How ‘Point Break’ Perfectly Balances Ironic and Sincere Awesomeness

May 21, 2019

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze form the perfect ironic and sincere yin yang in their 1991 surfing action classic!

For the past 15 years of my life, whenever anyone has asked me what my favorite movie is, I’ve always had the same answer: Point Break (1991). Sadly since 2015 I’ve had to explain that I don’t mean the reboot (and this is the last we’ll mention of that awful iteration for the rest of this article).

Most people, when they hear it, will laugh, smile and agree that Point Break is truly awesome. These are the people I consider my friends. However, I meet a lot of other people who seem a little surprised or shocked at the notion. And I often feel that – for both of our sakes – that I need to explain myself.

It often boils down to my belief that Point Break most accurately embodies the perfect fusion between ironic and sincere movie watching enjoyment. The Ultimate Action Movie Club is built on the same principles. What makes some movies “bad” to some, can also make it “ultimate” to others. It’s just a matter of how one defines their own enjoyment.

Point Break is both a beautiful mix of both the “bad” and the “good” – or the “ultimate” and the “awesome” as I’d say. It has some truly amazing and truly awful performances. Some great action, some insane stunts, and some of the most famous one liners ever.

So, in appreciation of the perfect combination of all which is ultimate and good in the ultimate action movie world, let’s break down the ironic and sincere greatness that is Point Break.

Ironic: Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey as Buddy Cops

In true 1990s postmodern action film fashion, Point Break incorporates several action genres into one. It’s a surfer extreme sports movie, it’s an inside man gang infiltration movie, and it’s a buddy cop action comedy.

And man, as far as most ultimate buddy cop duos in action movie history go, Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey as FBI Agents Johnny Utah and Angelo Pappas have to be one of the greatest team-ups ever.

First Keanu Reeves is horribly miscast against type where he is supposed to be the straight-laced, starch shirt by-the-book bureaucrat who we’re supposed to be SURPRISED to see that JOHNNY is the one that takes on the airhead surfer persona for sake of their mission.

(It’s important to note that not only did Reeves star as Ted in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure two years early, he actually reprised the role in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey the same year that Point Break came out.)

Gary Busey on the other hand is more correctly cast as the outlandish, do-whatever-it-takes roughneck agent. And he delivers one of his peak Busey performances bumbling through scenes with the energy of a caged raccoon.

But as FBI Director Ben Harp (John C. McGinley) is quick and often to point out, they’re both incredibly terrible at their jobs. Pursuing wrong leads, staying out all night surfing and sleeping in on their own busts, and missing bank robberies while reading Ziggy cartoons.

Sincere: The Greatness of Patrick Swayze

Yet if Point Break has one ultimate saving grace, it’s the truly magical performance by Patrick Swayze as the Bodhisattva – aka Bodhi. It’s really and truly the role Swayze was born to play.

While portraying Dalton in Road House will always be his most recognized legacy, Swayze is perfect for channeling the same calm, collected, and spiritual sensuality into the surfer sage gang leader who flies just a little too close to the sun to truly be appreciated in his time. (Except of course by Johnny Utah, who lets him go in the end to fulfill his surfer destine.)

Ironic: The Surfing Scenes

One aspect in which Point Break wipes out though, has to be in its surf scenes. Although, I’ll be quick to grant the director and her team the benefit of the doubt on this one (for the most part the direction is one absolutely masterful throughout).

One: filming surfing footage is difficult. You have to be out in the water. It’s hard to “manufacture” waves or create ideal shooting setups. I have distinct memories of a Disney channel movie called Johnny Tsunami which struggled with many of the same types of scenes.

Shooting dialogue out while surfing is even harder. Even with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze being adept enough to appear in many of their own stunts, there aren’t a lot of “home run” shots of the two gleaming the cube.

The most atrocious scenes have to be the night surf sequence in which Johnny Utah is goaded into joining Bodhi and his entourage for some “pitch black” surfing – which results in Utah hooking up for Tyler for the first time.

As those who have been in the ocean at night time – even a few feet off the shore – can attest, you’re in complete darkness. This is incredibly hard to film and very unsafe I would imagine, so as you can expect, you can obviously tell they shot the night scenes at night and applied day-for-night blue coloring. You can see the sun in several shots!

Sincere: Kathryn Bigelow’s Action Scenes

But, as mentioned above, Point Break is a phenomenally well directed movie by eventual Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow. I’d say it even rivals the work of Bigelow’s ex-husband James Cameron’s Terminator 2 – as the two share many similar action sequences and high octane chases.

It’d be hard to rank all the ultimate action scenes in Point Break (maybe we’ll save that for a later article), but to name a few that stand out:

The iconic Johnny Chasing Bodhi on foot scene
The preceding car chase with Gary Busey on their tale
The skydiving showdown
The final bank robbery that goes wrong sequence
The raid of the wrong house scene (and subsequent lawn mower fight scene)
The shower fight scene with Anthony Kiedis

Every single one of these sequences is absolute perfection. I wouldn’t change a single thing in any of them. They all start off with an ultimate kick in the face and steadily raise the suspense and the stakes with engaging direction and edge of your seat action.

Ironic: Keanu Reeves and his Doppelgänger Lori Petty

Point Break (1991)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Shown from left: Keanu Reeves (as FBI Special Agent Johnny ‘John’ Utah), Lori Petty (as Tyler Ann Endicott)

There’s just something odd (yet beautiful perhaps) about Johnny Utah’s relationship and his mark Tyler Endicott. They look like the could pretty much be twins. In several scenes – especially the aforementioned night surfing shots – it’s really hard to tell them apart. Both with their androgynous haircuts and slim figures.

Not to knock Lori Petty’s performance, as she’s in peak ‘90s mode at this point in her career. A League of Their Own and Tank Girl star is most notable to me, at least, as “Jones” in the Pauly Shore flick In the Army Now of all things. Yet, their odd doppelgänger relationship is just another odd casting choice that creates some funny scenes and confusions.

Sincere: The Fastest 122 Minutes in Cinema History

Going back to Bigelow’s directing once again, you may be surprised to learn that Point Break clocks in at 122 minutes (2 minutes over 2 hours). Which isn’t a particularly noteworthy time except for the fact that every time I’ve ever watched Point Break (which has been about once a month for the past 12 years for me) I swear it feels like it’s 60 minutes long flat.

The movie just ZOOMS by – and I mean that in the best way. It’s so gripping and engaging that the three acts blend together so seamlessly that you hardly notice how far you’ve made it in the film before it’s pretty much done.

And that 3rd act. That 3rd act! Starting pretty much around the time Johnny hits the ground from skydiving with Bodhi and crew and his world gets flipped on him with the news of Tyler’s kidnapping – BAM the game is afoot and you’re in for a full throttled race to the finish!

Ironic: Skydiving!

Ah, now we get to the skydiving! The skydiving sequences in Point Break are so beloved, iconic and unbelievable that the TV program Mythbusters dedicated an entire episode to Point Break and its skydiving exploits.

And it should come as no surprise to anyone that some of the facts of these scenes are beyond unrealistic. Mythbusters easily disproved that two people could engage in high-stakes character conversation while skydiving. As well as thoroughly debunked the amount of time that Johnny and Bodhi spend in the air as impossible from the most stretched altitude launches.

Sincere: Skydiving!

Yet, those scenes are so amazing! They’re some of the most breathtaking skydiving shots this side of Mission Impossible – Fallout – and even those might not even live up to Point Break’s ultimateness.

According to the IMDB trivia page, Patrick Swayze (who we all know was already an accomplished skydiver) made over 50 jumps for the filming of those sequences – the majority of which were against the wishes of producers and the film insurers.

Ironic: The 50 Year Storm

Honestly, it’s kind of a stretch for me to call Bodhi’s “50 year storm” ironic because it just sounds so badass. But, it’s also just awesome and funny how they introduce the whole concept of the “ultimate” surf early in the film where the beach campfire falls into a hush at its mention. You just know it’s going to come back later, and of course, Johnny, knowing Bodhi as deeply as he does, instantly knows that’s where he has to find him at the end.

Which then leads to one of the most greatest final showdowns ever. Of course it makes no sense. There’s no way Utah would still be on the case. Much less operating in pursuit of Bodhi for several years, with the complete support of multiple international agencies behind him.

And for him to finally catch Bodhi, but still surprise no one when he let’s him ride off to his ultimate demise!

Sincere: “Vaya Con Dios”

Yet, it happens. And it’s awesome. And it gives us the most ultimate one-liner in action movie history. It’s a perfect summation of their journey together, albeit both ultimately ironic and ultimately sincere. It doesn’t really matter any more. It’s just awesome.

Vaya con dios Point Break.

Vaya con dios!

What are your favorite moments from Point Break (1991)? Let us know in the comments!

Ranking the Top 5 Best Tony Jaa Ultimate Action Movies

Robb Antequera

May 20, 2019

Tony Jaa Movies Ranked — Tony Jaa Best Action Movies

Here are the best and greatest from the Muay Thai warrior Tony Jaa!

Can you guess what is our pick for the most ultimate Tony Jaa film?

Since 2004, Tony Jaa has amazed American audiences time and time again with his gift for performing insanely death defying moves this side of Jackie Chan in some of the most ultimate action movies ever created. Some people would find it difficult to narrow it down to a top 5 list. But here… we have done just that.

So here are the Top 5 Tony Jaa Ultimate Action Movies!

How Tony Jaa Saved the Ultimate Martial Arts Action Movie

5) Kill Zone 2 (2015)

Tony Jaa getting his kill on in Kill Zone 2.

Jaa plays a correction officer who must team up with undercover cop Wu Jing to stop corruption inside a brutal prison.

Although the showdown between martial arts masters Jaa and Jing is all too short, it’s still very much incredibly thrilling in this gritty, no holds barred action movie that will whet your appetite for awesome martial arts action.

4) Triple Threat (2019)

Jaa and Tiger Chen must team up with Iko Uwais to take that a deadly group of terrorists after a young heiress.

A gorgeous martial arts royal rumble. Features truly breathtaking action. And the highly anticipated showdown between action greats Jaa and Scott Adkins is worth the price of admission alone. Simply fantastic.

Triple Threat: An Ultimate Martial Arts Movie for the Ages

3) The Protector (2005)

Tony Jaa showcases his acrobatic action exploits in The Protector.

Jaa plays a young man who must find the perpetrators who kidnapped his pet elephants.

Non-stop action of the finest order makes this an absolute classic of the genre. And the climax which features him taking on about 50 bad guys is still an awe-inspiring scene till this day.

2) Ong Bak (2003)

Tony Jaa in his breakout role in Ong Bak.

Jaa plays a young warrior who must travel to Bangkok to recover the stolen head of the ancient statue of Ong Bak for his village.

The one that started it all. Jaa is the whole show here. The filmmakers put his dazzling skills on display here for the whole world to see and we are so much better for that. They could’ve easily called this “The Skills of Tony Jaa: The Movie” and it would have sufficed. Remarkable stuff in here.

1) Ong Bak 2 (2008)

In this prequel to Ong Bak, Jaa plays a warrior raised by ruthless pirates who seeks vengeance on the people who killed his parents.

My. God. If you want to see what perfect martial arts action looks like, look no further. This movie features, in my opinion, the best action choreography I’ve ever seen in a movie. Ever. The way Jaa has mastered a multitude of styles as to effortlessly switch between them while fighting an endless supply of bad guys is nothing short of beautiful. Just beautiful. I can’t praise it enough.

How would you rank the ultimate martial arts action movies of Tony Jaa?

UAMC Reviews: John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum #2

Iron Fist

May 18, 2019

If you want war, prepare for Wick…

John Wick is the living personification of martial arts and Parabellum is the masterpiece he is about to paint, as the character continues to have the worst week in human history. The more you hurt him, the harder he becomes. He improvises, adapts and overcomes until there is no other left standing. He is quite simply death personified by gun, knife or hand to hand.

JOHN WICK 3 SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!

UAMC Reviews: John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum #1

Taking place ten minutes after the events of Chapter 2, Wick has been excommunicated and has one hour before a fourteen million dollar contract becomes active and every assassin in the world comes calling. Turns out, Wick has some blood markers of his own and needs to get across town to the public library to retrieve them from a book hidden in the stacks. So begins his quest for a meeting with the High Table to plead his case to spare his life so he can go on to become the man his late wife always wanted him to be. But before that, there’s killing. Lots and lots of killing.

Chapter 3 Begins

The High Table sends a woman known as an Adjudicator to make sure Wick pays for his crimes. She enlists a sushi chef who’s also a master assassin named Zero, played by Mark Dacascos, and his two ninja students to burn down anybody who has aided and abetted Wick in the past. Turns out the High Table also has plans for Mr. Wick. Will he become the blunt instrument of the High Table or will he continue to strive to regain his humanity. That is the question.

But before we have our answer, prepare yourself for action set pieces in every conceivable venue. A knife fight in an antique weapons emporium, a horse stable, a swimming pool, on motorcycles, in a desert and in a marketplace in Casablanca of all places. It tops itself with a homage to Enter The Dragon with a fight in a museum made of glass. And this is after Wick is joined by Charon the concierge to take out a literal bus full of commandos as they invade The Continental.

How Mark Dacascos Paved the Way for John Wick in ‘Sanctuary’ (1997)

Ultimate Martial Arts Done Right

You will never see martial arts done more right then in this movie. Sambo, Judo. Silat. Muay Thai, Western boxing, Kali, Capoeira, and a healthy dose of Gun Fu. They are all on display here. Dacascos have never been better as he is given the honor of hunting his idol and his taunting of Wick is hilarious. And if Zero’s henchmen look familiar as they tag team our protagonist, it’s because it’s Mad Dog and the fight team from The Raid movies, bringing a healthy dose of Indonesian Silat to the party. And if that’s not enough, we have Halle Berry and her two dogs joining in the mayhem.

6 Ultimate Action Stars Who Should Have Starred in John Wick

Chad Stahelski Shines

To say this movie is Tarantino-esque in a way we haven’t seen since 2003’s Kill Bill would be selling the franchise’s director Chad Stahelski short. He has now blazed new trails in action cinema in his creation of the Wick-verse. At 51, Stahelski is a martial artist himself trained by none other then Guro Dan Inosanto, Bruce Lee’s number one student. He is able to choreograph these fights as only a trained fighter could and his time as a stuntman has taught him how to film them.

Quite the wicked combination. But did you know that Stahelski was a friend and training partner to the late Brandon Lee, Bruce’s son, who died tragically on the set of The Crow? It was Stahelski who stepped in as an actor to film Lee’s remaining scenes to complete the movie. He later went on to become Keanu’s stunt double on The Matrix movies. He has now become the movies foremost world builder outside of the Marvel Universe and master of mayhem.

I don’t think I would be spoiling anything if I confirm that John Wick is indeed back and members of the High Table can expect a visitor in the immediate future. If Parabellum is Latin for “If you want peace, prepare for war”, I wonder what is Latin for “ If you want war, prepare for Wick”?

This author wishes to maintain his secret identity goes by the name of his favorite comic book hero Iron Fist. When he’s not collecting comics from his childhood, watching action movies or raising his three kids, he works a a police officer, trains Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, Kali and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Needless to say, he takes poor martial arts or sloppy gun handling skills personally. And he lives and trains in Chicago.

Let us know your thoughts on John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum on our Facebook page!

UAMC Reviews: John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum #1

Ultimate Action Movies

May 17, 2019

Apparently ‘Parabellum‘ is Latin for overblown?

2014’S John Wick was a pleasant surprise. And ticked all the boxes for a successful action movie – brutal shootouts, a cool lead character, excellent cinematography, pulsing music and slimy villains – but best of all, our hero wasn’t just a stone-faced killing machine. He had a cause. And it gave the movie heart beyond the bloodshed.

2017’s John Wick Chapter 2 expanded the universe created in the first film, brought in some interesting new characters and upped the action ante considerably. The movie’s open ending left us chomping at the bit for more, and promised the mother of all showdowns.

John Wick 3 SPOILERS beyond this point!!

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

John Wick Chapter 3 starts off less than an hour after the previous sequel finishes, and for a majority of its 130 minute run time, it succeeds at being a well-made, brilliantly realised action movie – but the conclusion of act 2, and pretty much all of act 3, take the character into territory I’m not sure he would really go into, and turns some compelling villains into living jokes. And in a desperate bid to make another sequel, the writers have constructed a ridiculous twist that is more insulting than thrilling and feels totally at odds with the character and the universe they have set up.

The good news is that Keanu Reeves has never been better, handling the razor-sharp action sequences, and there’s A LOT, with dedication and balls. Keanu is completely committed to this character and it shows. As Stallone will always be Rambo, and Clint will always be Dirty Harry, Keanu will always be John Wick. Putting other so-called action stars to shame with his dizzying fight moves and authentic weapon skills, Reeves must be commended for his performance. This guy never gives anything less than 110 percent.

UAMC Reviews: John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum #2

Who else is in John Wick 3?

Ian McShane is suitably cool (as always) as the Continental manager, Winston, and he is given far more to do this time than previously, but as I mentioned earlier, the third act completely short-changes him and leaves him, and a couple of other characters, adrift at sea for the sake of dramatics.

Lance Reddick’s role as concierge, Charon is greatly expanded, like Winston’s, and he even gets in on some of the action – next to John. I liked these scenes and I welcome more of them. But again, the finale leaves him high and dry – maybe these issues will be resolved in Chapter 4, but it all seemed hideously contrived to me.

Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King escapes such nonsense, and thanks to Fishburne’s deep, velvet voice and menacing delivery, he remains a powerful, mysterious figure.

New cast addition Halle Berry plays one of John’s old cohorts – and when it comes to their action scenes, Berry gives Reeves a run for his money, but her performance is borderline unsympathetic and cold. I get she’s pissed at John for past indiscretions, but we have to like her, and I’m not sure Berry pulled that part off. Her dogs, however, steal every scene they’re in – and need their own movie!

Asia Kate Dillon’s mysterious character, the Adjudicator, who works for the High Table, is another misstep. Dillon looks cool, walks like a killer, and talks like a Wall Street broker, but she’s not very threatening – and for someone who sets most of the action into motion – that’s not good. She never feels like she can really do any harm to John or those he cares for.

Anjelica Huston turns up as someone I can only describe as the closest thing John has to family. Thankfully, Huston is such a professional, and can convey so much with a sneer, that she owns every scene she’s in, however brief.

Action favourite and legend, IMO, Mark Dacascos is the film’s main thorn in John’s side. Zero is a sushi chef by day, insanely skilled professional killer by night. In the years since the sensational Crying Freeman, Dacascos has not slowed down, or lost any physical prowess. He’s fast, lethal and lively, so it’s a shame when, like several other characters, his Zero is reduced to a punchline in the final act.

How Mark Dacascos Paved the Way for John Wick in ‘Sanctuary’ (1997)

Is ‘John Wick 3’ Any Good?

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) and Director (Anjelica Huston) in JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM

Directed by series regular Chad Stahelski, John Wick Chapter 3 is the best realised – sets, cinematography, lighting, pacing – of the franchise. The action sequences in this film for two thirds are insane and outrageous, and violent as hell, especially the motorcycle chase at the 90 minute mark. The fight choreography is breathlessly executed but in some places, it feels overly elaborate and staged, and that slows the film down, and makes a couple of the fights anti-climactic. A protracted throw down inside a glass high-rise between John and Zero never really reaches the highs it should, and the finale is strangely flat, thanks to the humor no one asked for.

The makers of JWC3 in an attempt to create a series, have forgone logic and artistic sensibility, and ignored their own world they so wonderfully made, to achieve this. Wick ceases to be Wick in the third act, and does something completely at odds with the character and the previous films. The set up for Chapter 4 feels ham-fisted and completely tacked-on. It is worth noting that creator and regular writer Derek Kolstadt was rewritten by several other writers on this film – and it shows!

I’m sure this movie will be greeted with open arms and will close with a hefty box-office take thanks to fans who just wanna see Wick kickass, but to me JW:C3 was a mixed bag. Most of the action scenes are jaw-dropping, and the whole production is grandly mounted, but the closing moments of the movie feel hollow, not authentic, and although the stakes have been raised, it has come at the expense of storytelling and character.

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…

What are your thoughts on John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum? Let us know on our Facebook page!

The Comforting, Unpretentious and Ultimate Legacy of ‘Patriot Games’ (1992)

Emily Stephan

May 16, 2019

Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan serves up an ultimate helping of action movie comfort food.

Patriot Games is not a movie that’s going to blow your mind or redefine action cinema, but it is a fun, unpretentious thriller with some good set-pieces and a fine performance from Harrison Ford.

The plot is adapted from the Tom Clancy novel of the same name. Ex-CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Ford) thwarts an attempted kidnapping of English royalty by IRA members, killing one of the younger members during the attack. The fallen member’s older brother Sean Miller (Sean Bean) swears vengeance on Ryan and his own, escaping from the police and going across the Atlantic in hopes of taking his anger out on Ryan’s wife Cathy (Anne Archer) and daughter Sally (Thora Birch). Now Ryan must come out of retirement in order to protect his family from a pack of terrorists.

Clancy was unhappy with the script, which deviated from his source novel a great deal, mostly in how much political nuance was stripped clean from the narrative bones. However, I believe in judging an adaptation on its own merits and as a standalone film, Patriot Games works pretty well, even if it stretches some credulity here and there.

Was Harrison Ford the Most Ultimate Jack Ryan?

Harrison Ford’s defining roles will always be Han Solo and Indiana Jones, but in the 1990s, he played his fair share of action heroes in more grounded settings. Jack Ryan was one of his major 1990s roles (he would reprise the part in 1994’s Clear and Present Danger) and he fits the demands of the role well.

While Ford was no spring chicken, he’s credible as an ass-kicking analyst. As in the Indiana Jones movies, Ford radiates both intelligent strength and vulnerability. He can hold his own in a battle but he isn’t invincible to a ridiculous degree. Ford’s age also lends the character a sense of world-weariness, a quality works quite well contrasted with Sean Bean’s impetuous young radical.

Sean Bean and Anne Archer

While some reviewers have complained about Miller lacking depth, Bean’s performance endows the character menace and intensity, even if his accent is a bit weak. His one-track mind arguably makes him even more frightening as well: the moment Ryan kills his brother, his persistence in making Ryan pay ramp up the suspense big time.

The supporting cast is in fine form across the board. Anne Archer is sympathetic and strong as Cathy, more than able to hold her own when things go wrong. James Earl Jones is great as always, reprising his role from this film’s predecessor, The Hunt for Red October. Also notable are a pre-Pulp Fiction Samuel L. Jackson and the legendary Richard Harris.

Action Trumps Plot

Fine acting aside, I wouldn’t call the plot of Patriot Games airtight. One has to wonder how Miller and friends were able to scrounge up the resources they have to go stalking the Ryans across the ocean. One might also wonder why Ryan would want to stay in a rather isolated beach house by the sea when a group of trigger-happy terrorists are coming after his family—other than it makes the final assault on the family all the more dramatic.

The action is pretty great though, more than compensating for small implausible moments. The best parts come in at the end, with a creepy home invasion sequence shot with almost horror film intensity, and a brilliantly shot and choreographed fight on a speedboat. The boat fight is visceral and terrifying, the struggle between Ryan and Miller made all the more effective due to the combination of shadowy lighting, fast editing, and the late James Horner’s score (itself quite underrated, both haunting and heart-pounding).

Patriot Games doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it’s cinematic comfort food for the ultimate action fan. I would recommend giving it a rental if you haven’t seen it.

What are your thoughts on Harrison Ford’s Patriot Games (1992)? Let us know on our Facebook page!

How Mark Dacascos Paved the Way for John Wick in ‘Sanctuary’ (1997)

Iron Fist

May 15, 2019

Before there was Keanu Reeves as John Wick, there was Mark Dacascos as Father Luke.

One of my favorite straight to video titles of the 1990s was a title called Sanctuary. It had such a great storyline, that if it were done today, it would star a bunch of A List actors, open to huge box office and critical acclaim. Instead it went straight to video in 1993 and has been largely forgotten…until now!

Keanu Reeves is Back with a Bang in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Trailer

Who is Mark Dacascos?

Sanctuary stars Mark Dacascos as Father Luke, a priest in a small parish in Chicago. When his good deeds get his picture in the local paper, some people from No Such Agency come calling to kill him. Turns out Father Luke has got some skills and once went by the name of Kovak, who was a member of a group of children from tragic circumstances that were trained since childhood to become assassins. When Kovak grew up, he becomes one of their foremost operatives. A mission goes wrong and when he refuses to kill an innocent, he becomes a liability to the organization. They turn on him he is forced to go underground. His solution: The Catholic Church.

Interview: Sheldon Lettich on Bloodsport, Van Damme and Stallone

Sanctuary (1997)

The movie begins with Kovak giving a reckoning to church officials of what just happened and how he came to the priesthood. As a child, Luke watched his mother get murdered by a mugger and his parish priest explains to him how the church has always been a place of sanctuary to those in need, which explains why he comes back to the church. That and to also atone for his sins.

Only now, the head of his former covert organization is running for high political office and Kovak has evidence of the botched mission that would derail his candidacy and must be eliminated. Cue the gunplay, martial arts and the lair he set up for just this day and that will prove extremely problematic The final scene is one of my favorite scenes in action cinema and set up a sequel that sadly never came.

The Ultimate List of the Best Action Movie Hero Names

WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW MARK DACASCOS

Mark Dacascos is about to become relevant again as the only assassin left that can go toe to toe with John Wick in the upcoming Parabellum. Dacascos has been training martial arts since he was eight years old starting out in Kung Fu and traveling the world picking up Wushu and Capoeira along the way. Before achieving a small measure of fame as The Iron Chef on the food network, he has been making action movies since 1990.

Check him out in the all time action classics Only The Strong, where he plays a Capoeira doing former soldier battling gangs in the schools of LA or Brotherhood of the Wolf, where he plays a martial arts doing Iroquois Indian hunting a beast in France during the revolution. This guy should have been the next Seagal or Van Damme but stardom eluded him.

But he has always been one of the steadiest working actors in the industry appearing in such TV shows as The Crow, Chicago PD and Hawaii 5-0. Hell, he was even on Dancing With The Stars. All this and dozens of straight to video action movies in an industry that he helped found in the 1990s.

All I can say is John Wick had better watch his back!

Let us know your thoughts on Mark Dacascos and Sanctuary (1997) on our Facebook page!

How Tony Jaa Saved the Ultimate Martial Arts Action Movie

Robb Antequera

May 14, 2019

The story of one ultimate Muay Thai master who created new life for a lost action genre.

By 2003, the martial arts genre was in a state of fluctuation. Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were stuck in the DTV realm, and the popularity of Jackie Chan and Jet Li had seem to run their course. But the emergence of a Thai action movie called Ong Bak heralded a new breed of martial arts action hero. And his name… was Tony Jaa.

Ranking the Top 5 Best Tony Jaa Ultimate Action Movies

The Muay Thai Warrior

Born on February 7th, 1976, Jaa would spend majority of his time as a kid going to the cinema to watch his favorite martial arts action stars like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and local Thai legend (and eventual mentor) Panna Rittikrai kick serious butt all over the big screen. He would then go home and practice everything he had seen in hopes that one day, he would become as great as they were.

Training in Muay Thai since age 10, by 15 he had started making serious inquiries about joining Rittikrai’s stunt team. Rittikrai would allow Jaa to join eventually, but only after Jaa fulfilled Rittikrai’s request to graduate from school first. After graduating, Rittikrai made good on his promise and let Jaa onto his stunt team, which allowed him to make appearances in a few of Rittikrai’s movies, such as Spirited Killer, Hard Gun, and Mission Hunter 2. He also doubled for Robin Shou in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and for the legendary Sammo Hung in a energy drink commercial.

Watch: Rare footage of Jean-Claude Van Damme Fighting For Real

Ong Bak Elbows its way in

Then came Jaa’s big break. Made in 2003, and released in the US in 2004, Ong Bak sent Jaa into the stratosphere of Action Cinema, making him an instant favorite for the action crowd. He quickly followed that movie’s success with the even better Tom Yum Goong, released in the US as The Protector. After that, fans eagerly awaited his next magnum opus. But alas, behind the scenes drama would threaten to derail the future of that release.

The Raid Remake: Director Joe Carnahan Reveals Key Plot Details

Tony Jaa’s Directorial Debut

Ong Bak 2, Jaa’s directorial debut, was unfortunately beset with issues between Jaa and the studio, which lead to the movie being delayed more than once, and the studio bringing in Rittikrai to help finish the film. Ong Bak 2 was eventually released, but months after its intended release date, and split into 2 parts. Also Jaa decided to leave the movie business and join a monastery. And that seemed to be that for Jaa and his career.

‘Merantau’ and the Introduction of Silat Action Star Iko Uwais

Back on the Action Scene

But suddenly, and fortunately for us, Jaa returned to the business of butt kicking with the release of The Protector 2. And after that he was on and running like he never left. Appearances in movies such as Skin Trade, Furious 7, xXx: Return of Xander Cage and Kill Zone 2, and with the likes of such stars as Dolph Lundgren, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michael Jai White and Wu Jing solidified his return to action with a vengeance. But, the best was yet to come.

Triple Threat: An Ultimate Martial Arts Movie for the Ages

This year saw the release of the epic action team up Triple Threat, which also featured action favorites such as Scott Adkins, Iko Uwais, Michael Jai White, Jeeja Yanin, Tiger Chen and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. And it was the perfect movie to certify Jaa’s 15 years as an action movie icon for this generation of action fans.

And the next 15 years are only gonna get better.

What are your thoughts on the Muay Thai warrior Tony Jaa? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Could ‘Demolition Man 2’ Finally Be About To Happen?

Jack Beresford

May 13, 2019

It’s the question that has dogged fans of Sylvester Stallone’s Demolition Man ever since the film was released back in 1993 – and it’s got nothing to do with the three seashells.

For close to three decades fans have been waiting and hoping for a follow up to Sly’s slick sci-fi action epic about a fish-out-of-water cop living in a future he doesn’t recognise. It may not have garnered much in the way of critical acclaim, but Demolition Man stands as a firm favourite among Sylvester Stallone fans.

More importantly, it cleaned up at the box office, raking in close to $160 million off the back of a budget in the region of $45 million to $77 million. To the uninitiated; Demolition Man centered on Stallone’s explosive cop John Spartan who is brought out of suspended animation in a futuristic cryo-prison to tackle his former nemesis Simon Phoenix, played by the brilliant Wesley Snipes.

ARTICLE UPDATE: Sylvester Stallone has further gone into details about a Demolition Man 2 in this Instagram video from March 3rd, 2020 where he address the sequel and says things are “looking fantastic”. Watch the video below starting around the 5:30 mark!

View this post on Instagram
Answering the audience
A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on May 3, 2020 at 6:27pm PDT

Spartan awakes to a world while violence has been rendered all but obsolete, with the rough-around-the-edges cop forced to apply new tactics to take down Phoenix, who is ultimately being used as a pawn in a far more sinister game.

Boasting a cast that also includes Sandra Bullock and Denis Leary among others, it would appear plans for a sequel were ultimately left in limbo due to an ongoing profits dispute between Stallone and the studio behind the film, Warner Bros.

Is Sandra Bullock Sylvester Stallone’s Daughter in Demolition Man?

Why is there no Demolition Man 2?

According to Variety, Stallone filed a lawsuit claiming he had not received any of the profits from Demolition Man for a period of around 18 years.The suit outlined how, under the terms of his contract, Stallone was entitled to around 15% of gross profits from the film. He alleged that Warner Bros. had stopped paying his profit participation in 1997 and did not resume until after he filed his complaint in 2014.

Warner Bros. initially responded by claiming the film had ended up being $67 million in the red only to later acknowledge Stallone was entitled to additional profits, sending him a check for $2.8 million. The dispute dragged on into 2018 when Stallone amended the suit to allege that he had not received adequate payments for The Specialist, Cobra and Tango & Cash.

How Do The 3 Seashells in ‘Demolition Man’ Work? 3 Ultimate Theories!

Will there be a Demolition Man 2?

However, in news that could prove positive to fans of Demolition Man, the two sides have now settled their dispute in a confidential out-of-court settlement. “The matter has been resolved,” Neville Johnson, who represented Stallone’s loan-out company, Rogue Marble Productions, told Variety.

A Warner Bros. spokesman said “The dispute has been amicably resolved.” The question now is whether the agreement could clear the way for Demolition Man 2 to happen. Stallone has been happily returning to the Rocky and Rambo franchises in recent years while, crucially, plans for a sequel have already been mapped out.

10 Things You Never Knew About Sylvester Stallone’s Demolition Man (1993)

What would Demolition Man 2 be about?

According to a report from Projection Booth – picked up by Slashfilm – Demolition Man producer Joel Silver and the film’s co-writer Daniel Waters have long discussed a potential sequel. One idea the pair discussed would have seen Spartan track down the daughter he’d left behind when he was frozen in 1996; by 2023, the year he woke up, she’d of course grown into a full-grown woman.

They even had an actress in mind for the role: Meryl Streep. “I get a call from Joel,” Waters said of the idea. “‘What do you think of this? Meryl Streep is Stallone’s daughter for the sequel. What do you think?’ I’m like ‘Okay, you get Meryl on the set and I’ll come out.'”

Snipes’ Phoenix may have met his end at the conclusion of the last film but surely some sort of futuristic fantasy-land technology could be applied to bring him back for more – cloning perhaps? Snipes would certainly relish a return to the role while 90s nostalgia-fiends would lap up the return of one of Stallone’s most popular characters and movies of the era.

With Sly and Warner Bros. back on good terms, stranger things have happened…

What are your thoughts on a possible Demolition Man 2?

Stallone’s ‘Cliffhanger’ is Set to Get Reboot with Female-led Cast

Jack Beresford

May 9, 2019

Here’s what we know about this ‘Cliffhanger’ reboot so far…

The producers behind the wildly successful Fast and the Furious franchise are plotting a bold new take on a Sylvester Stallone classic.

According to Deadline, producer Neal Moritz has recruited director Ana Lily Amirpour to helm his latest project: a female-led remake of Cliffhanger.

UAMC Reviews Sylvester Stallone’s Rock Solid Action Classic – Cliffhanger (1993)

The Original Cliffhanger

Released back in 1993, Cliffhanger scored big at the box office, raking in $255 million off a $70 million budget. Directed by Renny Harlin from a script written by Stallone and Michael France, Cliffhanger represented a notable high point for Stallone in an otherwise difficult decade.

He played Gabe Walker, a disillusioned former mountain climber forced to face his demons and return to the mountain after a botched mid-air heist leaves his friends at the mercy of a group of violent mercenaries.

Featuring Michael Rooker and Jon Lithgow in suitably scene-chewing form, Cliffhanger is now set to undergo the remake treatment with Amirpour taking the reins and Jason Momoa being lined up for a ‘key cameo’. A botched mid-air heist results in suitcases full of cash being searched for by various groups throughout the Rocky Mountains.

The 10 Best Sylvester Stallone Ultimate Action Movies!

Cliffhanger Hangs Again

“We are setting out to create a thrill-ride on the mountain which taps into the primal side of an action movie, where you see what a person is capable of doing to survive in the most extreme situations, pushed to the limits,” Amirpour told Deadline.

“Add to that some high-stakes espionage and a badass female mountain climber as the lead and it becomes a truly epic reinvention of what made the original Cliffhanger movie so fun and so thrilling.”

Sascha Penn, whose previous credits include Creed II, has written the script. The film represents Amirpour’s first film since her distinct recent effort The Bad Batch. The project comes hot on the heels of female-led remakes of Ghostbusters and Ocean’s 11.

Let us know your thoughts on this Cliffhanger reboot!

1...697071...101 Page 70 of 101

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze form the perfect ironic and sincere yin yang in their 1991 surfing action classic!

Ironic: Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey as Buddy Cops

Sincere: The Greatness of Patrick Swayze

Ironic: The Surfing Scenes

Sincere: Kathryn Bigelow’s Action Scenes

Ironic: Keanu Reeves and his Doppelgänger Lori Petty

Sincere: The Fastest 122 Minutes in Cinema History

Ironic: Skydiving!

Sincere: Skydiving!

Ironic: The 50 Year Storm

Sincere: “Vaya Con Dios”

Here are the best and greatest from the Muay Thai warrior Tony Jaa!

5) Kill Zone 2 (2015)

4) Triple Threat (2019)

3) The Protector (2005)

2) Ong Bak (2003)

1) Ong Bak 2 (2008)

If you want war, prepare for Wick…

JOHN WICK 3 SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!

Chapter 3 Begins

Ultimate Martial Arts Done Right

Chad Stahelski Shines

Apparently ‘Parabellum‘ is Latin for overblown?

John Wick 3 SPOILERS beyond this point!!

Who else is in John Wick 3?

Is ‘John Wick 3’ Any Good?

Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan serves up an ultimate helping of action movie comfort food.

Was Harrison Ford the Most Ultimate Jack Ryan?

Sean Bean and Anne Archer

Action Trumps Plot

Before there was Keanu Reeves as John Wick, there was Mark Dacascos as Father Luke.

Who is Mark Dacascos?

Sanctuary (1997)

WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW MARK DACASCOS

The story of one ultimate Muay Thai master who created new life for a lost action genre.

The Muay Thai Warrior

Ong Bak Elbows its way in

Tony Jaa’s Directorial Debut

Back on the Action Scene

It’s the question that has dogged fans of Sylvester Stallone’s Demolition Man ever since the film was released back in 1993 – and it’s got nothing to do with the three seashells.

Why is there no Demolition Man 2?

Will there be a Demolition Man 2?

What would Demolition Man 2 be about?

Here’s what we know about this ‘Cliffhanger’ reboot so far…

The Original Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger Hangs Again

George Peppard, Jan Michael Vincent and the greatest vehicle in movie history!

The Real A-Team

The Landmaster

Follow us on Instagram @ultimateactionmovies

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY