joe taslim

THE FURIOUS: Edko/XYZ-Produced Actioner Sets Sail For Thailand, Xie Miao Leading Pan-Asian Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Production is currently underway for The Furious, a new Hong Kong-produced action thriller being shot in Thailand. Variety’s Patrick Frater cites producer Bill Kong’s (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Rise Of The Legend, Jet Li-starrer Fearless) attachment as financier and producer via Edko Films alongside XYZ Films. The cast includes China’s Xie Miao (Eye For An Eye 1 & 2, Jet Li’s The Enforcer), Joe Taslim (The Raid: Redemption, The Night Comes For Us), Thailand’s Jeeja Yanin (Chocolate, Triple Threat), Yang Enyu (Eye For An Eye 2) and Yayan Ruhian (The Raid franchise, Boy Kills World). International action and stunt stalwart Kenji Tanigaki (Dennis Law’s Fatal Contact, Keishi Otomo’s Rurouni Kenshin franchise, Donnie Yen’s Sakra, Soi Cheang’s Walled-In: Twilight Of The Warriors) directing. When his daughter is snatched off the street, simple tradesman Konggu (Xie) fights his way through a complex web of criminals in a frantic attempt to win her back […]

image_editor_output_image683784779-1693067355614

Timo Tjahjanto Clarifies Post With THE NIGHT COMES FOR US Star Joe Taslim: ‘We’re Looking For Another Feature To Collaborate On’

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto took to X on Saturday to confirm plans to collaborate once again with actor, Joe Taslim. The post came a day following Tjahjanto, applying his usual ambiguity, posted a photo of himself with the actor on the same platform with a caption that read, “Chapter 2.”. The vague text led many to believe or hope that the initial post meant the possible development of a sequel to the hit Netflix thriller, The Night Comes For Us. Tjahjanto updated the post in a new quote-post, stating “We’re just looking for another feature to collaborate on, Chapter 2 in Taslim x Tjahjanto shenanigan,” The director added, “I love this kid, he’s a huge part of why I’m still working today, hooked me up with the right people when I was rock bottom & trusted me to keep on pushing with The Night.” The action packed thriller released in 2018 […]

Joe Taslim in WARRIOR (Credit: David Bloomer)

WARRIOR – Season 3, Episode 10 – Where We Go From Here

50 years ago, Bruce Lee left a legacy for the whole world. His philosophies, his films and his views on martial arts. Before “Kung Fu” was conceived, he pitched “Warrior” and the execs said the audience is not ready fora Chinese lead. Asians in media have dealt with playing the stereotypes and relegated to just jokes or offensive caricatures and still to this day. The world is still opening up and accepting films like “Infernal Affairs”, “Oldboy” and “Parasite.” Finally making “Crazy Rich Asians”, “Joyride”, “Gook”, “Minari” and winning best film for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”. Asian representation… no representation does matter, our stories and our people have something to say and it’s time to be heard. It was a long 3 years, and here we are, the season 3 finale of “Warrior”. Our cold open starts with the first loose end, Mai Ling confronting Eliza for having her arrested. […]

WarriorSeasomThreeeFirstLook

WARRIOR – Season 3: Episode 1 Review – A Hard Hitting Return

On December 4th, 2020, it was the last time we saw Warrior grace our TV screens and we wanted more. Though Cinemax ceased all its original programming and the show was left in limbo. In January 2021, HBO Max picked up both seasons and streamed it for a new audience, even campaigning their support of the representation the series presents. In April 2021, Shannon Lee, the cast and crew announced they are back. With excitement and a victorious smile from the cast, crew and fans around the world, “Warrior” is coming back for season 3. In July 2022 to October 2022, filming started and completed with cast of old and new uniting to bring us what we have been waiting for. Let’s see if I can do this again. “Exactly the wrong time to get proud, now is the time to adapt or die.” – Wang Chao It’s been a […]

WAR_301_072022_DB_0148_r[2]

WARRIOR: Enjoy This Behind-The-Scenes Fight Choreo Tease With Andrew Koji And Joe Taslim

Lee B. Golden III

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hitz International (@hitzinternational) I’m only leaving this here because I’m excited as all hell for the June 29 premiere of the third season of Warrior on Max. I also rarely share any behind-the-scenes stuff, and so given how long and hard fought this new season was to see going as efforted by the fans a few years ago and with the premiere just weeks away, I’m simply stoked. The teaser is already online which you can view here. Otherwise, check out Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim in a new Instagram post above rehearsing their long-awaited reunion in the martial arena come this summer.

WAR_301_072022_DB_0148_r[2]

WARRIOR Hints At Round Three For Andrew Koji And Joe Taslim In Season Three Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

In the wake of the race riots that upended Chinatown in season two, Mai Ling uses her government connections to consolidate power, while Ah Sahm and the Hop Wei must find new ways to survive. I actually started a little recap series about Warrior a month or so ago and wanted to continue but I ultimately got a bit overloaded with tasks and other work. The good news is that Season 3 now has a teaser ahead of two episode premiere on June 29, ripe with footage hinting at a third-round bout between Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim, as well as some returning and new faces in the mix, Olivia Cheng, Dean Jagger, Hoon Lee and Mark Dacascos to name a few. Check it out below, and sub to Max ahead of its May 23 launch! Lead image: David Bloomer/Max

THE SWORDSMAN-Well Go USA-Korean action films-1340x754-6

THE SWORDSMAN Review: Choi Jae-Hoon’s Feature Debut Sets The Stage For Jang Hyuk’s Rising Starpower

Lee B. Golden III

2022 has been a banner year for actor Jang Hyuk who just recently toured his latest action thriller, Choi Jae-hoon’s The Killer, in Los Angeles, as well as in New York City where he donned his best charm upon receiving the Daniel A. Craft award for Excellence In Action Cinema at the New York Asian Film Festival last month. In good company, Jang and his team also managed to bring along another celebrated title to mark the occasion at the NYAFF with a screening of Choi’s 2020 feature debut, The Swordsman. Choi garnered a few notches on his belt in the field of art direction and production design on films like Detective Mr. Gong, 2007’s The Cut and Kim Cheol-han’s Outlaw in 2010. I haven’t seen these films yet myself, but they’re worth highlighting for those who may still be new to Choi and his work, particularly as he becomes […]

mkfumb1

Mortal Kombat (2021) Review – Fumbling At The Controls

The year is 1992 and it’s a Saturday. I’m thirteen years old and, like most weekends during that time in my life, I’m at the mall. When I wasn’t at the food court horsing around with my friends, or rummaging through the shelves of movies at the music store, I was at the arcade. The arcade was typical of the time period- dimly lit with only the glow from the various machines adding any real illumination to the darken amusement-filled space. It was always crowded and noisy, electronic boops and beeps mixing with loud laugher and even louder conversations as people crowded around the various arcade cabinets. On this particular day the crowd seemed denser, the laughter and excited chatter even louder. Something was happening. I worked my way through the people and caught a glimpse of what the commotion was all about- there was a large crowd packed tightly […]

THE SWORDSMAN Swings For The UK This May

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone within reach of Trincity CineAsia’s distribution map these days can certainly expect something fun to watch in May with the release of Choi Jae-hoon’s period actioner, The Swordsman. Jang Hyuk leads the based-on-a-true-story sword thriller which centers on Tae-yul, a 17th century sword progeny rendered reclusive following the residual effects of an injury he sustained in a failed effort to prevent the downfall of the 15th king Gwanghae. After years of living in the mountains with daughter Tae-ok, Tae-yul soon finds himself thrust into the upheaval of the Ming-Qing transition, and back into battle when Tae-ok, after vying for a position in a noble family to help pay for Tae-yul’s eye treatment, is taken by Qing slave traders, led by the vicious Lord Gurutai (Joe Taslim). The film also stars Kim Hyun-soo and Jeong Man-sik, and will release in the UK on DVD & Digital from May 17, and […]

THE SWORDSMAN: Win A Copy Of The Bladed Period Action Epic From Well Go USA

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA is currently rolling out some very choice titles from its library to start the year, one of which includes The Swordsman which introduces actors Jang Hyuk (Empire Of Lust), Kim Hyeon-soo (Be With You), Joe Taslim (The Raid: Redemption, Fast & Furious 6), Jeong Man-sik (Beasts Clawing at Straws), Lee Na-kyung (Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite) and Lee Min-hyuk (A Love to Kill). The film is proudly getting a release very soon on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital on February 12, and we’re giving away two copies for those who aren’t blinded by a little trivia: The Swordsman action director, Hong Eui-jeong, shares the same credit on a 2014 movie that earned its lead star four Best Actor wins within multiple awards and nominations two years in a row. Name the actor AND the movie. Re-read that question VERY carefully, and if you’re confident, shoot the answer over […]

THE SWORDSMAN Unsheathes With A Vengeance In February From Well Go USA

Lee B. Golden III

Choi Jae-hoon’s newest period actioner, The Swordsman, took quite a while to arrive before reaching a local release a few months ago. Alas, leave it to Well Go USA to take the mantle with the smartest choice ever of acquiring a film prominently headlined by Volcano High and Empire Of Lust star Jang Hyuk, and The Raid and The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim. What’s more is the film is set for a Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD release beginning February 16 and for that, an official trailer was released by the company as well as official stills and key art. As for the meat and potatoes, well, Hyuk stars as Tae-yool, billed as Joseon’s greatest swordsman to the king’s command, who is blinded during a coup in a failed effort to prevent the King’s downfall. He then exiles into the mountains to live with his only daughter, Tae-ok, […]

WARRIOR Season Two Launch: The Battlefield Gets A Little Bigger, As Does The Bodycount

Lee B. Golden III

The first season of Cinemax’s hit series, Warrior, premiered last April to the benefit of a highly thrilled viewing audience, introducing martial arts fans to a contemporary vision of a kung fu Western once birthed in the mind of film legend, Bruce Lee. Host to an epic, layered world of triads, corrupt politicians and police caught in the middle in the battleground of 1870s San Francisco, that legacy continued with the second season premiere reintroducing Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), brought back into the throes of the Hop Wei gang after redeeming himself post-defeat at the hands of Long Zii enforcer, Li Yong (Joe Taslim). Pit fighting at the Barbary Coast where he befriends ringleader Rosalita Vega (Maria Elena Laas), Ah Sahm is left coming to terms with his defeat on his own accord. In addition, there’s also the betrayal and abandonment of being ostracized earlier on by Hop Wei boss, […]

THE SWORDSMAN Unsheathes Its First Teaser With Jang Hyuk And Joe Taslim

THE SWORDSMAN Unsheathes Its First Teaser With Jang Hyuk And Joe Taslim

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been three years since production launched for Choi Jae-hoon’s feature directing debut, The Swordsman. The film is finally set to release in Korea on September 17 and judging by the first official teaser trailer, the film looks like it’ll be worth the wait! The Swordsman takes place after the dethronement of Gwanghaegun, leaving Joseon in chaos amid the conflict between the Ming and Qing Dynasty. When his daughter, Tae Ok (Kim Hyun-Soo) is kidnapped by the subordinates of the imperial Qing family’s best warrior, Gurutai (Joe Taslim), vanished, half-blind swordsman Tae-yeul (Jang Hyuk) re-emerges and picks up the sword once more to confront the army, led by a man who vows to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty. The film also stars Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Na-Kyung, Lee Min-Hyuk, Jang Hyun-Sung, Kim Yun-Tae and Choi Jin-Ho.

Joe Taslim to play Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat

MORTAL KOMBAT: Joe Taslim Covets The Role Of Sub-Zero

Lee B. Golden III

The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim is first on the roster to be cast for Simon McQuoid’s upcoming Mortal Kombat film as key character, Sub-Zero. Production is officially slated to kick off later this year in South Australia. Movement on the film comes years since New Line launched its own live-action films in 1995 and 1997, followed by a TV series, an animated series, and a twebseries from Warner Bros. Digital shepherded by Kevin Tancharoen and Garrett Warren. James Wan is producing with Todd Garner, and with Larry Kasanoff, E. Bennett Walsh, Michael Clear and Sean Robins exec producing. Greg Russo penned the script based on the hit 1992 game which has maintained its shelf life to date with new installments. Taslim, best known for successes in film in television like The Raid franchise, Furious 6 and season two-bound Cinemax series, Warrior, is the latest actor to don […]

HIT & RUN Trailer: Joe Taslim’s New Indonesian Action Comedy Delivers Heavy-Hitting Thrills With A Dose Of Screwball Laughs

Lee B. Golden III

Action star Joe Taslim is having an incredible run the last eight years since 2011 crime hit, The Raid. It’s brought him an even bigger spotlight on the world stage in film and TV and with hits like Furious 6, The Night Comes For Us and his current outing in Cinemax series, Warrior, Skakmat director Ody C. Harahap’s new action comedy, Hit N Run, now looks to add to the fan hype. Well on the way to an Indonesian release in June, we have an official trailer delivering the goods once more with Taslim front and center as Tegar, a maverick celebrity cop used to acting alone on assignments. When a drug raid goes awry, he’ll reluctantly turn to the aid of his friends to help bring down the elusive drug operation, including a notorious foe newly escaped from prison. Next to the long-awaited reunion for Taslim opposite action star […]

HIT & RUN Looks Like It’ll Be A Blast In The Official Poster

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Joe Taslim‘s proliferation this week is at its most timely. His co-starring role kicks off on Cinemax with the Friday premiere of Bruce Lee-inspired series, Warrior, while the action star’s lead Indonesian theatrical debut in upcoming action comedy, Hit & Run, finally takes off this summer. Skakmat director Ody C. Harahap directs with Taslim front and center as Tegar, a celebrity cop whose mission to arrest a drug lord goes awry. Among the cast are Tatjana Saphira and Jefri Nichol while the pièce de résistance may well be the reunion of Taslim with Yayan Ruhian nearly a decade since tearing each other apart in director Gareth Evans’ blistering action pic, The Raid. Hit & Run also made a splash at Filmart with CJ Entertainment repping world sales rights, so with any luck we’ll see what comes of it. The film opens locally on June 4, as indicated on the […]

WARRIOR Official Season One Trailer: ‘Somebody Has To Fight Back!’

Lee B. Golden III

As it stands, the future couldn’t be brighter for the fate of martial arts cinema on television. With Into The Badlands making its exit from AMC in a few weeks, Cinemax is officially next in line with its own roster led by breakout actor Andrew Koji in the new series, Warrior, born and bread from the mind of the late Bruce Lee and re-birthed through the auspices of daughter Shannon Lee, and creators Justin Lin’s Perfect Storm and Jonathan Tropper’s Tropper Ink. Warrior is a gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century. The series follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who immigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs (Chinese organized crime family). Also starring are Kieran Bew, Olivia Cheng, Dianne […]

Timo Tjahjanto’s THE NIGHT COMES FOR US: A Story Of Frenetic Poetry

Orson Welles said of friendship that, through it, we get to create the illusion that we are not alone. He said of women that through them men become civilized. I wonder what he would have thought of The Night Comes For Us, a film that illustrates friendship (both its value and fragility) through a harsh, deconstructive lens, and presents a young girl as the catalyst for its protagonist’s quest to civilize himself, that is, to regain his civility after a career of criminality and murder. Ito, played by Joe Taslim, is the star of the picture, a gangland veteran from the streets of Jakarta who progressed from here to become an enforcer for the East Asian Triad. Ito, at the film’s opening, has experienced a sudden change of heart -or re-evaluation of his life- when met by the pleading eyes of a young girl (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) who just witnessed […]

HIT N RUN: ‘The Raid’ Stars Emerge In First Look Photos From ‘Skakmat’ Director’s New Indonesian Action Comedy

Lee B. Golden III

Following along on actor Joe Taslim‘s Instagram feed likely brought about some gems worth taking note of for his career post-Netflix’s release of The Night Comes For Us. With any luck, director Timo Tjahjanto’s world-building affairs from that the blood-drenched action thriller will continue onward, while Taslim persists with other projects – namely the new action comedy, Hit N Run, from director Ody C. Harahap. As The Jakarta Post notes, the new movie hails from Screenplay Films and signals Taslim’s big screen debut playing Tegar, “a heroic police officer who has to collaborate with his friends to take down an all-powerful crime lord”. Also starring are Tatjana Saphira and Jefri Nichol, as well as actor and martial arts star Yayan Ruhian in reunion with Taslim since their blistering fight performance in Gareth Huw Evans’ The Raid. This also plays into The Raid star Iko Uwais’ own proliferation as a renowned […]

THE SWORDSMAN First Look Teases A Glimpse At Jang Hyuk And Joe Taslim

Lee B. Golden III

If you’re still on that Joe Taslim swag after The Night Comes For Us, be sure to look out for him in The Swordsman opening next year. Volcano High star Jang Hyuk leads the cast front and center, joined by Taslim and reuniting with fellow Ordinary Person cohort, Rampant co-star Jeong Man-sik. Tae-yeul (JANG Hyeok), a swordsman in his thirties goes out to find his only daughter after losing one of his eyes. MIN Seung-ho(JEONG Man-sik), The Joseon Dynasty’s best swordsman chooses an ordinary simple life after perceiving the transient nature of power. Gurutai (JOE Taslim), the best swordsman in Qing Dynasty aspires to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty. There’s no release date yet for this latest outing from feature debut director Choi Jae-Hoon who previously served in the art departments for Pang Eun-jin’s Princess Aurora and Gong Jeong-shik’s Detective Mr. Gong. The film hails from Opus […]