Gary Daniels

REPEATER Review: R. Ellis Frazier’s Latest Toils At Killers’ Impasse

Repeater is currently available in select theaters and on demand and digital from Saban Films. Spoiler Alert: I don’t get to see all movies. I know, I know, the shock is real… When I do, of course, I don’t always talk about it, and the same can be said with director R. Ellis Frazier’s resumè as I’ve only seen his 2014 Gary Daniels actioner, Misfire up to this point. He’s done two more with the British kicker since then, now with Daniels in the role of antagonist opposite actor Paul Sidhu who plays John, a globetrotting gun for hire quietly pining for a way out of the redundant, cyclic life of violence in the Saban Films release, Repeater. Fast forward from an awry mission in Bolivia to our protagonist’s reassignment in Tijuana with the help of his elusive handler, Edgar (Corbin Bernsen). The mission: to track and eliminate Jean (Nick […]

BRING HIM BACK DEAD Review: Gary Daniels’ Newest Heist Thriller Is Dead On Arrival

Lee B. Golden III

There’s no easy way to dive into this review for Mark Savage’s newest film, Bring Him Back Dead. I say this, if only for the fact that trying to find the highs amid so many lows makes things all the more difficult in that it stars Gary Daniels, who has long been heralded as one of the most beloved action movie icons of the last thirty-years plus, with a career that ranges between working with the likes of Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Siu-Hung, Isaac Florentine, Albert Pyun, and eventually even Sylvester Stallone to name a few. Hell, the first Daniels film I saw growing up was Riot, and it was a shoe-in for me in the 90s as someone looking for the next thing to consume in the direct-to-video market to hold me down until the next big Van Damme or Seagal spectacle. To this, it’s unfortunate that I have […]

Trailer: To Catch Gary Daniels, They’ll Have To BRING HIM BACK DEAD!

Lee B. Golden III

Fans of action star Gary Daniels won’t have to wait long as Uncork’d Entertainment readies a TBD August DVD and Digital release for the new action thriller, Bring Him Back Dead, with an official trailer now online above via Deadline. Mark Savage (Hitman’s Hero, Painkiller) directs from a script by Ben Demaree – based on a story by Jeff Miller; the film marks a reunion for Demaree and Miller following Lionsgate/Grindstone’s The Gardener in which Daniels also co-stars as the villain. In the vein of Sam Peckinpah and Jim Thompson, the gritty BRING HIM BACK DEAD concerns a violent gang of criminals who are ordered, after a botched heist, to track down and eliminate the man who betrayed them and ran off with their loot. Daniels plays the “anti-hero,” while Mandylor portrays the leader of the gang and Daniels a man with mysterious motives. Also starring are Katie Keene (Rogue […]

REPEATER Teaser Reveals Cyclic Assassin Violence From R. Ellis Frazier

Lee B. Golden III

The Cannes market teaser is now online for Misfire and Rumble helmer R. Ellis Frazier’s new action thriller, Repeater, starring Paul Sidhu, Kristanna Loken, Corbin Bernsen, Nick Moran, James Faulkner and action star Gary Daniels. Frazier directs from a script he wrote with Benjamin Budd, and with action sequences by Art Camacho and Jacov Bresler. Find. Kill. Repeat. For hit man Smith (Paul Sidhu), these are the only words to live by. But a botched job in Colombia forces him to take a high-stakes open contract arranged by his handler, Mann (Corbin Bernsen). Smith’s latest target? The hacker-activist Rousseau (Nick Moran), who has run afoul of corrupt corporations and powerful men like Silver (James Faulkner), the boss of a criminal empire. In the border towns of Mexico, Smith confronts local gangs, competing contract killers Botha (Gary Daniels) and Sykes (Kristanna Loken), and a crisis of conscience with deadly consequences. Ultramedia, […]

THE GARDENER Review: Mismatched Screen Stars Make For Watchable Thrills

Lee B. Golden III

Ever since actor Robert Bronzi came on the scene, there’s always been the obvious fascination with his likeness to that of late actor Charles Bronson which seems to be the driving force for his popularity. Contrarily however, that shouldn’t always be the case. The first time I saw Bronzi was in Rene Perez’s gratuitious gritty thriller, Death Kiss. My thoughts on the film itself aside, the actor is completely dubbed which all but takes away from the experience of seeing what Bronzi can really do, which something I’m at least thankful for when it comes to this aspect of what directing duo Scott Jeffery and Rebecca Matthews’s deliver own thriller, The Gardener. Bronzi delivers a tenderness to the title role of Peter, a former soldier who tends to a quiet manor in England. which firstly becomes a battleground for a family struggling to hold itself together between a father who […]

aa46820ba65993bb428f202e4ce0bb229c563b7dabd77688da45390f74fd32c6._SX1080_.jpg

“KICK STARTER” – An explorative insight into the lesser-known kickers of film and cinema.

Vance Ang

When it comes to combat, and more specifically martial arts there is a certain exotic appeal to one specific element – kicks. Despite the visibility of grappling thanks in no small part to the prevalence of MMA these days, there is something spectacular about seeing kick techniques demonstrated with real expertise. Though the practicality of high kicks in real combat is always debated, those that can utilize their feet and legs as weapons is no doubt an impressive feat (no pun intended) Yet, this piece does not aim to highlight those kicks already within the mainstream consciousness: ofcourse, Bruce Lee had his famous burst sidekick; Chuck Norris had his signature roundhouse kick; Jean Claude Van Damme had his graceful 360 spin kick; Phillip Rhee had his devastating spinning back kick; Dolph Lungren had his Kyokushin leaping thrust sidekick; whilst daring stars like Scott Adkins, Joey Ansah, Mark Strange, Mark Dacascos […]

BRING HIM BACK DEAD: Uncork’d Shepherds Sales As Cameras Roll For New Gary Daniels Action Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Principal photography is already underway for Bring Him Back Dead, with a cast that lists Gary Daniels (The Expendables), Louis Mandylor (The Brave) and Daniel Baldwin (John Carpenter’s Vampires). Pic hails from Jeff Miller’s (The Russian Bride) Millman Productions and Korey Rowe’s Otsego Media LLC, as well as Ron Lee Productions and Salem House. In the vein of Sam Peckinpah and Jim Thompson, the gritty BRING HIM BACK DEAD concerns a violent gang of criminals who are ordered, after a botched heist, to track down and eliminate the man who betrayed them and ran off with their loot. Daniels plays the “anti-hero,” while Mandylor portrays the leader of the gang and Daniels a man with mysterious motives. Joining in are Katie Keene (Rogue Warfare), Zhuzha Akova, Ryan M. Shaw, LeJon Woods, and Chris Torem also star. Miller produces along with Cuyle Carvin and Avery Miritello, with Azhar Pasha, Miller, Savage, […]

My Stupid Idea For A BLOODMOON Sequel

Lee B. Golden III

Tony Leung Siu-Hung’s 1998 DTV thriller, Bloomoon, was perhaps one of the biggest martial arts guilty pleasures of my fandom in the last thirty years. The first I heard of it was through the grapevine of a once beloved site called HKFlix.com prior to being defunct. That site was how I discovered a world of genre titles and Bloodmoon was no exception. It was also my second exposure to Darren Shahlavi after Tai Chi II; I was fond of his delivery as a versatile, unstoppable martial arts killer of martial artists opposite Gary Daniels’ stoic, battle-scarred detective on a mission to stop him. Despite being deeply-flawed and horribly acted at times, the film wasn’t without its plusses. It was suitably cheesy at times and the fight action was a popcorn riot. More than 20 years later, Daniels is still a favorite among the fans while Bloodmoon itself remains an action […]

I AM VENGEANCE: Stu Bennett Is A One-Man War Machine In The Official U.S. Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Ten Dead Men and Warrioress helmer Ross Boyask has stood the test of time with his own arsenal of work in cinema for up to two decades. His latest, I Am Vengeance, was especially well received among festival audiences including this past Spring in London, and picking up three Bests during late last year’s fifth-annual Urban Action Showcase, including Best Actor for WWE Superstar, actor Stu Bennett (Eliminators). When ex-Special Forces soldier turned professional mercenary, John Gold (Stu Bennett), hears that his former best friend Corporal Dan Mason (Kevin Leslie), and Dan’s parents have been murdered, he heads to their home-town to find their killers. Gold discovers that Dan and his father were investigating a Special Forces troop led by the enigmatic, highly decorated Sergeant Hatcher (Gary Daniels), that went rogue in Afghanistan. What unfolds next is a heart-pumping action thrill ride that leaves viewers on the edge of their […]

Review: Asif Akbar’s ASTRO Alienates With Campy, Drab Sci-Fi

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker Asif Akbar’s debut arrives as a franchise hopeful in which we reunite once again with action star and actor Gary Daniels in the sci-fi thriller, Astro. It’s not Akbar’s first stab at the genre and so some of what he contributes here holds up in terms of select moments of visual allure and character design. It’s respite, though, and so what remains to be seen is if he can build on what he’s constructed with this film and improve the many flawed aspects that occur in his delivery. Many of the key CG shots are outright laughable in Akbar’s attempt to bring a vast, big scale science fiction film to serve as the backdrop of a Daniels-led vehicle, which bodes as only bodes as one of the more frustrating aspects offered in this hour-and-forty-five minute endeavor. The film takes right off from a quote by Plato and echoing headlines […]

ASTRO: Gary Daniels And Interstellar Family Matters In The First Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Considering the premise, it’s almost as if director Asif Akbar wanted to make a sci-fi flick and consulted with Elon Musk at the time. Alas, beckoning the sci-fi crowd for the hopeful launch of a trilogy is the first official trailer for Akbar’s latest, Astro. Akbar co-wrote and helmed the pic thriving on his own affinity and fascination of interstellar life. That aspect gets a good bit of screentime front and center for folks who are more keen on cerebral sci-fi and drama whilst enjoying Gary Daniels’ return to the screen. ASTRO is about an eccentric billionaire’s private spacecraft that returns to Earth with an abducted extraterrestrial from a newly discovered planet. When the billionaire and his scientists discover that former Special Forces soldier Jack Adams has the same DNA as the alien, they force Jack into their experimental program to extract secrets of the universe. When Jack and his daughter […]

THE HIT LIST: April 24, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

Well, I spent most of my weekend relaxing as much as possible after covering what I could on Saturday. That includes my second interview with actor/producer/director Alexander Nevsky which you can check out here… …on top of covering this week’s picks and entries for the Hit List now online and ready to go with a stunt reel playlist that brings us Luis Vallardes, John Cihangir, Amanda Voll, Don Gough, Jonathan Nickerson, Kyle Glenn, Ellette Craddock, Hans Marrero and an updated new stunt reel by Patrick King. Rounding out thd playlist is actor and martial artist, the one and only Gary Daniels with a tribute reel from last month by Tony Coates! There isn’t much to tease this week except two items: First, we now have an image which you can view below courtesy of filmmaker Trent Dickens, hard at work with the current production of crowdfunded shortfilm, Panda – basically […]

Gary Daniels Joins Asif Akbar Sci-Fi, ASTRO

Lee B. Golden III

Badhouse Martial arts star Gary Daniels has a batch of projects coming in the new year. As of this week, one of them now includes the latest directorial offering from director Asif Akbar for the new film, Astro, which managed to secure financing at the American Film Market in Santa Monica this week. Astro, according to THR, casts Daniels in the new sci-fi about a billionaire whose private space exploration program and its arrival back to Earth includes a kidnapped alien from a newly discovered planet. It’s a little difficult to tell what kind of film this will be judging by the report but with Daniels front and center, perhaps the action fans will have something to look forward to here. Akbar wrote the film along with Bernard Selling with cameras set to role in infamously cited alien conspiracy locale, Roswell, New Mexico where financing for the film was secured […]

Well Go USA To Release LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: VOL.1 On DVD This November

Lee B. Golden III

I remember first seeing the trailer to the CCTV-1 broadcast of the Shannon Lee produced series, The Legend Of Bruce Lee a bit less than a decade ago. Having already been a fan of director Rob Cohen’s Hollywood treatment, I wasn’t too impressed and I guess because it felt a bit like excess for there to be another pseudo-fictional telling of the life and legend of the Jeet Kune Do founder and martial arts film star. I think nowadays, however, my perspective has changed a bit since then and particularly considering that lead actor Danny Chan reprised the role opposite Donnie Yen in the hit film, Ip Man 3, it’s understandable that fans would probably take a ceremonial liking to this show which casts a number of well-knowns and through a showcase of various styles of martial arts to interpret how Lee adapts to win his battles. It’s a martial […]

VENGEANCE Now Filming In London With Stu Bennett And Gary Daniels

Lee B. Golden III

Before we catch outgoing WWE wrestler, actor Stu Bennett in action for James Nunn’s Eliminators with Scott Adkins, pan over momentarily to filmmaker Ross Boyask who has made a name for himself among cult fans of the martial arts genre. UK titles like Left For Dead and Warrioress come to mind with the hopeful prospects of a sequel for the 2016 Mike Moeller action thriller, One Million Klicks. For now though, we bring our attention to Boyask’s latest prospect, formerly titled “The Executioner” and now iterated as the new movie Vengeance which began filming this week in London. Martial arts star Gary Daniels (Bloodmoon, Recoil, Tekken) is also starring with Diane Shorthouse and John Adams producing. When ex-Special Forces soldier turned professional mercenary, John Gold, hears that his former best friend Corporal Dan Mason, and Dan’s parents have been murdered, he heads to their home-town to find their killers. Gold […]

Screener Review: ANGELS (2012)

Lee B. Golden III

Director Wych Kaosayananda’s craft took quite a turn overseas in the years since landing his first major Hollywood motion picture, Ballistic: Ecks VS Sever. It was a crowning achievement and a sign of better things to come prior to a challenging post-production process, and a career that eventually pivoted back overseas in Asia where he would ultimately start anew with the 2012 thriller, Angels. Set in Thailand, Kaosayananda writes and directs with actors Dustin Nguyen and Sahajak Boonthanakit starring as Johnny and Peter, former CIA operatives of yesteryear with Peter now working as a Thai detective. Driven by an earlier incident, Peter has spent two decades working as Captain and heading the sex crimes division, a job that ultimately leads him to the body of Johnny’s daughter, Angel (Kristin Douglass). After convening with Johnny after many years apart to break the news, Johnny joins Peter and his partner and subordinate, […]

Gary Daniels Gets Ready To RUMBLE In A New Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

Following their previous work on last year’s action installment, Misfire, genre favorite, actor and martial artist Gary Daniels and filmmaker R. Ellis Frazier were already underway with their next in line, Rumble. It’s yet another entry into Daniels‘s screenfighting resumé as of late, now in the role of a aged fighter at the twilight of his MMA career, forced to battle his way through a line-up of underground fighters to save his kidnapped wife from the throes of a mysterious crimelord. The film is written by Benjamin Budd, and is currently making the rounds for the film at Cannes at the behest of the reps at Hannibal Pictures. That said, following a first trailer from late last year, Rumble is back with a second trailer to showcase what fans are in for, which should be nothing short of a story of layered with intrigue, intensity, and the usual assortment of […]

Gary Daniels Actioner, MISFIRE, Gets A Release Date And A New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Hannibal Pictures making its presence known in Canada between now and next week over at the Toronto International Film Festival. One project they’re including in their presentation this time around is the latest forthcoming action thriller release, Misfire, starring Gary Daniels as a Cole, a tough DEA agent who goes rogue and infiltrates a Mexican cartel boss after his journalist wife gets kidnapped. The film has already been making the rounds for its promotion with a flurry of trailers now available online, as well as a few impressive posters, including this one from the film’s international sales platform, Hannibal Pictures: RLJ Entertainment is finally releasing the film on North American DVD beginning October 21, 2014, and Hannibal has since unveiled a new trailer which you can now check out below. R. Ellis Frazier directed the film, and co-wrote the screenplay with Benjamin Budd. Daniels is joined by Vannessa Vasquez and Michael Greco along […]

The Body Count Rises In The New UK Trailer For ZERO TOLERANCE

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a little over half a year since director Wych Kaosayanada‘s long-awaited 2012 bilingual crime thriller, Angels, took new life as Zero Tolerance, starring Dustin Nguyen, Sahajak Boonthanikit and Gary Daniels. A few casting changes and reshoots this this time around helped gear the film toward a more action-oriented fanbase with the addition of martial arts action stars Kane Kosugi and Scott Adkins who were finally seen in the film’s first trailer back in May. This week, a new version of that same trailer is now online with some added subtitles in a few spots; It’s the same trailer, really. But the curiosity still stands as it’s been about two years since anyone outside of Thailand saw any version of this film, and Asian cinema fans are sure to appreciate the work here even moreso with the added action muscle in any capacity. SYNOPSIS: Zero Tolerance is a high-octane […]

Gary Daniels' 'Bullpen Fight Club' Gets A Name Change

Lee B. Golden III

While there’s nothing else major happening here, director R. Ellis Frazier‘s newest film underwent a name change from its predecessor, Bullpen Fight Club, to Rumble. It’s a more effective title, to be honest and sounds less generic of an offering as lead action star Gary Daniels sets the stage for one of seveal action thrillers lining up between now and the remainder of the year. SYNOPSIS: An aging and injured former MMA champ is forced back into a deadly Mexican underground fight circuit to save is girlfriend who is kidnapped by a mysterious cartel leader and criminal mastermind. With a pimp from Los Angeles extorting him and a Cop from Mexico City on the search for the infamous criminal mastermind, Delgado, David Goran finds himself deep in trouble in Mexico. As he fights his way out, he and the Mexico City Cop finally find out who is behind the infamous […]