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STREET FIGHTER: ASSASSIN'S FIST – Joey Ansah Answers Your Questions

On Tuesday, actor, writer and director Joey Ansah hosted a half-hour long Q&A recording session to discuss answers from fan questions regarding his new festure-length serial webseries, Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist. In the video, Ansah, who also starred-in and directed the action sequences with fellow lead actor, co-creator and fight choreographer Christian Howard, delved into a variety of topics ranging from his own personal motivations and aspirations as a martial artists and devoted fan of the original fighting game franchise by Capcom, how the story has been formatted according to the appearances and dimensional explorations of the characters, to the challenges he and the cast and crew faced on the pre-production and filming process, designing the evolutionary layers of the Asatsuken – the titular fighting style of the series, what it means to create a series that differs substantially better from previous live action attempts, and much more. The series […]

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Syfy Lands METAL HURLANT CHRONICLES For U.S. Television

Martial arts action superstars Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins and Darren Shahlavi have all been pretty busy making headlines in recent months, with White filming Thai actioner Skin Trade as preparation continues for Black Dynamite 2, while Adkins‘ eighth pairing with director Isaac Florentine brings them for Close Range, and new reports have announced Shahlavi‘s starring role opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Ernie Barbarash’s next thriller, Pound Of Flesh. That said, all three can be seen sharing screentime together in the first and second series installments of the internationally produced English-language science fiction fantasy series, Metal Hurlant Chronicles, which until only this week, earned its audiences largely in French-speaking territories beginning a little less than a year and a half ago. On Tuesday, that all changed in new press release which you can view below. PARIS– Syfy has acquired the first two seasons of French science-fiction/action skein “Metal Hurlant.”  Helmed […]

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[UPDATED] Krowdfunding Begins For MORTAL KOMBAT: THE ONE

UPDATE: This article now includes newly added links to the crowdfunding page that began on Wednesday, following the Tuesday posting of this article. While any promise of screenwriter Oren Uziel’s script for a feature-length live-action Mortal Kombat movie continues to sit in a painful state of limbo, inspired fan film efforts are keep things moving forward with the latest trailer for the unofficial shortfilm production, Mortal Kombat: The One. Set to begin production later this year for a Fall airing, the new project comes from from student filmmaker Anthony Pellino, whose script for the film’s possible 12-to-15 minute duration will center namely on characters, Lin Kuei ninja Sub-Zero and the God of Thunder himself, Raiden, loosely based on the plot from the original games. SYNOPSIS: Set a few years before the 10th tournament in Manhattan, Rayden is desperate. He has very few leads on potential fighters, and he knows this […]

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Bryan Cranston Knows What's Been Hidden In The New Trailer For GODZILLA

Following a new poster and Empire Magazine cover and audio unveiling, the new official trailer arrived for the for the forthcoming May 16, 2014 release of Godzilla from director Gareth Edwards, which you can check out above. The film starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Taylor-Johnson has already garnered some major fan approval, including from that of Guns And Roses former lead guitarist, Slash, whose most recent screening of Edwards’ new film earned its critique as “pretty fn’ epic” on Twitter this week. Check out the trailer, as well as the recent empire cover below and stay tuned for more info. SYNOPSIS: An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.  Gareth Edwards directs “Godzilla,” which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Kick-Ass”), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe […]

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Kaya Scodelario Takes Aim In A New Still From TIGER HOUSE

Looking to make his transition from the theatre scene to film is director Thomas Daley for his newest action horror production, Tiger House. The latest reports mentioning the film are now hosting the first still of the film currently shooting in Cape Town, South Africa produced by Tiger House Films SA, and also marking the first production from Glass Man Films. Starring Skins actress Kaya Scodelario, Tiger House sets the story at a home in the U.K. where she plays Kelly, an injured gymnast who is ultimately forced to fight back after a gang of armed intruders force their way in and take her boyfriend and his family hostage. The film’s plot is already gaining recognition for bearing a resemblance to that of Adam Wingard’s recent theatrical release, You’re Next. , which could be a good thing Wingard’s film became a runaway smash hit earning well over $26 million dollars […]

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Courage Begins In Battle In The New Trailer For I AM SOLDIER

Backed by previous producer work on powerhouse action flicks like James Nunn’s latest Scott Adkins headliner, Green Street 3, and their earlier shared producer/director credits for the 2012 thriller, Tower Block, we now have a new trailer for UK filmmaker Ronnie Thompson‘s solo debut, I Am Soldier. The new trailer sets the stage for a story featuring actor Tom Hughes in what is expected to offer a piercing, edgy look into the gritty, brutalizing world of British military training for one recruit whose participation will test his mettle in a life or death trial that may push him to his breaking point. I Am Soldier is produced by James Harris, Mark Lane and Nicola Pearcey, and also stars Noel Clarke, Miranda Raison, Alex Reid, Josh Myers, with fight choreography by Nick Maison (The Debt, Vendetta) and co-star/choreographer Lee Charles. The film is scheduled to premiere at the Colchester Film Festival […]

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Martial Arts And Evil Spirits Collide In Peter Cornwell's Upcoming Thriller, MINION

Martial Arts And Evil Spirits Collide In Peter Cornwell's Upcoming Thriller, MINION

Fans of horror movies like the 2009 feature thriller, The Haunting In Connecticut may already be familiar with the directorial style of award-winning filmmaker Peter Cornwell, who has another title headed our way in the form of Mercy to further appease the horror film viewing public. However, if you enjoy the genre with a nice little martial arts twist, then screenwriters Eric Gable and Ben Bostik may have something in store for those interested with the planned production of Cornwell‘s latest film, Minion. The film centers on a supernatural event that takes place during a farewell party for a martial arts coach when a party game reveals he is possessed, forcing the guests to fight for their lives as they undergo a reverse exorcism ritual as their only chance of victory against the forces of evil. The news came on the heels of this year’s European Film Market in Berlin […]

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FIST PLUS FACE: A Formula For Action And Laughs In The Spirit Of Jeet Kune Do

Following successful crowdfunding efforts by executive producer Justin Chambers and writer/director and former Jeet Kune Do student Travis Laidlaw, online netizens can now view Laidlaw‘s latest contribution to the action genre in the form of the brand new shortfilm, Fist Plus Face. The project is a culmination of Laidlaw‘s fifteen years of experience in the industry, which didn’t come easy as he ended up finishing his law degree between his earlier film endeavors, and before ultimately choosing greener pastures in cinema upon moving back in Toronto. “I have always had a fascination with the camera, filming everything I did from personal short films to school projects. I never went anywhere without it.”, he writes. “I had wanted to be an actor for some time but soon I decided at this point that it was behind the camera that really interested me.”.   Fist Plus Face features actor and martial arts […]

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THE PROTECTOR 2 Lands On North American Shores With A New Trailer And Release Dates

International action star Tony Jaa is well on his way to completing his transition over to North American territory with the current production of director Ekachai Uekrongtham‘s all-star action adventure, Skin Trade, and Jaa‘s forthcoming appearance next April in Fast And Furious 7. The actor and celebrity purveyor of Muay Thai and dynamic stunt performance will also be observed in the long-awaited release of his latest Thai action epic from director Prachya Pinkaew, Tom Yum Goong 2, newly titled for its U.S. release as The Protector 2, slated for iTunes and VoD release on March 27 before hitting theaters on May 2. Watch the trailer below the following description and stay tuned for more info. SYNOPSIS: Boss Suchart is the influential owner of a major elephant camp. When he was murdered in his own home – the killer delivered three fatal blows on his body – all evidence points to […]

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301 TROOP: ARAWN RISING: Hitting The Reset Button For British Action Cinema

Actor Lee Bennett is ready to make 2014 his banner this year with the forthcoming production of his action horror directorial debut, 301 Troop: Arawn Rising. The project marks the first film for Bennett’s new production banner, Only The New Breed, since its launch a year ago led by Bennett, a three year veteran actor and action performer with a proven intense love for film and a passion to reinvigorate the current state of the U.K. action cinema with a fresh vision that harkens back to the glory days of hardcore action cinema for today’s audiences. 301 Troop: Arawn Rising introduces an original tale of two longtime friends – soldiers rejected after failing their commando selection examination, who find themselves in their biggest fight for survival the U.K. Northern wilderness against a clan of possessed Druids performing blood sacrifices in the name of an ancient Celtic underworld god. The film, […]

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SECOND LIFE: A Dialogue With Malaysian Filmmaker James Lee

From L to R: James Lee, Charlene Meng, Michael Chin, Low Chee Hong, Adrian Poh and Adrian Lai on the set of the upcoming martial arts action shortfilm SECOND LIFE Independent filmmaker James Lee recently officially launched his content creation platform this year, Doghouse 73 Pictures, with a brand new website to host his YouTube channel, and a variety of other cool merchandise for fans and viewers. In covering this for my previous article, I was eager to follow up on a shortfilm project titled Second Life, succeeding his 2012 martial arts feature-length contribution with The Collector starring Sunny Pang. With a new year just beginning, I took interest in sharing a dialogue with some questions for the director who shares some pretty insight on what he hopes to accomplish, and the people in his circles that are working with him to change the game for the Malaysian film industry. […]

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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 […]

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A Terrorist Act Unveils Something Much More Explosive In The New Webseries, THE GAMBIT

After making some notable moves last year with the inspired vision shared in his series installment of Grayson: Earth One, independent filmmaker Hisonni Johnson has since kept on his toes with other creative works, and his latest has just arrived in the form of the new action crime/drama miniseries, The Gambit. The new series reunites Johnson with actor Raj Bhavsar who leads the new story filled intrigue, suspense and intensity, with a compelling plot centered on a small squad of heavily armed ex-cops led by a disgruntled former police Sergeant who takes the Captain’s daughter hostage, and a janitorial worker caught in the middle of it all. Fans of Johnson‘s work can expect more from the Grayson storyline rougly in the coming year. For now, The Gambit is in play with two new episodes already available via his Youtube channel where you may also subscribe.

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Well Go USA's Release Of THE WRATH OF VAJRA Gets A Trailer

In light of the news of Iceman 3D helmer Law Wing-Cheong‘s forthcoming Hong Kong release of the dark new kung fu action thriller, The Wrath Of Vajra, Twitch delivered the exclusive official trailer for the film on Friday which you can check out at the bottom of the page. The film comes home on March 18, 2014 and features Kung Fu Hustle and Flash Point actor Shi Yanneng (a.k.a. Xing Yu) debuting in his first lead role. Also starring are actor Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, actress Zhang Yamei, actor Tony Liu, international action legend Yasuaki (David) Kurata, actor and K-pop artist Steve Yoo, 7-foot tall actor Jiang Baocheng and actor and b-boy dancer Poppin Hyun-joon. The film was produced by Hong Pang with action choreography by Peng Zhang. You can currently pre-order the film at Amazon or wherever DVDs are sold. SYNOPSIS: Before the West entered World War II, a Japanese death […]

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A Life Of Crime Draws The Line Between Brothers In The New Trailer For BLOOD TIES

We have a new trailer for a film that plays in a similar field of crime dramas like that of James Grey’s 2007 thriller, We Own The Night. For this though, we now have Grey’s latest co-writing contribution to that of French writer and director Guillaume Canet‘s 1970’s-set English language filmmaking debut, Blood Ties. The film is based on a 2008 feature from director Jacques Maillot titled Les liens du sang (a.k.a. Rivals) in which Canet also starred at the time, and has since picked up by Lionsgate for North American distribution following its Cannes premiere last year. Clive Owen and Billy Crudup lead the way with Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Matthias Schoenaerts and James Caan rounding out the cast for the film’s limited theatrical and VoD release on March 21, 2014. SYNOPSIS: New York, 1974. Fifty-year-old Chris (Clive Owen) has just been released on good behavior after […]

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Gina Carano Spills As Much Red As She Needs In The New Trailer For IN THE BLOOD

In the midst of a her transition from professional MMA fighter to cinematic action heroine, actress and martial arts Gina Carano has already appeared in three films and is soon set to star in her own comic book movie based on creator Rob Liefield’s Avengelyne, in addition to being rumored for a role in producer Adi Shankar’s Female Expendables project. Before then, she will appear in director John Stockwell‘s upcoming action thriller, In The Blood, where she sets out on a dangerous mission to find the men responsible for her husband’s disappearance during their Caribbean vacation. In The Blood is written by Bennett Yellin and James Robert Johnston and also stars Danny Trejo, Stephen Lang, Luis Guzman, Amaury Nolasco and Cam Gigandet. The film will have a limited theatrical/VOD release on April 4, 2014, courtesy of Anchor Bay Films and 20th Century Fox Entertainment, with other releases pending. Watch the […]

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Michelle Martins And Bryan Sloyer Go Head-To-Head In LBP's Latest Fight Demo

Michelle Alvarado Martins and Bryan Sloyer Fans and followers of independent action and Film Combat Syndicate readers might remember industry stuntwoman Michelle Alvarado Martins from her previous gig with filmmaker and stunt coordinator Geo Corvera on his first online shortfilm for the new year titled Triumph. Well, this week, Martins continues to expand on her craft, showcasing her screenfighting talents for the first time with independent filmmaker and LBP Stunts Chicago founding member Emmanuel Manzanares and fellow stuntman Bryan Sloyer on a new fight demo now available for viewing on the official LBP Stunts YouTube channel. Manzanares initially met Martins after working with her husband, fellow stuntman, Anthony Martins on set for the production of the TV show, Chicago Fire just a few weeks ago. As far as first impressions go, he generally described Manzanares as “great”, “humble”, “very nice” and “..very easy and fun to work with..”. He also […]

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'The Expendables 3' Director Being Named To Helm THE RAID Remake!

Patrick Hughes With writer and director Gareth Evans ramping up efforts to promote the forthcoming March 28, 2014 release of The Raid 2: Berandal, what is still left in the air is the issue of whether or not action star Sylvester Stallone’s August release, The Expendables 3, will actually “raid” The Raid as he so described it on Twitter last year. Regardless though, it seems all the talk of raiding everything has put The Expendables 3 helmer Patrick Hughes in a bigger light as reports indicate that the director is now being tapped to direct Screen Gems’s upcoming remake of The Raid, which is being penned by Out Of The Furnace co-scribe Brad Inglesby. Talk of the American remake has gone on for quite a while since the success of Evans‘s film which released in 2011 and made its way overseas the following year, launching actor and martial arts action […]

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The Hollywood Theater Set To Screen THE RAID 2 One Week Early From Wide Release

Since making huge waves at this year’s film festival circuit with rip-roaring fans of martial arts action star Iko Uwais are on high alert for the next five weeks until the theatrical release of writer and director Gareth Evans‘s new film, The Raid 2, with the latest unveiling of the official mosaic poster for the film’s Indonesian premiere titled The Raid 2: Berandal. This week however, reports indicate that The Hollywood Theater in Pennsylvania is hosting its own early screening of the upcoming action epic on Wednesday for March 19 at 7:30pm PST, nine days before the film’s wide premiere the following week on Friday, March 28. The Hollywood Theater is located in 1449 Potomac Avenue in the Dormont section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more info on the venue, you can visit their official website, and check out their reviews on Yelp. In the meantime, check out some recently released stills […]

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REEL TIME: Amy Johnston (2014)

The martial arts cinema community rallied when word got out that actress and Hollywood stuntwoman Amy Johnston landed a lead role in director Chris Nahon‘s upcoming international tournament action thriller, Lady Bloodfight. She fought actress Zoë Bell in Josh Waller’s new thriller, Raze, and is also slated to appear in Captain America: The Winter Soldier doubling for actress Scarlett Johansson, to name a few, and with more surprises to come, we now get to see a new reel this week showcasing Johnston’s latest montage of material from over the last several years. More surprises lurk in the near future action fans between now and this Spring, including Johnston‘s upcoming role in the latest Dragon Ball-inspired project from Robot Underdog, for which a trailer is expected to arrive in the very near future. On that note, check out the ‘Lady’s’ new reel in the following embed below where you may also […]

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