The Movies That Moved Me: A Look Back At VANISHING SON
Contributing writer Robb Antequera delves into the hit 1994 martial arts TV-film saga and its memorable legacy for fans of the genre.
Robb Antequera
About Robb Antequera
Posts by Robb Antequera:
NEW YORK NINJA Review: Ninja Stars, Roller Skates & Plutonium, Oh My!
Oh boy, how do I even start this? Well, I’ll give it a try. NEW YORK NINJA was a martial arts movie filmed guerilla style in New York 1984 by star/writer/director/taiwanese martial artist John Liu that was subsequently abandoned before any thorough post production could be completed. Seemingly, the film would be lost forever. That is, until boutique distribution label Vinegar Syndrome discovered the forgotten remains and painstakingly restructured & completed the film without audio or script to go by. A herculean task if you ask me. So, now that everything has been put together, how is the actual movie? Well, let’s find out! A sound technician for a news station (John Liu) becomes a vigilante ninja in New York City after his pregnant wife is murdered. “Oh my god. What even is this movie??” This is the sentiment that I found myself repeating throughout my viewing of this motion picture. […]
NEW YORK NINJA: A Kick Blast From The 80s Past Roars With A Stunning Revisal Soon From Vinegar Syndrome
Nothing gets my circulation going quite like a martial arts movie. I live for them. Breathe for them. Even the bad ones. Miami Connection. Game of Death II. Death Promise. Love them dearly despite their dubious reputations. So when boutique distribution label Vinegar Syndrome announces that not only are they starting up their own production company Vinegar Syndrome Pictures, and that their very first release is a long lost martial arts film starring John Liu, one of martial arts cinema’s best kickers, in what looks like a completely bonkers trip, you best believe I’m waiting in the wings to devour this one as soon as it touches down! Take a look at the press release from VS: VSP’s initial release slate will kick off with NEW YORK NINJA, a wild action comedy originally directed by and starring John Liu, and produced by legendary New York exploitation producer Arthur Schweitzer. While […]
ACÉRÉ: Ross Peacock’s New Action Short Debuts With Five Minutes Of Thrills, Short And To The Bloody, Brutal Point
If you’re a deep action aficionado like myself, who is appreciative of the introspection and analysis of the action genre, you should be familiar with the name Ross Peacock, aka Rossatron. His video essays on YouTube about Action Cinema are the finest you’ll ever see, I promise you. No one breaks down Action movies quite like Ross. But Ross has made it known that while he does enjoy making his video essays, his true love lies in filmmaking. And coupled with his expertise on Action, fans were salivating at the thought of what he could accomplish as a filmmaker. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we now have a glimpse of exactly that, as Ross has just released his debut as writer/director with Acéré. A man on the run. A villain with a knife. A fight to the death. This is Acéré (Sharpened to Kill). With Acéré (which means Sharp in french), […]
ACTION U.S.A. Gets A Re-Boost On Limited Edition Blu-ray In May From MVD Rewind
Last year, Vinegar Syndrome blessed us with a blu ray release of the lost action masterpiece Action U.S.A., a truly amazing spectacle of fantastic stunt work. Unfortunately, like many of Vinegar Syndrome’s releases, due to limited quantities, the release sold out fairly quickly, leaving many without the chance to see this legit action classic. But, thanks to the wonderful people over at MVD Entertainment Group, those individuals will now get a second chance! Announced today for a May release, we’ll be getting another awesome blu ray, and if you read my review over at Ultimate Action Movies, you already know I’ll be double dipping, due to how much I loved this movie. Check out the details below! Yes our friends at Vinegar Syndrome had a crack at this one with their limited edition release, but now it’s our turn! MVD REWIND COLLECTION #27 Coming May 11. 2021 ACTION USA: COLLECTOR’S […]
ALPHABET CITY Blu-Ray Review: A Tangible, Escapist Crime Thriller Captured In Modern New York City’s Most Minacious Era
The 1980s were a wild time for the city of New York. For the duration of that decade, and beyond, it was the go-to place for those who wanted to make things happen. To live life. To realize their most wildest fantasies or make their most extravagant dreams come true. Unfortunately, some of those individuals were painfully unaware or downright oblivious to the dark underbelly of the city, and forgot to proceed with caution to certain places. Places… like Alphabet City. But in 1984, director Amos Poe (The Blank Generation) made a film titled as such, starring a young character actor by the name of Vincent Spano, which attempted to shed light on this unfavorable area of New York. Taking place over the course of one night, Spano plays Johnny, a young hustler and debt collector who operates within the confines of this area, named such due to it being […]
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