martial arts

The North American Release Of SPECIAL ID Gets A New Trailer!

International martial arts sensation Donnie Yen is expected to continue making global headway with the forthcoming releases of his new slate of films, including both parts of the Law Wing-Cheong-directed Iceman 3D, and the fall U.S. release of his newest “Journey To The West” rendition of The Monkey King 3D. With any luck however, Well Go USA’s latest limited big screen North American release of director Clarence Fok‘s latest Hong Kong MMA cop thriller, Special ID, will lead to better prospects for its lead actor who made his breakthrough with a short string of small roles in the U.S. after debuting in the 2000 film, Highlander: Endgame. Yen is hyped as a truly big deal at home, and fans worldwide, especially in America, are in agreement that the acclaimed martial arts action star deserves way more than just a few speaking lines before getting killed off in the second act. […]

Kristina Baskett Flips The Script In The New Shortfilm, TRIUMPH

Lee B. Golden III

Growing up in a tough neighborhood and being a martial artist standing only at 5’5″ while competing with guys much taller than him, actor, stuntman and independent filmmaker Geo Corvera feels that many folks like himself can releate to stories centered on rooting for the underdog, something he beared in mind when he looked toward stuntwoman and multifaceted award-winning gymnast Kristina Baskett as the “perfect” pick to headline the late 2013 filming for his newest short, Triumph. “Kristina Baskett is a college level gymnastics champion bad ass!”. he writes. “She’s been training with me in martial arts and film fighting in last year and a half. She’s awesome, talented and picks up fast.”. Starring Baskett with an appearance by actor and stuntman Kofi Yiadom (Star Trek, Blood Of Redemption, Man Of Steel), and featuring actresses and stuntwomen Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez, Vaia Zaganas and Michelle Alvarado Martins, Triumph tells the short […]

THE ASSASSIN Wraps Principal Photography

Lee B. Golden III

Actress Shu Qi (The Transporter, Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons) is set to star in a new film from director Hou Hsiao Hsien titled The Assassin, also known as The Hidden Heroine, which has reportedly officially wrapped principal photography this week. The news comes with the film having been well over a few decades in the making as Hou initially planned the film back in the late 1980’s with screenwriter Chu Tien-Wen, followed by kicking off its hectic fifteen month schedule with locations set in China, Taiwan and Japan. Based on a short story from a compilation known as “The Extensive Records Of The Taiping Era” (a.k.a. Tàipíng Guǎngjì), Hou‘s new film is set in the Tang Dynasty and centers around Qi‘s portrayal of young girl named Nie Yin Niang who is kidnapped by a Taoist nun who trains her to become an assassin, assigned to take out […]

Zhang Ziyi Officially Retires From Kung Fu Movie Roles

Lee B. Golden III

Reports are being forwarded from Chinese media with breaking news that actress Zhang Ziyi, star of director Wong Kar-Wai’s latest martial arts epic, The Grandmaster, is announcing her retirement from kung fu movies, citing longstanding injuries dating back to filming director Ang Lee’s 2000 kung fu adventure, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. “I don’t believe there’s another role that can surpass this. And I’ve had so many injuries from a long time ago during Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon when I injured my neck.” she tells the public. “Those old injuries really bother me and after three years of this one, my body cannot take it any more. So I think this is a pretty good finale.” It was a year ago in January at the height of The Grandmaster movie’s promotion and film festival circulation prior to its theatrical and home releases thereafter, when Ziyi went on record in Chinese media, […]

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Kane Kosugi Is Filming AGENT X, NOT A 'Tekken' Movie

Lee B. Golden III

It was made public last week that Crystal Sky and Lionsgate began working on a prequel to the 2010 film, Tekken, based on Namco’s live-action tournament fighting game franchise. Announced at the time via martial arts action star Kane Kosugi‘s official blog, the new film was announced as Tekken: A Man Called X, which was previously reported with director Prachya Pinkaew attached. An update at Kosugi‘s blog, followed by a heartfelt apology for the “clumsiness” on the administrator’s part, has now issued a much-needed correction stating that the film is, in fact NOT the Tekken prequel that was announced back in 2012 by Crystal Sky, but another film titled Agent X with Kosugi leading the film. Of course, Brahim Achabbakhe, who doubled for actor Scott Adkins and stunt coordinated under action director Tim Man for Kosugi‘s most recently-released film, Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear is choreographing the action sequences for the […]

Amy Johnston Packs A Punch In The New Series Trailer For CLANDESTINE

Lee B. Golden III

Two years after crowdfunding, filming, post production, hitting the LA Expo last year with conceptual shortfilm releases and promotional efforts in addition to searching for a worthy television platform for their new series, Clandestine, the multifaceted independent filmmakers Christopher Cowan and Haile Lee have finally launched the official trailer for the first two episodes of their ambitious new webseries. Best known for their visually stunning depiction of martial arts action with much adherence to a fanbase of amime, manga, movie and game lovers, Cowan and Lee, and series co-creator Lex Randleman, in conjunction with their production bases at Thousand Pounds Action Company and and their newest vehicle, Epic Rival, aim to use Clandestine to showcase the raw talents of some of the most prominent and rising action actors and actresses to make their mark in recent years. Distribution details are still unknown regarding whether or not how the episodes will be allocated […]

ENTER THE DOJO And Watch Master Ken Demonstrate "The Thrust Of Freedom"!

Lee B. Golden III

In the world of Ameri-Do-Te, your technique must be perfect to match the very standards of the one and only Master Ken…especially when learning his latest form, “The Thrust Of Freedom”, which you can now view and learn for your self in the embed at the bottom of the page. And remember, if you can match his solid technique, chances are you’re still doing it wrong. 😉 Master Ken (played by actor, writer, producer and director Matt Page), leads the class in the highly successful martial arts comedy webseries, Enter The Dojo (not to be confused with actress Maria Tran’s mini-webseries of the same name), which is set for its third season premiering on January 28, 2014. In light of this, Martial Arts Illustrated is giving away a FREE COPY of the series on DVD for seasons one and two. Check out the video below where you may also subscribe […]

Tatake! It's The New Music Video For NUIGULUMAR Z: GOTHIC LOLITA BATTLE BEAR

Lee B. Golden III

Eigapedia forwarded the latest new music video headlining the upcoming theatrical release of director Noboru Iguchi’s new film, Nuigulumar Z: Gothic Lolita Battle Bear. The film is based on a song and novel by Tokusatsu lead singer, Kenji Ohtsuji, who can be seen performing in the new video with actress and idol Shoko Nakagawa who plays the title role of a Yumeko, jobless lolita fashionista whose niece’s teddy bear animates as a result of a present alien lifeforce, granting Yumeko extraordinary powers to transform into Earth’s last line of defense against a zombie apocalypse. The new version will release in Tokusatsu’s new single in Japan on January 22, 2014, followed by the film’s release on January 24. The film stars Nagakawa along with martial arts actress Rina Takeda (High Kick Girl) in a dual role of Nagakawa‘s suit double and one of the main villains. Hiroshi Neko, Mao Ichimichi and […]

Assassins Wage War In CONTRACT KILLERS This March!

Lee B. Golden III

Vision Films is releasing its latest acquisitioned action-packed assassin thriller, Contract Killers. Generic title? Sure. But the trailer looks very good, and it’s pretty sufficient to say that the nomination it earned for Best Editing, and award it won at last year’s Action On Film Festival for Best Action Sequence should validate why action fans may enjoy this latest treat from producers Alex Clark and writer Michael Yee, and director Mathew John Pearson. Contract Killers is set for DVD release on March 11, 2014, with James Trevena Brown, Rob Young, Renee Cataldo, Tony MacIver, Luke Hawker and Dallas Barnett starring. SYNOPSIS: Efficient, yet arrogant, assassin Lee-Seng (ROB YOUNG) has one night to meticulously ambush and kill an entire team of vigilantes who are targeting the city’s drug dealers. All goes to plan until Lee-Seng encounters Marshall (JAMES TREVENA-BROWN), a naturally skilled newcomer who survives the attack, leaving Lee-Seng at war […]

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Mathis Landwehr Photo Teases A KAMPFANSAGE Reunion

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a good decade since German martial artist, action actor, stuntman and fight choreographer Mathis Landwehr blew the lid off the country’s brewing martial arts movie industry in director Johannes Jaeger‘s 2003 hit film, Kampfansage: Der letzte Schüler. And in the years since, Landwehr has continued to remain on the map, performing stunts and acting in several films as the eponymous film-to-TV hero, “Lasko” opposite Arnold Vosloo in Im Auftrag Des Vatikans, director James McTiegue’s V For Vendetta, and reuniting once more with Kampfansage co-stars Volkram Zschieche and rising cinema action hero, Reel Deal Action member Mike Moëller’s leading role in last year’s limited release of Arena Of The Street Fighter, to name a few. So considering the significant success action fans have seen from our friends in Germany, in addition to the establishment of individual independent screenfighting filmgroups by other aspiring action actors and stuntmen, what better way […]

CLANDESTINE Finds Its Path To A New Trailer Date

Lee B. Golden III

Independent filmmakers Chris Cowan and Haile Lee have been busy for the past couple of years over at Thousand Pounds Action Company putting together their brand new and currently-developing fantasy martial arts action series, Clandestine. The series has already granted exclusive eyes for its trailer viewing at last year’s anime expo where attendees also got a glimpse of conceptual action shorts that were filmed in expansion to reflect how the series would look. You can view some of those concept videos on their YouTube channel as we speak. However, with the official trailer still a mystery to many, Cowan and Lee are making it official with today’s announcement. Hey all, Haile and Chris from the Thousand Pounds Action Company are official guests at this years MAGFest. Today they will be showing some previous game related works at the conventions film festival @3:30pm as well as walking around and gaming with […]

THE HUNTRESSES Are Back With A New Trailer And Posters

Lee B. Golden III

A new slate of posters and a trailer have gone viral this month for Wellmade STARM’s upcoming Joseon Period fantasy femme fatale action comedy, The Huntresses. Following a production that lasted from August to December of 2012, the film was originally promised a theatrical South Korean release earlier this summer with teasers, stills and trailers aired online, and a slew of colorful character posters promoting the film before post-production issues interfered. Fortunately the film now has a Korean theatrical release set for this January, in addition to some new promotional poster art to get things rolling, which you can check out below. The Huntresses stars Ha Ji Won, Kang Ye Won, Son Ga In, Joo Sang Wook and Ko Chang Seok and is directed by Park Je Hyun. SYNOPSIS: As a child, Jin-ok witnessed the murder of her father and narrowly escaped death. She is taken under the wing of […]

Go Behind The Scenes With The Cast And Crew Of THE MONKEY KING: THE LEGEND BEGINS

Lee B. Golden III

International action star Donnie Yen, unveiled the latest behind the scenes featurette for the upcoming domestic January 31, 2014 release of director Terence Cheung‘s The Monkey King: The Legend Begins, which you can now view below along with the first right above from a little over a week ago. The film is the latest cinemtic 3D rendition of the classic mythological character written by Edmond Wong and the late Szeto Kam-Yuen, and featuring Yen in the lead of what is expected to be the first of a trilogy. The Monkey King: The Legend Begins also stars Chow Yun-Fat, Xia Zi Tong, Aaron Kwok, Joe Chan, Zilin Zhang, Peter Ho, Gigi Leung and Kelly Chen. You can find more information about the film at its newly launched official website. In other news, Yen is also tapped to get some big screen North American treatment with Well Go USA’s forthcoming February 4, […]

KUNG FURY Needs Your Help To Kick Ass And Blow S**t Up!

Lee B. Golden III

Extra cheese please! If you are into mullets, DeLoreans, headbands, powergloves, skateboards, synthesizer music, viking babes with machine guns and towering giants, shoulderpads, visually cheesy and epic, over-the-top violence, then you are in for the wildest dinosaur ride of your life! As of today, there are only 29 days left for actor, writer and director David Sandberg‘s kickstarter for his brand new 30-minute comedic action thriller, Kung Fury, starring Sandberg as a rogue cop who goes on a desperate mission to put an end to Adolf Hitler’s reign of kung fu terror, only to be thrown too far back in time and no choice but to find a way to complete his mission…with a little extra help. Laser Unicorn, the geniuses behind this radical 1980’s exploitation martial arts cyberpunk action cinema spoof on fantasy karate cop movies, have already completed most of the film, and are asking to the tune […]

Explosive Freerunning Action And Adventure Sets The Tone In The New Shortfilm, JUMPSTART

Lee B. Golden III

Looking to kickoff your weekend with a little action and adventure? Well, if you’re a regular subscriber to the official YouTube channel for Flow, you’re pretty much in the right place where you can now catch independent filmmaker, producer, stunt coordinator and USA Parkour founder, Robbie Corbett‘s latest 14-minute crowdfunded action shortfilm, JumpStart. A production of Balls 2 The Wall and PMV Entertainment, JumpStart marks UK freerunning sensation Ben “Jenx” Jenkins‘ debut as an actor after moving his base of operations to America in 2012, in additon to highlighting Corbett‘s debut as a filmmaker with the goal of spread the gospel of movement through translating the language of parkour and quality fight action on film. Featuring elaborate stunt coordination by co-stars, SubOverHype’s own Caine Sinclair and Solomon Brende, JumpStart proves itself to be an exciting new venture for any fan of action who enjoys solid fight choreography without the frenetic […]

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Good Old-Fashioned Action Kick-Assery In The New NSFW Trailer For SKIN TRAFFIK

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and martial arts superstar Gary Daniels continues his post-Expendables momentum as one of the most hard-working and memorable action performers of our generation, this time taking to the set for co-writer, producer and director Ara Paiaya‘s gritty international action flick, Skin Traffik. The film sees Daniels as a hitman who flips the script against a ruthless criminal underworld, unleashing his own brand of justice, and to illustrate this, Raging Pictures has a brand new trailer this week – quite worth the look if Red Band/NSFW is more your speed. Skin Traffik also stars Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Jeff Fahey, Daryl Hannah, Dominique Swain, Michael Madsen and Alan Ford. No set date has been announced, but stay tuned for more information about this one as the new year rolls on. Check out the new NSFW trailer below, in private preferrably. SYNOPSIS: A jaded hit man regains his humanity in this […]

SYNDICATE SHOUTOUT: Sefa Demirbas

Lee B. Golden III

Aspiring martial arts athletes from around the world are continuing to put out some of their best work in the hopes of becoming the next in line to help deliver what is now expected in today’s generation of martial arts athleticism and showmanship. And today’s example comes from none other than the sound track of hip hop duo Black Sheep’s 1991 hit, “The Choice Is Yours”, applied to the latest reel from martial artist, stuntman and tricker Sefa Demirbas hailing all the way from Europe by way of dynamic award-winning German martial arts performance and screenfighting troupe TeamBay (meaning Team 7, with Bay translating from Vietnamese). Founded by fellow athlete, actor martial arts performer and independent filmmaker Vi-Dan Tran in 2002, the team has seen its evolution between old and new members while nuturing its audience ever since. Its latest attempt at re-emergence this year has featured some new collaborations […]

Three Brothers Defend The Spirit Of Martial Arts In TAEKWONDO DAMASHII: REBIRTH

Lee B. Golden III

Set for domestic release on February 15, 2014 courtesy of Toei Video, writer and director Hideyuki Katsuki‘s newest film, Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth is looking to make history as the first Taekwondo-themed martial arts action picture in Japanese cinema history, with full backing of the Japan branch of the International Taekwondo Federation. The latest 30-second spot is now online and you can check it out below, courtesy of Eigapedia. Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth stars martial artist and Kamen Rider Decade star Masahiro Inoue, and actors Ryoma Baba, and Kyosuke Hamao, with Kazushige Nagashima, Rina Koike, Seiran Kobayashi, and Renji Ishibashi rounding out the cast. SYNOPSIS: Three brothers are involved in a family conflict over which one of them will be heir to the family taekwondo dojo. One day, they accidentally wander into a mysterious forest where they’re confronted by waves of enemies which they must keep defeating with their taekwondo skills in […]

Ivan Cazzol Fights To Save The World In The New Spy Series, C9DES

Lee B. Golden III

Looking to revitalize Italy’s independent action film scene is the newest collaboration between Stevio Studio and cinematic stunt and choreography troupe, D-Unit, for the internet’s newest webseries, C9des (Codes). Described as Italy’s first martial arts spy webseries, C9des comes from the efforts of writer, DoP, editor and director Cristoforo Cervino who met up with Loris Ripamonti earlier this year during an acting class. Eventually, their shared interest in film led to a partnership beginning around May or June when Ripamonti joined the production as its executive producer, in addition to being its premiere stunt coordinator with the aid of his team, D-Unit. The first episode is now online with English subtitles, with a current slate of eight episodes pending, while episode two is set to air in March of next year. C9des stars Vera Matiushkova and Ivan Cazzol, with Mirco Cazzol, Stefano Stucchi and Tommaso Scandamarro rounding out the cast. […]

Brothers Reunite In The Heat Of Battle In MORTAL ENEMIES

Lee B. Golden III

If you feel like it has been a really long time since we have seen or heard from martial arts action star Robin Shou, you’re probably not just at all alone in that sentiment. The last I’ve known of him personally were his appearances in Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li, and all three Death Race movies (the last two going straight to DVD). Internationally, Shou also starred in a 2011 film titled Pirate Brothers, the latest from Indonesian filmmaker Asun Mawardi and also starring Capoiera expert Imd Verdy Bhawanta, Marcio Fernando Da Silva, Karina Nadila, Andrew Lincoln Suleiman and Yayu Unru. After its domestic premiere on May 26, 2011, the bilingual action thriller began hitting the film festival circuit, and even earned a Platinum Remi Award at the 45th annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival just last year. And that’s all that was really known of it within the last […]