How Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Commando Was Nearly A Very Different Action Movie

The story behind Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ultimate classic Commando (1985).

On October 4th, 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced US moviegoers to John Matrix. A retired Special Forces colonel, he was on a one-man mission to rescue his daughter from a band of mercenaries led by former subordinate and Freddie Mercury lookalike Bennett.

The film was Commando and it would prove to be the start of something very special for Schwarzenegger and action movie fans everywhere. Though it’s not unusual for a film project to change and evolve considerably during the development process, Commando’s journey is a little different than most.

Script by Jeff Loeb

It started out as a script co-written Jeff Loeb, a writer best known for comic books like Batman: The Long Night and Hush and was markedly different to the original.

Our story was about an Israeli soldier who has turned his back on violence. Not the movie they made!” he told Empire. Loeb’s and co-writer Matthew Weisman’s draft centered on an Israeli soldier who had renounced violence but found himself thrust back into action after his daughter is kidnapped.

They initially considered the idea of shifting the plot to America and hiring someone like Nick Nolte or Kiss’ Gene Simmons as John Matrix – but soon the decision was taken out of their hands.

The Rise of Schwarzenegger

Barry Diller had just been appointed the head of 20th Century Fox and was looking for projects that could be made for $12 million or less that they could attach Schwarzenegger to. Die Hard screenwriter Steven De Souza was hired to find a script that suited the Austrian Oak’s talents. Seeing the potential in Loeb and Weisman’s script, he set about punching it up to suit Schwarzenegger’s distinctive screen talents.

I revamped the story to suit Arnold’s bigger-than-life persona. Then I drove to his house and acted it out for him,De Souza told Empire.

Then he stood up and said, ‘I like this part. I’m not a robot from the future or caveman from the past. I’m in clothes and having a family. It’s a part John Wayne could play. I do this picture.

Commando Gets Ultimate

Out went the script’s serious tone and in came the large-scale action set pieces, one-liners and huge body county – though Rambo II can be blamed for the latter of those three.

During the shoot, Mark [Lester], the director, saw a sneak preview of Rambo [First Blood Part 2] and realised how many people get killed in that,” De Souza said.

He said, ‘We’ve got to have a bigger dick than Rambo. We’ve got to slay more people.’ And suddenly there were 150 extras getting killed. It got out of control.

Made within the required $12 million budget, Commando went on to make more than five times that figure, spending three weeks at the top of the US box office charts. Commando was almost a very different movie. Thankfully, it wasn’t.


What’s your favorite memory from Arnold’s Commando? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Sylvester Stallone Previews Rambo’s Striking New ‘Cowboy’ Look

Say Howdy to the new Sylvester Stallone in Rambo.

Sylvester Stallone could be about to take John Rambo out of the dark and dense jungles of East Asia and out into the wide-open spaces of America’s wild west. That’s at least one theory being put forward after Stallone posted two pictures of the iconic action movie character dressed as a cowboy. The images come as Sly begins filming on Rambo 5.

Rambo 5: Last Blood: Everything About Stallone’s Final Rambo Performance

Rambo Goes West

View this post on Instagram

Tonight we start filming…!

A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on

It certainly fits in with the rumored plot of the film, which will supposedly see Rambo going up against a dangerous Mexican drug cartel.

In the images, posted to Stallone’s personal Instagram account alongside the hashtag #Rambo5, Stallone can be seen, as Rambo, sporting a rather fetching cowboy hat.

Sly’s choice of gloves could hint that John Rambo has returned to America in search of an easy life as a ranch hand. Alternatively, the character may simply be living his days out in the wild hunting for his food and enjoying the idyllic solitude.

No Longer in Vietnam

View this post on Instagram

… Comes a Horseman Wild and Free. @rambomovie #rambo5

A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on

The second image sees Rambo riding a horse in his newfound cowboy garb.

Though there’s a distinct cowboy feel to the image, the background trees suggest Rambo could be set for more of the jungle warfare that made the franchise popular, albeit in a distinctly American looking forest.

Whatever the case, the images indicate that Rambo 5 could be a significant departure from the franchise to date, which previously saw Rambo kicking ass and taking names in places like Afghanistan, Vietnam, Myanmar and, er, Washington State.

Stallone’s Getting to Work

Rambo 5 is due to be released later in 2019 with Adrian Grunberg on directorial duties. In the meantime, Stallone will next feature in another of his iconic roles, Rocky Balboa, when Michael B. Jordan returns for Creed 2.

The film will see Adonis Creed going up against Viktor Drago, the son of Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago. Creed 2 arrives in cinemas on November 21st.


What do you think of Stallone’s new cowboy look? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

UAMC Ranks the Chuck Norris ‘Missing in Action’ Movies

Chuck Norris. Missing in Action. Ranked.

The Missing in Action movies introduced the world to arguably Chuck Norris’s 2nd most famous character (After Walker, Texas Ranger of course), Vietnam veteran and ex-POW Col. James Braddock. This series helped establish Chuck Norris as not only one of the premier action heroes of the 80s, but the legendary mythical badass that we all know and love. Now, here are my rankings of the Missing in Action trilogy! Beginning with…

3) Missing in Action (1984)

Vietnam Veteran and Ex-POW Col. James Braddock launches a mission deep into the jungles of Vietnam to find the POW camp that he escaped from and free the Americans still held captive there.

Ohh, I know I’m gonna hear it for this one. Yes. I ranked part 1 last. No, this is not a joke. It’s nothing personal. I love part 1. I just prefer the other 2 over it. I mean, Joseph Zito (The Prowler, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) steers the proceedings pretty good for his first time making an action movie. Not as good as his next action movies Invasion USA and Red Scorpion (where he finally learns how to shoot explosions just right), but he does ok here.

And that right there is really why I ranked this last. The action is serviceable, effective, but never reaches a level of awesome that would’ve drove this home for me. Like it’s good, but I feel if somebody else were directing it could’ve been great. Now, I’m not saying Zito was a bad choice. He did fine. But maybe if they had a director more familiar with action, instead of a director known for horror who had just come off a horror film, the sequences would’ve had a little more oomph to them.

In his defense, others have made the transition from Horror to Action successfully. Like Renny Harlin, Dwight Little, as well as all time great action director John McTiernan. But here? It was fine. And that’s it. But like I said, Zito would do much better next year with Invasion USA. I guess he just needed a bit more time to adjust. It is what it is.

2) Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

In this prequel to the first Missing in Action, set in the early 1980s, it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape.

I actually go back and forth on which one I like more, this one or part 3. I’ll let you know why I chose the next one over this in a second. This one and part 1 have a peculiar background. You see, this one, centered around Braddock’s time as a POW, was made first, with the first MIA intended to be its sequel. But when executives realized that part 1 was the better movie of the 2, they decided to switch the releases around so that MIA 1 would become the first one, and this would instead become “The Prequel”.

Got it? Good. Now onto the movie. I actually find this one more satisfying than the “first one”. The drama concerning Braddock and his fellow POWs was more compelling than the previous entry, and made for a more gripping conclusion when they get their revenge on their captors. Especially Braddock’s final confrontation with Col. Yin, played by the late, great Soon Tek-Oh.

He’s such an effective scumbag, and his treatment of the POWs is so horrible, you can’t help but feel a sense of enjoyment when he finally gets his comeuppance. All in all, an effective action/war drama that deserves a bit more respect.

1) Braddock: Missing in Action 3 (1988)

Braddock mounts a one-man assault to free his wife and son who are still being held in a Vietnam prison camp

Ahhh, MIA 3. Now, I know you guys are wondering how I could choose this one over the other 2, especially part 1. Thinking it has to be some complex reason or the story was more compelling. Honestly, the story of Braddock going back into Vietnam to rescue his Vietnamese wife and son (For those wondering, this entry exists in an alternate universe where Braddock never became a POW) and ends up rescuing an entire group of abandoned Ameriasian children makes for a truly compelling story. But that’s not the main reason. “So… what is it?” Well, wonder no further, because here’s the reason: the action is better.

That’s right. In my opinion, this one has the best directed action sequences out of the entire trilogy. Which is amazing considering that it was directed by first timer Aaron Norris (Chuck’s little brother). Aaron had been a stunt coordinator and directed second unit on some of Chuck’s other movies, so when original director Joseph Zito backed out, Aaron was given the job. And by the look of it, you would never tell this was his first time at all. The action. The stunts. And the explosions.

Truth be told, I feel no director who worked for Cannon Films shot explosions better than Aaron Norris. It feels like these explosions were designed just for me! Those beautiful gasoline fueled orange wave explosions are my favorite type of explosions. And this movie is riddled with them! So so beautiful! I love it! I wish Aaron had made more movies for Cannon, especially when they were in their heyday.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Those are my rankings of the Missing in Action movies. A series of movies I hold near and dear to my heart. An everlasting testament to the awesomeness that is Chuck Norris. But before I go, let me leave you with this fact: If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris, you may only be seconds away from death.



What’s your ranking of the Chuck Norris Mission in Action movies? Let us know in the comments!

Is The Game of ‘Street Fighter: The Movie’ starring Jean-Claude Van Damme Being Re-Released?

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Street Fighter: The Movie The Game May Be Coming Back.

The game version of Street Fighter: The Movie, which gives players the chance to take control of Jean-Claude Van Damme and kick some serious ass could be in line for a shock resurrection.

Originally released on Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn back in 1995 to coincide with the original film’s release, the game version of Street Fighter: The Movie was a bold new step for the Capcom franchise.

UAMC bonus note: JCVD’s Street Fighter movie helped spurn the launch of the Street Fighter 2: The Animated Movie, which you can read our more about here!

JCVD’s the Street Fighter

Taking a leaf out of Mortal Kombat, the game features digitized images of the film’s original cast, alongside more realistic background settings.

It meant gamers could control computerized versions of Van Damme as Guile, the late Raul Julia as M. Bison and Kylie Minogue, as Cammy, the lame Chun-Li rip-off that turned up in the sequels.

Unfortunately, the franchise’s familiar head-to-head fighting gameplay was seriously lacking this time around with the game garnering largely negative reviews. Long load times, strange glitches, bad voice acting and a general lag in gameplay meant it came and went with little fanfare…that is, until now.

A New Street Fighter: The Movie The Game

According to Geekwire, the rights to the game version of Street Fighter: The Movie have been snapped up by a Canadian company called Liquid Media.

One of 65 different titles originally produced by Acclaim, the deal saw Liquid Media shell out $1m for the entire catalogue, which includes games like Bubble Bobble, Wetrix, and NBA Jam.

There’s no word on what Liquid has planned for the titles but shelling out that kind of coin suggests something big is definitely on the cards.

Retro-Gaming on the Rise

With the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Sega increasingly looking backward to cater to a growing market of retro gamers, one idea already being floated is that of an Acclaim mini to rival the SNES Mini and PlayStation Classic.

The title acquisition gives Liquid the opportunity for fast market penetration with proven titles,” the company said.

Could fans be about to get a new-and-improved version of the Street Fighter movie game, complete with a newly-remastered and vastly improved digitized Van Damme? Fingers crossed.


Anyone else remember this game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Avenging Force: The Perfect Blend of Action Movie Ingredients

Michael Dudikoff is the icing on an ultimate action movie cake that is Avenging Force (1986).

There’s a lot to love about about the 1986 action classic Avenging Force. It stars Michael Dudikoff. It also stars his usual American Ninja partner Steve James. It has a quartet of awesome bad guys. It takes place in a Mardi Gras filled New Orleans with tons of creepy cool retro imagery. And it has all the kickass ingredients to make an ultimate action movie.

From Chuck Norris to Michael Dudikoff

First, to truly appreciate Avenging Force, one must watch the 1985 action classic Invasion USA – starring UAMC-favorite Chuck Norris. Which is notable for being both one of Chuck Norris’ greatest action movies, and one of UAMC’s most ultimate Christmas flicks of all time!

Originally conceived by Cannon Films’ patriarchs Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus as a direct sequel, Avenging Force was passed on by Norris. It’s tough to say what caused Norris to balk at the idea of following up Invasion USA, but it probably just came down to the fact that both Norris and Cannon Films were in full swing in 1986 and we’re doing their darndest to turn out as many action classics as possible.

However, never ones to let any movie go to waste, Avenging Force was recast with Cannon Films up-and-comer Michael Dudikoff, who plays the same character (pretty much just in name) – Matt Hunter. And how many characters can say that they’ve been played by action legends like Norris and Dudikoff!

An Ultimate Setup

Avenging Force, for those who haven’t seen it or who need a refresher, finds Dudikoff’s Matt Hunter up against an evil, elitist group of manhunting neo-nazis in the vibrant bayous of New Orleans. And these guys are bad. Like blow up a house with women and kids just so they can get their rocks off on a brandy-fueled hunting exposition.

Dudikoff is reunited with his American Ninja camaraderie Steve James, who plays Larry Richards. Who you’ll be happy to see is running for public office by taking off his shirt and showcasing his advanced skills in martial arts and gunwork.

Dudikoff’s and James’ chemistry is well documented in our coverage of American Ninja. The duo prove to be one of the most powerful tag teams in action movie history, which is well known across the globe. Fun fact: Avenging Force was released as American Ninja 2 in Israel markets, which subsequently caused the real American Ninja 2 to be released as American Ninja 3, and so forth…

Michael Dudikoff Has the Look

It’d be easy to say Dudikoff is a B-level action movie star (behind the likes of the aforementioned Norris, Arnold, Stallone, Bronson, Seagal, Willis, etc…), but if Avenging Force would just be appreciated for the action classic that it is, Dudikoff should be right there with the A-team. His performance in Avenging Force is just fantastic.

His action has always been good, and his martial arts work is solid for sure. But the man’s look is perfect. It’s a bold statement, but Michael Dudikoff is the James Dean of action movies. His broody demeanor just pops off the screen.

Not to give away an particular spoilers, but when things go down and Dudikoff is forced to chase down the mysterious “Pentangle” villains, you can see the simmering anger within.

The Pentangle Characters

Also, those mysterious pentangle villians… man are they great! Led by Prof. Elliott Glastenbury (John P. Ryan), the foursome are a colorful bunch who done their favorite mardi gras costumes for their Most Dangerous Game exploits in the Louisiana bayous. The opening sequence of the film showcases just how over-the-top their actions can be, which creates just an awesome cartoon of violence that suddenly becomes real when they kidnap Dudikoff’s sister (image how that goes for them).

Overall Avenging Force hits hard and often. It’s got a great star, surprisingly well-conceived plot, and just great action moments throughout. Always worth checking out or revisiting this action classic!


What are your thoughts on Dudikoff in Avenging Force? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Dolph Lundgren Almost Starred in His Own ‘Venom’ Movie Back in 1997

How Dolph Lundgren Almost Starred in a 90s ‘Venom’ Action Movie.

He might be more closely associated with another Marvel antihero in The Punisher, but at one point in time, Dolph Lundgren came dangerously close to playing Venom.

Back in 1997, New Line Cinema had the rights to both Venom and Carnage and was planning to put the villainous characters together in a new movie.

With the rights to Spider-Man residing elsewhere, however, they would have to do it without the world’s most famous web-slinger.

Top 10 Dolph Lundgren Action Movies

Dolph Lundgren as Eddie Brock

According to Comicbook.com, David S. Goyer (who went on to pen the scripts for Blade, Batman Begins and Man of Steel) was hired to produce a draft script for a Venom movie.

The script did away with any ties to Spider-Man, explaining that Venom’s spider insignia was down to the fact they had just come from a planet inhabited by giant spiders. It also saw Venom pitted as an anti-hero of sorts, going up against Carnage.

Though details of the defunct project are scarce, media reports at the time suggested Dolph Lundgren was in the frame to play Eddie Brock, the unfortunate journalist who ends up bonding with the alien symbiote Venom.

Lundgren would have just been coming off the back of the action thriller The Peacekeeper at the time but, according to Impact magazine [via www.dolph-ultimate.com] was “tipped for the lead” by industry insiders.

Remembering Dolph Lundgren’s ‘Dark Angel’ aka ‘I Come in Peace’ (1990)

A Follow Up to The Punisher

The Swede had already starred in one Marvel movie, 1989’s The Punisher and may have had mixed feelings about taking on another comic book movie.

Made for just $11 million with a script that followed little of the Frank Castle folklore from the comics, The Punisher had been a critical and commercial flop upon release.

Lundgren would have therefore been forgiven for approaching any potential plans for a Venom movie with a little trepidation.

The Ultimate Action Movie Stars Align in ‘Skin Trade’ (2014)

Venom Through the Ether

Ultimately, however, the project stalled for reasons unknown, while the rights to the character eventually reverted to Sony.

The idea of a Spider-Man-less Venom movie would eventually resurface, however, with Tom Hardy signing on to play Brock in a film that is now days away from the cinema.

Lundgren fans, meanwhile, will have to make do with this fan-made Venom trailer, which borrows heavily from The Punisher but provides a wonderful glimpse at what could have been.


How do you think a Dolph Lundgren 90s action version of Venom would have turned out? Let us know in the comments!

80’s and 90’s Action Stars That Are Classically Trained Actors

An ultimate list of action movie stars who are actually classically trained actors.

While the action stars of the ’80s and ’90s were known for their ability to fight, drive fast, spout off one-liners, look away from explosions and fire a gun, some of those guys actually went to a proper acting school, such as Juilliard or The Lee Strasberg Institute.

This article seeks to highlight some of the best actors who have one foot in the world of ’80s and ’90s action and another in the world of classical acting.

Note that we will be examining leading roles and leading villains for this list.

American Actors

Michael Biehn

The man who would play various military ranked characters in many classic ’80s films started his career by joining his high school’s drama club.

After high school, Biehn pursued a higher education by enrolling into the drama program offered by the University of Arizona. Upon completing his university days, Biehn moved to Hollywood.

While he is most notable for his role as Kyle Reese in The Terminator’s Kyle Reese, Biehn was also prominent in Alien, The Abyss, Navy SEALs and The Rock.

Charles Bronson

Bronson got his foot into the door of acting thanks to serving his country. The Army GI Bill allowed Bronson to study the thespian arts and later enroll into California’s Pasadena Playhouse. He would then go to perform in a variety of features, with much of his early work going uncredited.

Sam Elliott

This Californian actor, known for his Western roles, played Wade Garrett, mentor to Patrick Swayze’s Jack Dalton, in Road House, Virgil Earp in Tombstone and General John Buford in 1993’s war epic Gettysburg.

Elliott pursued training acting through a two-year program offered by Clark College, located within Vancouver, Washington.

After a newspaper review of his leading performance in Guys and Dolls suggested that he act in a professional capacity, Neil moved to Hollywood to pursue a shot at movie stardom.

Mel Gibson

Although he studied acting in Australia, specifically at Sydney’s National Institute of Dramatic Art, Gibson was born in Peerskill, New York. Gibson’s status as an action hero began immediately after he graduated from NIDA, appearing in the Mad Max franchise and Lethal Weapon later on.

Jeff Goldblum

This unique actor who happened to appear in massive blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, got his start as an actor by enrolling in New York’s “Neighborhood Playhouse,” an acting conservatory, at the age of 17. There, Goldblum would study the Meisner technique of acting, which encourages its students to instinctively respond to situations as their characters.

Samuel L. Jackson

This star of Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance and Master Qui-Gon Jinn in the Star Wars prequels was initially pursuing a major in marine biology at Atlanta’s Morehouse College. After joining a college acting group for some extra credit, he was compelled to change his major to theatre.

Angelina Jolie

This star of the original Tomb Raider film, Cyborg 2 and Hackers got into acting early on. Jolie spent two years enrolled at the west coast campus of the Lee Strasberg acting school.

Burt Reynolds

The star of Sharky’s Machine and The Cannonball Run was initially focused on making a living as a football star. After injuries to his knee and spleen cost him that career path, he shifted his college work toward drama and won the 1956 Florida State Drama Award for his performance of Sutton Vale’s Outward Bound.

Sigourney Weaver

While some may do a double-take at the mention of this seasoned actress in this sort of company, we remind you that Weaver returned as Ellen Ripley for the first three sequels of the Alien franchise.

Before she started appearing in films, Weaver had studied at Yale’s School of Drama, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1974. She also holds a BA in English from Standford University.

Beyond her iconic work as Ripley, Weaver played Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II and also portrayed Gwen DeMarco in Galaxy Quest.

Peter Weller

The man who played Alex Murphy, the Robocop, holds a B.A. in Theatre from his enrollment at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Something amusing about Weller is despite his prior film role as the titular Renaissance man Buckaroo Banzai, he earned a Ph.D in Italian Renaissance Art History from UCLA in 2014. Weller also appeared in the 1995 space horror film Screamers.

European Actors

Kenneth Branagh

Although he is mostly connected to working behind the camera, Branagh appeared as the over-the-top Dr. Arliss Loveless in 1999’s Wild Wild West. He was also a strong contender for the role of young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels.

Ralph Fiennes

Fiennes played the heroic John Steed in 1996’s The Avengers, a film adapted from the British television series of the 1960s. Fiennes‘ classical training began with his work with England’s Royal National Theatre, where he refined his understanding of the works of Shakespeare far beyond the average person.

Dolph Lundgren

Although he was born in Sweden, Lundgren moved to the United States after studying engineering in Stockholm and later learning karate for half a decade.

After making it to the United States, Lundgren decided to try acting and pursued classical training at Manhattan’s Warren Robertson Theatre Workshop. Two years later, Lundgren would make his silver screen debut in A View to a Kill, followed shortly thereafter as his iconic role of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.

Lundgren’s other iconic film roles have been He-Man in 1987 and Universal Soldier opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Alan Rickman

Beyond his iconic roles as leading villains Hans Gruber in Die Hard and The Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Rickman got to play the Nimoy-analog Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest. When it comes to his classical training, Rickman studied as a proper thespian at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1972 to 1974.

Asian Actor

Sadly, only one Asian action star of the ’80s and ’90s is known to have classical acting training.

Jackie Chan

While this martial artist and actor needs no introduction, his classical training might. Chan went to China Drama Academy, a school focused on Peking Opera, during the 1960s. It is this institution that is largely responsible for teaching Chan the acrobatic maneuvers, martial arts and improvisational stunt work he is known for, as well as refined his skills as a vocalist.


Which classically trained action star surprises you the most? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

UAMC Legend Steven Seagal is Running for Governor… in Russia?

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2015 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. actor Steven Seagal shake hands after visiting an oceanarium built on Russky Island, in the Russian Far Eastern port of Vladivostok. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, that Russia has awarded Russian citizenship to Seagal. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Government Press Service Pool Photo via AP, File)

Steven Seagal to Run for Governor of Isolated Russian Province.

Action movie icon Steven Seagal has set his sights on a career in Russian politics. The Under Siege star was granted Russian citizenship by close friend Vladimir Putin back in 2016 and makes regular appearances in the Russian media.

Now the 66-year-old is now looking to following in the footsteps of contemporaries like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura with a move into politics.

Seagal Goes to Russia

Seagal is taking a slightly different path though after revealing, in an interview at a film festival in Vladivostok, that he would like to run for the vacant office in Primorsky, Russia.

New elections have been declared in the region following a disputed ballot earlier this month.

My father’s family is from here. Every time I come here, I want to see more of the Primorsky Krai and become your Governor,” Seagal said, according to the official TASS news agency.

From the Mean Streets to Vladivostok

Located on the far east coast of Russia, the region is home to Vladivostok, the largest city in the district, and boasts a population in the region of two million.

The Above the Law actor could be left feeling the chill though, with average annual temperatures in the region of +1 °C (34 °F) and +5.5 °C (41.9 °F).

Though far from an automatic choice for the role, Seagal could benefit from the fact he counts Putin among his close friends and allies.

An Ultimate Envoy to Russia

The Russian president already made the martial arts star a special envoy to the Russian Foreign Ministry and would no doubt back his move into Russian politics.

Seagal, whose father’s parents emigrated from Russia, would have to relinquish both his United States and Serbian citizenship if he does decide to stand though.

A move into politics could also hinder Seagal’s ongoing film work.


What are your thoughts on Seagal’s Russian political aspirations? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago come face-to-face in pulsating Creed 2 Trailer

C2_09807_RC (left) Wood Harris stars as Tony 'Little Duke' Burton and (ctr) Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed in CREED II, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures film. Credit: Barry Wetcher / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures © 2018 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Adonis Creed Finally Meets Viktor Drago in New Trailer for Creed II (2018).

Rocky fans have been given a first real glimpse of Dolph Lundgren’s hotly-anticipated return as Ivan Drago in the latest trailer for Creed II. The film sees Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed going up against Drago’s own offspring Viktor Drago in what’s likely to be one of the most bruising boxing movies ever brought to the big screen.

Like Father Like Son

Ivan famously killed Adonis’ father Apollo Creed back in Rocky IV, paving the way for a showdown with Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa and a post-fight speech that seemingly ended the Cold War.

But, as the look exchanged between Balboa and Drago in this new trailer demonstrate, there’s no love lost between the two fighters – and Rocky has got a bad feeling about Adonis’ upcoming fight with Viktor.

That kid was raised in hate. He’s dangerous,” Rocky warns Adonis.

Rocky Balboa vs Ivan Drago Round 2

And while Adonis is out for some modicum of revenge against Viktor, Rocky still has Ivan on his mind, all these years later, admitting “he broke things in me that ain’t ever been fixed”.

Stallone’s showdown with Lundgren will have Rocky fans chomping at the bit for Creed II to hit cinemas but the trailer hints at another reason to get seriously excited about the film: there’s a training montage!

Though only glimpsed briefly the trailer shows Rocky out in the desert with Adonis, putting him through his paces in a way not seen since Rocky IV.

Dolph Lundgren and Florian Munteanu

Lundgren, for his part, looks in impressive shape with Florian “The Big Nasty” Munteanu perfectly cast as his frankly terrifying son Viktor, who is evidently keen to let his fists do the talking.

Released alongside a series of brand new character posters, if this doesn’t get you pumped for the return of Rocky, Drago and the best boxing movie franchise of all time, nothing will.

Creed II hits cinemas on November 30th. Find out more about release info on its website here.


Who else is looking forward to this ultimate revenge matchup? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

UAMC Remembers Burt Reynolds and His Action Classics

Burt Reynolds and his surprising amount of contributions to the ultimate action genre.

I grew up in the 80’s, in the middle of the VHS boom. As a result, I saw many films out of order, since they were no longer at the cinema. When I was about six, everyone talked about this film that had just come out on tape called Smokey and the Bandit. Curious as to what it actually was, my brother and I hired the movie and chucked it on.

We were introduced to the crazy, daredevil antics of Bandit, and I got to see Burt Reynolds for the first time. I loved him, and was pretty sure that although he was playing the part, that he actually was like that in real life.

Burt the Bandit

As I said, this was my first Burt movie, and I was not aware of his earlier work in Deliverance or Hustle, or his comedic performances in The Longest Yard or Cannonball Run.

Immediately after viewing the first Bandit, I tracked down the second, and enjoyed it just as much. Reynolds was my new favourite hero, joining the ranks of fellow tough guys Eastwood, Norris and Bronson. There was something about these men that made them compelling. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. Was it their weathered, hard faces, or their take-no-crap attitudes? I didn’t know back then, but I knew Burt fit in with them immediately.

After his Bandit films, I would search for his face on VHS covers and movie posters. Cannonball Run was next, and I was not disappointed. A less focused, more free-range comedy movie than his Bandit films, Cannonball still delivered the laughs, and Reynolds and buddy Dom DeLuise were a hilarious double-act. Not long after seeing the film, the sequel came out in cinemas. I begged my Dad to take me to it. He was more than happy to go, since he too dug the Burt.

The Cannonball Man

I was too young to know what the word “disappointed’ meant when I saw Cannonball Run II, but I remember not liking it as much straight away, but I can remember being impressed that Jackie Chan was in it since I had already seen him in a couple of his Hong Kong efforts.

By 1985, I had rewatched Bandit 1 and 2 more times than I could count. In fact, I’d seen them so many times that I could recite the dialog verbatim. My brother would always be grumpy with me because that’s all I would watch.

The time had come for change. I still wanted to see more Burt, but I wanted to see what else he could do. Enter Sharky’s Machine.

Burt Reynolds in the 80s

In the 80’s, Clint Eastwood was the worldwide box-office champ. Everything he touched, well almost, turned to gold. He carved himself a rather big, legendary name by appearing in a series of brutal cop thrillers playing San Francisco Detective Harry Callahan. The role made him a legend, and many of Eastwood’s contemporaries tried to jump on the bandwagon by releasing their own police-procedurals. Bronson gave us the brutally efficient 10 to Midnight, which went on to become a cult hit in its own right, and even The Duke made a couple of cop movies that copied the Harry mould. But it was Burt’s take on the material that delivered a sordid, seedy and brutal equal to pal Eastwood’s Harry.

Sharky’s Machine was a complete role reversal for Burt. Instead of being a cocky clown with a fast car and heaps of hot chicks, he was a down-on-his-luck vice cop who couldn’t catch a break. Alone, lonely and tired of the job, Sharky is a broken man. A flawed-man. Less pure but just as driven as Callahan, Sharky is one of Burt’s best roles, and it’s the best film he directed. Gritty, dark, bloody and scored with a loud jazz soundtrack, Sharky’s Machine is packed with gunfights and brilliant turns by such character actors as Brian Keith, Richard Libertini and Bernie Casey as Burt’s “machine”.

The iconic Henry Silva belts it out of the park as the pic’s main villain. Sharky’s Machine was a good performer during the 1982 Christmas period, raking in almost $40 million. Apparently pal Eastwood even called Burt to congratulate him on his thriller. Even today, the film is still an intense, engrossing and highly entertaining ride. If a movie works, it works, no matter how old it gets, and Sharky’s Machine still has it. 

I would watch his lesser efforts like Gator, Shamus and Hooper after Sharky. Although they weren’t great, Burt still made them very watchable, and very entertaining.  About a year later, he was back on track again, starring with Eastwood(!) in the comedy actioner City Heat. The pair played mismatched cops caught up in a gang war. I loved this film – but it seemed I was in the minority.

The film was torn apart by critics when it came out, but if you love Burt and Clint, this is one great movie that captures the friendly rivalry between the two mega-stars perfectly. A light, breezy film that still has the requisite action and laughs, City Heat has gotten better with age, and if you wanna see wise-ass Burt getting on the nerves of tough-guy Clint, this is a dream come true. 

Stick and the Mid-80s

With the moderate success from Sharky under his belt, Burt decided to direct and star in another crime novel adaptation, Elmore Leonard’s StickCritics and fans of the book complained that Burt was miscast as the street-wise criminal-turned chauffeur, but as I said, with the benefit of video, and the fact that there was no internet, I could watch movies without the outside reputation folks had given them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Stick and, once again, playing a flawed good guy suited Burt perfectly. Apparently during production Universal Pictures, the studio behind the picture, were dissatisfied with the action quota and asked Burt to add in some action scenes and cut out some characters. The original version has since appeared on-line and many people have praised it as a better version.

Perhaps one day we will finally get to see the movie the way Burt wanted. We can only hope. As it stands, Stick is fun, albeit slight, crime drama, filled with big performances and a great stunt by the late Dar Robinson. One can’t help but wonder that if the film was released today, would it be held in higher regard?

The Action Hits Begin

By the mid 80’s, Burt’s star power waned and he appeared in a bunch of films that he did for the money, or because he believed in them, or both. Again, without the interference of the net or newspapers, which I never read, I would view these movies on face value – and I usually liked them. One such film was the neglected and wrongly-maligned Malone. As we did on a Friday, my family would hire some movies. That night we got Malone, Let’s get Harry and Bronson’s Assassination.

After watching all three back-to-back, it was obvious that Malone was the strongest and best of the bunch. And I couldn’t wait to watch it again the next morning.  Burt was a total badass, and the film actually delivered on what the exciting trailer promised – brutal action, cool music and Burt doing his best Rambo impression. It’s still one of my favourite Reynolds movies to this day.

In between the happy accidents like Malone, came films such as Switching Channels, Physical Evidence, the entertaining, but fatally inept Heat. But it wasn’t all down hill for our boy. Anyone who’s read anything about 1987’s Rent-a-Cop will soon see that Burt hated this film, and only did it for the paycheck, and the chance to work with gal pal Liza Minelli. But that’s not to say that the film doesn’t have its own charm.

And the Action Never Ends

Burt, once again, plays a down-and-out cop who has to team up with a wacky hooker (the perfectly cast Minelli) to find a killer, played by the always reliable James Remar. Rent-a-Cop is by no means the highlight of either star’s resumes, but the pairing of Reynolds with Minelli is quite effective and makes the film seem way better than it actually is, thanks to their chemistry, charisma and genuine affection for each other. The pulse-pounding score by the late, great Jerry Goldsmith is an added bonus, and getting the chance to see Remar play an over-the-top villain is always a pleasure. And the ending of the film is, shall we say, EXPLOSIVE!

Reynolds would take on other interesting roles later in his career (Breaking In, Boogie Nights), but it was childhood favourites like Bandit, Sharky, Stick, Malone and Rent-A-Cop that would stay in my mind. Why? It goes back to his cool charisma. You see, Eastwood and Bronson made being cool look effortless. Burt made it look effortless too, but he also made it look like he had a tonne of fun being that guy as well. We’ve lost a great actor and legend with Burt. As one of my friend’s pointed out, “All the real talent is dying”. He couldn’t be more right. Burt was one of a kind. I’ll miss him. RIP Bandit.


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…

Let us know what you think in the comments or on the Facebook page!