christmas Eve.” When the kids go to sleep, adult-friendly treats like “Bad Santa” and “Bad Santa 2” are also available.
The highly-anticipated “Good Burger 2,” which stars Kel Mitchell, Keenan Thompson, Shar Jackson, Carmen Electra, Josh Server, Alex R. Hibbert, Lori Beth Denberg and Lil Rel Howery, hits the platform on Nov. 22
Here’s everything coming to Paramount+ this November, from “The Truman Show” to “Paw Patrol.
Paramount+ started off November by adding more than 30 titles to its library, some of which include “Above the Rim,” Season 15 of “Ink Master,” “Gladiator” and “The Color Purple.”
And if you’re looking for some holiday movies to watch with the family, you can deck the halls with “Happy Christmas,” “Mistletoe Ranch” or “Christmas Eve.” When the kids go to sleep, adult-friendly treats like “Bad Santa” and “Bad Santa 2” are also available.
The highly-anticipated “Good Burger 2,” which stars Kel Mitchell, Keenan Thompson, Shar Jackson, Carmen Electra, Josh Server, Alex R. Hibbert, Lori Beth Denberg and Lil Rel Howery, hits the platform on Nov. 22
Here’s everything coming to Paramount+ this November, from “The Truman Show” to “Paw Patrol.
- 11/3/2023
- by Raquel 'Rocky' Harris
- The Wrap
During his press tour for John Wick 4, Keanu Reeves was asked about the two “martial arts legends” in Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada he got to work with in the film and made a point of adding Scott Adkins to this list. These three, he said, were “real martial artists” (as opposed to himself, a “movie martial artist”), and asserted that “Adkins’ technique, his passion, is on another level.”
While that was high praise indeed from cinema’s current bloodied action franchise king, for the legions of international fans Adkins has amassed in the two decades he’s been spin-kicking, backflipping and acrobatically whooping ass on screen, it was no more than he deserved. Across some 60-plus titles, the Brit has shown off both his prowess in more martial arts disciplines than most people have heard of — including Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu,...
While that was high praise indeed from cinema’s current bloodied action franchise king, for the legions of international fans Adkins has amassed in the two decades he’s been spin-kicking, backflipping and acrobatically whooping ass on screen, it was no more than he deserved. Across some 60-plus titles, the Brit has shown off both his prowess in more martial arts disciplines than most people have heard of — including Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welcome to the jungle, folks! While some action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger delight in supporting one another along their respective journies throughout life and the entertainment industry, some discover there’s nowhere to run regarding the judgment of their peers. Unlike Sly and Arnie, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal have a long-running feud. Arguments can support that either star is the perfect weapon, but only one turned down $20M to fight the other, Van Damme says.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
- 10/24/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Keanu Reeves won’t get over here or give up his spine anytime soon, as he refuses to lend his characters to the Mortal Kombat series. But it’s not for a lack of trying, as the minds behind the newly released Mortal Kombat 1 made the attempt to get John Wick in the game.
Ed Boon recently told Rolling Stone that he and Warner Bros. Games envisioned getting Wick in Mortal Kombat partly as a throwback to the fighting game franchise’s origins. “When we were making Mortal Kombat (1992), the whole team was in the midst of Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon, and all the Terminator movies. I could certainly see the John Wicks of the world… as a matter of fact, that is one of the ones that we tried to get – John Wick – in Mortal Kombat, and we didn’t get it.” Keanu Reeves has been actively against allowing...
Ed Boon recently told Rolling Stone that he and Warner Bros. Games envisioned getting Wick in Mortal Kombat partly as a throwback to the fighting game franchise’s origins. “When we were making Mortal Kombat (1992), the whole team was in the midst of Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon, and all the Terminator movies. I could certainly see the John Wicks of the world… as a matter of fact, that is one of the ones that we tried to get – John Wick – in Mortal Kombat, and we didn’t get it.” Keanu Reeves has been actively against allowing...
- 9/22/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
By all accounts, Ed Boon is just a regular guy. Chicago-raised, he loves shlocky Eighties action flicks and the music of Prince. Like everyone else, he’s racing to catch up on Succession but it’s tough to fit into his busy work schedule. His work just happens to be leading development for the latest installment of Mortal Kombat, one of the most influential game series of all time – not just for its impact on gaming, but for its three decades worth of symbiosis with our culture.
Developed in 1991 before its initial 1992 arcade release,...
Developed in 1991 before its initial 1992 arcade release,...
- 9/17/2023
- by Christopher Cruz
- Rollingstone.com
Marvel once recruited actor Idris Elba to portray the Asgardian Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a character Elba felt great pride in playing, especially since he believed the character’s role could’ve been expanded on in the superhero franchise.
Idris Elba included Heimdall as one of the many superhero characters he enjoyed playing Idris Elba | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Elba has portrayed a couple of super-powered characters during his time in the spotlight. The actor initially found himself in his first superhero movie with Thor, where he played the Asgardian gatekeeper Heimdall. He was aware that his character only had a small role in the feature. But Elba took the part anyway because he was eager to work with director Kenneth Branagh, who shot the first Thor.
“This is a man that’s an amazing actor. Just hearing him giving his take on how to mold me as an actor.
Idris Elba included Heimdall as one of the many superhero characters he enjoyed playing Idris Elba | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Elba has portrayed a couple of super-powered characters during his time in the spotlight. The actor initially found himself in his first superhero movie with Thor, where he played the Asgardian gatekeeper Heimdall. He was aware that his character only had a small role in the feature. But Elba took the part anyway because he was eager to work with director Kenneth Branagh, who shot the first Thor.
“This is a man that’s an amazing actor. Just hearing him giving his take on how to mold me as an actor.
- 9/13/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Margot Robbie is definitely one of the most popular actors working in Hollywood right now. The Australian actor has received so much love from her millions and millions of fans because of her brilliant performances in so many great films. Robbie’s breakout role was in Martin Scorsese‘s The Wolf of Wall Street and since then she has vowed fans through her performances in movies like The Suicide Squad and I, Tonya. Now, after the release of her most successful film yet Barbie, Robbie has become a global star. So, if you Robbie’s performances here are some movies and shows you could watch next
10. Mary Queen of Scots (Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Focus Features
Synopsis: Mary Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart (Academy Award® nominee Saoirse Ronan). Queen of France at 16, widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry and instead returns to...
10. Mary Queen of Scots (Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Focus Features
Synopsis: Mary Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart (Academy Award® nominee Saoirse Ronan). Queen of France at 16, widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry and instead returns to...
- 9/13/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Mortal Kombat is a prolific fighting franchise. Despite the upcoming game’s Mortal Kombat 1 title, it is actually the twelfth mainline game in the series, and that number doesn’t account for the various spinoffs and countless upgrades. Then you have all the comics, movies, TV shows, web shows, techno albums, and other stuff that grew out of the series. From Liu Kang fighting a stop-motion Goro in a dingy dungeon to seeing him reinvent the entire universe, Mortal Kombat has seen some stellar highs and embarrassing lows.
What I’m saying is, Mortal Kombat is…a lot. So, as we prepare for Liu Kang and Shang Tsung’s war over the rebooted Earthrealm, let’s talk about some lesser-known parts of the franchise that you might not know about.
15. The Johnny Cage/Guile Connection
Do you know how Bill Murray and Lorenzo Music have both portrayed Peter Venkman and Garfield?...
What I’m saying is, Mortal Kombat is…a lot. So, as we prepare for Liu Kang and Shang Tsung’s war over the rebooted Earthrealm, let’s talk about some lesser-known parts of the franchise that you might not know about.
15. The Johnny Cage/Guile Connection
Do you know how Bill Murray and Lorenzo Music have both portrayed Peter Venkman and Garfield?...
- 9/9/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
It took more than 20 years, but it's finally happening: Jean-Claude Van Damme is coming to "Mortal Kombat." This is not a drill! Warner Bros. Games released a new trailer for the upcoming "Mortal Kombat 1," the latest entry in the long-running fighting game series. It focuses on Van Damme, who will be portraying a version of fan-favorite Johnny Cage in the game with a special character skin. It's a fitting role for the star of such movies as "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer," and they are letting the actor unleash his skills in an appropriately brutal fashion.
The trailer (which you can check out below) shows off Van Damme's version of Cage absolutely whipping ass in various fights. Those signature kicks are on full display, with extra bloody results. We even get to see him teaming up with Scorpion a few times for some wildly brutal, over-the-top finishing moves. It's Van Damme in...
The trailer (which you can check out below) shows off Van Damme's version of Cage absolutely whipping ass in various fights. Those signature kicks are on full display, with extra bloody results. We even get to see him teaming up with Scorpion a few times for some wildly brutal, over-the-top finishing moves. It's Van Damme in...
- 9/8/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
After that trip down memory lane yesterday with the new Mortal Kombat 1 trailer, WB Games and NetherRealm have released a new behind-the-scenes video featuring Dave Bautista playing the game ahead of its September 19th release.
“Obviously, my voice is gone now from screaming ‘Mortal Kombat’ all day,” says Bautista during the gameplay session. “But I love this because it directly connects me to my past. So it’s more personal and feels more gratifying.”
Bautista elaborates, saying that growing up, his favourite character was Liu Kang because of Kang’s bicycle kick, and because he was able to morph into a dragon for his famous Mortal Kombat II fatality. “I like Scorpion now because I just want to hear him say ‘Get over here!’ (laughs).”
While Bautista isn’t in Mortal Kombat 1, longtime fans of the series will finally see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a skin for Johnny Cage. For...
“Obviously, my voice is gone now from screaming ‘Mortal Kombat’ all day,” says Bautista during the gameplay session. “But I love this because it directly connects me to my past. So it’s more personal and feels more gratifying.”
Bautista elaborates, saying that growing up, his favourite character was Liu Kang because of Kang’s bicycle kick, and because he was able to morph into a dragon for his famous Mortal Kombat II fatality. “I like Scorpion now because I just want to hear him say ‘Get over here!’ (laughs).”
While Bautista isn’t in Mortal Kombat 1, longtime fans of the series will finally see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a skin for Johnny Cage. For...
- 8/30/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
For many of us, 1973’s Enter the Dragon ranks as one of the greatest action films of all time. Bruce Lee’s only solo big-screen English-language outing it’s the movie that turned him into a global icon and kicked off the kung-fu craze of the mid-1970s. Tragically, Lee would die before it ever hit theaters, but his legend remains vital to this day.
In celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary, we dig into the film and its lasting legacy. We examine how Lee’s philosophy made it richer intellectually than people give it credit for while paying tribute to the badass supporting cast. As good as Lee is, he’s ably supported by the late John Saxon and Jim Kelly, two American actors who also happened to be kick-ass martial artists in their own right.
We also dig into how the film featured early roles for future...
In celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary, we dig into the film and its lasting legacy. We examine how Lee’s philosophy made it richer intellectually than people give it credit for while paying tribute to the badass supporting cast. As good as Lee is, he’s ably supported by the late John Saxon and Jim Kelly, two American actors who also happened to be kick-ass martial artists in their own right.
We also dig into how the film featured early roles for future...
- 8/19/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Clockwise from top left: John Wick: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate), Enter The Dragon (Warner Bros.), Rush Hour 2 (Warner Bros.), Bloodsport (Warner Bros.), Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (Disney)Graphic: AVClub
Hollywood was not ready for Bruce Lee. When Enter The Dragon hit theaters 50 years ago, in...
Hollywood was not ready for Bruce Lee. When Enter The Dragon hit theaters 50 years ago, in...
- 8/19/2023
- by Eric Francisco
- avclub.com
Stars: Nathan Shepka, Colin MacDougall, Graeme MacPherson, Tony Macdonald, Laura MacDougall, Stephen Kerr | Written by Nathan Shepka, Tom Jolliffe | Directed by Nathan Shepka
Lock & Load, the sequel to 2021’s Holiday Monday, is once again directed and written by Nathan Shepka, though this time with a little additional script work by Tom Jolliffe. Shepka also returns as Nick, the independent security contractor. This time out he and his partner Derek are taking some target practice on another bank holiday when they get a call from Agent Stokes’ (Graeme MacPherson) wife. He hasn’t come home, do they know where he is?
They don’t know, though we know he’s been after arms dealer Miles Steiger and his partner The Chess Master, “Everyone’s a pawn in my game”, and unfortunately has had his cover blown.
I hadn’t seen the first film but Shepka’s script makes it very easy...
Lock & Load, the sequel to 2021’s Holiday Monday, is once again directed and written by Nathan Shepka, though this time with a little additional script work by Tom Jolliffe. Shepka also returns as Nick, the independent security contractor. This time out he and his partner Derek are taking some target practice on another bank holiday when they get a call from Agent Stokes’ (Graeme MacPherson) wife. He hasn’t come home, do they know where he is?
They don’t know, though we know he’s been after arms dealer Miles Steiger and his partner The Chess Master, “Everyone’s a pawn in my game”, and unfortunately has had his cover blown.
I hadn’t seen the first film but Shepka’s script makes it very easy...
- 7/26/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
It has been three decades in the making, but Jean-Claude Van Damme will finally be appearing in the Mortal Kombat franchise, as series staple Johnny Cage will get a skin based on the Muscles from Brussels.
As per the official Mortal Kombat 1 website, the game’s Kombat Pack expansion will feature “a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch).” And yes, pre-orders are now live for those who want to experience Jcvd do a split and punch Shang Tsung in the groin.
The upcoming Mortal Kombat game including Jean-Claude Van Damme is a full circle moment for both the series and the actor, as creators Ed Boon and John Tobias were partly inspired by 1988’s Bloodsport, with Johnny Cage being modeled directly after Frank Dux. Midway’s plan was actually to base the game around Jcvd but couldn...
As per the official Mortal Kombat 1 website, the game’s Kombat Pack expansion will feature “a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch).” And yes, pre-orders are now live for those who want to experience Jcvd do a split and punch Shang Tsung in the groin.
The upcoming Mortal Kombat game including Jean-Claude Van Damme is a full circle moment for both the series and the actor, as creators Ed Boon and John Tobias were partly inspired by 1988’s Bloodsport, with Johnny Cage being modeled directly after Frank Dux. Midway’s plan was actually to base the game around Jcvd but couldn...
- 5/19/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The Action Scene is a column that explores the construction of action set pieces in order to deepen appreciation for and spark discussion about action cinema.“It was clear that Pm weren’t attempting art.” This remark prefaces interviews conducted by the sadly defunct publication Hopes & Fears with various directors and stars who worked with Pm Entertainment, an independent film company that churned out a steady stream of largely direct-to-video movies and television episodes—most famously within the action genre—between the late 1980s and early 2000s. Watching the operatic tour-de-force opening of the Pm film Intent to Kill (1992), however, one might doubt the statement’s accuracy. The extraordinary set piece features squealing tires, spraying glass, and slow-motion gunplay, all against a jet-black sky dotted by the vaporous glow of street lamps. Blue-hued, low-key lighting cuts through night air thick with fog and gun smoke, sustaining a noirish, dreamlike mood...
- 5/12/2023
- MUBI
To celebrate the stunning brand-new restoration of the thrilling 2001 cult classic Brotherhood of the Wolf: Director’s Cut – released on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray & DVD 15th May from Studiocanal – we have a 4K Uhd up for grabs!
Lavishly filmed and thrillingly gripping, Christophe Gans’ film is an irresistible mix of period drama, blood-pumping action and chilling horror. With a fantastic cast including Samuel Le Bihan (Braquo), Jérémie Renier (In Bruges), Vincent Cassel (La Haine), Monica Bellucci (Irreversible), it also features a breakout performance from John Wick 3 martial arts star Mark Dacascos.
The 4-disc 4K Uhd release also includes the theatrical cut and eight featurettes.
During the reign of Louis Xv an isolated district of south-central France is haunted by the “Beast of Gévaudan” which has savagely killed over 100 people, mostly women and children. As panic sweeps across the region, the King sends his finest military minds, the scientist and adventurer Grégoire...
Lavishly filmed and thrillingly gripping, Christophe Gans’ film is an irresistible mix of period drama, blood-pumping action and chilling horror. With a fantastic cast including Samuel Le Bihan (Braquo), Jérémie Renier (In Bruges), Vincent Cassel (La Haine), Monica Bellucci (Irreversible), it also features a breakout performance from John Wick 3 martial arts star Mark Dacascos.
The 4-disc 4K Uhd release also includes the theatrical cut and eight featurettes.
During the reign of Louis Xv an isolated district of south-central France is haunted by the “Beast of Gévaudan” which has savagely killed over 100 people, mostly women and children. As panic sweeps across the region, the King sends his finest military minds, the scientist and adventurer Grégoire...
- 5/5/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Fan-favorite TV series and a host of exciting films arrive on HBO and HBO Max this month. The fourth and final season of Emmy-winning drama “Succession” kicks off on March 26, so mark your calendars. Meanwhile, the long-awaited second season of “Perry Mason” is upon us with a debut on March 6, while “The Last of Us” wraps up its acclaimed first season on March 12. And the Oscar-nominated documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” makes its streaming debut on March 19.
Noteworthy new library titles this month include the first two “Creed” films, the cult favorite “Speed Racer” and the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel comedy “I Love You Man.”
Check out the full list of what’s new on HBO and HBO Max in March 2023 below.
Also Read:
Where to Stream 2023’s Oscar-Nominated Movies Right Now March 1
A Dangerous Method, 2011
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, 2014 (HBO)
Basic, 2003 (HBO)
Beatriz at Dinner,...
Noteworthy new library titles this month include the first two “Creed” films, the cult favorite “Speed Racer” and the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel comedy “I Love You Man.”
Check out the full list of what’s new on HBO and HBO Max in March 2023 below.
Also Read:
Where to Stream 2023’s Oscar-Nominated Movies Right Now March 1
A Dangerous Method, 2011
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, 2014 (HBO)
Basic, 2003 (HBO)
Beatriz at Dinner,...
- 3/3/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
There’s nothing quite like when HBO is airing one of its trademark watercooler-worthy dramas weekly. Thankfully, we’ll get to it experience exactly that and more on HBO Max in March 2023.
The big ticket item on HBO Max this March is undoubtedly Succession Season 4 on March 26. Part prestige drama and part screwball comedy, Succession is about as fun a watch as they come. Season 4 of the series about egregious wealth will find the Roy siblings reeling after trying and failing to take down their father, Logan (Brian Cox).
HBO Max’s other major TV option this month is another weekly release from HBO. Matthew Rhys returns as the titular lawyer in Perry Mason Season 2 on March 6. Season 1 of this period piece reboot flexed the classic TV character’s detective skills. From the look of the trailer, it seems as though this is the year Perry makes his name in the court room.
The big ticket item on HBO Max this March is undoubtedly Succession Season 4 on March 26. Part prestige drama and part screwball comedy, Succession is about as fun a watch as they come. Season 4 of the series about egregious wealth will find the Roy siblings reeling after trying and failing to take down their father, Logan (Brian Cox).
HBO Max’s other major TV option this month is another weekly release from HBO. Matthew Rhys returns as the titular lawyer in Perry Mason Season 2 on March 6. Season 1 of this period piece reboot flexed the classic TV character’s detective skills. From the look of the trailer, it seems as though this is the year Perry makes his name in the court room.
- 3/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Not only one of DC's best films as of late, "The Suicide Squad" proved once again that James Gunn knows the real gold lies deep within the vast comic book canon. He is now tasked with overseeing the entirety of the DC Universe, and his film about a ragtag team of villains remains his proof of concept for a new, revamped DC cinematic universe. After the release of "The Suicide Squad," Gunn seized the opportunity to expand the story of Peacemaker, an obscure villain that quickly became a fan-favorite thanks to an inspired performance by John Cena. To Gunn, it was clear that the foundation laid by his team-up movie was enough to branch the character off into a spin-off series, aptly titled "Peacemaker."
A straight-up fantastic television series in its own right, "Peacemaker" may very well be Gunn's magnum opus in the superhero genre. It features his patented humor,...
A straight-up fantastic television series in its own right, "Peacemaker" may very well be Gunn's magnum opus in the superhero genre. It features his patented humor,...
- 1/1/2023
- by Marcos Melendez
- Slash Film
James Gunn has been all over the news (and his own Twitter feed) lately now that he and producer Peter Safran are heading up the DC Universe. Watching the discourse on social media about the changes is ... well, let's say that there isn't enough popcorn and tea in the world to drag our attention away from it all. Gunn has been at the forefront of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe, directing the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films for the former and "The Suicide Squad" for the latter, which he now co-runs.
Gunn may have straddled two comic book universes, but actors rarely do. (A notable exception: Idris Elba played Heimdall in the "Thor" films and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad.") However, Gunn found a sneaky and pretty adorable way to get one of his prominent MCU actors into "The Suicide Squad." It's not exactly what you'd expect: it isn't a cameo,...
Gunn may have straddled two comic book universes, but actors rarely do. (A notable exception: Idris Elba played Heimdall in the "Thor" films and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad.") However, Gunn found a sneaky and pretty adorable way to get one of his prominent MCU actors into "The Suicide Squad." It's not exactly what you'd expect: it isn't a cameo,...
- 12/25/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Legendary B-movie director Albert Pyun passed away this week, leaving behind many glorious contributions to this column, including…
Cyborg (1989)
Director: Albert Pyun
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Deborah Richter, Vincent Klyn
Is There A Plot?
In a completely unimaginable future where a deadly plague and the collapse of civilized society have completely destroyed humanity, a martial arts mercenary hunts down the pirate warlord who killed his family. There’s also a cyborg occasionally.
What’S The Damage?
Cyborg has the esteemed distinction of being the last movie released by Cannon Films, purveyor of such B-movie classics as Superman IV, Over The Top, and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, before the company went bankrupt amid an SEC investigation. It’s a film that only exists because of two higher profile Cannon failures: a sequel to Dolph Lundgren’s Masters Of The Universe and, believe it or not, a live-action Spider-man movie. In the late 1980s,...
Cyborg (1989)
Director: Albert Pyun
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Deborah Richter, Vincent Klyn
Is There A Plot?
In a completely unimaginable future where a deadly plague and the collapse of civilized society have completely destroyed humanity, a martial arts mercenary hunts down the pirate warlord who killed his family. There’s also a cyborg occasionally.
What’S The Damage?
Cyborg has the esteemed distinction of being the last movie released by Cannon Films, purveyor of such B-movie classics as Superman IV, Over The Top, and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, before the company went bankrupt amid an SEC investigation. It’s a film that only exists because of two higher profile Cannon failures: a sequel to Dolph Lundgren’s Masters Of The Universe and, believe it or not, a live-action Spider-man movie. In the late 1980s,...
- 12/3/2022
- by Jason Adams
- JoBlo.com
Click here to read the full article.
Of all the action heroes merrily kicking the asses of bad guys in the late ’80s and early ’90s, in terms of actual fighting prowess, few came close to Jean-Claude Van Damme, a karate and kickboxing champion who turned his phenomenal martial arts skills — including a particularly impressive spin-kick — into, for a while, back-to-back box office gold.
First propelled into the action arena thanks to Cannon Films’ 1988 low-budget smash Bloodsport, Van Damme quickly cemented his iconic status as the Muscles From Brussels thanks to 1989’s iconic Kickboxer, then starred as warring twins in 1991’s Double Impact, began a long-running onscreen feud with Dolph Lundgren in Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi 1992 hit Universal Soldier, led John Woo’s U.S. debut Hard Target in 1993 and donned Guile’s beret in 1994’s Street Fighter video game adaptation. Like many ultra-ripped stars of the time, however, the...
Of all the action heroes merrily kicking the asses of bad guys in the late ’80s and early ’90s, in terms of actual fighting prowess, few came close to Jean-Claude Van Damme, a karate and kickboxing champion who turned his phenomenal martial arts skills — including a particularly impressive spin-kick — into, for a while, back-to-back box office gold.
First propelled into the action arena thanks to Cannon Films’ 1988 low-budget smash Bloodsport, Van Damme quickly cemented his iconic status as the Muscles From Brussels thanks to 1989’s iconic Kickboxer, then starred as warring twins in 1991’s Double Impact, began a long-running onscreen feud with Dolph Lundgren in Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi 1992 hit Universal Soldier, led John Woo’s U.S. debut Hard Target in 1993 and donned Guile’s beret in 1994’s Street Fighter video game adaptation. Like many ultra-ripped stars of the time, however, the...
- 11/2/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When most people break into the entertainment industry, their plan is to work in the business for the rest of their lives. However, that isn’t always what ends up happening. After Leah Ayres began her professional acting journey in the late 1970s, she disappeared from the business about 20 years later. However, even though her career was relatively short-lived, Leah still left a lasting impact on countless people across the globe. She is best known for playing Valerie Bryson in the TV series The Edge of Night. She was also in the 1988 movie Bloodsport. Her most recent on-screen appearance
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Leah Ayres...
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Leah Ayres...
- 8/24/2022
- by Camille Moore
- TVovermind.com
"Predator" from 1987 is one of the most enduringly scary monster movies of all time. Decades later, 20th Century Studios (formerly Fox) is still cranking out sequels and even made a good one with "Prey" in 2022, but when you break down what went on behind the scenes of the original Arnold Schwarzenegger action-horror classic, it's easy to see how close this film was to being an embarrassment for everyone involved.
Shot on location in a hot-house Mexican jungle, the cast and crew were already battling the elements. They also embarked on this hunter-and-hunted suspense story the same way as the characters — without a glimpse of the Predator. Legendary "Die Hard" director John McTiernan shot a huge portion of this creature feature before he even had his monster on set, and when it arrived, the crew had to get to the chopper for a redesign.
Schwarzenegger carries this movie on his broad shoulders as the commanding commando,...
Shot on location in a hot-house Mexican jungle, the cast and crew were already battling the elements. They also embarked on this hunter-and-hunted suspense story the same way as the characters — without a glimpse of the Predator. Legendary "Die Hard" director John McTiernan shot a huge portion of this creature feature before he even had his monster on set, and when it arrived, the crew had to get to the chopper for a redesign.
Schwarzenegger carries this movie on his broad shoulders as the commanding commando,...
- 8/15/2022
- by Gino Orlandini
- Slash Film
Idris Elba will be seen squaring off against a lion in "Beast," but "The Suicide Squad" actor has his sights on bigger prey.
The mystery and intrigue leading up to the reveal of who Idris Elba was playing in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" (not to be confused with the 2016 "Suicide Squad") had many people theorizing what anti-hero the actor would play. Eventually, DC Fandome delivered the somewhat anti-climactic reveal that Elba would portray the villain Bloodsport.
James Gunn is a fan of lesser-known characters, and the roster he assembled for "The Suicide Squad" is a prime example.Featuring characters like Polka Dot Man,...
The post Here's the DC Superhero Idris Elba Wants Bloodsport to Fight appeared first on /Film.
The mystery and intrigue leading up to the reveal of who Idris Elba was playing in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" (not to be confused with the 2016 "Suicide Squad") had many people theorizing what anti-hero the actor would play. Eventually, DC Fandome delivered the somewhat anti-climactic reveal that Elba would portray the villain Bloodsport.
James Gunn is a fan of lesser-known characters, and the roster he assembled for "The Suicide Squad" is a prime example.Featuring characters like Polka Dot Man,...
The post Here's the DC Superhero Idris Elba Wants Bloodsport to Fight appeared first on /Film.
- 8/9/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Idris Elba is teasing his potential return as the DC Comics assassin Bloodshot.
“I would definitely like to tell the Superman story. There’s no doubt,” Elba tells Variety. “Bloodsport versus Superman. It needs to happen.”
The actor was referencing how Bloodsport was sent to prison for putting Superman in the ICU with a kryptonite bullet, a key element of his character’s backstory that’s alluded to in “The Suicide Squad.”
Bloodsport was one of the few remaining members of Task Force X that survived the battle against Starro in “The Suicide Squad.” While the film ended with Bloodsport blackmailing Amanda Waller into setting his team free, the assassin’s current whereabouts in the DC cinematic universe remains to be seen.
Variety caught up with Elba at the New York premiere of his new movie “Beast,” which sees the actor face off against a deadly lion.
Elba headlines as Dr.
“I would definitely like to tell the Superman story. There’s no doubt,” Elba tells Variety. “Bloodsport versus Superman. It needs to happen.”
The actor was referencing how Bloodsport was sent to prison for putting Superman in the ICU with a kryptonite bullet, a key element of his character’s backstory that’s alluded to in “The Suicide Squad.”
Bloodsport was one of the few remaining members of Task Force X that survived the battle against Starro in “The Suicide Squad.” While the film ended with Bloodsport blackmailing Amanda Waller into setting his team free, the assassin’s current whereabouts in the DC cinematic universe remains to be seen.
Variety caught up with Elba at the New York premiere of his new movie “Beast,” which sees the actor face off against a deadly lion.
Elba headlines as Dr.
- 8/9/2022
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
When Black Adam dropped its first trailer Wednesday, viewers saw Dwayne Johnson trade barbs with a team of heroes that may be unfamiliar to general audiences. That superhero team, the Justice Society, will rise to new levels of public consciousness when the film opens in October, and DC is hoping to capitalize on that high-profile debut.
Thus, DC is launching The Justice Society Files, a four-issue series debuting in July. The main cover will be from artist Kaare Andrews, and each issue will have a variant cover featuring the likeness of the four actors who make up the Justice Society — Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo — though his face is obscured) and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan).
Cavan Scott, known for his work on Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The High Republic initiative, penned the four-issue series and collaborated with a roster of artists.
When Black Adam dropped its first trailer Wednesday, viewers saw Dwayne Johnson trade barbs with a team of heroes that may be unfamiliar to general audiences. That superhero team, the Justice Society, will rise to new levels of public consciousness when the film opens in October, and DC is hoping to capitalize on that high-profile debut.
Thus, DC is launching The Justice Society Files, a four-issue series debuting in July. The main cover will be from artist Kaare Andrews, and each issue will have a variant cover featuring the likeness of the four actors who make up the Justice Society — Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo — though his face is obscured) and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan).
Cavan Scott, known for his work on Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The High Republic initiative, penned the four-issue series and collaborated with a roster of artists.
- 6/9/2022
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At some point in his career, Jean-Claude Van Damme entered a curious state of constantly fighting his way back into the limelight. Van Damme burst onto the film scene in 1988 with the release of Newt Arnold's fight film "Bloodsport," and became one of the more notable action stars of the 1990s, appearing in "Kickboxer," Roland Emmerich's "Universal Soldier," John Woo's "Hard Target," sand titles such as "Timecop" and "Street Fighter." By the end of the 1990s, however, Van Damme's films seem to have fallen out of favor, and the Muscles from Brussels entered something of a fallow period that he...
The post How The Expendables 2 Made Jean-Claude van Damme Learn How To Love Film Again appeared first on /Film.
The post How The Expendables 2 Made Jean-Claude van Damme Learn How To Love Film Again appeared first on /Film.
- 6/3/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
If you’re trying to figure out what to watch on HBO Max, you may want to prioritize a number of films that are due to leave the streaming service in April.
Set to depart HBO Max at the end of this month are such noteworthy films as the Oscar-winning “Promising Young Woman,” the Tom Hanks Western “News of the World,” the Kurt Russell 1996 thriller “Executive Decision,” and the extended version of Bruce Willis’ final “Die Hard” film “A Good Day to Die Hard.”
Also leaving HBO Max this month is “The Fast and the Furious” and the franchise’s first sequel “2 Fast 2 Furious.”
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in April below.
April 3:
Life’s Too Short, 2012 (HBO)
April 30:
2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003 (HBO)
A Good Day to Die Hard, 2013 (HBO) (Extended Version)
Aftermath, 2017 (HBO)
Anna to the Infinite Power, 1982 (HBO)
Bloodsport,...
Set to depart HBO Max at the end of this month are such noteworthy films as the Oscar-winning “Promising Young Woman,” the Tom Hanks Western “News of the World,” the Kurt Russell 1996 thriller “Executive Decision,” and the extended version of Bruce Willis’ final “Die Hard” film “A Good Day to Die Hard.”
Also leaving HBO Max this month is “The Fast and the Furious” and the franchise’s first sequel “2 Fast 2 Furious.”
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in April below.
April 3:
Life’s Too Short, 2012 (HBO)
April 30:
2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003 (HBO)
A Good Day to Die Hard, 2013 (HBO) (Extended Version)
Aftermath, 2017 (HBO)
Anna to the Infinite Power, 1982 (HBO)
Bloodsport,...
- 4/1/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Let's start by defining terms: "The Karate Kid" is not quite a kung fu movie. "Bloodsport" is closer, but as great as Jean-Claude Van Damme was in his oiled-up wheel-kicking prime he doesn't really know kung fu. Specifically, the kung fu genre is all about elaborate and blindingly fast fight choreography that derives from Chinese "Wuxia" films. This art form began in the 1920s on mainland China, though the oldest extant films like "Story of Huang Feihong" date to the 1940s. The genre combines the vivid theatricality of Chinese opera with the folk adventures of Wuxia novels, often set in sweeping feudal lands where a lone sword-wielding...
The post The 15 Best Kung Fu Movies Ranked appeared first on /Film.
The post The 15 Best Kung Fu Movies Ranked appeared first on /Film.
- 3/17/2022
- by Gino Orlandini
- Slash Film
The WGA West on Monday revealed the 13 honorees of its 2022 TV Writer Access Project, a program designed to increase diversity and promote inclusiveness within the entertainment industry. Created in 2009, the project recognizes outstanding and diverse writing talent from within the guild’s ranks and provides access to their work to showrunners, producers, network and studio executives, agents and managers.
“This program is what the guild does best: writers helping writers to take stock, reinvent themselves, then move on to the next stage of their career,” said Glen Mazzara, co-chair of the guild’s Inclusion and Equity Group. “That peer to peer mentorship is invaluable.”
This year’s honorees for drama are:
• Erinne Dobson – The More Gone She’ll Be
• Skander Halim – Nathan X
• Anne-Marie Hess – Disturbed
• Allyssa Lee – Model Minority
• Kerri Brady Long – Blood Sport
• Laurie Parres – Life and Death and High School
• Barbara Soares – Username
• Tom Towler – Borderlands
The...
“This program is what the guild does best: writers helping writers to take stock, reinvent themselves, then move on to the next stage of their career,” said Glen Mazzara, co-chair of the guild’s Inclusion and Equity Group. “That peer to peer mentorship is invaluable.”
This year’s honorees for drama are:
• Erinne Dobson – The More Gone She’ll Be
• Skander Halim – Nathan X
• Anne-Marie Hess – Disturbed
• Allyssa Lee – Model Minority
• Kerri Brady Long – Blood Sport
• Laurie Parres – Life and Death and High School
• Barbara Soares – Username
• Tom Towler – Borderlands
The...
- 2/28/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the best rivalries in the DC Cinematic Universe is between Bloodsport and Peacemaker from The Suicide Squad. From the very moment Amanda Waller introduced them, they instantly disliked each other. Both of these guys could do the same thing, except both men were adamant that each of them could do it better. And during the beginning of their first mission together, they had a little contest. Basically, it’s the kind of thing you would expect to see in a James Gunn movie. Both of these elite killers competed for who would get the most kills and on top
Will Bloodsport Pop Up In Peacemaker Season 2?...
Will Bloodsport Pop Up In Peacemaker Season 2?...
- 2/20/2022
- by David Martinez
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: In a hot package for EFM buyers this weekend, Jean-Claude Van Damme will star in What’s My Name? Directed by Jeremy Zag, the film will be produced by Cross Creek’s Tyler Thompson alongside Asko Akopyan, Zag and Van Damme. Executive Producer is John Soibatian. Cross Creek is fully financing a film that will reunite the fighting icon in matches against some of his past screen rivals.
Van Damme tells Deadline that What’s My Name? will dip into his cinematic and personal life — as did the 2008 film Jcvd — and that it will bring to an end his long career as an action film fighter. Oscar-winning Green Book scribe Nick Vallelonga and Paul Sloan (Stilleto) wrote the script, based on a story by Van Damme. Wild Bunch International is handling foreign sales, and CAA Media Finance is representing the film’s domestic distribution rights.
In the film, Van Damme will play himself.
Van Damme tells Deadline that What’s My Name? will dip into his cinematic and personal life — as did the 2008 film Jcvd — and that it will bring to an end his long career as an action film fighter. Oscar-winning Green Book scribe Nick Vallelonga and Paul Sloan (Stilleto) wrote the script, based on a story by Van Damme. Wild Bunch International is handling foreign sales, and CAA Media Finance is representing the film’s domestic distribution rights.
In the film, Van Damme will play himself.
- 2/11/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Henry Cavill is Superman! Or was, Superman. He's Geralt of Rivia now. But that doesn't have to mean Henry Cavill can't play a superhero again — especially since his stint with DC has presumably come to an end. The British actor portrayed Superman in the DC Extended Universe, in the standalone film "Man of Steel" (2013) and later, in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," (2016) "Justice League" (2017) and "Zack Snyder's Justice League" (2021).
Contrary to popular belief, the same actors can play characters in the MCU and Dceu. Idris Elba has portrayed Heimdall in "Thor" and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad," Ryan...
The post 5 Marvel Characters We'd Love to See Henry Cavill Play appeared first on /Film.
Contrary to popular belief, the same actors can play characters in the MCU and Dceu. Idris Elba has portrayed Heimdall in "Thor" and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad," Ryan...
The post 5 Marvel Characters We'd Love to See Henry Cavill Play appeared first on /Film.
- 2/9/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
Exclusive: There’s another Suicide Squad spinoff series in the works, James Gunn recently told us on the upcoming episode of Deadline’s Hero Nation.
“We’re working on something else now, another TV show that’s connected to that universe,” Gunn told us, “I can’t quite say.”
In addition, Gunn says about a second season of Peacemaker, which recently dropped episode 5 today, “There’s a really good chance of that.”
“We’re the biggest show in the world right now,” Gunn continued, speaking from the set of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 in Atlanta.
According to sources, Gunn has approached HBO Max with the idea for another series built around one of the characters in Suicide Squad. We hear the project is in the embryonic stages with nothing written or greenlit but HBO Max is said to be high on it based on Gunn’s enthusiasm for the idea.
“We’re working on something else now, another TV show that’s connected to that universe,” Gunn told us, “I can’t quite say.”
In addition, Gunn says about a second season of Peacemaker, which recently dropped episode 5 today, “There’s a really good chance of that.”
“We’re the biggest show in the world right now,” Gunn continued, speaking from the set of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 in Atlanta.
According to sources, Gunn has approached HBO Max with the idea for another series built around one of the characters in Suicide Squad. We hear the project is in the embryonic stages with nothing written or greenlit but HBO Max is said to be high on it based on Gunn’s enthusiasm for the idea.
- 1/27/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This piece contains major spoilers for the first three episodes of “Peacemaker,” which premiered January 13 on HBO Max.
Even after re-watching James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” in anticipation of “Peacemaker,” it was hard to see why Peacemaker, of all the movie’s antiheroes, merited a series of his own beyond the fact that he was played by John Cena. In a story that otherwise leans on agents of chaos like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Daniela Melchior’s endearing Ratcatcher 2, and conflicted journeymen like Idris Elba’s Bloodsport or Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, Cena’s stickler of a killer was far from its most compelling character. When he finally got shot in the throat at the end of the movie, his apparent exit from the stage felt about right.
But less than six months later, here we are with an entire HBO Max show dedicated to Peacemaker,...
Even after re-watching James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” in anticipation of “Peacemaker,” it was hard to see why Peacemaker, of all the movie’s antiheroes, merited a series of his own beyond the fact that he was played by John Cena. In a story that otherwise leans on agents of chaos like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Daniela Melchior’s endearing Ratcatcher 2, and conflicted journeymen like Idris Elba’s Bloodsport or Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, Cena’s stickler of a killer was far from its most compelling character. When he finally got shot in the throat at the end of the movie, his apparent exit from the stage felt about right.
But less than six months later, here we are with an entire HBO Max show dedicated to Peacemaker,...
- 1/13/2022
- by Caroline Framke
- Variety Film + TV
The controversial and contentious experiment where Warner Bros. has debuted its 2021 slate of feature films on HBO Max will hit a crescendo in October thanks to the releases of “The Many Saints of Newark” and “Dune” on the streaming platform. Both “Many Saints” producer and co-writer David Chase and “Dune” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve have criticized the corporate decision to release films day-and-date in theaters and via HBO Max, but despite the outcry, the two highly anticipated features lead a massive lineup of acclaimed library movie titles and Emmy Award-winning original series coming to the network in October 2021. Highlights include:
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (October): Larry David’s Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 11th season in October and will tackle the coronavirus pandemic in a way that feels organic to the show and its protagonist. “We figured out a way that we are definitely living in a reality where the pandemic has happened,...
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (October): Larry David’s Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 11th season in October and will tackle the coronavirus pandemic in a way that feels organic to the show and its protagonist. “We figured out a way that we are definitely living in a reality where the pandemic has happened,...
- 9/24/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.