Andrzej Bartkowiak’s MAXIMUM IMPACT Settles For The Shameless Minimum
Andrzej Bartkowiak’s MAXIMUM IMPACT stars Alexander Nevsky, Kelly Hu and Mark Dacascos and opens on September 27.
mark dacascos
Netflix’s WU ASSASSINS Adds Juju Chan and Mark Dacascos
Netflix has cast Juju Chan and Mark Dacascos to its cadre of martial arts badasses for Netflix series WU ASSASSINS starring Iko Uwais
MAXIMUM IMPACT: It’s Dacascos V. Nevsky In The Official U.S. Trailer
Unified Pictures has unveiled the official U.S. trailer for Andrzej Bartkowiak’s new action thriller, MAXIMUM IMPACT, opening this Fall.
Alexander Nevsky Delivers MAXIMUM IMPACT This Fall
Actor, former Mr. Universe and film multihyphenate Alexander Nevsky (HFPA, Russia) is finally on deck to bring Hollywood Storm-produced action comedy Maximum Impact to theaters. Unified Pictures has officially acquired North American rights to the film joining Nevsky with screenwriter Ross LaManna (Rush Hour) and director Andrzej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die). When the granddaughter of the US Secretary of the State is kidnapped in Moscow, an agent of the Federal Security Service of Russia (Alexander Nevsky) and the US Secret Service are forced to pull aside their differences and work together to prevent a full-scale international crisis. The news comes in the wake of updates highlighting Nevsky’s next reception to be had at the 14th Action On Film Festival where Nevsky will screen the film upon claiming its 2018 Breakout Action Star Award. Maximum Impact then opens from Unified Pictures in select theaters on September 28 prior to On Demand, […]
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER THREE Adds Halle Berry, Mark Dacascos, Anjelica Huston And More!
The May 17, 2019 release of John Wick: Chapter Three pretty much has everyone engaged losing their collective skulls at the moment. Production is already underway and confirming previous rumors of late is actress Halle Berry asserting her place in the cast. Thus, she’ll be joining in with a lot for the film’s returning cast members, in addition to a wave of new names totaling actors Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick all reprising their roles, and with actresses Asia Kate Dillon and Anjelica Huston, and actors Mark Dacascos and Jason Mantzoukas to the cast. The production has released cast cards with the roles all respective to the performers listed for whom Chad Stahelski will direct for Lionsgate for the production’s remaining duration. Check it all out below and stay tuned, because I’m ready for more surprises! JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM Cast
Sony Officially Releases SHOWDOWN IN MANILA On DVD, Streams On Netflix In April
Mark Dacascos’s directorial debut, Showdown In Manila has finished its theatrical run and is officially inching closer to its homebound release. The ensemble action thriller headlining action star Alexander Nevsky with Casper Van Dien and actress Tia Carrere is officially readying a DVD release that kicks off today, Tuesday March 6, with a Netflix rollout commencing sometime in April. Private detectives Nick and Charlie live and work in Manila. A murder investigation leads them to the jungle camp of an international terrorist called The Wrath. Not trusting the police, Nick and Charlie assembly a team of daredevils to walk straight into the Wrath’s lair and fight an army of his goons. As far as all-starrers go, contributor James Couche and I have had our opinions on this one and we still stand by them. Nonetheless, it also comes with the fact that the film was a hit overseas and there […]
A Case For Better Action Movies: Mark Dacascos’s SHOWDOWN IN MANILA Fights For 80s Ensemble Action Glory, Loses
Star bodybuilder, journalist, author and crossover film producer and action star Alexander Nevsky refuses to be pigeonholed into playing the stereotypical Russian bad guy in movies. This is a campaign he’s been on for the better part of the last twenty years or so in the course of his growing film career and it’s a worthy effort to pursue in an industry rife with a constant need for change and improvement in many ways. Characteristically, that fact plays well into filmic vision and direction despite the cult fondness of a genre or a given period of cinema. Nevsky’s latest lead role in the new ensemble action thriller, Showdown In Manila, makes for a worthwhile case in point as we approach its upcoming North American release from ITN Distribution. Granted, Nevsky’s screen presence isn’t the most weighted in drama, while one can argue in favor of his ability to tell stories […]
CINEMATIC ACTION DIPLOMAT: A Conversation With Alexander Nevsky
ITN Distribution In a perfect world, a man like Alexander Nevsky would need no introduction. Often referred to as the “Russian Schwarzenegger”, the 6′ 6” bodybuilder and fitness author has been a cinematic force to be reckoned with since writing, producing and starring in the 2004 actioner Moscow Heat. Since then, he’s grown exponentially as a filmmaker and cinematic diplomat with a series of action extravaganzas; all possessing strong themes of international cooperation and understanding (along with a healthy dose of action and explosions). Coming off of his directorial debut in the 2014 thriller Black Rose, he’s back as the producer and star of Showdown in Manila; a throwback action film from first-time director Mark Dacascos. Film Combat Syndicate: Hello Alexander! It’s good to finally talk to you! Alexander Nevsky: Hello James. Let me tell you something… Film Combat Syndicate was supporting me and my films long before I started […]
SHOWDOWN IN MANILA: Mark Dacascos’s Directorial Debut Releases In North America In January!
Action fans in the U.S. can finally look forward to catching Black Rose star and director Alexander Nevsky in co-star, action star Mark Dacascos’s directorial debut, Showdown In Manila starting early next year. ITN Distribution has announced its acquisition of U.S. distribution rights to the ensemble cast action thriller which will open on January 19 in select theaters followed by a Digital and VoD rollout on January 26. The film centers on a pair of Manila detectives Nick (Alexander Nevsky) and Charlie (Casper Van Dien) who assemble a heavily equipped team to take matters into their own hands when a murder investigation leads them to the jungle camp of an international terrorist called The Wrath. Nevsky and Van Dien lead the cast which also includes Tia Carrere (True Lies, Wayne’s World) and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Memoirs of a Geisha) from a script by Craig Hamann (Boogie Boy). […]
Review: Mark Dacascos Action Thriller ULTIMATE JUSTICE Does Little Of It
Actor Mark Dacascos’s seldom stake nowadays in action films is something that I begrudgingly continue to deal with, and I know for a fact that I am no island when it comes to this. While surely keeping himself diverse and flexible between projects, it’s no secret that the man who won our hearts over the years in films like Only The Strong, Drive, Boogie Boy, China Strike Force and Cradle To The Grave should have at least been in an Expendables film by now. As such, to see the actor take the reigns in a film like Ultimate Justice does have its rewarding moments and is something to appreciate, although you’ll be hard pressed to go unchallenged for longer than the first act. Hailing as the second feature film from Silent Partners – the people who brought you One Million K(l)icks, Martin Christopher Bode makes his directorial feature debut with […]
Review: ULTIMATE JUSTICE (2017) – From the Team That Brought You ‘One Million K(l)icks’ Comes…Another Movie.
To be a fan of Mark Dacascos is to be well acquainted with frustration and disappointment. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most gifted action stars of his age, but he’s often underutilized or downright miscast in the majority of his filmography. For every Drive, there are five China Strike Forces; for every Brotherhood of the Wolf, there are ten Cradle 2 the Graves. Dacascos was given a chance to be the “next big action star” in the 90s with Only the Strong, but due to some bad career advice (cough, Double Dragon, cough) he missed out on his big break. With every new Dacascos action vehicle, fans are filled with an increasingly faint glimmer of hope that we’ll see him be utilized to his full potential… But more often than not, we walk away disappointed. This is a lamentation that is shared by, of all people, Mark […]
Sony Pictures Seeks ULTIMATE JUSTICE In U.S. And Canada This October
2017 has assured itself as yet another terrific year for the action and martial arts moviegoing crowd with the forthcoming release of director Martin Christopher Bode’s latest Mark Dacascos starrer, Ultimate Justice. For this, it was at some point during Cannes that new sales art was unveiled to promote the film and thankfully we now have that artwork viewable below, along with word of a U.S. and Canadian release set for October 3 from Vision Films via Sony Pictures. The film marks a long-awaited return to the genre for actor Dacascos who recently debuted as director while co-starring in Alexander Nevsky headliner, Showdown In Manila; Dacascos leads the cast of Ultimate Justice from a script by Marco Theiss that centers on a squad of former elite soldiers who rejoin when one of their own is attacked. Also starring are co-producer and fight choreographer Mike Moeller, actors Matthias Hues, Wolfgang Riehm and […]
THE LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE – VOL 2: Movement With A Heart
It can be difficult to put into words what Bruce Lee gave to the world of martial arts but I will take his cue to simplify it: movement with a heart. And this second volume, with all its faults and laughingly unintended background with 2000 era bloopers not caught (episode 15 shows John Woo’s “Stranglehold” [2008] on a San Francisco trolley car, twice), this volume gives us that heart to a certain degree, trying to keep a balance between fantasy and actual history regarding Bruce Lee. Beginning with episode 11, after being humiliated by the fight of Karate Master Yamamoto (Mark Dacascos) in the 10th episode, Bruce mulls over why Uncle Shao (Luoyong Wang) decided to stop the match. It was only at Ms. Ruby’s restaurant that Uncle Shao imparts his wisdom to try to temper Bruce’s anger into a more focused, humbled, and disciplined self. “If you’re too impatient, […]
Review: THE LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE – Volume One (2008 TV Series)
Perhaps no one is as lauded, both personally and professionally, than Bruce Lee (Li Xiao Long). Well, Jackie Chan is a close second but that’s not the focus of this review. Where should I start? I have many conflicting emotions writing this and I am sure there will be some people that will take my own informed opinions with a grain of salt. And you should. Because this review is my own, of course. Let’s start with the production. CCTV backed The Legend Of Bruce Lee. It’s video quality. Although it was filmed in 2008, I was disheartened of the low quality throughout the ten episodes in Volume 1. Made for several million dollars for 50 episodes and Executive Produced by Bruce’s daughter, Shannon, I felt that the overall vision was amateurish but had promise. Yet, seeing a young Bruce Lee (Danny Chan) along with terrible and distracting English dubbing […]
Mark Dacascos, Mike Moeller Actioner, ULTIMATE JUSTICE, Gets U.S. Distribution
It’s been a while since we last heard word on director Martin Christopher Bode’s latest Mark Dacascos starrer, Ultimate Justice. As it stands now, the film now has itself a U.S. distribution home at Vision Films who have already accumulated several forthcoming titles under its banner. SYNOPSIS: When a family member of one of their own is attacked, a team of former elite soldiers are called back into action and a ruthless game of kill or be killed is set in motion. The film is written by Marco Theiss and self financed by Ruediger W. Kuemmerie who produced with co-star Mike Leeder, with Markus R. Vogelbacher of International Film Partners executive producing. Dacascos and Leeder are joined by a cast that also includes Matthias Hues, Yazmeen Baker and German action powerhose Mike Möller who co-produced and served as fight choreographer. Alois Knapps served as Director of Photography. Kummerie and Leeder […]
Well Go USA To Release LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE: VOL.1 On DVD This November
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 […]
Mark Dacascos Tapped To Star In Pedring Lopez Actioner, BREACH; Dan Southworth In Talks To Join
Look forward to some extra updates in the coming months going into 2017 for director Pedring Lopez’s latest action horror hit, Nilalang, now making the festival rounds for its year-end movement. In the meantime, Lopez and the film’s stunt director, Sonny Sison have been working under the table for a project of their own now set to begin shooting next Spring. For this, we turn to the new film, Breach, which has action star Mark Dacascos attached and actor and martial artist Dan Southworth in talks to star while plot details remain pending, according to City On Fire. Both have a notable history the martial arts genre leading up to their 2013 stint together in Kevin Tancharoen’s Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2, while Dacascos has since taken to a more active role behind the camera as of late with his directorial debut, Showdown In Manila starring Alexander Nevsky. The film […]
EXCLUSIVE: Alexander Nevsky Gets The Last Word In The New International Trailer For SHOWDOWN IN MANILA
It’s Cannes time this week and Russian action star, actor and producer Alexander Nevsky is continuing the campaign for his newest ensemble actioner, Showdown In Manila with the international sales representatives at Lightining Entertainment hitting the trail. The film, marking the directorial debut of action star Mark Dacascos, has since become a hit following its theatrical CIS release in Russia in February and subseqent home and digital releases. Now with the film pressing onward through the markets this year, Film Combat Syndicate has the distinct honor of presenting the exclusive and explosive new trailer which you can view below. SYNOPSIS: Private detectives Nick (Alexander Nevsky) and Charlie (Casper Van Dien) live and work in Manila. A murder investigation leads them to the jungle camp of an international terrorist called The Wrath. Not trusting the police, Nick and Charlie assembly a team of daredevils to walk straight into the Wrath’s lair […]
EXCLUSIVE: Lightining Entertainment Will Take SHOWDOWN IN MANILA To Cannes
Russian action star, actor and producer Alexander Nevsky kicked the year off to a big start over in Russia having attended the premiere and subsequent release of his new ensemble action movie, Showdown In Manila. The film will eventually release through other territories but those updates will arrive throughout the year with further market and festival activity pending. For this, we look to Nevsky’s next stop at Cannes next month where this year’s festival titles have already lined up. Of course, we also have the sales end where Lightning Entertainment will represent the film in a deal between Nevsky and Lightning’s own, co-president Joe Dickstein. The news comes following the film’s star-studded premiere at the Oktober Cinema Theater on February 9 before its Russia/CIS release the following week and earning 45 million rubles at the box office, with earnings further accrued in VoD, DVD, Blu-Ray and other home services. Debut […]
ULTIMATE JUSTICE Gets Kicking With Mark Dacascos And Mike Moeller In The New Teaser
An action film that unfies the star caliber of performers like Matthias Hues, Mark Dacascos and Mike Moeller would be an easy sell for any fan of the genre. Thus, you get the case for director Martin Bode’s new film, Ultimate Justice, the latest from Silent Partners with producer Mike Leeder also in a starring role among our cast for a story that congregates an elite team of soliders when one of their own is attacked. The new teaser has arrived this year and you get a good sample of what awaits in terms of action and drama while no dialogue is heard. At any rate, we’re getting what looks like an ample package of heavy hitters ready to deliver something entertaining and worthwhile for fans. Fellow action favorite Mathis Landwher also stars with Brandon Rhea, Sandra Tauro, Yazmeen Baker and Wolfgang Riehm, and action sequences put together by none […]