Reviews

Beast_Still5

BEAST – Punching Its Way To The UK

POSTER COURTESY OF VERTIGO RELEASING Check out the official trailer –  On the 1st June new MMA feature film “Beast” makes it way to the UK on all major platforms courtesy of Vertigo Releasing. Starring academy award winner Russell Crowe and the oldest brother of the Hemsworths, Luke. Since the masterpiece which was “Warrior” nothing has come close to a really gritty heartfelt Mixed Martial Arts movie. I was excited to watch “Beast” especially when it is based around a real fighting promotion the “One Championship”, did they get it right or did they miss their shot?FILM STILL COURTESY OF VERTIGO RELEASINGThe film opens with a gripping and intense scene, where a fighter and his coach share a motivational moment before they walk into the spotlight for the biggest fight of their lives. Then bang, the film jumps years ahead, where we find the said fighter Patton James (Daniel MacPherson) […]

More

luger-364890949-large

TACFEST 2026: LUGER Review: A Gritty Spanish Road Movie Charging into the Toledo Action Film Festival”

Bruno Martín’s directorial debut is, quite simply, a revelation. If talent were measured by commercial success, this film would be dominating the domestic box office. However, we live in a world as imperfect as the one reflected in this frantic road movie.   The story puts us in the passenger seat with two peculiar friends who make a living “fixing” problems on the wrong side of the law. What starts as a simple search for a stolen car quickly spirals, complicating their lives in the worst ways imaginable.   Luger is a showcase of raw talent that completely overshadows its modest budget. Featuring a screenplay that never stops surprising and relentless direction that gives the audience no room to breathe, the film is anchored by a perfectly synchronized cast that brings total credibility to the chaos. The film is gritty, hilarious, violent, and above all, hypnotic—it hooks you from the […]

More

MK2_Cover

MORTAL KOMBAT 2 – A Violent, Thrilling, Blood Soaked Smash!

OFFICIAL MORTAL KOMBAT 2 POSTER COURTESY OF WARNER BROS PICTURES UK Official Mortal Kombat 2 Trailer –  In 2021 film fans and gamers were introduced to the reboot of “Mortal Kombat” on the big screen. Unfortunately, as many game adaptations do, it fell short of expectations with missed opportunities for characters, catch phrases, fight scenes and just the plot alone wasn’t imaginative. Five years on have Warner Bros learned from their mistakes and hit the reset button on their hot property franchise? I was invited to the European Fan Event in London and was one of the first to see the sequel in IMAX. This is what I thought of it.  THANKS TO WARNER BROS PICTURES UK FOR THE INVITE AND AN AMAZING EVENING! The recent trailers got me very excited for the second attempt at the MK universe. A bonus for me is that I personally know one of […]

More

667347378_26589680877315035_5188773544613666198_n

TACFEST 2026: NAK MUAY (Short Film) Review: The Truth Behind the Clinch

I spent the entire twenty minutes of this short film wondering if the protagonist was indeed the one and only Yod Suablak. The final credits confirmed it: the Muay Thai Warrior now competing in ONE Championship was the face on screen. While I respect the big-name Western fight promotions, there is something uniquely captivating about the blend of styles and the raw energy ONE brings from Asia. As a lifelong devotee of Muay Thai, Nak Muay (the Thai term for a Muay Thai practitioner) struck a chord from the very first frame. Suablak, maintaining the same stoic expression he wears when entering the cage, plays a fictionalized version of himself: a fighter caught in the “victory trap.” He depicts a world where a human being is reduced to a commodity, circled by predatory “hyenas” waiting to exploit his success. Suablak may not be aiming for an Oscar, but he delivers […]

More

668845325_26590718060544650_2972382449630759771_n

TACFEST 2026: SUPER COURIER Review: From Kazakhstan to Hong Kong, Timur Baktybayev Revives the Jackie Chan Spirit

With Kung Fu Rookie, Timur Baktybayev introduced himself to the world via an undercover remake of Jackie Chan’s classic RUMBLE IN THE BRONX. It was a humble take on the classic, yet it captured the right essence, with the Kazakh actor mimicking the “Hong Kong Tornado” by replicating his every move and camera mannerism. There is no doubt that Chan is his idol and that Baktybayev knows his filmography by heart. However, despite that film’s indisputable quality, there is little virtue in pure imitation. It is difficult to carve out a name for yourself while standing in the shadow of a legend—especially someone like Chan, who acts as a total eclipse to anyone standing before him. That is why Super Courier feels like a genuine step forward for Baktybayev, who not only stars in the film but also serves as its producer. The influence of Jackie Chan and classic Hong […]

More

withcredit_mabuta_main

JFF Theater: CONFETTI Review: A Delicate and Moving Portrait of Youth, Tradition, and Hidden Love

Yuki is a high schooler living a nomadic life, tied to his family’s traveling classical theater troupe. Constantly switching schools has made him introverted and weary of making connections—until he meets Ken, a bright classmate who breaks through his shell. While Ken is more obsessed with idol culture than traditional stagecraft, Yuki’s only goal is to have his new friend see him perform just once.   It’s a shame the international release didn’t stick with the original Japanese title, Mabuta no Tenkousei (“The Transfer Student’s Eyelids”), as it perfectly captures the soul of the film. The movie wraps its tribute to Taishu Engeki (Japanese popular theater) in a story of innocent friendship that, beneath the surface, reveals itself as a delicate tale of adolescent queer love. It’s told with quintessential Japanese subtlety, avoiding the heavy-handed tropes or “message-first” approach often found in Western productions.   The final scene is a […]

More

Load More