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 Moviehave 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!
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.
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’sMatt 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 2to 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 MichaelDudikoff 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’sKyle Reese, Biehn was also prominent in Alien, The Abyss, Navy SEALs and The Rock.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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’sAdonis 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’sRocky 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 IIto 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.
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.
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, Shamusand 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’sStick. Critics 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!
Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in The Bouncer (2018).
Jean-Claude Van Damme is returning to familiar ground with new movie The Bouncer, which finds the Belgian back to something approaching his ass-kicking best as it makes its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Here’s what some first reviews are saying about the upcoming JCVD vehicle (hint: it may be Van Damme’s best and artsiest effort in a long time)!
Van Damme as “The Bouncer”
JCVD stars as Lukas, a down-on-his-luck widowed single father who spends his days working as a nightclub bouncer. It’s a job that gives Lukas the perfect opportunity to take his considerable frustrations out on any drunken patrons that happen to cross his path.
More importantly for Van Damme fans, it’s a role that gives the Muscles from Brussels the perfect platform from which to flex his acting chops while meting out beatings aplenty.
Things take a turn for the interesting though when Lukas lands himself in jail after handing out a hefty ass-whooping to a young clubber. Suddenly his eight-year-old daughter is taken into care and Lukas is given a choice by the cops: infiltrate a criminal organization or lose custody forever.
Jean-Claude’s Revenge
What follows is a bruising and brutal descent into the criminal underworld with Lukas’s “job interview” just a taste of what to expect.
Locked in a basement with several other muscle-bound applicants, the assembled group are told to quite literally fight it out for the job with the last man standing hired on the spot.
It only gets crazier and more violent from there with Van Damme’s older, world-weary persona perfectly pitched for Lukas, who must engage in all manner of criminal mayhem while also reporting to the authorities.
JCVD Goes Arthouse
A striking, noir-ish thriller from French filmmaker Julien Leclercq, this might be the most arthouse Van Damme movie since JCVD. Initial reviews for the film have been positive too with Evan Saathoff of Birth. Movies. Death. full of praise. “A very satisfying entry into his [Van Damme’s] filmography,” Saathoff writes.
“If you’re already a fan [of Van Damme], this one is a must-see.”
You can find out more info about The Bouncer (aka Lukas) and its release across the world on the movie’s Facebook page here.
How do you think The Bouncer will stack up to Van Damme’s ultimate classics? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Rocky (1976) Directed by John G. Avildsen Shown: Sylvester Stallone (as Rocky Balboa), Carl Weathers (as Apollo Creed)
Stallone shows Carl Weathers the ropes in this rare training footage from Rocky (1976).
A video showcasing the arduous work that went into choreographing Sylvester Stallone’s epic fight with Carl Weathers in the original Rocky has resurfaced online. Released back in 1976, Rocky went on to win 3 Oscars that year, including Best Picture and helped establish Stallone as the ultimate star he is today.
It also kicked off a boxing film franchise that continues to this day with spin-off sequel Creed II, which will see Sly reprise his iconic role as RockyBalboa.
Stallone’s Action Roots
Back in the 1970s, Stallone was just a jobbing actor and writer hoping to turn his screenplay, about a small-time boxer who gets the chance to fight the heavyweight champion, into a reality. To do that took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears though – as the video demonstrates. Stallone has always kept himself in good shape and the footage features a young Sly in the prime of his life as the down-on-his-luck Balboa.
Rocky vs. Creed
Weathers, who played the legendary Apollo Creed deserves equal credit too though, demonstrating the same athleticism and energy that would prove crucial later in his career during Predator’s intense, jungle-based, shoot. As they say: ‘it takes two to tango’ and when it comes to choreographing boxing action like this, you need two actors willing to go toe-to-toe.
Hard Hitting Entertainment
It makes you wonder how much of those famous training montages involving Rocky, Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago was acting and how much of it was just super-fit guys going hell for leather in the name of entertainment and testosterone-fuelled on-set competition.
One thing is for sure: Michael B. Jordan has got nothing on these guys.
What are your favorite fights between these two UAMC legends Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Roddy Piper and Billy Blanks team up in Back in Action (1993).
It really doesn’t get better than this. Rowdy Roddy Piper teaming up with Billy ‘Tae Bo’ Blanks as the ultimate butt-kicking duo is just pure awesome juice. Chug it in as two action superstars literally just do badass fights with their shirts off for 90 minutes in Back in Action, a movie that is textbook example of what the Ultimate Action Movie Club is all about.
Slow Start, Awesome Finish
If you can make it through the terribly directed opening drug deal scene, you can rest assured that the rest of the movie is nothing but action bliss. However, for a scene that’s supposed to set the characters and provide some entertainment and tension, it fails pretty spectacularly. We meet the bad guys first, a group of coke-using mobsters who look about as tough as funeral home attendants. The showdown is sadly a pivotal part of the entire plot, but it looks like it had never even been rehearsed.
Luckily, Roddy Piper finally makes his appearance tough guy detective cop Frank Rossi and we get some action. Billy Blanks plays “Billy” and enters the scene for some reason to protect his sister who is somehow involved with the mobsters. It doesn’t really make any sense, but it sets in motion an ultimate case for Rossi to dive into which eventually teams him up with the great Billy “Billy” Blanks.
Piper and Blanks Team Up
Now this is crazy, but at first, Roddy and Billy are enemies! They even square off a couple of times, including a great bar room fight that features some very well choreographed fighting and action (watch it below). From there, Billy keeps protecting (then screaming at) his sister from thugs sent by a workout video company (or at least it looks like). Roddy yells at the police chief and sleeps with a reporter to get more of a scoop on the mobsters.
The Action is Really, Really Awesome
But none of the plot matters. Thankfully Back in Action consistently finds way for Roddy and Billy to meet up and either martial arts each other, or face punch mobsters, or eventually tag-team bad guys with semi-automatic weapons. Just about always Blanks has his shirt off. Roddy just takes his off to admire himself in the mirror when sleeping with the reporter. Together though, they systematically deliver butt kicking scene after butt kicking scene. It’s great.
B-Movie Greatness
There’s not really much more to say about the movie. It obviously was a B-movie cash grab based off of Blanks and Piper’s careers at their points in 1993. Piper was 5 years off of They Live and in the midst of a great 90s run of over-the-top actioners. While Blanks was having one of his most productive action movie years ever (Showdown and TC 2000 were both also released in 1993). I can’t find much on Back in Action’s production, but I’m sure it was a mess (it has 2 directors sharing credit, which is always a bad sign).
However, do not let any superficial information get in your way. Back in Action is an ultimate action classic. It has two beautiful action stars. It has explosions, high kicks and great fights. It’s funny, it has zingers that land and punches that hit harder. Would highly recommend for a weekend VHS viewing.
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