Kickboxer Vengeance

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A Case For Better KICKBOXER Movies: ENOUGH ALREADY! (Reprint)

What I will do is give it to you straight while the last few years of this franchise is painfully fresh in my head as we cheer on the career fruition of its star, Alain Moussi. I like the prospects of seeing him on screen, but fuck it. These Kickboxer movies suck. Enter the elusive John Stockwell who came aboard to helm the 2016 reboot based on the 1989 JCVD revenge thriller. The reboot, dubbed Vengeance, tries to build off of the original and, in essence, segues into a world-building affair brimming with martial arts and muscle as Kurt Sloan trains to defeat the man who murdered his brother in an illegal underground fight in Thailand. Fast forward through the cheddar and cheese of seeing Sloan coconut his way to vengeance with VD waxing strategic in between and we get to the latest, Retaliation. Dimitri Logothetis sits at the helm […]

A Case For Better KICKBOXER Movies: Enough Already

Lee B. Golden III

I’m not gonna bother going into a long, watered-down analysis about the rebooted Kickboxer franchise… Nor am I going to tolerate excuses about how hard it is to make physically demanding, fight heavy action films. That is simply a given. What I will do is give it to you straight while the last few years of this franchise is painfully fresh in my head as we cheer on the career fruition of its star, Alain Moussi. I like the prospects of seeing him on screen, but fuck it. These Kickboxer movies suck. Enter the elusive John Stockwell who came aboard to helm the 2016 reboot based on the 1989 JCVD revenge thriller. The reboot, dubbed Vengeance, tries to build off of the original and, in essence, segues into a world-building affair brimming with martial arts and muscle as Kurt Sloan trains to defeat the man who murdered his brother in […]

FIVE-A-DAY ROUND UP XIII: The Commuter, Hard Powder, Kickboxer: Retaliation, Sinners And Saints: Vengeance, And Incoming!

Lee B. Golden III

Liam Neeson starts it all off today with a look at The Commuter. By now a lot of us are already familiarized with the new contained action thriller seeing Neeson’s latest team-up with Jaume Collet-Serra about a man forced to play a dangerous game on a high-speed train. As unassuming as she is, Vera Farmiga stars as our villain this time around and with a release date now set for January 12 and 19 in the U.S. and U.K. respectively. Hans Petter Moland sets things two for two today with a look at Hard Powder also starring Liam Neeson. Taking cues from his own 2014 crime comedy about a humble snowplow driver who sets out to investigate his son’s murder only to offset a turf war between two gangs, a release date remains pending while Neeson is joined by Emmy Rossum, Julia Jones, Tom Bateman and William Forsythe. The remake […]

Blu-Ray Review: John Stockwell’s KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Is A Snooze Without The Lose

The Business: The best thing about kick-ass fight scenes is they never get old—unless they do, of course. But hey, this is Kickboxer, the movie that defined the kick-ass, no holds barred ass-kicking. Lots of fight scenes. More than a lot. And then even more than that. By my estimate the film is 55% fight scene, 25% training montage, and (a meek) 20% story. I’m getting ahead of myself, though. Kickboxer: Vengeance is a reboot of the wildly successful 1989 Jean-Claude Van Damme action flick, Kickboxer. The L.A. Times called it “egregiously dull,” joining with every other major publication in vilifying the movie. Well, despite this, it went on to gross over $14.5 million on a $2.5 million budget. I do not believe Van Damme went on to say, “C’est la vie” – I imagine more of a string of French expletives followed by some equally French laughter. Point being, in […]

KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Brings The Fight Home On Blu-Ray And U.S. DVD On November 8

Lee B. Golden III

A reboot of the 1989 martial arts classic, Kickboxer, wasn’t always an appealing idea to all. Needless to say, the result has proven adequate and entertaining for many a Jean-Claude Van Damme fan whose remergence in John Stockwell’s latest reboot fanfare, Kickboxer: Vengeance, boasts plentiful entertainment and martial arts action. Actor and martial artist Alain Moussi makes his feature-length debut in what is currently primed for a trilogy with the second, Kickboxer: Retaliation, already wrapped and in tow with a release pending. Moussi’s recent appearance in the go90 miniseries, Street Fighter: Resurrection, was but a mere, albeit fruitful and energizing sampling of Moussi in his transition from stunt performance to lead acting roles and Kickboxer: Vengeance surely gives him some shining moments next to his legendary co-star. You can read more about it in James Couche’s review of the film as well as his interview with Moussi while you plot […]

KICKBOXER: SYNDICATE Has Been Announced As The Third In The New Reboot Trilogy

Lee B. Golden III

Wednesday evening saw the red-carpet premiere of John Stockwell’s latest, Kickboxer: Vengance at Westwood’s iPic theater in California, and to an esteemed effect with mostly positive reviews in its wake. As of then and on the eve of its theatrical and digital release, just a little bit more info came to light regarding the future of the newly rebooted trilogy based on the 1989 martial arts classic. According to Variety, producer Rob Hickman has announced the title of the third film in tow will be Kickboxer: Syndicate. No casting details are available as of yet while it is inherent that the film will undoubtedly see actor and martial artist Alain Moussi reprise the revived role of Kurt Sloane, the protagonist previously portrayed by the film’s original star, Jean-Claude Van Damme who also joins the reboot trilogy as Sloane’s reclusive martial arts mentor. Kickboxer: Vengance opens this weekend in theaters and […]

WELCOME TO THE CLUB: An Interview With KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Star Alain Moussi

Imagine that you were called upon to remake one of the most formative works of your youth. Something that ultimately changed the trajectory of your entire life. Now imagine you were tasked with fighting the good fight to rejuvenate the dormant genre that gave birth to it. That was the position that actor/stunt performer Alain Moussi found himself in when he was cast in John Stockwell’s reboot of the Mark DiSalle/David Worth-directed action classic, Kickboxer. Moussi speaks of the experience with boundless energy and enthusiasm. From making the transition into leading man status to going toe-to-toe on screen with the man who inspired him to take up martial arts, Moussi is living some kind of dream… And loving every minute of it. James Couche: Could you talk about making the transition from stunt performer to leading actor? Alain Moussi: It’s definitely a challenge. I’ve doubled multiple leads. I’ve doubled Henry […]

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REVIEW: ‘Kickboxer’ Returns With A ‘VENGEANCE’

Remakes are a dime a dozen in 2016. Oftentimes, a studio will grave-rob a long dorment franchise and forcibly modernize it so that they can sell the name recognition while also trying to appeal to modern audiences. Oftentimes, this means reducing the goofy/dated charm of the original and injecting an unhealthy dose of gritty realism to make it feel more “modern”; results may vary. Somehow, John Stockwell’s Kickboxer: Vengeance dodges this pitfall and spin kicks it in its cynical face. It somehow manages to be the 2016 equivalent of the 1991 original. Its level of grittiness is comparable to Kickboxer’s early-90s “grittiness” while maintaining the lighter tone that helped make the original so entertaining. The film opens in unfamiliar territory, with Kurt Sloan (Alain Moussi) seeking to learn Muay Thai from the dangerously stoic Tong Po (Dave Bautista). It hits the ground running when Sloan is forced to fight for his […]

Go Ringside With These Brutal New KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Stills!

Lee B. Golden III

Promotion is in full-swing for director John Stockwell’s Kickboxer: Vengeance which opens on September 2 from RLJ Entertainment. Martial artist Alain Moussi tops the billboard making his feature length debut from stuntman to full-fledged actor, taking the reigns from its original 1989 predecessor’s star, as well as the new film’s legendary co-star, action star Jean-Claude Van Damme! SYNOPSIS: After his brother is brutally killed by the fighter Tong Po (Dave Bautista), Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) travels to Thailand and trains with the legendary Master Durand (Jean-Claude Van Damme) to avenge his brother’s death. Also starting are late action star Darren Shahlavi, Gina Carano and Sara Malakul Lane with Georges St. Pierre, T.J. Storm, Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez. RLJ Entertainment has released new stills from the movie which you can view below! View post on imgur.com

KICKBOXER: VENGENACE Breaks Out The Broken Glass In The First Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and martial artist Alain Moussi sort of came out of nowhere following his career in stunts with credits like Warcraft and X-Men: Apocalypse. That said, attaining the lead in a feature-length action flick, particularly the remake of a Hollywood action classic like Kickboxer is a pretty huge step forward and it appears Moussi himself has earned a promising chance to deliver with not just one film, but an entire threelquel reboot. Enter John Stockwell who has since owned up to his take with the first film in the roster, Kickboxer: Vengeance, featuring the likes of Dave Bautista and Georges St. Pierre along with Gina Carano and late action star Darren Shahlavi. Also starring is action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme who made the first film the memorable martial arts hit film it is today, now in the role of Durand, a character similar in caliber to that of actor Dennis […]

KICKBOXER: RETALIATION Now Filming, UFC’s Paige VanZant Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Until otherwise noted, August 19 is the expected release date of director John Stockwell’s Kickboxer: Vengeance from RLJ Entertainment. In the meantime, you can still count on there being a sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation, following its announcement earlier this year with actor and martial artist Alain Moussi returning to star following his recent online run in the currently U.S.-exclusive digital series, Street Fighter: Resurrection. With that in mind and believe it or not, production is already under way in Los Angeles with an expected return to Asia in June, and the word now is that the UFC’s 8th ranked Strawweight division fighter Paige VanZant will be starring in the film as Gamon, a 26-year old with high level fighter and markswoman with some strong criminal connections. Deadline reports her casting was made at the behest of the film’s producers following her most recent appearance on ABC series Dancing With The Stars. […]

RLJ Entertainment Will Release KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Later This Year!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a long wait for news on John Stockwell’s Kickboxer: Vengenace. Gladly however, the wait is finally over and the word is out with official news on the film and its release and with a new still. We’ll have more info in the months ahead, of course while a recently-announced sequel slowly begins taking shape. In the meantime, now that you’ve just seen actor and martial artist Alain Moussi open in Street Fighter: Resurrection, get ready for his feature debut in the remake of a martial arts action classic! RLJ ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES “KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE” Jean-Claude Van Damme Returns to Star in the Reboot of the Cult Classic LOS ANGELES, March 15, 2016 – RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) has acquired all U.S. rights to the highly anticipated KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE. Co-Written by Dimitri Logothetis (Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers) and Jim McGrath and directed by John Stockwell (In the Blood, Blue Crush), the […]

KICKBOXER: RETALIATION Gets A New Villain And Start Date

Lee B. Golden III

Courtesy of Acme Rocket Fuel Director John Stockwell’s Kickboxer: Vengeance has yet to release a full teaser, trailer, or even a release date for the upcoming reboot of the 1990 classic tournamemt action thriller. But, I digress, as this doesn’t seem to be stopping Acme Rocket Fuel and Our House Films from moving forward with its sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation, with the film now rolling into pre-production as per its new artwork below! Martial artist and stuntman Alain Moussi who will be debuting as actor in the first film will reprise his role as Kurt Sloan with action star Jean-Claude Van Damme back once more as Durand, and this time they’re taking on Hafthor Julius Björnsson, formerly of Game Of Thrones fame. Dimitri Logothetis is co-writing the film, as well as producing and sitting in as director. Rob Hickman, who is further producing the franchise, shared his own excitement for the […]

Alain Moussi Kicks Off The New Teaser Poster For KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE

Lee B. Golden III

Photo: Source With news and updates slow to pass for the upcoming martial arts reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, I suppose we’ll take what we can get at this point. The film is definitely on par for arrival this year with the goal of attaining a sequel with martial artist and stunt performer Alain Moussi making his acting debut opposite Dave Bautista in the first film. For this, we have a new promotional teaser poster which you can below. Written by Dimitri Logothetis and Jim McGrath and directed by John Stockwell (In The Blood), Moussi stars as “Kurt Sloane”, a fighter out to avenge his brother’s death at the deadly hands and knees of of the relentless “Tong Po”, played by Batista. Action superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme is back long from leading the 1989 classic, now starring as Sloane’s mentor, “Durand”, with Sara Malakul Lane, Georges St. Pierre, Gina Carano, the late […]

FIVE A DAY: Ring In The New Year With These Heavy Hitters!

Lee B. Golden III

At long last, we’ve come to the last day of 2015 and we have ten more titles to list by Friday. Once more, quite a few of these are just here as worthy reminders as some of these titles tend to fall into obscurity until something major happens, so I’m glad to help keep the attention going for these and rest assured, I’ll be tracking other titles as always. So, here is the next slate of my Five-A-Day round-up! Out of all the people you could list as high profile in martial arts cinema, in many ways actor and filmmaker Michael Jai White clearly falls in that category. For this, the first title I want to list in that regard is, what was once a surprise to me at the time, his addition to Christian Sesma’s Vigilante Diaries starring Paul Sloan, Quinton Jackson and Jay Mewes. The film spawned as […]

Get A Kick Out Of The New Teaser For KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE!

Lee B. Golden III

With the promise of a sequel already in play, director John Stockwell‘s latest induction into the reboot category with Kickboxer: Vengeance is on deck for a release in 2016. The film is still in post production with the forthcoming acting debut of stuntman and martial artist Alain Moussi who reprises the role of Kurt Sloan, as previously legendary film star Jean-Claude Van Damme who joins in as the master who trains Kurt to avenge his brother’s death at the hands and knees of the vicious Muay Thai fighter, Tong Po, now played by Dave Bautista. The film is the first project to come for Acme Rocket Fuel who will be joined Headmon Entertainment in producing and financing the sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation, which was announced last week. In the meantime, the jury is still out on how this one will bode, and at any rate will serve a notable and heartfelt […]

KICKBOXER: RETALIATION To Follow Suit For Moussi's 'Vengeance'

Lee B. Golden III

Well the jury is still out on how In The Blood helmer John Stockwell’s latest, Kickboxer: Vengenace will bode for fans of the classic martial arts franchise. However, that hasn’t staved off any expectations of there being a sequel with debut actor Alain Moussi posting about it via Facebook. And so the word is out now with Radar Pictures developing Kickboxer: Retaliation, with Moussi likely to return to star whilst we await official information in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, the first film is on the way with a release date to be announced, and time will tell if this one will do the forthcoming sequel justice. If you’ve seen the 1989 film then you already know the skinny. If not, in sum, it’s Moussi in the role of Kurt Sloane (formerly played by action star Jean-Claude Van Damme) who sets out to Thailand to avenge his […]

Tong Po Takes Center Ring In New Photos From KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE

Lee B. Golden III

Director John Stockwell’s latest, Kickboxer: Vengeance, is currently undergoing a slow promotional rollout with a few stills and there’s no telling when this will lead to a teaser, but this does signal that things are finally happening. Once more, leave it to stuntman and martial artist Alain Moussi to topline in this, his acting debut opposite Spectre co-star Dave Bautista in a remake of the 1989 David Worth classic, Kickboxer, which sees our own Kurt Sloan journeying out to Thailand to gain the skills he needs to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of the vicious Tong Po. It was then that actor Mohammed Qissi portrayed the role masterfully, and now that task is handed over to Bautista whose own new photos are going viral in a few promo stills this month. Take a look below: Sarah Malakul Lane, Gina Carano and Georges St. Pierre also star ahead of […]

Get A Look At Tong Po And The Sloane Brothers In A New KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE Set Pic

Lee B. Golden III

If there was ever a more poignant moment for martial arts fans, it would be in view of the latest set photo taken last year upon the U.S. segment of production for In The Blood helmer John Stockwell‘s new film, Kickboxer: Vengeance. Stuntman and martial artist Alain Moussi makes his acting debut in the film and shared a new set photo this week alongside actor Dave Bautista resurrecting the role of iconic villain, Tong Po, with the latest look at late actor Darren Shahlavi since his untimely death back in January. Shahlavi and Moussi reprise the respective roles of Eric and Kurt Sloane, rebooting the 1989 tornament thriller with its original star, Jean-Claude Van Damme now filling in Dennis Chan’s shoes as the mentor who that helps train Kurt to avenge the death of his brother, Eric, at the hands of the villainous Tong Po, played by Bautista. Sara Malakul […]

NOLA 'Kickboxer' Crew Unpaid, Crew Member Says 'Producers Didn't Have The Money'

Lee B. Golden III

The forthcoming remake of director John Stockwell‘s newly titled Kickboxer: Vengeance remake is one of the most hyped about films going into the new year. Sadly, the film is not without its share of roadbumps, especially pertaining to previous unfortunate news of its casting and crewing as production didn’t start until three months after its initial September date. Now, the word is that up to 200 people and their families in New Orleans, Louisiana have been affected after 150 crew members, mostly local workers, were left unpaid, based on a new report by Katherine Sayre, lead business reporter at Nola.com | The Times Picayune. Crew members initially refused go start work on the film’s last day of its New Orleans shoot on December 13 after learning their paychecks wouldn’t arrive as they expected, prompting producers to intervene with the promise of payment delivery last Tuesday. Among several people, Sayre’s report […]