Fantastic Fest XX Review: In DEATHSTALKER, Part Homage, Part Spoof, All Fantastic
The film enjoyed its World Premiere at the 20th edition of Fantastic Fest.
action comedy
[UPDATED] Get An Official First Look At CBS's RUSH HOUR!
The prospects of remaking a certain property always carry some form of worry for fans. Despite this, early screenings of footage this year for the upcoming premiere of the CBS action comedy series, Rush Hour, have proven positive and thus promising a show fans might well enjoy. A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet although the show is arriving in 2016. Martial artist and actor Jon Foo teams up with actor and comedian Justin Hires to reprise respective roles of their film predecessors and the hit trilogy from New Line Cinema. Rush Hour—a reimagining of the hit feature film franchise—is a buddy-cop drama about a maverick LAPD detective and a by-the-book detective from Hong Kong who knock heads when they are forced to partner together. Detective Lee (Jon Foo) is a reserved, honorable master martial artist with lightning-fast moves who comes to L.A. to avenge his sister’s alleged death and […]
ONCE UPON A TIME IN BERLIN: German Martial Arts Film Group, Reel Deal Action, Sets Their 2015 Feature Debut
At any other point in time before the new millennium, you may have been right in simply assuming that the martial arts action genre wouldn’t have had much fervor with the internet. Of course, time proved quite the opposite with a vast number of independent groups sprouting online for a community that has evidently gone global. Germany, for one, has surely seen its share of that effect with its own native talents, namely folks like Can Aydin, Phong Giang and award-winning stunt performer Cha-Lee Yoon – just three of the principle stuntmen combining years of experience to form their own team, Reel Deal Action, as of just several years ago. Since then, they’ve continually left a memorable mark in the world of independent action, most recently winning Fight Of The Year over at Martial Arts Movie Junkie for their 2013 hit, The Messenger, prior to going global with their latest award-winning […]
Go Behind The Scenes Of Vietnamese Tokusatsu Comedy, SIEU NHAN X
The Lady Assassin (2013) helmer Nguyễn Quang Dũng‘s newest foray into action now comes in the form of his latest film, Siêu Nhân X (Superman X). A teaser arrived earlier this month introducing lead actor Ngo Kien Huy in the title role in a story of a Nam, a weakling who stumbles upon a glowing object in a nearby river that grants him not just a more muscular physique, but a new set of abilities he’s never had before. From there, the story takes a life with our lead hero now going full Tokusatsu, and what ensues are some pretty balls-to-the-wall sequences with a good share of comedy and slapstick suitable for Vietnamese movie goers alike. The teaser itself presents some outstanding qualities that could make it a noteworthy spectacle for those interested, especially for the Tokusatsu community worldwide. At any rate, the film is out in domestic cinemas on […]
Joseon's Greatest Detective Returns In The New Teaser For DETECTIVE K: THE LABORER'S DAUGHTER
Despite however you may feel about movies based on books or other mediums, fans of Joseon-era action comedies have surely gotten a kick out of director Kim Suk-Yoon‘s 2011 whodunit flick, Detective K: Secret Of Virtuous Widow. Clearly it did well enough for itself having initally spawned from a 2007 publication by author Kim Tak-Hwan, and with interest in a sequel brings the return of lead actors Kim Myung-Min and Oh Dal-Su to reprise their roles from the first in the upcoming release of Detective K: The Laborer’s Daughter with award-winning actress Lee Yeon-Hee also starring. SYNOPSIS: “Detective K” is the greatest Joseon detective story ever told about a private eye who is part clumsy and part genius with slyness and wit as his weapon. In 1795, the nineteenth year of King Jeongjo’s reign, a large amount of fake silver is slipped into circulation creating a substantial threat to the […]
Everyone Is Packing In The Latest Trailer For Malay Action Comedy, KAKI KITAI
I can’t speak fully on behalf of the musings of Malay actors and how they fare since I don’t live in the country. However, you have to at least give credit where credit is due, and the most recent trailer for director Mohd Azaromi Ghozali‘s upcoming Malay action comedy, Kaki Kitai, certainly looks like it deserves its fair share. Sure, its layers of silliness are there, but I’m privy to believe this won’t be anything to complain about. SYNOPSIS: Din, a.k.a. Drango and Ayoi are two friends who are also con-men. Both of them came to Kulala Lumpur only to come across and old friend of them who is now a police officer. However, the two friends lives take a turn when they found a trash bag filled with cash in which they used to pay off their debt. But later they both discover that the money actually belong to […]
Catch The Official U.S. Trailer For DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS. DEAD
Cult action horror director Tommy Wirkola‘s latest cinematic contribution with Dead Snow 2: Red Vs Dead has been nothing short of a celebrated favorite among film festival goers since the top of the year, and is soon set to take its place at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. However, if you’re going to be in Texas this week, then you’re in luck, as the film will also be kicking things off over at Fantastic Fest this Thursday, and here is how festival contributor Luke Mullen presents it: Picking up right where the first film left off, Martin narrowly escapes Colonel Herzog and his horde of Nazi zombies, losing his arm in the process. But Martin’s troubles are just beginning. When he wakes up in the hospital, the police believe that he was the one who killed everyone at the cabin. Not only that, but the doctors have accidentally reattached […]
Kevin Smith Dives Into Comic Book Movie Territory With YOGA HOSERS
It was announced back in July that actor, writer and director Kevin Smith was developing a sequel to his upcoming September 19 horror release, Tusk. The new TIFF 2014 entry contributes as a first to the True North Trilogy which will span three films rooted itself in Canadian folklore and mythology with Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, and actress Lily-Rose Depp co-starring. As of this week, an official announcement was released stating the return of both actresses for Smith‘s new sequel, Yoga Hosers, which also include Lily-Rose‘s father, Mortdecai star, actor Johnny Depp. The film is being pitched an action adventure horror comedy which will also mark’s Smith‘s first foray into comic book movie territory with both daughters leading. Smith is popularly known as a leading voice with certain inside knowledge on what’s what these days pertaining to comic book movies and all things sci-fi and film. He’s a fan […]
Film Of The Week: RIDE ALONG (2014)
SYNOPSIS: Kevin Hart and Ice Cube lead the lineup in Ride Along, the new film from the director and the producer of the blockbuster comedy Think Like a Man. When a fast-talking guy joins his girlfriend’s brother—a hot-tempered cop—to patrol the streets of Atlanta, he gets entangled in the officer’s latest case. Now, in order to prove that he deserves his future bride, he must survive the most insane 24 hours of his life. For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben Barber (Hart) has been trying to show decorated APD detective James Peyton (Cube) that he’s more than just a video-game junkie who’s unworthy of James’ sister, Angela (Tika Sumpter). When Ben finally gets accepted into the academy, he thinks he’s earned the seasoned policeman’s respect and asks for his blessing to marry Angela. Knowing that a ride along will demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to […]
Lions, Tigers And… Boobs? Oh My! The New NSFW Interational Trailer For WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Is Here!
Blockbuster martial arts action hero Jean Claude Van Damme has done a LOT in the past several years, ultimately putting himself back on the map as one of the hardest working actors in film. And for a man who has seen his share of ups and downs, there is no challenge he isn’t willing to conquer head on – and that includes mother nature, which is a lot more than can be said for his motley crew of backpacking would-be adventurers in the new international NSFW trailer for Welcome To The Jungle. Van Damme joins director Rob Meltzer for their latest spectacular comedic action adventure comedy set for a limited theatrical North American release on February 7, with further releases pending in Japan, Italy, Sweden and France as of this report. In other news, the actor is also set to reunite this Spring with director Ernie Barbarash for their third […]
Zany Comedy, Kung Fu And Card-Fu In The New Trailer For THE MAN FROM MACAU
The newest trailer for China’s release of writer and director Wong Jing‘s high-flying, card tossing action adventure comedy, The Man From Macau is online ahead of its forthcoming release the weekend of January 30, 2014. Lead actor Chow Yun-Fat returns to form once more in his iconic God Of Gamblers role with Jing, along with actor Nicholas Tse in a story that engages silly comedy and a touch of romance in its blend with spectacular action, danger, and illustrious casino-lit card ballet. The Man From Macau (a.k.a. From Vegas To Macau) also stars Chapman To, Annie Wu and Jing Tian, with Kimmy Tong, Benz Hui, Max Zhang, Philip Ng, Sammy Sum and Natalie Meng rounding out the cast. SYNOPSIS: Super Hacker “Show Hand” (Nicholas TSE) and Karl (Chapman TO) went to Las Vegas with their mentor, the retired swindler, Benz. They were there to visit Benz’s old buddy Hendrick (CHOW […]
Zero Gravity's Andrew Suleiman Features Choreography In New Featurette For YOU CAN'T HEAR ME/YOU CAN'T SEE ME
The team for You Can’t Hear Me/You Can’t See Me, with Andrew Suleiman (left) and Verdy Bhawanta (right) on the bottom. Upon discovering the world of independent action cinema for myself about a decade ago, I learned who actor, writer, martial artist and stunt coordinator Andrew Suleiman (pictured above, bottom row on the left) when I saw him in a 2004 project for Zero Gravity with actor Larry Leong titled Cha Cha Chinaman. From then on, Suleiman became a name I never let go of – even as my computer burned out back in 2008 and I was left to endure life without the internet for a few years. Well, earlier today, I had the opportunity to acquaint myself with Suleiman in a fun, lively chat about his happenings, his career and what he’s up to now. And though many of us haven’t heard from the team as a whole, […]
THE HUNTRESSES Are Back With A New Trailer And Posters
A new slate of posters and a trailer have gone viral this month for Wellmade STARM’s upcoming Joseon Period fantasy femme fatale action comedy, The Huntresses. Following a production that lasted from August to December of 2012, the film was originally promised a theatrical South Korean release earlier this summer with teasers, stills and trailers aired online, and a slew of colorful character posters promoting the film before post-production issues interfered. Fortunately the film now has a Korean theatrical release set for this January, in addition to some new promotional poster art to get things rolling, which you can check out below. The Huntresses stars Ha Ji Won, Kang Ye Won, Son Ga In, Joo Sang Wook and Ko Chang Seok and is directed by Park Je Hyun. SYNOPSIS: As a child, Jin-ok witnessed the murder of her father and narrowly escaped death. She is taken under the wing of […]
AROUND THE WEB: Christmas Edition
It’s been a vivacious year for independent action cinema, and likely moreso than what I can keep up with, with so many teams out there in the world looking to create inspired and ambitious short films and projects to get their content circulating. And today, I have at least four new clips for what I am dubbing as this year’s Christmas Day edition of my Around The Web series, with two of the clips attributed to the holiday season. The first two come straight from Italy, by way of two teams – the first being D-Unit’s new fan-driven shortfilm, Gift Revenge: A Star Wars Christmas Special featuring actors Loris Ripamonti and Mirco Cazzol. The piece is directed and edited by Cristoforo Cervino, with whom all three are currently working on a recently aired YouTube action webseries titled C9DES (Codes) – click the tags at the bottom of the article to […]
Yoshua Sudarso Spoofs Superhero Dichotomy In The New Shortfilm, MOVIES VS. REAL LIFE: INVINCIBLE HERO
Ever wonder what superheroes really go through in real life? Well, actor and stuntman Yoshua Sudarso may have that answer for you in his latest lead role in Movies Vs. Real Life: Invincible Hero. The shortfilm is the latest from director and editor Casey Chan, and content creators Bart Kwan and Joe Jo over at Just Kidding Films, and to be honest, judging somewhat by the poster, I wouldn’t blame you if this actually turned out to be something slightly more spectacular. Alas, the comedy here is what’s key, and Kwan, Jo and Chan have done a pretty fine job utilizing Sudarso for his talents. Sudarso has also partaken in several other projects this year, with indie filmmaker Vlad Rimburg, and the folks over at Robot Underdog to name a few, and you can expect to hear about these projects and more in the coming year. In the meantime, watch […]
Catch The New Trailer + Music Video For The Upcoming Film, RIDE ALONG
January 17, 2014 is the day that sees Universal Pictures’ latest pairing of actors Kevin Hart and 22 Jumpstreet co-star Ice Cube in the upcoming buddy action thriller, Ride Along. Directed by Tim Story, Ride Along features Hart and Cube in classic action comedy fashion in the story of a cop who reluctantly brings his sister’s boyfriend on a ride along to test his mettle and and prove his worthiness to marry his sister. The film is already poised for a sequel ahead of the film’s release, granted the film does well, of course. So it will be very enticing to see how well Hart and Cube work together when this one hits theaters. Ride Along also stars John Leguizamo, Bruce McGill, Bryan Callen and Laurence Fishburne. Check out the new trailer below, in addition to a new comedic music video featuring Hart singing “I Wish” in promotion of the […]