Action movie culture experienced a boom in the 1980s. Hollywood heavyweights Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone competed to see who could land the best roles, have the largest muscles, and score the most hits in their respective blockbusters. However, as the new decade began, the next wave of action stars began to emerge, led by the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jcvd) and Steven Seagal, who gained widespread recognition.
Well, it seems like even Hollywood’s mightiest have weighed in on this titanic tussle! Indeed, a long-running debate was reignited by none other than the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s god of thunder, Chris Hemsworth. No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Jean-Claude Van Damm in Street Fighter | Columbia Pictures
No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Well, it seems like even Hollywood’s mightiest have weighed in on this titanic tussle! Indeed, a long-running debate was reignited by none other than the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s god of thunder, Chris Hemsworth. No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Jean-Claude Van Damm in Street Fighter | Columbia Pictures
No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
- 5/24/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
The cinematic adaptation of Street Fighter— a Japanese media franchise centering a series of games— proved to be quite hard to make after Jean-Claude Van Damme took a shot at it. The 1994 movie directed by Steven E. de Souza was adapted from the Street Fighter game series.
Jean-Claude Van Damme in Street Fighter. Credit: Universal Pictures
Now, nearly after three decades, a report of a Street Fighter reboot is swirling, but also struggling to make a hard splash. Fans are still doubtful about the movie adaptation of the games as Van Damme’s Street Fighter was not so impressive for fans or critics. And this was hard to endure for any action movie enthusiast. The movie could claim only an 11% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Street Fighter Reboot First Look Unveiled
Street Fighter. Credit: Capcom
A new Street Fighter movie is in the works at Legendary, and they recently revealed its first look.
Jean-Claude Van Damme in Street Fighter. Credit: Universal Pictures
Now, nearly after three decades, a report of a Street Fighter reboot is swirling, but also struggling to make a hard splash. Fans are still doubtful about the movie adaptation of the games as Van Damme’s Street Fighter was not so impressive for fans or critics. And this was hard to endure for any action movie enthusiast. The movie could claim only an 11% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Street Fighter Reboot First Look Unveiled
Street Fighter. Credit: Capcom
A new Street Fighter movie is in the works at Legendary, and they recently revealed its first look.
- 5/22/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
Plot: Russell Hatch an Interpol operative who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong.
Review: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.
Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch,...
Review: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.
Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
While Stallone and Schwarzenegger took the 80s by storm with their famous brand of one-man-army spectacles, the latter part of the decade would also see a new breed of tough guys branch out into a different trend of action. It wasn’t only about the ripped muscles and the gunplay and explosions. After martial arts had gone mainstream, stars such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal would carve out their own little place at the box office as they brought their expertise of hand-to-hand combat to the masses.
Naturally, other studios would want to get in on the action and the best thing about jumping on this trend is the fact that there is still an aspect of originality since each star would be spotlighting a specific sect of martial arts. For example, Michael Dudikoff would showcase Ninjitsu, Seagal showcased Aikido, Phillip Rhee showcased Tae Kwan Do,...
Naturally, other studios would want to get in on the action and the best thing about jumping on this trend is the fact that there is still an aspect of originality since each star would be spotlighting a specific sect of martial arts. For example, Michael Dudikoff would showcase Ninjitsu, Seagal showcased Aikido, Phillip Rhee showcased Tae Kwan Do,...
- 5/21/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chika Kanamoto, Emerson Min, Sticky Fingaz, Ji Yong Lee, Andrey Ivchenko, Kristanna Loken, Shannen Doherty, Cynthia Rothrock, Weston Cage, Kris Van Damme | Written by James Cullen Bressack, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alethea Hnatko-Cho | Directed by James Cullen Bressack
Jean-Claude Van Damme has kept a fairly low profile compared to many other 80s action heroes. And that includes such non-genre appearances as voice acting in kids films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, Minions: The Rise of Gru as well as a cameo in the French comedy Haters. However, Darkness of Man sees him return to the Dtv action spotlight
As the film opens, Russel Hatch lies in a puddle of his own blood, bleeding out from several bullet wounds. He tells us in voice-over that, like every story, this began with a woman. And we go back to Miami two years prior when Hatch was an Interpol agent.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has kept a fairly low profile compared to many other 80s action heroes. And that includes such non-genre appearances as voice acting in kids films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, Minions: The Rise of Gru as well as a cameo in the French comedy Haters. However, Darkness of Man sees him return to the Dtv action spotlight
As the film opens, Russel Hatch lies in a puddle of his own blood, bleeding out from several bullet wounds. He tells us in voice-over that, like every story, this began with a woman. And we go back to Miami two years prior when Hatch was an Interpol agent.
- 5/13/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
It can feel that Robert Clouse must have made a faustian pact back when he helmed “Enter the Dragon”. For all of that film's iconic success, he seemed doomed to be forever searching to recapture it to slowly diminishing returns. From “Game of Death” to “The Battle Creek Brawl”, Golden Harvest would return to him frequently when co-producing stateside. So it was no surprise in 1990 that they would hire him one last time. Eureka Entertainment brings those final features to blu ray and once again Cynthia Rothrock throws down in “China O'Brien”.
on Terracotta by clicking on the image below
China (Cynthia Rothrock), city cop and martial arts teacher saves a student but unwittingly shoots a kid dead. Leaving the Force, she returns home to Beaver Creek where her Sheriff father John (David Blackwell) is finding law and order hard to maintain as local crime boss Sommers...
on Terracotta by clicking on the image below
China (Cynthia Rothrock), city cop and martial arts teacher saves a student but unwittingly shoots a kid dead. Leaving the Force, she returns home to Beaver Creek where her Sheriff father John (David Blackwell) is finding law and order hard to maintain as local crime boss Sommers...
- 5/7/2024
- by Ben Stykuc
- AsianMoviePulse
Just take a sneaky peak back on the movies we’ve covered so far on our Arnie Revisited series, and the Austrian Oak had already covered several genres in his rise from bodybuilder to Hollywood icon. Raw Deal and Commando were straight-up action movies, while his work as Conan was an epic mix of action and fantasy. You can even argue that The Terminator is a classic 80s slasher flick, and not simply the revolutionary sci-fi masterpiece it’s generally regarded as. However, he hadn’t managed to blend both horror and science fiction in any of his previous movies, in the way he did with the film we’re focusing on in today’s episode – Predator. It was such a huge success for both star and franchise that it not only helped to further cement Arnie as a Hollywood icon, but also created a franchise packed with sequels, a prequel,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
In previous articles, we have taken a look at stars of the past we would like to see make a comeback – and there are a lot of them! It was too hard to narrow it down to just a few, so now we’ve put together another list of 80s stars we want back, including a couple of Freddy victims, some 1980s beauties we miss, and a lady we’ve only seen twice on our screens.
Michael Beck
It’s a sad tale of a promising career being kneecapped by bad luck… actually, by a bad movie. Playing the character Swan in the 1979 classic The Warriors, Michael Beck proved he had what it took to be a badass leading man. It looked like his career would be soaring onward and upward from there. But his momentum came to a screeching halt the following year when he had the misfortune of...
Michael Beck
It’s a sad tale of a promising career being kneecapped by bad luck… actually, by a bad movie. Playing the character Swan in the 1979 classic The Warriors, Michael Beck proved he had what it took to be a badass leading man. It looked like his career would be soaring onward and upward from there. But his momentum came to a screeching halt the following year when he had the misfortune of...
- 4/13/2024
- by Emilie Black
- JoBlo.com
The legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in action in the upcoming thriller Darkness of Man, which is set to receive a digital release on May 21st. With that date just a couple months away, a trailer for the film has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above!
Directed by James Cullen Bressack, who crafted the story with Jcvd and wrote the screenplay with Alethea Hnatko-Cho, Darkness of Man has the following synopsis: Russell Hatch (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.
Van Damme is joined in the cast by Emerson Min...
Directed by James Cullen Bressack, who crafted the story with Jcvd and wrote the screenplay with Alethea Hnatko-Cho, Darkness of Man has the following synopsis: Russell Hatch (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.
Van Damme is joined in the cast by Emerson Min...
- 3/25/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
One of the most iconic action heroes of all time, Jean Claude Van Damme is back in the upcoming Darkness of Man, and IGN has debuted the action-thriller’s official trailer today.
The official trailer for Darkness of Man, for starters, reveals that the film is rated “R” for: “Strong violence, language throughout, drug content and some sexual references.”
Watch the trailer below to preview Van Damme’s violent return.
In the film, “Russell Hatch (Jean Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.”
The cast includes Kristanna Loken, Emerson Min, and Spencer Breslin with Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones and Shannen Doherty.
The official trailer for Darkness of Man, for starters, reveals that the film is rated “R” for: “Strong violence, language throughout, drug content and some sexual references.”
Watch the trailer below to preview Van Damme’s violent return.
In the film, “Russell Hatch (Jean Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.”
The cast includes Kristanna Loken, Emerson Min, and Spencer Breslin with Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones and Shannen Doherty.
- 3/25/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Since Van Damme and Seagal hit big in the late 80s and early 90s, martial artists started to come out of the woodwork with their own unique brand. As we’ve covered recently on Reel Action, Van Damme collaborator Sheldon Lettich attempted to introduce audiences to both the style of Capoeira and the star power of Mark Dacascos in Only the Strong. Another martial artist that tried his hand at the action title and came away with a cult following was Jeff Speakman as he demonstrated his Kenpo skills in the 1991 film The Perfect Weapon.
Blu-ray.com has the details on a new special edition Blu-ray of The Perfect Weapon. The release will come from Kino Lorber, who will also release Cannon’s Revenge of the Ninja. This upcoming Blu-ray will have an all-new 4K remaster of the film and is set to hit the market on May 21.
The plot description reads,...
Blu-ray.com has the details on a new special edition Blu-ray of The Perfect Weapon. The release will come from Kino Lorber, who will also release Cannon’s Revenge of the Ninja. This upcoming Blu-ray will have an all-new 4K remaster of the film and is set to hit the market on May 21.
The plot description reads,...
- 3/22/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) birthed two of the biggest sci-fi horror franchises in history: "Alien" and "Predator." Both were birthed in an age where practical and optical special effects ruled the day, but as sequels, prequels, and crossovers multiplied over the decades, the effects became increasingly digital in nature.
What's surprising is the "Predator" series almost aborted entirely at launch. The original 1987 movie -- filmed with the working title "Hunter" -- had a troubled production. Money was tight, the titular alien suit proved to be, well, unsuitable, and the production was shut down. Once given a second life, pickup shoots had to fit around star Arnold Schwarzenegger's increasingly busy schedule, and a mad dash to design a replacement title creature resulted in the iconic, dreadlocked, and mandibled design (from the mind of James Cameron) we all know and love to hate.
While the film was a...
What's surprising is the "Predator" series almost aborted entirely at launch. The original 1987 movie -- filmed with the working title "Hunter" -- had a troubled production. Money was tight, the titular alien suit proved to be, well, unsuitable, and the production was shut down. Once given a second life, pickup shoots had to fit around star Arnold Schwarzenegger's increasingly busy schedule, and a mad dash to design a replacement title creature resulted in the iconic, dreadlocked, and mandibled design (from the mind of James Cameron) we all know and love to hate.
While the film was a...
- 3/16/2024
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
While Bloodsport, the 1988 martial arts tournament movie, is widely considered by fans to be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best film, it almost never saw the light of day. Indeed, according to Nick De Semlyen’s book, “Last Action Heroes” (buy it here), the film was deemed unreleasable by Cannon Pictures head Menachem Golan. The film sat on the shelf for fourteen months and was considered so bad that Golan intended to release the movie direct-to-video.
Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.
According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when the movie wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.
Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.
According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when the movie wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.
- 3/13/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
If you’re like us here at Reel Action, you probably love martial arts movies. And if you love martial arts movies, chances are, you are a fan of Mark Dacascos. And if you’re a fan of Mark Dacascos, then you probably know the movie, Only the Strong. Only the Strong is the best Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that Van Damme never starred in. In fact, if you look at the director’s filmography, he had a successful collaboration streak with Jcvd that led to Only the Strong. However, the movie actually fares better without him, because it features a star-making turn by the unanimously perceived underrated martial arts actor Mark Dacascos. Add in the teacher-savior plot and an introduction to a unique brand of martial art and you have an incredibly fun way to spend 90 minutes. We talk Only the Strong on this entry of Reel Action.
The...
The...
- 3/10/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Marco Brambilla's 1993 film "Demolition Man" has a pretty wild premise. In the near-future of 1996, a wildly destructive criminal named Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is at large and taking hostages in Los Angeles. The cop sent in to apprehend Pheonix is John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), an officer so reckless that he's earned the nickname of Demolition Man. When Spartan finds and confronts Pheonix, he explodes the building they're in. They both escape, but an investigation reveals the bodies of the hostages in the rubble. Oops. Spartan didn't handle that operation very well.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
- 3/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Story: A college kid (Brandon Lee) witnesses a gangland hit. Betrayed by witness protection, he’s recruited by a task force headed by a no-nonsense cop (Powers Boothe) as a pawn, but little do they know he’s more than able to handle himself against any of his foes.
The Players: Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Tzi Ma & Nick Mancuso. Directed by Dwight H. Little.
The History: The early nineties were the heyday of the martial arts movie star. Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were consistently churning out hits, so if they could become icons, why not a guy like Brandon Lee? He was movie star handsome, could move, was charismatic and could act. Oh yeah – he also happened to be the son of the greatest Kung-Fu movie star of all time, Bruce Lee.
“I wouldn’t want to refer to them as stepping stones. That seems to demean them.
The Players: Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Tzi Ma & Nick Mancuso. Directed by Dwight H. Little.
The History: The early nineties were the heyday of the martial arts movie star. Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were consistently churning out hits, so if they could become icons, why not a guy like Brandon Lee? He was movie star handsome, could move, was charismatic and could act. Oh yeah – he also happened to be the son of the greatest Kung-Fu movie star of all time, Bruce Lee.
“I wouldn’t want to refer to them as stepping stones. That seems to demean them.
- 3/9/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When it first came out in 1992, Mortal Kombat was the talk of the town. Every kid and their mother knew about it. Literally. The sheer violence and gore featured in the once-arcade game, had mothers taking to news outlets and politicians to get the game banned. Quite reminiscent of Kyle’s mom from South Park, one could say. Despite major censorship calls and aiding the birth of the Esrb, Mortal Kombat flourished, thanks in part to the controversies surrounding it.
Infamy of its gore aside, the game quickly became popular amongst players for its array of characters. The base roster still lives on in the modern iterations of the fighting game. Whether Liu Kang was your go-to or Thunder God Raiden, or perhaps Scorpion, everyone had their favorite pick. But amongst the ninjas and Gods alike, one character stood out that didn’t quite fit this bill… And that was Johnny Cage.
Infamy of its gore aside, the game quickly became popular amongst players for its array of characters. The base roster still lives on in the modern iterations of the fighting game. Whether Liu Kang was your go-to or Thunder God Raiden, or perhaps Scorpion, everyone had their favorite pick. But amongst the ninjas and Gods alike, one character stood out that didn’t quite fit this bill… And that was Johnny Cage.
- 3/4/2024
- by Divyashree Shashidhar
- FandomWire
The Fast and Furious franchise has featured some pretty big stars since the early days of the street racing crew stealing TV/Vcr combos. Check out the later entries and you’ll see Kurt Russell, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, and plenty of others. But one action favorite who won’t be getting behind the wheel is Jean-Claude Van Damme, who claims that he hit a big, bad, bald roadblock when approached about joining the Fast and Furious franchise.
In a profile by The Telegraph, Jean-Claude Van Damme claimed that he could have once been a part of the insanity of this series if for Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise. “They want me in Fast and Furious… But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.’” Shot down by the dude from Pitch Black and The Pacifier! If this is true – and it...
In a profile by The Telegraph, Jean-Claude Van Damme claimed that he could have once been a part of the insanity of this series if for Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise. “They want me in Fast and Furious… But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.’” Shot down by the dude from Pitch Black and The Pacifier! If this is true – and it...
- 2/23/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Jean-Claude Van Damme was born on October 18, 1960, in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, Belgium. From a young age, he began training in a variety of martial arts disciplines including Karate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Taekwondo. His sheer dedication to martial arts eventually saw him became a skilled fighter with an impressive physical presence, something he would soon transfer over into movies. In the early 80s, Van Damme emerged as a prominent action star alongside veterans like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, earning the nickname “muscles from Brussels” for his impressive physique and martial arts skills. While he may have faded from...
- 2/7/2024
- by Matthew C. F
- TVovermind.com
Jean-Claude Van Damme, the global martial artist turned action hero whose 2021 movie “The Last Mercenary” was a hit on Netflix, has another film on the horizon. He will star opposite Michaël Youn (“Bde”) in “Le jardinier,” another high-voltage action-comedy reuniting him with “The Last Mercenary” director David Charhon.
Amazon Prime Video has acquired “Le jardinier” for France, while Other Angle Pictures is handling international sales on the movie and has already secured sales in the U.S. (Blue Fox), Germany (Plaion Pictures), Russia (All Media) and Eastern Europe (Media Squad).
Filming will kick off Feb. 5 in Belgium and France with a popular cast including Nawell Madani (“Jusqu’ici tout va bien”) Kaaris (“Braqueurs” ), Ragnar Le Breton (“Un Stupéfiant Noël”), Carla Poquin (alias “Poqssi”) and Jérôme Le Banneur. “Le jardinier” is produced by Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods.
The movie follows Serge and his family, who turn up on the death...
Amazon Prime Video has acquired “Le jardinier” for France, while Other Angle Pictures is handling international sales on the movie and has already secured sales in the U.S. (Blue Fox), Germany (Plaion Pictures), Russia (All Media) and Eastern Europe (Media Squad).
Filming will kick off Feb. 5 in Belgium and France with a popular cast including Nawell Madani (“Jusqu’ici tout va bien”) Kaaris (“Braqueurs” ), Ragnar Le Breton (“Un Stupéfiant Noël”), Carla Poquin (alias “Poqssi”) and Jérôme Le Banneur. “Le jardinier” is produced by Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods.
The movie follows Serge and his family, who turn up on the death...
- 1/17/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Veteran action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme is set to star in sequel Kill ‘Em All 2, which will shoot in the Caribbean island of Antigua from January.
The shoot is the first brought to the island by Italian producer Andrea Iervolino (Ferrari) after he was tasked last year by local authorities to grow entertainment investment opportunities in the West Indies, with a focus on enriching Antigua and Barbuda through film and TV shoots.
Iervolino is teaming up on the promotional push with Dario Item, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain, the Principality of Monaco, the Principality of Liechtenstein and to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (Unwto).
Following the events that unfolded in Kill ‘Em All (2017), the sequel will see Phillip (Van Damme) and Suzanne retired from the spy game, living peacefully off the grid. That’s until their whereabout are discovered by Vlad the vengeful brother of their target from the first film.
The shoot is the first brought to the island by Italian producer Andrea Iervolino (Ferrari) after he was tasked last year by local authorities to grow entertainment investment opportunities in the West Indies, with a focus on enriching Antigua and Barbuda through film and TV shoots.
Iervolino is teaming up on the promotional push with Dario Item, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain, the Principality of Monaco, the Principality of Liechtenstein and to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (Unwto).
Following the events that unfolded in Kill ‘Em All (2017), the sequel will see Phillip (Van Damme) and Suzanne retired from the spy game, living peacefully off the grid. That’s until their whereabout are discovered by Vlad the vengeful brother of their target from the first film.
- 12/7/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
I still remember the exact moment when I became aware of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s presence in the entertainment industry. Although he had played the villain in No Retreat, No Surrender and made his leading man debut with Bloodsport, I didn’t know about him until the VHS release of Kickboxer. That’s when a local video store put up a large poster of the film – which the store’s owner gestured to while telling my mom and I about this new guy named Van Damme, who was meant to be the next action star along the lines of Stallone and Schwarzenegger. We rented the movie… and I’ve been a fan of Van Damme ever since. So I think it’s very cool that Diamond Select Toys will be releasing a Jean-Claude Van Damme action figure next year.
An image of the action figure can be seen at the bottom of this article,...
An image of the action figure can be seen at the bottom of this article,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Back in March, film journalist Jeff Sneider said he had heard that “an aging action star” was up for the role of a ghost in director Tim Burton‘s Beetlejuice 2 – which, of course, happens to be the long-awaited (it’s been thirty-five years!) sequel to his classic Beetlejuice (watch it Here). Sneider heard Jean-Claude Van Damme was in the running to play the character… but over the eight months since, we haven’t heard anything that indicates Van Damme actually made it to the set of Beetlejuice 2. We do know that Willem Dafoe plays an afterlife detective in the film – and during a new interview with Variety, he revealed that his character also happens to be a former action star!
Dafoe said, “I haven’t seen any footage (from Beetlejuice 2) yet, but it was fun to do. I play a police officer in the afterlife, so I’m a dead person.
Dafoe said, “I haven’t seen any footage (from Beetlejuice 2) yet, but it was fun to do. I play a police officer in the afterlife, so I’m a dead person.
- 11/27/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
1990 was a peak year for Van Damage. The Muscles from Brussels was on the way to the big time after Bloodsport and Kickboxer (which made our list of the Best Fighting Movies) proved to be huge moneymakers at the box office. But, Jean-Claude Van Damme was different from some of his contemporaries because he was a hearthrob and a prime butt-kicker. His 1990 movie Lionheart was bought for distribution by Universal, paving the way to his breaking into mainstream studio work. But, before he could jump on that gravy train, he had one more movie left to make on his Cannon movie deal – but ironically, the company itself would not release the film theatrically due to its waning fortunes, with this being Van Damme’s first major studio release after MGM opted to distribute it. The movie? Death Warrant!
In this one, Jcvd plays a cop named Burke, who, after putting...
In this one, Jcvd plays a cop named Burke, who, after putting...
- 11/26/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Sylvester Stallone helped Dolph Lundgren achieve action star status when he cast him in Rocky IV. But action films changed a bit over the years thanks to features like The Bourne trilogy. Lundgren seemed to feel this could be both a positive and a negative.
What Dolph Lundgren felt about Matt Damon’s ‘Bourne’ movies Dolph Lundgren | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Lundgren has starred in his own fair share of action movies. He starred in such features as 1989’s The Punisher and Universal Soldier, and held a certain fondness for action stars in the 80s. To him, the action heroes of yesterday had the physique to earn their roles more so than the action stars of today.
“Back in those days, you took somebody who could take their shirt off and have real muscles. Now, you take somebody who has won an Academy Award, put them in a suit, and he...
What Dolph Lundgren felt about Matt Damon’s ‘Bourne’ movies Dolph Lundgren | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Lundgren has starred in his own fair share of action movies. He starred in such features as 1989’s The Punisher and Universal Soldier, and held a certain fondness for action stars in the 80s. To him, the action heroes of yesterday had the physique to earn their roles more so than the action stars of today.
“Back in those days, you took somebody who could take their shirt off and have real muscles. Now, you take somebody who has won an Academy Award, put them in a suit, and he...
- 11/25/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Stars: Wayne Gordon, Sadie Newman, Eve Mauro, Jackson Rathbone, Alex Pettyfer, Niki Spiridakos | Written by Sean-Michael Argo, Leigh Scott | Directed by Philippe Martinez
Black Noise is the latest film to follow in the footsteps of Predator and takes a group of highly trained professional soldiers and sends them to a remote location on what should be a simple mission only for it to turn into a battle with something beyond their comprehension. Earlier this year Island Escape added a few twists to make it feel fresh, can Black Noise pull off the same feat?
A large man, uniformed and armed, flees through a Carribean rainforest. Whatever he’s running from must be dangerous, his uniform is torn and he’s battered, bloody, and panicked to the point of shooting at moving foliage. Reaching a house he sees a quad parked in the yard, just what he needs to escape. But...
Black Noise is the latest film to follow in the footsteps of Predator and takes a group of highly trained professional soldiers and sends them to a remote location on what should be a simple mission only for it to turn into a battle with something beyond their comprehension. Earlier this year Island Escape added a few twists to make it feel fresh, can Black Noise pull off the same feat?
A large man, uniformed and armed, flees through a Carribean rainforest. Whatever he’s running from must be dangerous, his uniform is torn and he’s battered, bloody, and panicked to the point of shooting at moving foliage. Reaching a house he sees a quad parked in the yard, just what he needs to escape. But...
- 11/15/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
When most people think of martial arts masters, names like Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen, Chuck Norris, Michael Jai White, Cynthia Rothrock, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Michelle Yeoh come to mind. Still, Hollywood is ripe with what some would call unsung industry heroes, such as Scott Adkins, a powerhouse of talent on several fronts. In a detailed article featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Ritman delves into Adkins’ origin, a quest for the spotlight, and reputation for being one of the hardest working badasses in Tinseltown.
In addition to being a charismatic actor, Adkins is a gifted student of many martial arts disciplines, including Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing and Brazilian and Jui Jitsu. His passion for elevating his body and spirit began near the age of 10 when the captivating Bruce Lee inspired Adkins to study Judo. After getting mugged...
In addition to being a charismatic actor, Adkins is a gifted student of many martial arts disciplines, including Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing and Brazilian and Jui Jitsu. His passion for elevating his body and spirit began near the age of 10 when the captivating Bruce Lee inspired Adkins to study Judo. After getting mugged...
- 10/31/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
More than two and a half decades later, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Friends gig still haunts him. “My acting is so bad,” the Belgian action star told the New York Post in a new interview. “I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m ashamed of myself.” Van Damme played himself in the 1996 Friends episode “The One After the Superbowl: Part 2,” as Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) battled for a date with the actor after meeting him on a movie set. Reflecting on that Friends episode, Van Damme told the Post his agent told him he had to take the part on the hit NBC sitcom. “I didn’t know much about the show,” he recalled. “So when I go to the show, I see those two beautiful girls, and they say this is the hottest show right now in the world. So I was very glad.
- 10/28/2023
- TV Insider
The iconic sit-com series ‘Friends’ has featured cameos of many celebrities over the years. One of these is iconic Belgian actor-martial artiste Jean-Claude-Van Damme, who recently admitted that he feels ashamed about his cameo with Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox.
In the episode titled ‘The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2’, the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston‘s Rachel and Courteney Cox‘s Monica.
In the episode, Rachel and Monica both have a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between them about who gets to go on a date with him.
Van Damme recalling the incident told the New York Post in a recent interview: “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m...
In the episode titled ‘The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2’, the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston‘s Rachel and Courteney Cox‘s Monica.
In the episode, Rachel and Monica both have a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between them about who gets to go on a date with him.
Van Damme recalling the incident told the New York Post in a recent interview: “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m...
- 10/28/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The iconic sit-com series ‘Friends’ has featured cameos of many celebrities over the years. One of these is iconic Belgian actor-martial artiste Jean-Claude-Van Damme, who recently admitted that he feels ashamed about his cameo with Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox.
In the episode titled ‘The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2’, the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston‘s Rachel and Courteney Cox‘s Monica.
In the episode, Rachel and Monica both have a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between them about who gets to go on a date with him.
Van Damme recalling the incident told the New York Post in a recent interview: “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m...
In the episode titled ‘The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2’, the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston‘s Rachel and Courteney Cox‘s Monica.
In the episode, Rachel and Monica both have a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between them about who gets to go on a date with him.
Van Damme recalling the incident told the New York Post in a recent interview: “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m...
- 10/28/2023
- by Agency News Desk
Many stars made appearances on the hit show Friends throughout its run, but Jean-Claude Van Damme thought his one-episode stint in 1996 was quite embarrassing.
In the episode titled “The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2,” the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel and Courteney Cox’s Monica. In the episode, Rachel and Monica both develop a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between the duo about who gets to go on a date with him.
Now, looking back, Van Damme told the New York Post in a recent interview, “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m ashamed of myself. So, then I was on the set, and those girls, they go,...
In the episode titled “The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2,” the actor played himself opposite Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel and Courteney Cox’s Monica. In the episode, Rachel and Monica both develop a crush on Jean-Claude Van Damme after he starts filming a movie in New York City. But when Rachel approaches him first since Monica is too shy, it leads to a fight between the duo about who gets to go on a date with him.
Now, looking back, Van Damme told the New York Post in a recent interview, “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham. Like, ‘Hey, girls.’ … It’s like, I’m ashamed of myself. So, then I was on the set, and those girls, they go,...
- 10/28/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jean-Claude Van Damme claimed in a recent interview with The Telegraph that Vin Diesel was not interested in having him star in the “Fast & Furious” franchise. The ongoing action series has employed action movie veterans such as Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham over the years, and Van Damme said the franchise was also interested in getting him on board. It was Diesel who allegedly said no.
The Telegraph notes: “Van Damme has also missed out on a role in another mega-franchises. ‘They want me in “Fast and Furious,”‘ he says. And what a bit of casting that would be. But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.'”
Variety has reached out to Diesel’s representatives for comment. Van Damme did not not disclose which “Fast & Furious” project he was potentially being courted for.
Instead of joining “Fast & Furious,” Van Damme got involved in another...
The Telegraph notes: “Van Damme has also missed out on a role in another mega-franchises. ‘They want me in “Fast and Furious,”‘ he says. And what a bit of casting that would be. But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.'”
Variety has reached out to Diesel’s representatives for comment. Van Damme did not not disclose which “Fast & Furious” project he was potentially being courted for.
Instead of joining “Fast & Furious,” Van Damme got involved in another...
- 10/24/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to the jungle, folks! While some action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger delight in supporting one another along their respective journies throughout life and the entertainment industry, some discover there’s nowhere to run regarding the judgment of their peers. Unlike Sly and Arnie, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal have a long-running feud. Arguments can support that either star is the perfect weapon, but only one turned down $20M to fight the other, Van Damme says.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
- 10/24/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
It's all too easy to miss your big chance in Hollywood, whether it's by ending up in a flop through no fault of your own or missing the wrong phone call. It's a career tragedy that can happen to anyone, and it creates agonizing memories for stars still at the top of their careers. Just ask Bill Murphy about the time he did pick up his phone and wound up with a gig in "Garfield." That involved a mix-up over last names but it goes to show that anything can happen. To anyone.
The good news? Not every movie madness mixup ends in disaster. One star's missed call might be another's golden hour. A tragedy behind the scenes can create an opportunity for a fresh and far better take on a character. Science fiction definitely isn't exempt from Hollywood chaos, and in the case of some of our favorite movies,...
The good news? Not every movie madness mixup ends in disaster. One star's missed call might be another's golden hour. A tragedy behind the scenes can create an opportunity for a fresh and far better take on a character. Science fiction definitely isn't exempt from Hollywood chaos, and in the case of some of our favorite movies,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
Popular singer Mika Singh, who recently dropped a tweet on actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s picture with Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme, has deleted the comment as he wrote that the action legend was better than alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
Moments after posting the tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Mika deleted the comment as he was receiving mixed reactions on the social media platform.
It was on Friday, when Jacqueline posted a photo of herself posing with Jean-Claude Van Damme on X and Instagram.
The actress had captioned it: “Having fun in Italy. Take a guess #vacation #fashion #fun.”
The tweet on Jacqueline and Van Damme has been deleted but now has surfaced on Reddit.
The tweet from Mika reads: “You are looking so beautiful… he is much better than Sukesh.”
“Mika got no chill!,” captioned a reddit user.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was reportedly dating Jacqueline and is now in Tihar Jail...
Moments after posting the tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Mika deleted the comment as he was receiving mixed reactions on the social media platform.
It was on Friday, when Jacqueline posted a photo of herself posing with Jean-Claude Van Damme on X and Instagram.
The actress had captioned it: “Having fun in Italy. Take a guess #vacation #fashion #fun.”
The tweet on Jacqueline and Van Damme has been deleted but now has surfaced on Reddit.
The tweet from Mika reads: “You are looking so beautiful… he is much better than Sukesh.”
“Mika got no chill!,” captioned a reddit user.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was reportedly dating Jacqueline and is now in Tihar Jail...
- 10/1/2023
- by Agency News Desk
Popular singer Mika Singh, who recently dropped a tweet on actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s picture with Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme, has deleted the comment as he wrote that the action legend was better than alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
Moments after posting the tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Mika deleted the comment as he was receiving mixed reactions on the social media platform.
It was on Friday, when Jacqueline posted a photo of herself posing with Jean-Claude Van Damme on X and Instagram.
The actress had captioned it: “Having fun in Italy. Take a guess #vacation #fashion #fun.”
The tweet on Jacqueline and Van Damme has been deleted but now has surfaced on Reddit.
The tweet from Mika reads: “You are looking so beautiful… he is much better than Sukesh.”
“Mika got no chill!,” captioned a reddit user.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was reportedly dating Jacqueline and is now in Tihar Jail...
Moments after posting the tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Mika deleted the comment as he was receiving mixed reactions on the social media platform.
It was on Friday, when Jacqueline posted a photo of herself posing with Jean-Claude Van Damme on X and Instagram.
The actress had captioned it: “Having fun in Italy. Take a guess #vacation #fashion #fun.”
The tweet on Jacqueline and Van Damme has been deleted but now has surfaced on Reddit.
The tweet from Mika reads: “You are looking so beautiful… he is much better than Sukesh.”
“Mika got no chill!,” captioned a reddit user.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was reportedly dating Jacqueline and is now in Tihar Jail...
- 10/1/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Knock Off.Tsui Hark’s Knock Off (1998) begins with an amniotic scene: baby dolls underwater, suggesting birth or possibly rebirth. Submerged off the coast of Hong Kong, which passed from British to Chinese governance in the historic 1997 Handover, the dolls gesture toward new beginnings. But these aren’t flesh-and-blood infants: they’re products, manufactured imitations of the real thing and copies of each other. Detached from any sense of originality, these toys can be reproduced and distributed wherever the market leads. The movement of the dolls through the water evokes the global flow of goods under late capitalism, as well as the postmodernist shift away from reality into simulacra. Moreover, their synthetic nature complicates the birth allegory—in what sense was the Handover a “real” rebirth?This is a fitting prologue for a film obsessed with the ersatz. Delivering on its title, Knock Off tracks two expat businessmen in Hong...
- 9/28/2023
- MUBI
These days, most audiences are aware that the law of diminishing returns also applies to movie franchises. That’s why numbered sequels are usually frowned upon when it comes to new releases in established IPs, with producers preferring it when moviegoers forget exactly how many of these rehashed films they’ve seen before. And as a series goes on, it becomes increasingly more difficult for franchises to experiment with their source material, leading to stale experiences and disappointed fans.
Thankfully, there are a handful of exceptions to this rule, and I’d argue that the most surprising of all would be the Universal Soldier franchise. In all honesty, I don’t even think the original 1992 film is all that great, benefiting from the natural charisma of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren while riding on the coat-tails of an intriguing premise (where deceased soldiers are revived as cybernetic zombies with...
Thankfully, there are a handful of exceptions to this rule, and I’d argue that the most surprising of all would be the Universal Soldier franchise. In all honesty, I don’t even think the original 1992 film is all that great, benefiting from the natural charisma of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren while riding on the coat-tails of an intriguing premise (where deceased soldiers are revived as cybernetic zombies with...
- 9/25/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
Mortal Kombat is a prolific fighting franchise. Despite the upcoming game’s Mortal Kombat 1 title, it is actually the twelfth mainline game in the series, and that number doesn’t account for the various spinoffs and countless upgrades. Then you have all the comics, movies, TV shows, web shows, techno albums, and other stuff that grew out of the series. From Liu Kang fighting a stop-motion Goro in a dingy dungeon to seeing him reinvent the entire universe, Mortal Kombat has seen some stellar highs and embarrassing lows.
What I’m saying is, Mortal Kombat is…a lot. So, as we prepare for Liu Kang and Shang Tsung’s war over the rebooted Earthrealm, let’s talk about some lesser-known parts of the franchise that you might not know about.
15. The Johnny Cage/Guile Connection
Do you know how Bill Murray and Lorenzo Music have both portrayed Peter Venkman and Garfield?...
What I’m saying is, Mortal Kombat is…a lot. So, as we prepare for Liu Kang and Shang Tsung’s war over the rebooted Earthrealm, let’s talk about some lesser-known parts of the franchise that you might not know about.
15. The Johnny Cage/Guile Connection
Do you know how Bill Murray and Lorenzo Music have both portrayed Peter Venkman and Garfield?...
- 9/9/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
It took more than 20 years, but it's finally happening: Jean-Claude Van Damme is coming to "Mortal Kombat." This is not a drill! Warner Bros. Games released a new trailer for the upcoming "Mortal Kombat 1," the latest entry in the long-running fighting game series. It focuses on Van Damme, who will be portraying a version of fan-favorite Johnny Cage in the game with a special character skin. It's a fitting role for the star of such movies as "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer," and they are letting the actor unleash his skills in an appropriately brutal fashion.
The trailer (which you can check out below) shows off Van Damme's version of Cage absolutely whipping ass in various fights. Those signature kicks are on full display, with extra bloody results. We even get to see him teaming up with Scorpion a few times for some wildly brutal, over-the-top finishing moves. It's Van Damme in...
The trailer (which you can check out below) shows off Van Damme's version of Cage absolutely whipping ass in various fights. Those signature kicks are on full display, with extra bloody results. We even get to see him teaming up with Scorpion a few times for some wildly brutal, over-the-top finishing moves. It's Van Damme in...
- 9/8/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
If you were wondering just when we’d finally get footage of Jean-Claude Van Damme doing what he does best in Mortal Kombat 1, wonder no more. NetherRealm has released a new trailer providing a preview of Van Damme’s likeness and voice in the game as a character skin for Johnny Cage.
It’s a bit surreal seeing Van Damme decked out in his (altered) Bloodsport gear doing Johnny Cage mannerisms before facing off against the character that was inspired by The Muscles from Brussels himself. But you have to admit that it’s also so frickin’ cool.
And yes, just in case you were also wondering, we do get Van Damme doing the famous Split Punch on Johnny Cage. Van Damme’s likeness also adds a bit of hilarity to Cage’s Fatality. Vroom-vroom, indeed.
Van Damme joins Megan Fox in Mortal Kombat 1, who was revealed earlier this week...
It’s a bit surreal seeing Van Damme decked out in his (altered) Bloodsport gear doing Johnny Cage mannerisms before facing off against the character that was inspired by The Muscles from Brussels himself. But you have to admit that it’s also so frickin’ cool.
And yes, just in case you were also wondering, we do get Van Damme doing the famous Split Punch on Johnny Cage. Van Damme’s likeness also adds a bit of hilarity to Cage’s Fatality. Vroom-vroom, indeed.
Van Damme joins Megan Fox in Mortal Kombat 1, who was revealed earlier this week...
- 9/8/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
After that trip down memory lane yesterday with the new Mortal Kombat 1 trailer, WB Games and NetherRealm have released a new behind-the-scenes video featuring Dave Bautista playing the game ahead of its September 19th release.
“Obviously, my voice is gone now from screaming ‘Mortal Kombat’ all day,” says Bautista during the gameplay session. “But I love this because it directly connects me to my past. So it’s more personal and feels more gratifying.”
Bautista elaborates, saying that growing up, his favourite character was Liu Kang because of Kang’s bicycle kick, and because he was able to morph into a dragon for his famous Mortal Kombat II fatality. “I like Scorpion now because I just want to hear him say ‘Get over here!’ (laughs).”
While Bautista isn’t in Mortal Kombat 1, longtime fans of the series will finally see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a skin for Johnny Cage. For...
“Obviously, my voice is gone now from screaming ‘Mortal Kombat’ all day,” says Bautista during the gameplay session. “But I love this because it directly connects me to my past. So it’s more personal and feels more gratifying.”
Bautista elaborates, saying that growing up, his favourite character was Liu Kang because of Kang’s bicycle kick, and because he was able to morph into a dragon for his famous Mortal Kombat II fatality. “I like Scorpion now because I just want to hear him say ‘Get over here!’ (laughs).”
While Bautista isn’t in Mortal Kombat 1, longtime fans of the series will finally see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a skin for Johnny Cage. For...
- 8/30/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
This enjoyably uncomplicated action flick sees The Stath play a cage fighter who has to protect a maths prodigy from the triad and the Russian mafia
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As Meg 2 is currently swimming the cinematic high seas, it feels like the perfect time to anchor this terrible metaphor and remember what Jason Statham was up to before he fought CGI sharks for a living. A decade ago The Stath was making the type of uncomplicated and hugely enjoyable action movies that felt like a throwback to the heyday of Stallone, Schwarzenegger or Van Damme. And one of his best, most overlooked efforts is Safe.
Statham plays Luke Wright, a man with an interesting career history: black ops soldier turned city cop turned cage fighter. After accidentally leaving an opponent hospitalised in what was meant to be a fixed fight, Luke is punished by the Russian mafia,...
Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email
As Meg 2 is currently swimming the cinematic high seas, it feels like the perfect time to anchor this terrible metaphor and remember what Jason Statham was up to before he fought CGI sharks for a living. A decade ago The Stath was making the type of uncomplicated and hugely enjoyable action movies that felt like a throwback to the heyday of Stallone, Schwarzenegger or Van Damme. And one of his best, most overlooked efforts is Safe.
Statham plays Luke Wright, a man with an interesting career history: black ops soldier turned city cop turned cage fighter. After accidentally leaving an opponent hospitalised in what was meant to be a fixed fight, Luke is punished by the Russian mafia,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Adam Fleet
- The Guardian - Film News
August isn't especially famous for its great movies. As months go, the eighth one on the calendar has often been a bit of a wasteland for Hollywood, as blockbusters peter off, kids have a lot less free time and money, and studio executives need to find somewhere to dump their proverbial dead bodies.
If you want a good example, you can pretty much throw a dart at any year after "Jaws" popularized the concept of summer blockbuster season. For example, let's take a look at 1993. 30 years ago, August was a month for dreck comedies like "Son of the Pink Panther," family film misfires like "Father Hood" and "Surf Ninjas," and the weird-ass "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday."
But then again, there are exceptions to every rule. There were also a few excellent motion pictures in August 1993. The increasingly timeless classic "The Fugitive" came out that month, along with...
If you want a good example, you can pretty much throw a dart at any year after "Jaws" popularized the concept of summer blockbuster season. For example, let's take a look at 1993. 30 years ago, August was a month for dreck comedies like "Son of the Pink Panther," family film misfires like "Father Hood" and "Surf Ninjas," and the weird-ass "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday."
But then again, there are exceptions to every rule. There were also a few excellent motion pictures in August 1993. The increasingly timeless classic "The Fugitive" came out that month, along with...
- 8/20/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Veteran action director Dimitri Logothetis is gearing up to shoot his latest set of features, Kickboxer: Armageddon and Flying Shadow, in Mississippi and Malta.
Scripts for both were written prior to the start of the strikes, and each project is currently in pursuit of a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement, the goal being to kick off production for each in January.
Armageddon is the final chapter in a reboot trilogy based on the Kickboxer action franchise, which originally starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. The first film directed by Mark Disalle and David Worth, which debuted in 1989, introduced viewers to Kurt Sloane (Van Damme), who must learn the ancient kickboxing art of Muay Thai in order to avenge his brother. While later entries Kickboxer: Vengeance and Kickboxer: Retaliation would also feature the action star, he was absent through the second and fifth installments, with the focus segueing to Kurt’s younger brother,...
Scripts for both were written prior to the start of the strikes, and each project is currently in pursuit of a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement, the goal being to kick off production for each in January.
Armageddon is the final chapter in a reboot trilogy based on the Kickboxer action franchise, which originally starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. The first film directed by Mark Disalle and David Worth, which debuted in 1989, introduced viewers to Kurt Sloane (Van Damme), who must learn the ancient kickboxing art of Muay Thai in order to avenge his brother. While later entries Kickboxer: Vengeance and Kickboxer: Retaliation would also feature the action star, he was absent through the second and fifth installments, with the focus segueing to Kurt’s younger brother,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
If you grew up in the 80s and 90s and watched action movies, you knew your musclemen. You had your Schwarzeneggers and Stallones. You had your Lundgrens and Van Dammes. Right out of the gate, when Jean-Claude Van Damme graced the big screen, he was magnetic. For one, he had the name people will endlessly make “Damn!” puns with. For another, he was a likable and charming actor. And for everything, he had the muscles, the looks, and the moves. Van Damme would find his calling to be reflective later in his career. He would play a Muay Thai teacher in the Kickboxer remake, Kickboxer: Vengeance, when he was the student in the original. And he would also play meta versions of himself in projects such as Jcvd and Prime Video’s Jean-Claude Van Johnson.
The director of Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Peter Atencio, recently spoke with ComicBook.com to promote his new project,...
The director of Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Peter Atencio, recently spoke with ComicBook.com to promote his new project,...
- 8/17/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Yes, you still have time to get some reading done before the (ugh) end of summer. To help you get started, our latest roundup of noteworthy new books connected to the world of cinema features a packed lineup of gems. And there are even more recent books (including an epic list of new novels) that we will highlight in our next column this fall.
Before we dive in, though, a note regarding the late William Friedkin, who is referenced in two entries below: I would encourage readers to check out his 2013 memoir, The Friedkin Connection. He was, as you would expect, remarkably candid about his ups and downs, making for one of the more forthright filmmaker memoirs ever written.
The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff (Citadel)
The world lost the aforementioned William Friedkin on August 7, and with his passing came a renewed appreciation for greats like The French Connection,...
Before we dive in, though, a note regarding the late William Friedkin, who is referenced in two entries below: I would encourage readers to check out his 2013 memoir, The Friedkin Connection. He was, as you would expect, remarkably candid about his ups and downs, making for one of the more forthright filmmaker memoirs ever written.
The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff (Citadel)
The world lost the aforementioned William Friedkin on August 7, and with his passing came a renewed appreciation for greats like The French Connection,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
The early nineties were arguably the heyday of brawny action. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world’s biggest star, thanks to Total Recall and Terminator 2. Sylvester Stallone was just a little behind him with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, but the lower-tier action stars were starting to catch up. Steven Seagal had a string of hits and was briefly about to hit the big time with Under Siege. At the same time, the Muscles from Brussels was finding his way into bigger studio fare and teamed up with arguably the greatest action director of all time for one of his best movies – Hard Target, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release.
Jump back to 1991, when Jean-Claude Van Damme had two movies that broke through at the North American box office. First up, in January of that year, was Lionheart, which carried a low budget but made $22 million for Universal.
Jump back to 1991, when Jean-Claude Van Damme had two movies that broke through at the North American box office. First up, in January of that year, was Lionheart, which carried a low budget but made $22 million for Universal.
- 8/13/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
This post contains spoilers for the season 3 finale of "Ted Lasso."
"Ted Lasso" was adept at delivering the thrills of a sports drama, with the fall and rise of an underground English football team, while also telling a beautiful story about community, mental health, self-improvement, and being open about emotions.
After three seasons, "Ted Lasso" is seemingly, apparently, as far as we know, done and over. After two very strong seasons, the final season was a very mixed bag, with a lack of focus thanks to longer episodes that dragged on, a sermon-of-the-week format that seemed to take away from the joy of earlier seasons, and a misguided football story that was too obsessed with winning — until it wasn't.
This is (kind of) a football show, of course, meaning the characters' careers and stories carry on after the end of the finale. We know Ted Lasso's career at AFC Richmond is over,...
"Ted Lasso" was adept at delivering the thrills of a sports drama, with the fall and rise of an underground English football team, while also telling a beautiful story about community, mental health, self-improvement, and being open about emotions.
After three seasons, "Ted Lasso" is seemingly, apparently, as far as we know, done and over. After two very strong seasons, the final season was a very mixed bag, with a lack of focus thanks to longer episodes that dragged on, a sermon-of-the-week format that seemed to take away from the joy of earlier seasons, and a misguided football story that was too obsessed with winning — until it wasn't.
This is (kind of) a football show, of course, meaning the characters' careers and stories carry on after the end of the finale. We know Ted Lasso's career at AFC Richmond is over,...
- 6/2/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Note: This story contains spoilers from the Season 3 finale of “Ted Lasso.”
Yeah, this might be all that we get. This might just well be it.
It’s almost like the “Ted Lasso” theme song anticipated that the Season 3 finale would close nearly all major storylines of the Apple TV+ series as the show’s future remains unclear.
Season 3, Episode 12, titled “So Long, Farewell,” debuted Wednesday and wrapped up many of the loose ends left behind in previous episodes. Richmond got one last exciting soccer game — and a win! Rupert threw a fit. Nate went back to his rightful place on the coaching staff of the greyhounds. But, before all of this happened, Ted told Rebecca and Beard and the team that he had to say goodbye and go back home to his son.
The 75-minute episode closed with what seemed like a happy ending for all of the AFC Richmond family,...
Yeah, this might be all that we get. This might just well be it.
It’s almost like the “Ted Lasso” theme song anticipated that the Season 3 finale would close nearly all major storylines of the Apple TV+ series as the show’s future remains unclear.
Season 3, Episode 12, titled “So Long, Farewell,” debuted Wednesday and wrapped up many of the loose ends left behind in previous episodes. Richmond got one last exciting soccer game — and a win! Rupert threw a fit. Nate went back to his rightful place on the coaching staff of the greyhounds. But, before all of this happened, Ted told Rebecca and Beard and the team that he had to say goodbye and go back home to his son.
The 75-minute episode closed with what seemed like a happy ending for all of the AFC Richmond family,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
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