What’s So Wrong With ‘Universal Soldier: The Return’?

By
Robb Antequera
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It’s Jean-Claude Van Damme vs. Michael Jai White! C’mon people!

I don’t remember if I’ve ever stated this (I probably have, more than once), but Jean-Claude Van Damme is my hero. Just putting it out there. Has been ever since I was a kid. I also have a huge love of Dolph Lundgren and his movies. Those two guys and their movies were my entire childhood. So when I first saw the trailer for Universal Soldier, I went berserk! These 2 titans of action were gonna fight it out in a movie?? I’M THERE!

And as you all know, it was epic. One of the best action movies to ever come out of the 90s. End of discussion. What? You thought I was gonna talk about Universal Soldier? I mean, I’d love to, but that isn’t my quest. Oh no. I’m here to talk about the sequel. No, not the 2 showtime sequels. We don’t count those (what a waste of Jeff Wincott too). No, I mean Universal Soldier: The Return! One of the greatest action movies ever made! 

What? Why are you looking at me like that? It is. Oh hush you, this movie rules!

JCVD News: A Universal Soldier Remake is on The Way

Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

Luc Deveraux must team up with the whole army, as well as a plucky news reporter, to stop the new and improved breed of universal soldiers when the supercomputer SETH goes haywire.

I LOOOVE this movie. I really do. Call it crappy taste in movies all you want, but I see no problems with this ultimate piece of badassery. Just 82 minutes of karate fights, shootouts, explosions, chases, and thundering heavy metal. What more could you want from a loud, dumb action movie? 

For starters, let’s look at our cast: the Muscles from Brussels returns to one of his most memorable roles as Luc, the original universal soldier, who is now perfectly human again because… the script said so. But enough sarcasm, this is truly one of his better performances. When we find Luc in this one, he is happily human again, raising his daughter Hillary, but with a deep sadness after the death of his wife (it isn’t stated outright, but it is believed to be Veronica from the first one). 

JCVD has always shown himself to be more emotionally available than a lot of his counterparts (*cough* Steven Seagal *cough*), and his performance here is no different. The scene where he cries himself to sleep in the dark while holding a picture of his late wife is so beautifully profound for a movie that features an extended gratuitous brawl in a strip club. Bravo, JCVD.

The 10 Best Jean-Claude Van Damme Action Movies Of All Time

Michael Jai White and Crew

The supporting players are great as well. WCW legend Bill Goldberg chews the scenery and spits it out as Romeo, the resident bad boy of the new unisol crew. Heidi Schanz is up to par as the new love interest. Kiara Tom holds her own as Luc’s sidekick, and genre veterans Xander Berkeley, Daniel von Bargen, and an underutilized James Black all round out a very impressive B-movie action cast.

But as you can see, I left out a pretty important member of the cast, because they say you should save the best for last (hey, that rhymes). I’m talking about the Black Dragon himself, Michael Jai White as the living embodiment of SETH. MJW 100% walks off with the movie with his epic portrayal of ultimate action badassness in the role of super villain SETH. 

While he had minor roles in action movies before, including a blink and you’ll miss him part in the opening scene of the original Universal Soldier, I believe this is the role that cemented him as the force in ultimate action movie history that he is today. Even people who don’t like this movie readily admit “Well, at least MJW was awesome in it.” 

The Top 10 Ultimate Michael Jai White Action Movies

JCVD is the Fred Astaire of Martial Arts!

And speaking of awesome, how undeniably awesome is the final fight between him and JCVD?? This monumental battle is to this day one of my all time favorite movie fights. The level of badass karate on display here borders on pure sorcery. It’s like the Fred Astaire of martial arts did a scene with Gene Kelly. Absolutely phenomenal! I can’t recommend it enough!

Any issues? Well, the movie IS pretty dumb. Like dumber than a bag of wash rags. The plot seems more suitable for a SyFy original movie. But we don’t watch movies like this for its plot, so who cares? Also, did the movie have to end so abruptly? The movie literally ends not even 15 seconds after the final explosion.

Like damn, that’s it? We couldn’t get a fade out? Just straight cut to black? Ok. And is it just me, or does the movie look significantly cheaper, yet costing nearly double the amount to produce than the original?? Maybe most of the money ended up as JCVD’s paycheck? Who knows what happened, because that money sure as hell didn’t end up on screen.

But with that being said, this is a fun time that I think people are entirely too hard on. It knows exactly what it is, and doesn’t try to be anything else than what it is: a loud, dumb rock ’em, sock ’em action flick. And what’s so wrong about that?

Gary Daniels’ DTV Christmas Action Classic ‘Riot’ (1996)

By
Andrew Babcock
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Another Martial Arts Actioner from the Ultimate DTV King Gary Daniels!

Ladies and gentlemen, UAMC readers, I now have another worthy candidate to watch right alongside Die Hard around Christmas time….and that is RIOT! This movie is like a gift from Santa Claus himself, by way of PM Entertainment.

Martial arts expert and DTV king Gary Daniels stars in this theater-worthy actioner as a decorated SAS officer that is stateside to help train the troops here. His best buddy is played by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and they are in the middle of some of the worst city-wide riots and mayhem you could imagine.

Jeff Speakman’s Solid and Reliable Action in ‘Scorpio One’ (1998)

Gary Daniels and Sugar Ray Leonard

 

It is all happening on Christmas eve. The one and only Charles Napier (Rambo II/Hard Justice) plays a British ambassador whose daughter is kidnapped by a very large gang in the middle of all the chaos. It goes way deeper and is more personal as the movie goes along, lets just say. Of course Napier recruits Daniels to be the guy to go in with a briefcase filled with $2 million in exchange for the ambassador’s daughter and her friend.

One of the movie’s first scenes shows Daniels saving a couple of stupid neighborhood kids who were left home alone and tried to cook a pizza in the oven, while it was still in the box. He kicks down the door and saves the day. Later on he gets a call from his old Army buddy played by Sugar Ray Leonard to shoot some pool at this bar.

What ensues is one hell of an epic bar fight. While watching, I was thinking to myself, this is worth the price of admission alone! Watching Daniels and Sugar Ray fight side by side…and what’s crazy, is the film only gets better from there!

The Best Action Movies to Watch During the Holidays

Ultimate Action, Explosions, Chases and Stunts!

The action never lets up and the many fight sequences are absolutely fantastic. Like I mentioned earlier, this was a direct to video offering of course, but the numerous set pieces, explosions, chases and stunts really make you think you are watching a bigger budget theater blockbuster.

From Daniels getting chased through the city streets by goons in full hockey gear, to getting chased some more later in the movie by baddies on dirt bikes. The stairway fight, the junkyard extravaganza. I could go on and on. Daniels really gets to let loose and get creative – some truly memorable sequences.

As I said, as the movie goes, the plot thickens when we find out who is really behind the kidnapping, not just some street gang as the movie makes you think for a while. We finally get to see Robert Kilpatrick’s IRA terrorist character and his crew of commandos.

What a presence Kilpatrick has, from his iconic role as the Sandman in Death Warrant, to Under Siege 2, to Open Fire, to Eraser and to this one, he is definitely a genre staple.

UAMC Review: Parole Violators is Stunt-Filled Ultimate Action Glory

Another PM Entertainment Classic

Sugar Ray Leonard did well with what turned out to be a limited role, while the rest of the cast was solid as well. The Elizabeth Berkley look-a-like Paige Rowland as Gary’s ex-fiancee. Veteran actor Kenneth Tigar (Lethal Weapon 2 &3) as a reporter, who also played a very similar character in another Daniels flick, Rage. Thom Barry (The Fast & Furious/Space Jam/Independence Day) as a reluctant family man who takes Daniels and Rowland in and helps them out.

90s action connoisseurs like myself, know PM Entertainment very well. Giving us countless underrated action classics. So when I say that Riot is now my favorite PM movie, it is a big statement! I will also say that this is now the definitive Gary Daniels movie in my eyes!

Die Hard at Christmas time. Now Riot at Christmas time. Make it an annual tradition as well! Riot is an ultimate action classic.

Awaiting Premieres of Action Movies: What to Add to Your Dating Movies List in 2022?

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Action movie lovers are the perfect type of people to be around. They are not afraid to suspend their disbelief in favor of a good time. With 2022 on the horizon, a whole series of new movies are poised to come out, many of them having been delayed for a year or more. Take a look at the movies that you and a romantic partner should be most excited about in the coming year.

Action movies like a popular topic that connect people

Before we look at the coming films, we have to ask why people love action movies so much. The answer is quite simple: they’re fun movies that don’t require too much thought to enjoy. Nowadays, action movies are getting bigger budgets, better stunts, and more artistic direction than ever before. People love to comment on these films, witnessing their growth and new directions.

Find your action movie lover on a dating site

If you want to take someone to the movies in 2022, then you need to get a date starting now. Your best bet is to head to the top naughty chat rooms and find people that want to talk about hot topics, from what movies you like to more intimate details of your life. Dating chat rooms are perfect for this outcome because of the freeform interactions and the popularity of the action movie genre. After you have become closer by using the site to host dates, you can meet up at the movies for a more personal date. Likewise, you can set up a movie-watching party at your house to have a more fulfilling date experience and follow up on your promises made on the chat site.

Top 5 action movies of 2022 that should be on your dating movies list

When the time comes to go on a date in 2022, you will have a lot of movies from which to choose in the action genre. We have come up with five of the most anticipated films for you to watch, and we’re going to show you why they’re perfect for a first date.

John Wick 4

The John Wick franchise is probably the best modern action film series outside of the MCU. The story of these films started with a dying wife’s gift to her husband and ended with an incredibly talented assassin wreaking havoc around the world. John Wick 4 is poised to continue the series as a major war is set to start.

Top Gun 2

The original Top Gun was one of the best action movies of the 1980s, and this long-awaited sequel will try to pick up on the story almost four decades later, allowing action fans to bask in what could be a great film.

Expendables 4

Jackie Chan joins the crew to take on another crazy mission. Details are scant, but this popcorn flick is bound to be perfect for talking over and about.

Mission: Impossible 7

If you like death-defying stunts, then M:I7 could be the movie for you and your partner. Tom Cruise has once again proved he has little regard for his well-being; make it worth his while!

Uncharted

Video game fans of the Uncharted series can see Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg travel the world together and hunt treasure. This movie has a lot of potential to be great!

Finding the right partner to watch action films with is easy—just use a dating service. Finding the right film is a little more difficult because so many of them haven’t been up to snuff lately. The films we’ve suggested for your first date night are nearly sure things, so keep an eye out for their official release dates, and you’ll have a fantastic time watching them and being with your special guy or gal.

True Lies: Arnold Becomes the Ultimate Action James Bond

By
Daniel Pappas
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There’s nothing more wholesome and enjoyable than peak Arnold in True Lies (1994).

After Terminator 2: Judgment Day and before Titanic James Cameron did a little movie called True Lies, I’m sure you’ve heard of it.

Touted as the action classic of the decade Arnold Schwarzenegger’s riff on James Bond deserves a revisit as both an Ultimate Action Movie and also a high watermark for Schwarzenegger performances.

True Lies succeeds in doing the things it’s best known for: crazy stunts, fun one-liners, and a smirking everyman Arnold.

Watch the Original ‘Terminator 2’ Alternate Ending

Arnold in True Lies

For anyone unfamiliar with the plot of this legend: Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Harry Tasker, computer salesman to his wife but actually a secret agent. His wife thinks he attends international conferences when really he’s gallivanting around the world stopping terrorist threats.

When Harry discovers his wife’s potential affair he involves her in a ‘fake mission’ to spice up their love life. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Helen Tasker, Harry’s wife, to dexterous aplomb when she goes from bored housewife to scared witness to sexy femme fatale to true secret agent when she gets dragged into a very real operation.

The movie truly revolves around Arnold and his wife. All the trappings of the spy movie are there: the glamorous tuxedo events, crazy gadgets, karate chops. Even Arnold’s one-liners harken back to the earliest days of Bond and his more tongue-in-cheek predecessors.

An exercise in editing, the tension of the fight scenes occasionally pauses for physical comedy (a man on a toilet during a toilet fight) making it a staple of the goofy action genre.

The 10 Best Arnold Schwarzenegger Ultimate Action Movies!

Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger

This movie veers wildly from self-serious in it’s intimate portrayals of Harry and Helen’s relationship to winking comedy during the chase and fight scenes.

This movie’s most memorable sequences come in its action. Who will ever forget Arnold riding a horse through a shopping mall chasing a man on a motorcycle or the subsequent elevator race? Shot in the slow pans, dolly shots, and speedy edits Cameron is famous for we’re granted an impressive cut together of action scenes that amplify the tension.

Of course it requires suspension of disbelief to watch. No one’s going to accurately believe a falling machine can accidentally kill several henchmen and no one else. True Lies isn’t a movie based on the laws of physics so much as the laws of entertainment.

Jamie Lee Curtis plays Arnold’s foil near perfectly. She never misses a beat as the antsy housewife fretting over something mundane. It makes her transition into spy all the more remarkable (with a stop to do a strip tease along the way). Still Arnold and Curtis sell that relationship well and all the better: they’re the beating heart of the movie.

The Ultimate Rankings for the Terminator Franchise Movies

A True Ultimate Action Movie Classic

I enjoyed catching up on the now-infamous action sequences. I found it dragged in a few moments where it made jokes at the expense of the relationship but it’s True Lies! It’s not True Romance!

Come for the fun, say for the fun. Arnold’s at his quippiest and most stripped down self for this movie even as he bangs heads like coconuts. True Lies, what a ride!

The Ultimate Rankings for the Terminator Franchise Movies

By
Kyle Scully
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See where your ultimate favorite Terminator movies stack up!

Arnold Schwarzenegger voice: I am Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 and I am here to tell you about the Terminator franchise, before long you will understand the movies at a geometric rate as I rate each one based on their quality as defined by me the T-800.

1) TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)

Among the many possible choices, the highest quality motion picture remains Terminator 2: Judgement Day. There is no dispute. I will provide innumerable justifications for why this is true. Reason number one, I am the hero.

Delicate human flesh cannot be as heroic as robotic life-forms such as myself. My aptitude to supply classic one-liners is unparalleled by any other vertebrate, synthetic or organic. The special-effects still stand out today and the action never relents, maintaining a break-neck speed (for an biological creature).

My co-star Linda Hamilton delivers a performance that rivals my own and Robert Patrick as the T-1000 is incredibly menacing and gives evil robots a good name.

Exploring the Multimedia Legacy of Terminator 2: Judgement

2) THE TERMINATOR (1984)

My detailed files continue with an examination of The Terminator. This film is a raw, automaton heart-pounding experience. My portrayal of a cold-calculating killer drives the story while Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor grows from an ambivalent, daydreaming waitress to someone capable of saving the world on her own.

Michael Biehn’s crazed Kyle Reese is like a rabid dog but his love for Connor knows no earthly bounds. Even my primary battery unit feels something watching them together. Do not take placing this number two placement as a denouncement of its quality. These two pieces of cinema are as close as the nanoseconds that separate every command input I receive from my CPU.

Here is where the gap between feature films widens like the gap between flimsy human flesh and near indestructible cybernetic alloy.

The Dark Conspiracy Behind The Terminator’s Origins

3) TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)

This entry is the definition of the term mixed bag. The dated humor and the humiliation of finding myself at a male strip club are as painful as rebooting my core processing unit. Other elements though are incredibly advanced.

The initial chase sequence is a manifestation of success. The shocking ending is bold and confident. My co-stars Nick Stahl and Claire Danes give a certain sense of humanity that elevates the rest of the work. My cybernetic acting programs cannot compete.

Despite this, the pressure to live up to the first two entries ensures this film would be quickly forgotten.

Is ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’ a Good Action Movie?

4) TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (2019)

I like the name Carl. I also love my performance in this movie. I am quite funny and at the risk of overheating my ego, I should have been in it more. Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is in overdrive as an elite-level badass worthy of her character from Terminator 2.

This though does not help our mission. The new characters are adequate but unremarkable. The action is difficult to follow and lacks the ingenuity of previous entries. Nothing about the action feels intimate or dangerous.

It misses the tight quarters highlighted in the first two films favoring giant spaces and indistinguishable factories. I will miss designing drapery though. Perhaps someday by CPU can help me rediscover this passion.

UAMC Review: ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ is Easily the 3rd Best in the Franchise

5) TERMINATOR SALVATION (2009)

“Terminator Salvation” is a difficult film to process. Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale portrays the leader of the resistance John Connor like a man on fire.

Sam Worthington, a human Hollywood was desperate to make a star, is opposite him as a limp, emotion fueled Terminator with almost nothing to do. Bale smothers the story that never attempts anything that might be considered interesting.

A half-baked CGI battle drags the narrative to the finish. Like many the many sunglasses I have pulverized this is a movie that holds little value.

Searching for the Ultimate in the Post-‘Terminator 2’ Sequels

6) TERMINATOR: GENISYS (2015)

Now we come to the final film. This last item of record Terminator: Genisys is a failure of the highest computation. If Terminator Salvation is a pair of crushed sunglasses Terminator: Genisys is as important as the punks who made fun of yours truly.

I am the only entity worth watching. The remaining sum of the movie is effortlessly ignored. The Terminator in this film played by Jason Clarke battles Jai Courtney as the character with the most wooden delivery. It is crucial to remember that I am in this movie. Nothing in this film survives proper critical analysis. Even Skynet would crumble under the weight of this failure.

This is my list. It is complete, definitive and without question the best possible list available. I will be sending it to Skynet immediately. Your appreciation and support of this list is required by your future robot overlords. Remember this or I’ll be back.

Michael Dudikoff Delivers Comedy and Blows in ‘Bounty Hunters’

By
Andrew Babcock
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Michael Dudikoff is… Jersey Bellini. Bounty Hunter.

You can’t talk about the glory days of action cinema without mentioning Michael Dudikoff. We all grew up with the American Ninja movies, while films like Avenging Force aka Invasion USA 2 , have become cult favorites.

Dudikoff kept as busy as ever in the 90s. I am here to shine some much deserved spotlight on one of his best characters that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough as it should and that is of Jersey Bellini! He was Jersey in not one, but two Bounty Hunters movies. Today, let’s take a look at the first one.

Bounty Hunters proved to be a unique opportunity for Dudikoff, as we get to see him flex his comedic chops as well as his usual badass persona.

Celebrating Cannon Films’ Greatest Action Movie – American Ninja (1985)

It’s Bounty Hunter vs. Bounty Hunter

Dudikoff stars as a cigar smokin, wise crackin, bounty hunter, who – much his dismay – always finds himself at odds with a rival bounty hunter, played by the lovely Lisa Howard (Highlander: The Series). To complicate matters even more, Howard also happens to be his ex-girlfriend.

The two have really good on screen chemistry together, even though most of the film they are bickering and competing, you can tell they really still care about each other. So as the story goes, they are forced to team up once again to bring in one of the hottest fugitives out there – if it were only that simple.

After one of my favorite scenes in the movie at a chop shop (more on that in a minute), they find the most annoying hooker ever in the trunk of a car, played by Erin Fitzgerald. They provide protection for her as she has crucial information about the guy they are after… he is one of the most wanted men by the mob and is on their hit list. As you can tell, the movie just gets crazier and crazier from then on.

Avenging Force: The Perfect Blend of Action Movie Ingredients

A Self-Aware Action Comedy

Dudikoff turns in one of his more unique and memorable performances to date. His house is loaded with all kinds of different traps and safeguards, should anyone dare try to break in. One of his best friends the next door neighbor kid (Ashanti Williams), who helps him along the way, and throws out some of the film’s funniest lines.

Bad guy duties are taken on by Benjamin Ratner (Firestorm/White Tiger/American Dragons), Freddy Andreiucci (Sons of Anarchy), Mike Mitchell (Timecop) and Jason Vorhees himself, Ken Kerzinger (Freddy vs. Jason).

While delivering the goods in the action department, Bounty Hunters is a very self aware film that doesn’t take itself too seriously and it adds to the charm.

Sure the film has some comedic moments and one liners, but I know the primary reason you are reading this right now is for the action! As I said, it is not short on that. How is seeing Dudikoff blowing away baddies with a pump-action shotgun so damn satisfying?! He does a lot of that here and there are quite a few really cool fight scenes as well.

The chop-shop fight sees both Dudi and Howard taking on several guys, all of whom happen to know martial arts. Guys are thrown out windows, limbs are broken and Howard does her best Rothrock impression executing a nice scorpion kick!

UAMC Interview: Behind the Scenes of American Ninja 2 (1987)

Just Give us More Dudikoff Already!

A couple of my other favorite fight scenes include seeing Dudikoff in disguise in a hip hop club called ‘Meat’ – lets just say his dancing made him stick out pretty fast! Another one takes place in his house where he is being held at gunpoint… he convinces his captors to turn on the game, hands them a remote and the rigged TV blows up! Leading Dudikoff to take care of business.

I also have to mention the nostalgia trip that Bounty Hunters brings. Seeing a classic style Burger King and a scene in a local video store called Bombastic Video where he takes out a would-be thief.

Dudikoff and Howard, what a great pair and what a fun ride Bounty Hunters is – accompanied by a nice action movie score that grows on you. Luckily we get to see them reprise their roles in a sequel. I will get to that for you sometime as well. For now, I’ll leave you with this; if you love collecting Michael Dudikoff movies like I do, your collection is not complete without Bounty Hunters!

What is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth?

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock (6898671mm) Sylvester Stallone LACMA Art and Film Gala, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 29 Oct 2016

What are the vast and ultimate fortunes of the action movie superstar?

Sylvester Stallone is ultimate action movie royalty. He’s on the A-list level which he shares with only a few. And honestly it might just be him and Arnold Schwarzenegger up at this highest echelon.

Stallone even stands out then just from the sheer strength of his movie franchises. While Arnie has indeed had some mega-hits. Stallone might be the single most dominant box office persona of all time. Just look at his ultimate blockbuster franchises: Rocky and Rambo.

And from there, he has tons of other hits and big paydays. So the question is, what is the man truly worth.

How Old is Sylvester Stallone?

Sylvester Stallone is Worth $400 Million

That’s a ballpark figure based on his career earnings and the amount of royalties he’s still collecting on the number of movies, television and merchandise from there. Stallone definitely should be credited with having excellent foresight.

From his Rocky-esque rags-to-riches tale of his own, he struggled and clawed for control of his own destiny with his original Rocky screenplay.

Insisting that he were to stay attached as the star – and in effect making him a box office commodity. He also was wise to tailor the script for First Blood (the first Rambo movie) to change an ending which saw John Rambo die, just so he could keep it open for more sequels.

How Tall is Sylvester Stallone?

Biggest Box Office Performances

According to aggregators, Stallone is personally responsible for nearly $4 billion at the box office ($3,959,997,607 to be exact). In 1985 Stallone released Ramo: First Blood Part II and Rocky IV which would both go on to top $300 million in total international box office returns.

While his heyday might be associated with the 80s and 90s, Stallone has truly kept his foot on the pedal with both new franchises like The Expendables, to re-launching old names with Creed and Creed II and the Rambo and Rambo V: Last Blood.

And the man doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon with rumored reboots or spin-offs for Cobra, Cliffhanger and Demolition Man possibly on the way!

UAMC Review: Chadwick Boseman Shines in ’21 Bridges’

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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An old school Ultimate Action worthy action vehicle for the Bose-man!

As we’ve seen from the numerous commercials and trailer, 21 Bridges tells the story of a dedicated cop, relentless in his pursuit of justice caused by the trauma of losing his Policeman father when he was young, who has been tasked with chasing down two gunman responsible for killing a handful of boys in blue during a heist gone bad. 

The advertising didn’t show us anything we haven’t seen, or come to expect, from a police thriller – gritty settings, tough guys with guns, lotsa action –  but what it doesn’t show is the absolute dedication and stone cold seriousness that director Brian Kirk and leading man/producer Chadwick Boseman have taken with the material.

Yes, 21 Bridges could be called just another generic cop chase movie, but what sets it apart is the bleak tone, ominous score and real world set up. After a year of superhero blockbusters and lacklustre sequels that frankly left me cold, this familiar, but highly entertaining action film was a welcome return to good filmmaking and I left the theatre very entertained.

The pic is far from perfect and won’t likely win any Oscars come awards time, but it’s certainly a welcome return to the brutal thriller genre made famous in the mid 90’s. What worked…?

All Hail the Japanese Ultimate Action Breakout ‘Hydra’ (2019)

Chadwick Boseman in a True Action Role

Boseman. I was underwhelmed with Black Panther as I seem to be becoming indifferent to that genre, but Boseman was quite good in the lead, it was the surrounding movie that let him down.  In this movie, he’s free of the restrictions in place that come with making a kids movie, and he lets fire with all cylinders as the embittered cop who lets nothing, and no one, stand in his way.

His lead, Andre Davis, is quite the badass. When we meet him, he’s in an Internal Affairs review board meeting, being questioned about how he feels having gunned down a cop killer. Davis likens his job to a soldiers’ in a war. Of course, the bureaucrats in suits don’t get it, but we do – Davis views the city as a warzone – and he’s the last gunslinger there to clean it up. Boseman pulls off the role quite admirably. Where most young actors try and look tough in these roles and struggle, he actually pulls it off, with his no bullshit attitude and zero f’s to give demeanor.  I look forward to seeing him in more adult-oriented roles.

The villains. Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch aren’t just paper thin cutouts waiting to be gunned down. Thanks to their chemistry, we actually almost care about their plight, even though they’re bad guys who gun down innocent people. James is very solid as the conflicted one of the two, but Kitsch is fantastic and is cornering the market on playing these unhinged scumballs after his performance in this and the underrated American Assassin. They’re two of the most memorable pseudo villains/anti-heroes to come along in ages.

Keith David makes a brief appearance as Boseman’s boss.  What else can you say? The guy is a freakin’ legend and any scene he’s in is automatically better because he’s in it! Still scary and imposing as hell, David has lost none of his touch, even in smaller roles.

JK Simmons turns up as the Captain who wants blood for the death of his men. Like David, this guy knows how to deliver a line, and he can deliver a performance with just one look. He’s that good and he gets some great insults in on the Mayor who’s been neglecting his beloved department. My only gripe with role is that I wish the script hadn’t telegraphed his true intentions so much. Keeping him more of a mystery would have been better.

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Brian Kirk’s Take on Old School Action

Director Brian Kirk is a filmmaker whose past efforts I’m not familiar with, having never watched Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire, but he, along with cinematographer Paul Cameron,  captures the rapidly moving action and story very well and avoids the pratfalls most TV directors make first time around. He shoots Bridges like a real film, not a commercial, and some of his action sequences are so well captured and edited that they beg for a second viewing. Well done.

The score by Henry Jackman and Alex Belcher isn’t some dull synth score that just fills in the silence between action beats – it’s almost another character in the film, and like the film, it’s always moving and thumping, and we as the audience are always trying to keep up. If you’re a soundtrack enthusiast, you probably should track this one down.

I can’t write this review without mentioning the action. Anyone who likes R-rated action movies will love this film. The carnage is not in the John Wick mould, but it is brutal and very final. While it’s become the in-thing to riddle people with bullets in movies of late, Bridges goes for the realistic approach and it fits the picture given we’re talking about professional cops who are trained to deliver kill shots. It’s bloody, looks painful and sounds horrible. What more could you ask for?

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Will it be an ultimate classic though?

Taylor Kitsch and Stephan James star in 21 BRIDGES

Now, the not-so-good-but-not-fatal flaws.

Sienna Miller. She plays a local narc partnered up with Davis to help him navigate the terrain. She really failed to be believable in this film. Maybe she’s too pretty. Maybe her fake New Yawk accent bothered me, but I didn’t buy her character, and like Simmons, it was all too obvious what was going to happen. It’s probably the only major problem I have with the film.

The screenplay mostly works and keeps things moving at a pace, but a late subplot involving dirty cops and a conspiracy seems rushed and not terribly well thought out, but having said that, the film does conclude almost open-ended on this development, and it’s better for it. We’re left to wonder what our hero will do given the tough choices he’s left to make, and the uncertain future he’s facing. The screenplay was rewritten by Matthew Michael Carnahan, brother of Joe – who helmed the sublime 2002 procedural Narc – and the closing echoes that film’s tough finale. One can’t help but wonder if it was his doing.  

Overall, no rule books are being rewritten, no new gold-standard has been set, and the film likely be a blip at the box office this weekend, but 21 Bridges is a very well made, well acted crime/cop movie that is more comparable to the films of yesteryear than the soulless pulp we’re getting at the moment. I was refreshed by its skill and execution, and will be returning soon to see it again.

From a small country town where not many films played, Kent Church grew up on a steady diet of Coca Cola, horror magazines and action movies on VHS. If the movie didn’t have Chuck Norris or Eastwood on the cover, he wasn’t interested. His one core belief: Arnold Schwarzenneger must be President!! And James Woods Vice–President…

5 Best Action Movies on Netflix Australia for Your First Date

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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If you’re single in Brisbane, have you ever tried seeking a prospective partner but been disappointed by the results? It’s not uncommon to visit the Victorian capital’s leisure spots but find surrounded by so many other singles. Your best bet would be referring to the online environment. If you are particularly keen on finding someone sharing your taste in movies, you must check out the range of dating sites in Brisbane has to offer. By poring over a review website, you’ll get a fabulous idea of the prime digital matchmaking resources serving this part of Australia. The inbuilt algorithms on all these Australian dating sites will help you narrow down your choices, making it easy to connect with an appropriate match. Now all you’d have to do would be take advantage of the discrete communication platform and exchange messages about your top movies.

Netflix Australia for date ideas

Once you’ve met with a suitable partner in Brisbane chat rooms, the next step would be arranging a date. Action movies always represent a first-class backdrop, as these will provide you with hours of escapism as well as many conversational talking points. Go online for a snapshot of the latest releases, or check out our recommendations for films to be savored via Netflix Australia.

Back to the Future

This franchise may have started over 30 years ago, but as an action movie to enjoy with your significant other, it is note-perfect. Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) befriends an eccentric inventor (Christopher Lloyd) who has just perfected a time-traveling car. McFly must return to the 1950s to ensure his actual mum and dad get together – or else he’ll cease to exist!

Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino has a habit of unleashing films that combine strong emotions and slapstick violence, a heady mixture providing a captivating entertainment cocktail. America’s Deep South during the slave trade fizzles with characters both heroic and repugnant.

Gladiator

Starring the iconic Australian actor Russell Crow, this was a massive hit when first released. Director Ridley Scott takes us back into the bloodied sand of the Ancient Roman gladiator arenas. The central gladiator must avenge his family’s murder while slaying anyone else getting in his way.

Blade Runner 2049

Denis Villeneuve has made a decent fist of capturing the atmospheric backdrop of the masterful original, creating a bleak but mesmerizing sequel to 1982’s Blade Runner. Ryan Gosling stars as a replicant with emotions.

Collateral

We are used to seeing Tom Cruise as a square-jawed hero, but here he plays against type as an ice-cool, ruthless hitman. His grudging taxi driver is a spirited Jamie Foxx, making the perfect foil.

Finally, let’s reiterate our tips about the best way to go about connecting with a fellow film lover. Make sure you stress this aspect of your character when you are compiling your dating profile. It might be a good idea to write a teaser of your favorite films, dropping hints that your idea of the perfect date would be snuggling next to someone in a multiplex with a large tub of popcorn to share.

To give yourself an even better chance of finding the ideal person for your movie ventures, make sure you upload a suitably alluring photo of yourself, one without any background distractions. If you have any from your social media displaying you in your favorite movie hero costume, that might be even better. What single could fail to be enamored by the prospect of a romantic attachment with John Travolta’s or Uma Thurman’s characters from Pulp Fiction?

The Hitman: Chuck Norris’ Definitive Cannon Films Classic

By
Andrew Babcock
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HITMAN, THE, Chuck Norris, 1991

Chuck Norris brings some major ruckus in The Hitman (1991).

What more can be said about the one and only Chuck Norris that hasn’t already been said? A true legend, and pioneer in martial arts, on screen and off.

I decided to go back and revisit one of my favorites of his that I hadn’t seen since back in the day and it packs just as much punch and grit as I remembered. I’m talkin’ about 1991’s The Hitman, brought to us by the glorious Cannon Films.

Walker, Texas Ranger to Get Reboot (But Without Chuck Norris)

A Norris Brothers Production

Directed by Chuck’s younger brother, Aaron Norris, a familiar pairing – The Hitman opens with Chuck and his partner played by the underrated actor Michael Parks (From Dusk till Dawn/Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2) about ready to dive into a drug bust. In one of the more shocking moments in action movie history, Parks double crosses him, shoots Chuck twice and we see him fall out a warehouse window onto a car. Parks has flipped to the other side of the law apparently and it was his drug shipment that was coming in. We see Chuck in a bad way, near death and then it fast forwards to years later…

Norris now sporting a new look and occupation (or so it seems). He is sporting a long trenchcoat and a sweet mullet, pre-dating Van Damme’s in Hard Target and he is now working for one of the biggest crime bosses in the city as a right hand man, or hit man. We the audience know he is undercover, but the baddies just never see Chuck comin’.

We see Chuck going home after a long day of ‘criminal activities’ and this is where the heart of the movie is. He sees a neighborhood kid locked out of his apartment door, his mom was hard at work at one of her three jobs, so of course Chuck shows his soft side and lets the kid sleep on his couch until his mom comes to get him. Like I said, this is where the real heart of the movie is and one of the best things going for it is Chuck’s growing relationship with the kid. 

The 11 Greatest Chuck Norris Ultimate Action Movies

Chuck Norris Protects America

The kid played by Salim Grant (Saved By The Bell: The New Class) gives a very likable performance as he is getting bullied at school. Chuck shows him some self defense techniques and it works out well as Grant ends up standing up for himself and taking on the bully. The bully’s dad is a real piece of shit, egging it on and of course we get to see Chuck handle his business like we wanted to see him do. He punches the guy through a screen door.

Throughout the film we see Chuck getting deeper and deeper involved with the crime boss and other warring factions. The action is solid, but don’t expect a ton of martial arts. The action is well shot with some memorable entrances. Chuck still kicks ass – especially in one of my favorite scenes of the movie, where he goes into a restaurant to confront the Israeli crime group. He stands right on their table, putting his fingers in their drinks and food and asks them, “Are you afraid to die? Because I’m not.” He proceeds to wipe the floor with them and it’s awesome.

We finally get to see the showdown that we were waiting for as Norris comes face with his old partner turned crime boss, Parks. The fight is solid enough, but how it ends is the most memorable. Chuck ends up tying him to a chair as the chair dangles out the window. Chuck’s police backup shows up and you think it’s over, but then we see Parks has a bomb strapped to him as well. Boom! He gets splattered all over the window. The police chief yells at Norris saying, “We wanted him alive!” and then Norris replies with “Ain’t life a bitch?!”. Epic line to close off this early 90s action classic.

The Cutter: Chuck Norris Shines in his Final Starring Role

A Classic Chuck Norris Performance

What really makes this movie standout is the cool, moody atmosphere it has. Chuck gives his usual tough as nails performance that we all know and love, while the rest of the cast is filled with good, veteran actors, but to me, not all that memorable of characters. Besides the ones I mentioned.

Having said that, The Hitman was one of the last films that Norris did before going into Walker, Texas Ranger mode, and it really is one of the definitive films in his catalog. Who misses seeing Norris on screen? I certainly do. Thankfully he has given us a legacy in entertainment and so many classics to go back to.

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