brahim achabbakhe

A Case For Better Action Movies…Or Why We Don’t Deserve Another Sequel After BOYKA: UNDISPUTED 4

Director Todor Chapkanov’s latest feature-length affair, Boyka: Undisputed 4, isn’t exactly the kind that would get the big screen treatment in North America. Elsewhere? Perhaps. Not so much here though, and it’s a shame as it was still a hope of mine that I shared as a theatergoer, albeit understandable with a limited number of screens at the least considering how rare it is to see martial arts movies these days, and of the caliber they bare in talent and content. I take this fact to mind in observing the career progression of martial arts star, actor Scott Adkins, once a stuntman and someone who has essentially woven himself into ample popularity as an action-capable actor, and with his biggest audience keen on major martial arts fanfare. It’s a succession that has not been easy – one plagued by the ever-continued proliferation of piracy that causes films like Adkins’s latest […]

THE HIT LIST: December 19, 2016

Lee B. Golden III

Welcome to the last Hit List of 2016 before I take my fat butt away from my phone a bit more to enjoy life around me some. Indeed it’ll be at home through Christmas and New Year’s Eve at least until my cough dissipates…It’s not how I wanted to go out this year but… oh well… Wish me luck! Moving on to the business of things here, we’re starting things off via Vimeo exclusive with a new reel by acclaimed author, stuntman, stunt coordinator and venerable cinematic fight coordinator John Kreng (Battle B-Boy, Paying Mr. Getty), whose newest reel is a litany of highlights from various interviews, documentaries and television work showcasing his knowledge and wisdom on stunts, stunt equipment, Bruce Lee and Jet Li and more. From there, we keep the business going with the latest in action, stunt and choreography reels, kicking off our playlist with Hayden Lam, […]

BOYKA: UNDISPUTED IV Wraps, Star Thanks His Fans, Cast And Crew, Talks Future Movies

Lee B. Golden III

Martial arts action cinema has seen a ton of glory in the field of film for many years with a multitude of memorable and iconic characters to lend credit to. One such role as of late has been actor Scott Adkins‘s delivery of born-again Russian mixed-martial arts champion, Uri Boyka, following two principle roles in the direct-to-video end of the Undisputed franchise, with the sequel and threequel in 2006 and 2010 respectively, from director Isaac Florentine. Clock into 2015 well long after the third film as fans remained sizzling with hope for another installment and fans evidently got their wish in late 2013 prior to principle photography earlier this summer, and no less with a meaty handful of top notch action actors from select parts of the world all congregating in Sofia, Bulgaria for the production of Boyka: Undisputed IV. Adkins and Florentine are reunited once more with co-star and […]

New Stills And A Synopsis Surface For BOYKA: UNDISPUTED IV

Lee B. Golden III

Many a debate have been had in the last five years over the fate of a fourth installment of Undisputed, a series of films that has since spawned from a Hollywood prison boxing drama to a franchise of films that have entrenched explicit fandom within the niche for actor and action star Scott Adkins in the role of devout modern day mixed martial arts warrior, Uri Boyka. Suffice it to say, the Undisputed franchise has taken a life of its own in the martial arts genre, and while piracy nearly threatened the hopes of a fourth film, it was finally made official in late 2013 with cameras rolling nearly a year and a half later in Bulgaria for Boyka: Undisputed IV. Yes, results are coming, and I wouldn’t hold my breath for this one until at least a 2016 release as with the nature of independent cimema. Director Isaac Florentine […]

MJW And Josh Barnett Square Off In The New NEVER BACK DOWN 3 Teaser Poster!

Lee B. Golden III

In the course of the current grueling six-day per week filming schedule for action star and director Michael Jai White‘s Never Back Down 3, production is already looking heavily promising. With exception to Thai action star Tony Jaa due to his busy schedule, prominent leading lady Jeeja Yanin has already partaken in the pound-for-pound action with other heavy hitters like Nathan Jones, Ron Smoorenburg and Brahim Achabbakhe on hand, and fight choreographer Larnell Stovall also ringside. Needless to say, those not in the know may be clueless that the film is even happening. Alas, White reassured a fan in kind with a tweet presenting this little gem: Clearly there’s a pure devotion to the tournament genre here especially with a poster like this as White heads back into the fight arena as Case Walker following the second film in 2011. You can pretty much do the math here as to […]

If The New Trailer For TEKKEN 2: KAZUYA'S REVENGE Satisfies You, Good Luck With That

Lee B. Golden III

Last year I ranted about the first ever live-action rendition of the hit fighting game, Tekken directed by Rapid Fire helmer Dwight Little. The film did an adequate job as serving a nice little tournament action film but it was far from satisfying for the purists who hated the film, even so far as basing their disproval of the film on the very first U.K. trailer back in 2010 (and you crazy asshole YouTubers know what I mean). But moreover, it nearly undercut almost any hope of a potential, proper live-action rendition in the same notable fashion that Street Fighter got this year by way of Assasin’s Fist (I can only hope I’m wrong in that regard). Now, halfway through 2014 with a film made in just three weeks or so and bipolar title treatment of the film anywhere between Tekken: Rise Of The Tournament and Tekken: A Man Called […]

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Film Of The Week: MAN OF TAI CHI (2013)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. Though most associate Tai Chi with peaceful, yoga-like movements, Tiger has perfected the ancient art and started to make a name for himself in the prestigious Wulin Wang martial arts championship. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, police investigator, Suen Jing-Si (Karen Mok), who works for the organized crime unit OCTB, has run into a wall in her pursuit of Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves). Donaka is a powerful Hong Kong businessmen who runs a secret underground fighting ring, where cold hard cash is made by defeating one’s opponent in a no-holds barred fight privately broadcast to wealthy patrons. Looking for a new “star,” Donaka tries to lure Tiger with the promise of easy money. […]

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Kane Kosugi Is Filming AGENT X, NOT A 'Tekken' Movie

Lee B. Golden III

It was made public last week that Crystal Sky and Lionsgate began working on a prequel to the 2010 film, Tekken, based on Namco’s live-action tournament fighting game franchise. Announced at the time via martial arts action star Kane Kosugi‘s official blog, the new film was announced as Tekken: A Man Called X, which was previously reported with director Prachya Pinkaew attached. An update at Kosugi‘s blog, followed by a heartfelt apology for the “clumsiness” on the administrator’s part, has now issued a much-needed correction stating that the film is, in fact NOT the Tekken prequel that was announced back in 2012 by Crystal Sky, but another film titled Agent X with Kosugi leading the film. Of course, Brahim Achabbakhe, who doubled for actor Scott Adkins and stunt coordinated under action director Tim Man for Kosugi‘s most recently-released film, Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear is choreographing the action sequences for the […]

Kane Kosugi Highlights A New Photo With The Stunt Crew Of TEKKEN: A MAN CALLED X

Lee B. Golden III

Stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Brahim Achabbakhe (center) took to Facebook this weekend to share a group photo with his choreography team a day ahead of the forthcoming production for the new film Tekken: A Man Called X from Crystal Sky and Lionsgate. The photo comes just after action star Kane Kosugi (second from right) announced on his official blog that he would be playing the titular role. The film is set as a prequel to the 2010 reinterpretation of the NAMCO property directed by Dwight Little and starring Jon Foo, Ian Anthony Dale and Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa. Not much else is known about the film as of yet with principal phototography scheduled for the next three weeks, in addition to previous reports that Ong Bak director Prachya Pinkaew was attached as the director. To name a few, Achabbakhe‘s most recent credits in stunts and choreography include Street Fighter: The Legend […]

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TEKKEN: A MAN CALLED X Nabs Kane Kosugi For The Lead

Lee B. Golden III

It was not too long ago that I ranted in an editorial I crossposted over at The Action Elite about the need for a redux of the latest attempt at live-action for Tekken. At the time, my article didn’t meet much ire from a lot of readers (although I wouldn’t be surprised if certain folks disapproved), but many of the reactions I received were pretty upbeat and understanding. Although as badly as I would have wanted to see Tekken remade properly, after the last couple of years, I never would have guessed what would happened next…which now leads me to actor and martial arts action star Kane Kosugi. Kosugi seen some great fortune throughout his career from childhood to adulthood, nowadays even moreso from the widespread approval of his most recent role in Isaac Florentine’s newest martial arts action thriller, Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear. Now the word, forwarded from […]

An Assassin Becomes An Avenging Angel In Martial Arts Short Thriller, MARKSMEN

Lee B. Golden III

The latest film festival gem making its way online this weekend is the sixteen-minute martial arts assassin thriller, Marksmen. The shortfilm was directed by stuntman and actor Kazu Patrick Tang best known for his amazing performances in such blockbuster Thai action thrillers like Raging Phoenix (2009) with actress Jeeja Yanin, the balls-to-the-wall action spectacle, Bangkok Knockout (2010), and his latest role in director Raimund Huber’s manga-style romantic action thriller, Dragonwolf (2012). This time around, Tang steps into the director’s chair with actor, martial arts stuntman and fight choreographer Brahim Achabbahke leading the way in a story following the events of an assassin who retaliates against his employer when he is mistaken as a cop killer. Achabbahke stars along with Yuhkoh Matsuguchi, Byron Gibson and veteran martial arts action cinema favorite Ron Smoorenburg in what looks like an explosive set of some the best martial arts action sequences constructed for film, […]

Brahim Achabbahke Just Gave You Another Reason To Love Action Movies!

Lee B. Golden III

At 28, Brahim Achabbahke is an internationally accomplished stuntman, martial arts actor, stunt coordinator and stunt performer. His career in the field only got brighter when he began pursuing martial arts at age 15, and then beginning work in Thailand at age 22. To name of few since then, he has worked on dozens of film projects, sharing credits with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gary Daniels, Tim Man, Kazu Patrick Tang, Jeeja Yanin, Prachya Pinkaew and Tony Jaa. As 2013 rolls on, martial arts cinema fans will rave with anticipation with some of the year’s biggest titles bound for release this year, with the release of MAN OF TAI CHI and the upcoming Scott Adkins action sequel, NINJA 2, directed by Isaac Florentine. In anticipation of this, Brahim also has a few projects of his own in the works, one of which is on the way to the […]

New Trailer For Upcoming Martial Arts Shortfilm, MARKSMEN

Lee B. Golden III

From L to R: Brahim Achabbakhe, Ron Smoorenburg and Kazu Patrick Tang Brahim Achabbahke, Ron Smoorenburg and Kazu Patrick Tang are three of the most experienced and talented stunt coordinators and performers of the industry, compiling nearly twenty four years in their field working on such films as Who Am I?, Unleashed, Mercury Man, The Kick, Kill Em’All and Dragonwolf to name a few. Together, they have also shared the set on the latest collaborative efforts with action performers Scott Adkins, Kane Kosugi, co-star and fight choreographer Tim Man, and master action filmmaker Isaac Florentine on the set of Ninja 2, which is set for release later this year. Before completing Ninja 2, however, and determined to continue evolving as filmmakers, Achabbahke, Smoorenburg and Tang collaborated last year with actor and Ninja 2 cast member Yuhkoh Matsuguchi on a shortfilm of their own called MARKSMEN. The short was directed by […]