Rocky 3: The Introduction of Mr. T as an Ultimate Action Movie Icon

By
Ian Young
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Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky III is great for many reason, but mostly for Mr. T.

Rocky III (1982) is a powerhouse of a movie, although maybe not as culturally or cinematically important as the first two in the franchise it’s maybe the first truly iconic Rocky movie. The Rocky that’s remembered in the popular imagination. It’s one of the first movies of that glorious decade to really shape the genre of action movies to come. It’s full of style with another top quality script and direction, once again written and directed by Sylvester Stallone.

How Sylvester Stallone Shaped the History of Action Movies with Rocky (1976)

The Eye of the Tiger

The movie has one of the most impressive opening sequences in all of action movies, a sequence that introduced us to one of the greatest pop songs of all time, The Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor. The cast’s performances are of the highest standard and the family saga element of the franchise is played brilliantly, especially the heart-breaking performance of Burgess Meredith.

The cast was further enhanced with that special brand of 80s Machismo by an appearance from the legend Hulk Hogan himself. Rocky III is a movie about the perils of success and the dangers of forgetting where you have come from as well as themes of rivalry, friendship and equality as well as fantastic action sequences.

Many parts of the internet are dedicated to discussing this but here at the Ultimate Action Movie Club there is a much more noble task at hand and that’s to highlight the brilliance of the one, the only, Mr. T.

Rocky 2: When Sylvester Stallone Became an Action Movie Director

UAMC Loves Mr. T

For people in the generation of the golden age of action movies it’s almost impossible to believe there was a time before Mr. T. One of the world’s first real multimedia stars came from humble beginnings. Having distinguished himself in the U.S Army, worked as a Bouncer and bodyguard for the rich and famous including boxing personalities such as Ali, Leon Spinks and Joe Frasier.

Mr. T first came to Stallone’s attention in the T.V show Games People Play where T appeared on a segment as America’s toughest bouncer. After a long casting process in which Morgan Freeman was considered for the role of Clubber Lang Mr. T was cast. Originally a role with just a few lines, Lang’s part was expanded on and it’s just as well as it was because Mr. T’s performance as Lang did not only make him one of the most memorable antagonists in the franchise but also in the history of action films.

Sylvester Stallone Reveals his one Major Regret From Rocky IV

The Pugilist Vs The Brutalist

One of the most compelling elements of Rocky III is the contrast between the supporting characters of the film. Apollo Creed who, in the Ali style, was portrayed in the franchise as the gentleman pugilist. Creed’s character arc developed from him being Balboa’s most challenging opponent to his friend and coach.

Creed is clearly drawn from a school of boxing which is all about discipline, honour and sportsmanship whereas Mr. T’s Performance as Clubber Lang comes from a very different place. It’s easy to see in Clubber Lang the inspiration of boxers such as Sonny Liston, Larry Holmes and George Foreman. Fighters who came across as heels if you will, aloof and aggressive. Fighters who had superior confidence and were so media aware that they knew that actions in the ring spoke louder than interviews.

10 Reasons Why ‘Rocky IV’ is the Most Underrated Christmas Movie of All-Time

The Ultimate Boxing Movie

The boxers that make up the DNA of Lang’s character were brawlers who could take a hit and then give it back tenfold. OK – maybe we hadn’t quite reached the era of the dirty fighter but the performance of Lang and the real life figures that inspired his creation gave brutal performances that would shape the future of boxing.

One of the defining legacies of the the Rocky films is that they are a commentary on the world of boxing at the time the movies were made.

Mr. T’s performance is absolutely outstanding, he comes across as a real credible threat and is right up there in the highest ranks of legendary movie villains. Every second he is on screen is memorable, thrilling and electric.

Sylvester Stallone on ‘Rocky II’ Sparring Partner Roberto Duran

The Rocky 3 Legacy

Mr. T’s career in the public eye absolutely skyrocketed after Rocky III, “I pity the fool” is, to this day, a quote that goes down in action movie history. (And was never actually used in the A-Team) Mr. T would become beloved by children the world over for his no nonsense attitude, aspirational moral code and huge presence on screen. Rocky III may have cemented the legend of the Rocky franchise but it gave birth to the myth that is Mr. T.

Where does Rocky 3 stack up on your ultimate franchise list? Let us know in the comments!

Sylvester Stallone on the Case of an Amnesiac Robber in First ‘Backtrace’ Trailer

By
Jack Beresford
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Sylvester Stallone is turning detective for his new action movie Backtrace (2018).

The first trailer for – Backtrace – the new crime thriller from Lionsgate has just landed with Sylvester Stallone facing a rather unusual predicament this time around.

Stallone plays Detective Sykes in the new high-concept heist actioner that sees the veteran muscleman on the trail of a bank robber with a very bad memory.

On the Backtrace

Written by Mike Maples and directed by Brian A. Miller, Backtrace centers on criminal mastermind MacDonald, played by Matthew Modine who winds up locked up in a psychiatric prison ward with a bad case of amnesia following a bank robbery gone wrong.

Years later, fellow inmate Lucas (Ryan Guzman) breaks MacDonald out of prison and, with a little the help of war doctor Erin (Meadow Williams), forces the veteran heist man to undergo experimental treatment in order to regain his memory.

It turns out that, prior to his arrest, MacDonald successfully squirreled away the millions of dollars he stole in that original heist. The only problem is that he can’t – or couldn’t -remember where he hid it.

Stallone’s Detective Skykes

It’s up to Stallone’s Detective Sykes to stop that happening, but he’s not the only veteran lawman on the case.

Tough-as-nails FBI Agent Franks, played by Happy Gilmore’s Shooter McGavin, Christopher McDonald is also on the case and willing to do whatever it takes to get his man – with or without Franks’ help.

Will the two put their differences aside in order to nab their man or is Agent Franks out to score a big payday for himself? You’ll have to watch Backtrace to find out.

But with an impressive cast of familiar faces on offer, this is one action effort Sly fans won’t want to miss out on.

Classic Sylvester Stallone

A neat throwback to previous Stallone efforts like Demolition Man and Cobra, Sly looks to be back in his element as a no-nonsense detective who spends his days kicking ass and taking names.

Due to be released in theaters and on demand come December, this looks like a must-watch for fans of the ultimate action movie legend.

What are your thoughts on Stallone’s Backtrace from this look? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

UAMC Review: Jonathan Brandis and Chuck Norris in ‘Sidekicks’ (1992)

By
Jack Beresford
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SIDEKICKS, Chuck Norris, Jonathan Brandis, 1992, © Columbia Home Video

Remembering the Jonathan Brandis / Chuck Norris kids’ cult classic Sidekicks (1992).

The Ultimate Action Movie Club reviews the ultimate kids action movie classic Sidekicks starring Chuck Norris. While not one of the most critically acclaimed Chuck Norris movies (although by UAMC standards of being enjoyably bad it comes in as a top 10 on one list – but not on another), Sidekicks is notable as one great of the great performances in the career of the later actor – Jonathan Brandis.

The Late Jonathan Brandis

Jonathan Brandis’ tragically short career boasts plenty of memorable credits. There was his starring role in the underrated TV adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, the gender-swap soccer comedy Ladybugs and the underwater adventure series seaQuest DSV to name but a few.

But if you were to ask any action movie fans growing up in the early 90s to name their favourite Brandis film, you might find a few mentions of Sidekicks.

‘Sidekicks’ Place in UAMC History

On the one hand, Sidekicks wasn’t an especially original premise. A film about a loner high school kid learning martial arts under an Asian mentor sounds suspiciously similar to the plot of an earlier effort, Karate Kid. In fact, it’s exactly the same.

However, Sidekicks was elevated above such mediocre status thanks to a charismatic central turn from Brandis, coupled with a clever storyline that weaved the action stylings of a certain Chuck Norris into proceedings.

A worthy rival to Macaulay Culkin as one of the best child stars of his time, Brandis played Barry Gabrewski, an asthmatic and lonely kid living out in Houston, Texas with his widowed and father Jerry (Beau Bridges).

Bullied at school where he’s something of a loner, Barry escapes his reality through vivid daydreams that see him teaming up with his hero, Norris, to dispatch his enemies using Chuck’s familiar brand of high-kicking, gun-slinging justice.

An Aaron Norris Flick

Directed by Chuck Norris’ movie-producing brother and stuntman Aaron Norris, at its heart Sidekicks was your standard against-all-odds karate story.

Eager to take up karate and emulate Norris, Barry path to glory is fraught with problems that begin when Joe Piscopo’s Kelly Stone refused to let him train at his dojo, deciding he is too weak for the world of martial arts.

It takes the belief and mentorship of Mako’s Mr. Lee to give Barry the impetus and belief required to make it in the sport, with Mr. Lee successfully channelling Barry’s love of Chuck into a training regime that feeds his body as well as his imagination.

The Chuck Norris Mr. Miagi

SIDEKICKS, Beau Bridges, Danica McKellar, Mako, 1992, (c)Triumph Releasing Corporation

Mako audited for the role of Mr. Miagi in Karate Kid, narrowly losing out to Pat Morita and was evidently keen to put his own spin on the familiar character archetype.

A familiar enough narrative, Sidekicks’ strength came with its ability to not only lampoon the familiar cinematic efforts of Norris in a family-friendly way but also incorporate of a positive central message.

Barry starts the film as a distant daydreamer but through inner-strength and determination, spurred on by his hero, ends the film as the karate champion he always hoped to be.

The Chuck Norris Thumbs Up

Where once he needed to escape to the world of Norris and his movies to find his strength, the film’s conclusion sees him thanking Chuck for his support before the action movie legend disappears with one of his trademark thumbs up.

The action, meanwhile, is plentiful and while there are firefights and fisticuffs, the bloodletting is minimal though not to the detriment of the film’s overall action vibe.

This, after all, was a time when filmmakers still felt they could expose children to ‘proper’ action. The kind of action noticeably absent from the film efforts of Dwayne Johnson and the like these days.

“Sidekicks is No Citizen Kane”

SIDEKICKS, Chuck Norris, Jonathan Brandis, 1992, (c)Triumph Releasing

Let’s be clear: Sidekicks is no Citizen Kane. There are better action movies, better Chuck Norris movies and better karate movies – Karate Kid, being one of them.

It’s simplistic in places, follows a clear structure and doesn’t rock the boat too much in terms of characterization or plotting.

But there’s also a lot to enjoy here in a film that pokes fun at Norris’ star persona while encouraging youngsters new to Chuck to check out more of his work.

A Box Office Surprise

Fans evidently agreed too, with Sidekicks scoring a solid $17,180,393 at the box office, where it peaked at no.2 – not bad going for a kids’ film. In some ways, Sidekicks as ahead of its time too.

The idea of spoofing the on-screen efforts of an action movie hero would later be lampooned again, to more biting effect, in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Last Action Hero. Jonathan Brandis should be remembered for so many different things and undoubtedly will.

But 15 years on from his passing, Sidekicks still holds a special place in hearts of a select few action movie fans who grew up on a strict diet of karate movies and are old enough to remember a time before they knew about the magic of Chuck Norris.

What are your thoughts on Jonathan Brandis / Chuck Norris / and Sidekicks? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

COPYCATS! Lethal Weapon (1987) vs. L.A. Vice (1989)

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Lethal Weapon (1987) Takes on its Ultimate Knockoff L.A. Vice (1989)

We have an ultimate showdown between UAMC-favorite Lethal Weapon (1987) versus its awesome B-movie rip-off L.A. Vice (1989) in this edition of COPYCATS! (Check out past episodes on The Fugitive vs. Fugitive X and RoboCop vs. RoboVampire.)

Copycats is a bimonthly column about popular action movies and the low-budget films they inspire. Each column, we take a popular action movie and find its cinematic doppelganger, revel in their similarities and dissect their differences. Some of these copycats are good enough (or strange enough) to earn their place in action movie history, but most are being chronicled here to preserve their existence – for better or for worse.

Lethal Weapon vs L.A. Vice

Original Film: Lethal Weapon, 1987, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, directed by Richard Donner

Copycat: L.A. Vice, 1989, starring Lawrence–Hilton Jacobs and William Smith, directed by Joseph Merhi

Synopsis of both films: Two cops – one black and one white, become unlikely partners while pursuing criminals in Los Angeles

Copycat Comparison:

Martin Riggs (Gibson) is a cop on the edge. With the painful memory of his recently deceased wife pushing him to the brink of suicide, he finds himself partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Glover) – a family man who is playing it safe as he creeps toward retirement. While they are an unlikely duo, Riggs and Murtaugh systematically and effectively bust up a drug ring that is plaguing the city. In the 31 years since its release, Lethal Weapon has become the iconic blueprint for buddy cop movies – even though it borrowed a formula made popular on television most recently (in 1987) by Miami Vice’s Det. James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Det. Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas).

Fittingly, L.A. Vice combines elements from both, but we’re going to focus more on the Lethal Weapon comparison. Like Lethal Weapon, Det. Jon Chance (Hilton-Jacobs) is unhinged. He plays by his own rules, and he’s a little crazy. When kidnappers take the daughter of a newspaper magnate, Chance is the only person for the job – but he won’t do it unless the recently retired Capt. Joe Wilkes (Smith) backs him up. So, here’s the thing (SPOILER ALERTS) the younger cop in this movie is black while the older cop is white. Also, the older cop doesn’t ever get to say he’s “too old for this” line of work because he dies five minutes after his character is introduced.

So, even though Smith got second billing, Chance’s second partner – a black Indian named Bear (Jastereo Coviare – who also composed the music for L.A. Vice) – has way more screen time. Made by PM Entertainment (which used the same formula for Shotgun), L.A. Vice isn’t so much a Lethal Weapon knockoff as it is a knockoff of the Lethal Weapon poster.

Which is better?

While I personally believe that Tango & Cash is a better buddy cop movie, Lethal Weapon is the reason Tango & Cash exists. While they didn’t invent the formula of partnering up multi-racial cops with conflicting personalities (during the same decade 48 Hrs. partnered Eddie Murphy with Nick Nolte and on TV Miami Vice teamed up Don Johnson with Philip Michael Thomas), Gibson and Glover perfected it. As a movie, it still works today – even after spawning three sequels, a television series and countless imitators. As a cheap knockoff of this (and, come to think of it Miami Vice), L.A. Vice falls short. It’s watchable, but its pacing is uneven. For an action movie, it needs more action.

Other notes: While L.A. Vice feels like a standalone movie, it’s actually the third film in the unofficial Joe Chance tetralogy – which begins with 1989’s L.A. Heat and Angels of the City and is followed by 1990’s Chance. And, if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can see three of four movies! Lucky you!

Article by Eric LaRose – a Wisconsin-based connoisseur of action, horror and sci-fi movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s. A former journalist and podcaster, Eric wrote the ending to the Toxic Avenger Part 4, but the only person who will back up that claim is his wife.

What’s your thoughts on this COPYCAT! showdown? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

The Night Comes For Us: The Iko Uwais Action Movie Scoring Big On Rotten Tomatoes

By
Jack Beresford
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Iko Uwais is looking pretty ULTIMATE in ‘The Night Comes For Us’ (2018).

Netflix users are spoilt for choice when it comes to action movies but one new Indonesian effort starring The Raid’s Iko Uwais is worth seeking out ahead of the others.

The Night Comes For Us, from writer/director Timo Tjahjanto, is a stylishly violent action thriller to rival the likes of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick – but even that doesn’t do justice to the bloody thrill ride that unfolds.

Iko Uwais: A New Action Star

It follows Ito (Joe Taslim) a legendary triad enforcer who, after one truly horrific job gone wrong, decides to turn his back on criminality in order to help a young girl called Reina escape their clutches. In his way stands a raft of gangland rivals and former allies armed to the teeth and willing to fight to the death in order to stop him.

Ito soon finds an ally in Uwais’s Arian, another triad member having doubts and eager to repay the loyalty shown to him by his friend by putting his own life on the line. A violent and chaotic action movie ensues, with Ito and Arian fighting tooth and nail to ensure Reina’s safe passage.

The Night Comes For Us

Four years in the making, The Night Comes For Us arrived on Netflix earlier this month. It earned rave reviews, with critics praising the movie’s plot and characterisation while noting the occasional penchant for excessive violence.

The Night Comes For Us has already earned an 87 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes too along with some pretty eye-catching praise.

“A no-holds-barred bloodbath that hits the ground running and barely lets you catch your breath before throwing you into the next sequence of out-of-control violence,” Adam Paterson of Film Pulse wrote. “The Night Comes for Us is the movie for those who thought The Raid was too tame,” Sean Mulvihill of Fanboynation.com adds.

Some Pretty Ultimate Reviews

IGN Movies’ Rosie Knight meanwhile adds: “Uniquely violent, stylish, and engaging, The Night Comes For Us is an exciting prospect that delivers on all fronts.”

Josh Martin of Film Inquiry, puts it best though: “It’s insanity. And I loved every second of it.” The critics aren’t the only ones praising the film either, with users giving it the thumbs up with an 87% rating. Netflix users might be spoilt for choice on the action movie front but there are few movies out there quite like The Night Comes For Us and it seems like critics and audiences alike agree.

Have you checked out ‘The Night Comes For Us’ yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Die Hard’s Reginald VelJohnson Isn’t Ruling Out a Return For Sergeant Al Powell

By
Jack Beresford
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Everyone’s favorite sergeant Reginald VelJohnson Could Be back for Die Hard 6.

Reginald VelJohnson, the actor best known for playing Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard, is open to reprising the role in any future sequels.

VelJohnson reprised the role of Sergeant Powell in Die Hard 2, albeit in a reduced role because of his other job working on the sitcom Family Matters.

But, with Die Hard getting another chance with Die Hard 6 set to go into production soon, he’s open to potentially returning to the character that not only defined the first Die Hard film but also his own career.

BONUS: read UAMC’s official rankings of the Die Hard franchise movies here!

Sergeant Al Powell’s Return

Speaking in an interview with Forbes, VelJohnson admitted he would reprise the role “in a heartbeat” provided “they came up with the right story.”

“When I did the second one I was involved in my TV series, Family Matters, and so I couldn’t do the entire film. Joel Silver was very upset because I couldn’t do as much on the second one as I had on the first one. He was kind of angry with me,” he said.

“If they came up with another idea for my character I would certainly do it because Die Hard gave me my career, it gave me my life, and so I have love and respect for everyone involved in that movie.”

Die Hard 6 2020?

Die Hard 6 is set to feature a younger version of John McClane, through a series of flashbacks, alongside the older, wiser version played by Bruce Willis.

And while a Sergeant Powell return is far from confirmed, VelJohnson is open to any and all suggestions, including a potential spin-off focusing on the beloved character.

Officer VelJohnson’s Legacy

“Would I consider it? I played a police officer on TV in Family Matters, and that’s because one of the producers saw me in Die Hard playing a cop,” he told Forbes.

“I’m open to it. If they asked me, I’d seriously think about it. I love Al Powell.”

How does UAMC feel about VelJohnson’s Sergeant Al Powell Die Hard legacy? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

UAMC Review: ‘Midnight Ride’ is an Ultimate 90s Guilty Pleasure!

By
Emily Stephan
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Mark Hamill, Michael Dudikoff and Savina Gersak star in Midnight Ride (1990).

Housewife Laura (Savina Gersak) has had it with her cop husband Lawson (Michael Dudikoff). More devoted to his work than their relationship, she takes off in the middle of the night, intent on bunking with a friend until she can decide whether she wants to make their separation final. Meanwhile, despite having an injured leg, Lawson isn’t taking his abandonment lying down and pursues Laura in his own fashion, hoping for reconciliation.

On her way out of town, Laura encounters Justin McKay (Mark Hamill), a photography-enthusiast looking for a ride.Charmed by his boyish manner, Laura lets him in the passenger’s seat, unaware she’s set herself up for a night of madness and terror.

Justin is a mental hospital escapee, traumatized by memories of his homicidal mother and enamored by Laura’s similarities to his murdered sister. He wants to talk with his psychiatrist Dr. Hardy (Robert Mitchum), kill a few people on impulse, and win the terrified Laura’s heart before the night is through. Can Lawson rescue Laura and stop Justin’s rampage? And more importantly, will their cat-and-mouse game blow up every vehicle in town?

Midnight Ride (1990)

Imagine a hybrid between Friday the 13th and Duel. That’s a broad description of Midnight Ride. Produced by Cannon Films, it’s a fast-paced delight from start to finish, clocking in at a lean ninety-minute run-time and featuring all the slasher-style killings and car explosions your little heart could ever desire. Somehow, it has never amassed much of a following despite its immense entertainment value.

Part of the appeal comes from just how over-the-top and strange the movie gets. Laura’s ordeal with Justin includes a number of bizarre episodes. Early on, Justin rips a sleazy motel owner’s glass eye out of her head so he can make a necklace for Laura with it. (He proceeds to suck on the eye in subsequent scenes when distracted and bored—a little detail that gets me every time.) Later on, Dudikoff gets tied spread-eagle to the hood of a truck, with Hamill laughing wickedly behind the wheel as he powers it down the road at high-speed.

A Ultimate Midnight Slasher

Midnight Ride is peppered with such moments. Justin’s body count grows as he slashes throats and guns down the authorities. He dons more disguises than Inspector Clouseau as he stalks Laura when she briefly escapes him. Cars explode one after another, to the point where it almost becomes a running gag. The action set-pieces grow in insanity as the story rushes to its climax, a bombastic showdown in a hospital where Hamill uses a conveniently-located four-wheeler to chase down Dudikoff after they square off with a bone-saw.

Hamill’s eccentric performance is the chief delight of the film. Put Norman Bates’s mother issues and the Joker’s gleeful sadism in a blender, add a little of Mad Max’s road warrior flair, and you’ve got Justin McKay. Hamill steals every scene with his mad cackling, compulsive nail-biting, and childlike enthusiasm for violence. His line deliveries are delicious too, whether he insists he get a photograph of Laura in a sing-song voice or disappointedly chides her for trying to bribe him with sex.

At one point, when Dr. Hardy tries to get Justin to remember how therapy used to stop the voices in his head from convincing him to murder, Justin says with a shrug, “Cut the crap, doc. I’m still killing people!”

Mark Hamill and Michael Dudikoff!

Though Hamill leaves the biggest impression, Dudikoff is no slouch as the square-jawed hero. Like Hamill, he seems to be aware of how seriously to take the material and has a great deal of fun delivering lines such as, “I’m tired! I’m pissed! And I’m ready to kill!” His character does have a dark side—his unwillingness to give Laura some space is a bit creepy, to be honest—but in the end, he’s the perfect hero to Hamill’s villain.

The film has some weaknesses, though how much they affect your enjoyment will vary. The editing is awkward during the later chase scenes, more confusing than exciting. Savina Gersak’s performance is often flat and emotionless, even when the leering Hamill has a knife in her face.

Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum seems to be here solely for the paycheck, all but sleeping through his scenes. Like Gersak, he regards the peril he’s in with a casualness most might find unintentionally comical. However, these elements just add to the charm.

An Underappreciated VHS Classic

Despite its campy delights and the presence of Luke Skywalker himself, Midnight Ride remains underseen. Those interested will have to satisfy themselves with a VHS copy. In a perfect world, this movie would have a DVD release stateside (dare I dream of a Blu-ray edition?), perhaps including a short interview with Hamill, who as far as I know has never spoken about this movie. A media upgrade would be welcome in any case, since the horror movie-style lighting’s effectiveness is often undercut by the blurred presentation on video.

I would call Midnight Ride a guilty pleasure, but so great is my love for it that I just can’t. I love every overcooked moment unabashedly and would not have it any other way.

Do you remember Midnight Ride (1990)? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds Returning for The Hitman’s Bodyguard Sequel

By
Jack Beresford
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The Hitman’s Bodyguard is getting a sequel with Reynolds and Jackson set to return.

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are set to re-team for more buddy cop hijinks in a sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017).

The first film, which saw Reynolds tasked with stopping a series of shady criminal types from taking out Jackson’s notorious contract killer, was a major hit.

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson

Reynolds played Michael Bryce, the world’s top bodyguard, who is enlisted to transport Jackson’s Darius Kinkaid to give testimony at an international court.

Gary Oldman’s Vladislav Dukhovich stands in their way, with Dukhovich eager to eliminate Kincaid, who is giving evidence against him and his crimes.

Something of a throwback to films like 48 Hrs. and Lethal Weapon, The Hitman’s Bodyguard was packed full of big explosions and amusing wisecracks.

A Major Buddy Action Hit!

More importantly, it made some serious money, raking in more than $175 million off the back of a budget of just $30 million and becoming one of the low-key hits of summer 2017 in the process.

Now Variety is reporting that a sequel is on the way which will centre on Jackson’s onscreen wife from the first film, who was memorably played by Salma Hayek. Hayek was arguably the standout performer first time around, thanks to a string of memorable one-liners and a penchant for violence and bad language.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard?

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard has been given the briefest of synopsis:

“Patrick Hughes will take on directing duties again from a script by Tom O’Connor. The sequel follows bodyguard Michael Bryce (Reynolds) enlisted by Jackson and Hayek’s characters to join them on a mission along the Amalfi Coast. Production is expected to start in March.”

A straightforward actioner with a distinctly 90s feel, with so many remakes, comic book films and mega-franchises dominating the multiplex, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard feels like a breath of fresh air, even if it is a sequel.

What are your thoughts for this Hitman’s Bodyguard sequel? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Dolph Lundgren Reveals What Ivan Drago Has Been up to Since Rocky IV

By
Jack Beresford
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A Look into Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago Updated Backstory.

Dolph Lundgren has lifted the lid on exactly what Ivan Drago has been up to in the time between Rocky IV and Creed II.

The Swede is set to reprise his role as the Russian boxer in the upcoming sequel to the Michael B. Jordan spin-off hit.

Drago will be taking a backseat this time, serving as trainer to his son, Viktor, who is being played by real-life boxer Florian Munteanu.

Team Drago vs. Team Rocky

He will be squaring off against Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, who will be backing up Jordan’s Adonis Creed in this new chapter in the boxing film saga.

Though details on what Creed II will centre on remains unclear, though the trailer has already hinted at an epic training montage to come. In the meantime, Lundgren has been busy promoting the upcoming release with a series of interviews.

Ivan Drago Since Rocky IV

EFACME DOLPH LUNDGREN & SYLVESTER STALLONE ROCKY IV (1985)

“Basically, my character has been in a living hell since ’85 and lost everything,” Lundgren revealed. “The script reintroduces him as a pretty damaged character, emotionally, and somebody who’s suffered a lot physically from a hard life. I can identify with that quite easily. The physical part and the emotional part.“

And speaking to Empire, the Swede even went as far as to paint a vivid picture of what Drago has been doing since he lost to Balboa in Rocky IV.

Viktor and Ivan Drago’s Revenge

It’s a situation that will apparently see Viktor baying for blood on behalf of his father.

While Jordan’s Adonis Creed will want to win for his late father Apollo, who was killed by Drago in the ring, Viktor has seen his dad’s life crumble around him following his loss to Rocky. It’s all shaping up for an intense face-off.

Creed II will arrive in cinemas on November 21st.

What are your thoughts on Ivan Drago’s updated backstory? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Rocky 2: When Sylvester Stallone Became an Action Movie Director

By
Ian Young
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While Rocky is great, Stallone Really Finds His Own As The Director of Rocky 2 (1979).

In 2018 it’s quite difficult to imagine what a sleeper hit like Sylvester Stallone’s original Rocky (1976) was. A movie made for around a million dollars that made well over $225 million which in today’s currency is somewhere in the region of $967 million dollars. In today’s cinema the expectation is that big budget movies bring in big box office returns.

You might have to go back to The Blair Witch Project (1999) to see a movie land such massive receipts out of nowhere and have such a cultural impact and even then it wouldn’t have the legacy of Rocky. The success of Rocky was rare, it gripped the imagination of the movie going public and reinvigorated mainstream interest in sports drama as a movie genre. The producers of the movie were hungry for more.

Read our write-up on Stallone’s original Rocky classic here!

Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky 2 Script

Stallone would once again be on screenwriting duties, this was a real boon to Rocky II (1979). One of the real successes of both of these films is Stallone’s scripts. The script for the second movie has all the quality, wit, interesting character dynamics and spectacle of the first but its real magic comes from the fact that it’s a seamless sequel.

The action picks up from the end of the first film. it makes the most of the first film’s brilliance and uses that climax as a jump off point for the action to continue. This allows for development of both plot and character. This sequel script also does something that’s still refreshing and rare in action movies, the point of view of the antagonist is taken into account and weaved into the story.

One of the real highlights of the plot is Apollo Creed’s all encompassing obsession with getting back into the ring with Rocky. Every character arc is just as strong and the magic of the first film was ready to be captured in Stallone’s script but there was a complication.

Stallone Steps into the Director’s Chair

John G. Avildsen, who had done such an incredible job directing the first movie in the franchise, so incredible that he won the best director Oscar for it, was deep in pre-production for Saturday Night Fever (1977) and decided not to take the directors chair for the sequel to Rocky.

United Artists were reluctant to hire Stallone to direct on the grounds that his wrestling drama Paradise Alley (1978) didn’t perform well. Rocky’s producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff aided Stallone’s bid for the directors chair, they really campaigned to get Stallone to direct as they knew how much input he had on the first movie. Stallone’s real skill as a director in Rocky II was that he kept the tone and style of the first film. The continuity from the first film to this is virtually flawless, every tiny detail has been considered.

When that’s placed into the context of a movie made in a pre home video market it’s an element that could easily have fallen away from the sequel but the continuity of the Rocky Balboa family saga is part of the franchise’s appeal. In this era of binge worthy movies and television where every single frame is scrutinised Stallone’s attention to detail would be the envy of any continuity based show today.

Rocky 2’s Ultimate Legacy

Directorially what is achieved overall is a development of the visual language of the first movie. Stallone shapes his storytelling around his cast in ways which are not always obvious but always carry an incredible payoff for the audience.

Yes, you could level the criticism that the franchise takes a soap opera approach to its storytelling but that’s really just a homage to the golden age of Hollywood and it actually feels fresh in an action movie franchise. You don’t see it very much and even when you do the more emotion driven approach doesn’t tend to be dealt with very well.

Rocky II, like Rocky was a massive success, nearly making as much at the box office as the original. it effectively cements the franchise and is as completely engaging as the first with the original cast returning, an awesome score and fantastic direction on Stallone’s part. If you’re of the view that sequels are bad, take a ringside seat and let Rocky II prove you wrong.

What are your favorite memories from Stallone’s Rocky II? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

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