action movie freak    
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

Everything you love about ACTION MOVIES!
The
Good and Bad Action Movies, plus your favorite Action Figures. The Essentials that make a great Action Movie.
The gotta-have-it
Trash Talking of the Action Movie BAD ASS.

Looking for something specific? It's on the
Hit List, and . . .
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE! Instagram


Aliens starring Bill Paxton as Private Hudson in Game Over moment after landing craft crashes
"Game over, man. Game over!"


HOW TO TELL . . .
Are you a FREAK
or just a
FAN?

Action Movie Fans can watch
other genres in comfort.
Action Movie FREAKS will start shifting in their seats 10 minutes into a movie where nothing has crashed or been blown up yet . . .


Action Movie Fans
can quote
a few one-liners from a few
 popular action movies.
"I'll be back!" 
"Make My Day!"

Action Movie FREAKS try to work
their favorite quotes into
conversation all the time! 
"God has his tricks, but getting
[paper jams out of copiers],
that's one of mine.*"

Action Movie Fans
have watched their favorite action movies
a handful of times.
Action Movie FREAKS can recite
the entire opening scene
word-for-word from at least 2 movies they're obsessed with!

"The Hovitos are near, the poison is still fresh—3 days, they're following us . . . "

"They are an army, unlike any other, crusading across the stars toward . . . "


And if you can easily finish
this entire quote: 
"I know what you're thinking,
did he fire 6 shots,
or only 5 . . . "


.44 magnum 

just admit it now,
you're an Action Movie
FREAK!
(That quote should be required memorization if you're going
to call yourself an

Action Movie FREAK
!)

Action Movie Fans can stomach
most movie violence.
Action Movie FREAKS will clap when the action reaches its gross-out best! Remember the incredible opening of Ninja Assassin . . . 
What's that? You didn't see
"Ninja Assassin"?
Then you're an
Action Movie Fan.
Let's start again.

Remember the incredible opening of Ninja Assassin, which ended when the blood splatter becomes the title 
 Ninja Assassin blood splatter title
you knew it was coming, but you clapped anyway! (Yes, true Action Movie FREAKS clap when the violence is really good like horror movie fans laugh when it gets really gross)  If, right about now, you're shaking your head or laughing,
you're an Action Movie Fan.
If you're all fired up . . . 
"HELL YEAH!"
"Welcome to the Jungle!"

You're an
Action Movie FREAK!

*from CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
"God has his tricks, but gettin' outta places no one else can, that's one of mine."

 

Dwayne Johnson as Hercules

Aliens one of the greatest ever Action Movies

michael jai white action movie actor and director

Dina Meyer as Dizzy Flores from Starship Troopers bad ass action movie chick

The Terminator one of the greatest ever Action Movies

Doomsday warrior girl bad ass action movie chick

Chris Hemsworth as Thor comic book action movie

Action Movie Bad Ass Chick Jennette Goldstein as Vasquez in Aliens

Terminator Salvation Action Movie Sequel

bad ass action movie chick Kate Nauta in Transporter 2

Rambo one of the greatest ever Action Movies

Andrea James Lui bad ass action movie chick in close space fight in Bail Enforcers

Robocop Action Movie Classic

Milla Jovovich as Alice in Resident Evil Apocalypse bad ass action movie chick

Dolph Lundgren Universal Soldier Action Movie Classic

Olga Kurylenko as Etain from Centurion bad ass action movie chick

Die Hard one of the greatest ever Action Movies

Bad Ass Action Movie character Sarah Connor

Mission:Impossible III starring Tom Cruise

Michelle Yeoh action movie actress from Tomorrow Never Dies

arnold in predator

chocolate kick to the head

Steven Seagal holding a machette in Above the Law

Gina Carano in Haywire

Scott Adkins as Boyka

Ronda Rousey in The Expendables 3

 

 

Scott Rosenberg on What Separates
the Men from the Boys . . .

December 27, 2015

I was watching Gone in 60 Seconds for, like, the ka-jillionth time, and enjoying the hell out of it, like I always do, and suddenly, it hit me: "Who wrote this?"  Scott Rosenberg, and he also wrote:

  • Tales from the Crypt (1989—96) (TV)scriptwriter Scott Rosenberg
  • Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)
  • Beautiful Girls (1996)
  • Con Air (1997)
  • Disturbing Behavior (1998)
  • High Fidelity (with D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, and John Cusack) (1998)
  • Armageddon (1998) (uncredited, "9th writer out of 9")
  • The General's Daughter (1999) (uncredited)
  • Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
  • Going to California (2001) (TV) (also Creator)
  • Spider-Man (2002) (uncredited)
  • Domestic Disturbance (2001) (uncredited)
  • Impostor (2002)
  • Highway (2002)
  • Kangaroo Jack (2003)
  • October Road (2007—09) (TV) (also Creator)
  • Life on Mars (2009) (TV)
  • Happy Town (2010) (TV) (also Creator)
  • Pain & Gain (2013)


Wanting to know more, I IMDb'd him, looked for him on twitter (@ScottyRosenberg), and then Googled him.  I found this 'free' interview on Amazon (they want you to sign up for a 'free' trial) but it's not free. Amazon lies. I looked for the interview on YouTube instead, and there it was, in video rather than just audio!

"I'm always that guy trying to change the perception of writers
in Hollywood. I think that they're all low-functioning nerds."


"You have to be emotionally invested to do good work."

It's funny that he decries Gone in 60 Seconds, so many hated it when it first came out, and yet, it's now a classic—at least everyone I know (fellow freaks) absolutely love it. I have no idea what he wanted it to be, but I know how enjoyable it is from beginning to end. Sure, parts of it are cheesy but that's an Action Movie Essential. Now I have to read the script to compare.

 

LOL Just noticed a very young Michael Peña in a small role . . .

Michael Pena in Gone in Sixty Seconds



 

Chewie and Han and Chewie and ReyStar Wars: Women in Charge
December 21, 2015

I had no idea just HOW emotional it would be to see Han and Chewie, Leia, and Luke again. The two new lead characters "Finn" and "Rey" were great! They were very likeable they did a fantastic job of acting and in their action scenes. As fresh faces, I had no prior attachments to bring and it seemed like fantastic casting. The humor brought by the new droid "BB-8" was really fun. It was funny how dated C3PO and R2D2 (or as we say in Miami "Arturito") seemed, so I was glad to see a new robot. They threw in all the Star Wars elements we love, and it rang true to the series.  It had some things that it seems some are nitpicking about, but it really didn't detract from the pure joy of being in the theater for a Star Wars movie again. I'll hold out hope for something as original as the Imperial Walkers in the next installment.

I especially liked the way they set up seeing the Millennium Falcon again. As a woman, I also loved seeing Princess Leia in charge. Skipping to the ending, I have to say how great it was to see a woman take 'the driver's seat' in another Action Movie—Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road is another standout example. 2015 saw some advancement for women in Action Movies, and to see Rey take Han Solo's chair with Chewie as copilot was huge.

I look forward to the next installment and new adventures with Rey and Finn. I couldn't help but think that Rey is Luke's daughter. Love where they ended it and that it gave that feeling of excitement for the next movie.

 


 

Counting Down to
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

December 15, 2015

I've had my ticket for weeks. I haven't watched any of the trailers or any promotional videos because I want to see it all for the first time on the big screen (they don't need to 'sell' me). I'm SUPER excited to be seeing it on Thursday at 2:00 AM (technically Friday morning).  I'll be there to 'make the line' as we say in Spanglish in Miami right after work.

What I'm most excited about is that the two lead characters are a female and a black guy, and then this thing. How do you not slice off your hand at the wrist when you use it?!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 


 

TV Series in the works "Rambo: New Blood"
December 2, 2015

I'm delighted! I thought the title of Rambo V "Rambo: Last Blood" was such a depressing title, I was sure they were going to kill the character off (nobody wants that). This is so much more hopeful. I talked about this in the October 2014 issue of "PAYBACK" action movie magazine. Below are the pages with the story. Seems like we're 'on the same page'.  Rambo fans should be thrilled to have more Rambo on a regular basis, and, thrilled to have a new Rambo to carry the torch.  Who will that be? Please read and scroll down to find out my choice.  And can I get some credit for naming it? (even if Mr. Stallone never read this).

I can dream . . .

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com featuring Rambo 5 fan art

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com

Movies That Matter: Rambo V a story in PAYBACK action movie magazine by actionmoviefreak.com feating Roman Reigns as J.R. Rambo 

Yes, I Photoshopped in the knife.

So what do we know about this new TV Show?  There was this story back on August 21, 2013 via @TheWrap: 

"Entertainment One is developing the project with Avi Lerner—the producer behind the 2008 film "Rambo" and the "The Expendables" movie series, which also stars [Sylvester] Stallone—and Nu Image. Under the agreement, they will collectively develop the series and shop it to broadcasters in the U.S. and internationally."

. . . and now:

"The show would focus on Stallone's John Rambo and his son "J.R.", described as an ex-Navy SEAL for the series, and will be written by Die Hard and The Fugitive screenwriter Jeb Stuart. Though unconfirmed, Stallone is expected to reprise his role as John Rambo." (ComingSoon.net)

Most certainly! There are fewer figures in film with more power to preach to the world than John Rambo. Few Action Movie Heroes more . . . what's the best word . . . venerated than this Super Soldier. The show's writer, Jeb Stuart, needs only one of those two movies to his credit as far as I'm concerned. To have both only makes me doubly excited.  For me, it's a reason to start watching Television again.  Yes, please, give me some weekly Rambo! 

According to @comingsoonnet (they always know EVERYactionmoviething), Rambo V is now on hold. If Mr. Stallone can pass the Rambo torch to someone worthy (SOMEBODY WITH DARK HAIR and an IMPRESSIVE PHYSIQUE/SUPER STRONG), first wish granted. And if in this hiatus, he realizes a story for another Rambo movie, great, if not, he's got many stories he can tell with Jeb Stuart.

There's so much to work with. This is GREAT news!

Dec. 12th UPDATE:  Now it's being said that Stallone will not be involved. I will still watch it.


 

Surprisingly Good Find: Montana
November 22, 2015

McKell David in Montana

In the Revenge action movie subgenre, "Montana" is a great protégé movie with compelling characters, a ton of growling (LOVE that! LOL), and great fight scenes. This movie (released in the US September 19, 2015) was something I stumbled on in Amazon.com. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy the morality. It's always good to see the bad guys get their come uppance. There's a ton of cursing and some major assholes. So satisfying.  They spend some time developing the back story on the characters and so you care what happens to them.

Directed by Mo Ali (amazingly good movie for it being only his second!), the movie is set in the "mean streets of London's East End". Who knew that neighborhood was so rough. Until I read that I thought it was in Eastern Europe someplace.  The co-lead, "Dimitrije". (it's debatable which of the two the movie is about), is played by Lars Mikkelsen. You might recognize him from "Headhunter". The other lead "Montana" is played by (16-year-old?) McKell David. I hope we see more of him.

 

 


 

Countdown to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
November 18, 2015

Feels like we're stuck in a time warp waiting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to get here already! The BIG question in my mind is what they will do to replicate/top the cool factor that Star Wars had in 1977 like The Empire Strikes Back did in 1980: I stumbled on this photo which looks like Imperial Walkers (these are the "Maunsell Sea Forts" abandoned anti-submarine towers). How cool were they at the time?! How do you top that?

Maunsell Sea Forts

 


 

Spectre: Fighting While Flawless
November 17, 2015

I should have seen it 3 times already by now (life interferes). If only to see when he annoyingly adjusts his tie (or jacket) because he's 'fighting while flawless'. That whole this-secret-agent-stuff-is-getting-in-the-way-of-my-evening and his super-cool-under-pressure demeanor is what keeps us coming back for more. That and the always incredible Action scenes and exotic locations and cars and women and so on.

I was blown away by the opening helicopter scene. Edge-of-your-seat stuff for me. It's hard to say what's acting and what's Craig if neither Bond, nor Craig, wants to be Bond anymore. He quit for a girl once already. Is this the end of 007?

Bring on another 00. Make it a girl. IDGAF (in a good way). What I really want to see is a 00 Academy/training movie. Time for younger blood? James can teach . . . 

The action scenes in Spectre were incredible. If you don't think so, I'mma slap you. YOU are too hard to please. Bautista was great. They didn't hype him in the script, which they should have. We want that trash talking up to build the fear. On the other hand, look at him. Fear enough. He didn't even need to speak. It felt a little like the first "Halloween" movie. Like Michael Myers, you can't kill him, he's just going to keep coming. The Close Quarters Fight (an Action Movie Essential) between them on the train was as good as it gets. Real wiping the floor with him stuff.

Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx in Spectre

I give a ton of leeway to these films because it must be the hardest task to come up with original stuff. If ANY series does it all in an over-the-top way, it's Bond Movies. Talk about hard-act-to-follow, x 23! Each movie has to top the last. Craig sells the physical and the suave. That's huge. As a girl I don't care about the "Bond girls". Bond kills a guy then screws his old widow—because he can. LOL That's the Bond we love. The sex actually meant something. They were emotionally/situationally invested versus conquest of pretty face thrown in his path. That was fresh.

I did want a little more 'underground lair'-ish stuff—Give me a tour, impress me—and an original way to escape it. It used to have an air of 'you-built-all-this-over-years-watch-how-easily-I-fuck-it-up', but a wristwatch blows up and then the whole place explodes and the villain survives with a facial scar? I'm going to pay to see it again. Maybe twice more. I'm not hard to satisfy. It's an Action Movie (stupid). I don't expect the life-changing-best-movie-I've-ever-seen every time I go. The opening helicopter fight justified my ticket purchase. The rest was gravy.

In Bond-i-ness it delivers. Even though CGI must have been used, it's hard to say how much when the concrete crumbles and James is hanging on the edge. I'm impressed! The only thing that disappointed me was the net fall (which was in Divergent--read the book/didn't see the movie). In every other aspect, I was glad to see they stepped it up yet again. Love keeping the same actors for the characters. That really invests us.

close quarters fight spectre

I'm sure I will buy it and watch it again and again. I'm hoping the song grows on me though because it was slow depressing (not sexy). Was it Coldplay? LOL

Have to make this the last note:  I LOVED that they objectified Bond in the opening naked lady teaser thing. Tables turned. Bond, Jane Bond . . . it's inevitable!

 


 

Spectre can't get here soon enough!
November 1, 2015

Here's a video of a guy crashing the Spectre Premiere and After Party . . . and staying til the bitter end. That's a TRUE fan. Haven't we all dreamed of attending . . . Well, maybe not this way and he'll be recognizable after posting this video, so good luck doing it again, but, it might have been worth it to him given his level of enjoyment. And I absolutely loved the spirit of the taxi cab driver!

 

I'm so excited myself, I can't even watch the trailers. I just want to see it all on the big screen for the first time. As much a people pick on some of the details of Skyfall, I've watched it a ridiculous number of times and it delivers every time on sheer Bond-iness. Visually breathtaking and over all so British. Much of the credit goes to Daniel Craig who took on the new physicality of the role and also took being suave and cool to new levels. Once upon a time action movie freaks waited for Bond movies as their yearly action injection because there was nothing like them. The stunts were so over the top, the music, the locations, etc.  Then action movie making caught up with Bond. But thanks to Sam Mendes and intelligent scripts, this Bond is again of a higher level. I really could not be more excited. I'm hoping it knocks Jurassic World out of the darling spot this year. This poster hints at Live and Let Die (my favorite Bond movie tied with Skyfall).  Bring on the villain(s), the cheesy one liners, and the incredible motor cars . . .

Spectre movie poster

 


 

Marko Zaror & Larnell Stovall 'make' Zambo Dende
October 23, 2015

Here's a little peek at the making of ZAMBO DENDE (a Colombian action movie based on the comic book hero). Marko Zaror's superior athleticism, technique, and physique, make him a real-life Action Figure. No selling us or fooling us is necessary. Add in great action choreography by Larnell Stovall, and this movie should be as exciting for its action sequences, as it appears it will be for the visuals.

 

 


 

Olga Kurylenko MOMENTUM action movie poster

Why is this not showing in Miami?! MOMENTUM
October 21, 2015

Why is this movie not showing in local theaters as of October 21st?  AND it's not coming up even in the whole state of Florida on Fandango (sigh). Olga Kurylenko is branded on my mind for her fight with a man in Centurion. As slight as her build is, she sold it! And she sold me—I'm a huge fan of Quantum of Solace. Here, she stars in a Heist Movie that has a fantastic looking action-packed trailer.  James Purefoy is an incredible actor as well!  Here is the IMDb synopsis:  "Alex, a mysterious thief, is pulled in by her former partner for one last heist. She quickly finds it was never just about the diamonds. A brutal murder sparks a cat and mouse chase between Alex and a master assassin. Now she must uncover the lies behind the heist and discover the secrets behind the men who have made her a target."

 

 


 

 

Bus 657 now called Heist starring Gina Carano

Bus 657, now called: HEIST
October 10, 2015

So, this hotly anticipated Gina Carano movie, starring Dave Bautista, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Morris Chestnut, and Robert de Niro, doesn't even have Gina in the trailer until 1:23. They flash her name in the credits so fast I almost missed it.  Doesn't matter. Gina's the reason I'm excited to see it and it looks like she brings the pain, so, November 13th, freaks . . . mark your calendar!
 

 



 

Full-length, first-person, movie madness: HARDCORE
September 21, 2015

 


'Bad motherfuckers' Biting Elbows' new movie is billed as the first full-length feature film shot in first-person-shooter (F.P.S.) or P.O.V. (point of view) style. "Hardcore" took the Grolsch People's Choice Midnight Madness Award (directed by Ilya Naishuller) at TIFF 2015. That's the top, baby.

This movie should have you asking "How did they do that?!" all over the place, like the original music video that blew our minds and made us want more.  I can't wait to see if it's inspired and creative Action Movie genius like the helicopter scene in the otherwise misogynistic Shoot 'Em Up, and/or if it's just uncomfortably disgusting at times like Crank: High Voltage, or over the line like John Hyams Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning and parts of Dragon Eyes.  


 


 

And now for some REAL NEWS . . .
September 19, 2015

Hitman: Agent 47 movie posterSo it's been a while since I've been to the movies. I did see Hitman: Agent 47 because it has a <<SPOILER>> female Hitman (48), in it.  She was really not the physical specimen I expected/hoped for, but the Action was good and she was excellent in it. Whoever she was (gross smoker). Never heard of her. Just really tired of them casting the male fantasy waif-y girls.  The movie was not great. Don't get me wrong, it's going in the Good list, and I will watch it again sometime (there are some cool moves/great Action sequences really worth seeing). If only I hadn't see it back to back with The Man From U.N.C.L.E. I might not be so harsh, but I'm tired of being disappointed. And overall, it was disappointing.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials movie posterSpeaking of which . . . Maze Runner: The Scorch Trails gave good trailer but was also disappointing. A lot of walking and running. They escaped ten minutes away to some ruined shelter at night where the turn on all the lights and Wicked doesn't spot them? Not to mention they all have chips in their neck . . . Maybe if I had read the book before, it would have helped me enjoy it more (like the first installment). In the end, all it was was another installment (plot). I think I'll skip the next. I don't think it's Action. It just has Action in it. Thin.

Trumpets please: Ronda Rousey is going to star in a remake of 1989 Patrick Swayze vehicle Road House (Variety exclusive). It should work. He was a star and it was all about him, so this can be all about her. The whole world seems to be all about her lately. Whether she can pull of the Zen thing is the only thing that remains to be seen, because  . . .  and it thrills me to NO END to say this:  The REAL NEWS is: She's got the physicality part of it handled. You can piss and moan all day that she's a girl, but it takes more than muscle, and this girl has SKILLS. Believability isn't even an issue. I just CANNOT WAIT to see her man handle a bunch of losers.  Sweet. I sure hope they cast some REALLY BIG girl(s) along with her. You know, muscles BIG . . . This is a market that is untapped. I've said it before and I'll say it again. There are plenty of beaten, wronged, angry women who are just waiting to see a woman beat the crap out of everybody. 

woman flexing massive arms

female fighter wrapping her hands    

 


 

The man From U.N.C.L.E. banner

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.—A Gilt-y Pleasure
August 24, 2015

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was based on the Television Series . . . which I either never saw or don't remember, so . . . clean slate (and, something to look forward to checking out, now that Guy Ritchie has made me a fan).

 


Love a great opening sequence and this movie's was surprisingly good because it had real stunts—the drivers had mad skills. Not since The Fast and The Furious: Toyko Drift has a chase scene impressed me like that. It was fun and creative and fit so well with the story, the characters, and the cars. The cars were a big part of the appeal in this movie, the clothes, the hair, the suits . . . I thought Henry Cavill was rocking vintage dress suits until I saw him in the all black 'casual stealth' outfit. This movie was just full of pretty people, which was fun to watch, but what I took away was that Guy Ritchie is at the top of his game in Action Movies. Not just directing, but he co-wrote the script with Lionel Wilgrim [Sherlock Holmes (2009) oh yeah!].

I have MUCH praise for the script. I love when they make enemies work together. In that sense, this was a Buddy Movie. The stakes were huge—love that—but what kept it going was what was happening between the two lead secret agents. Being secret agents, they are both in top form and really want to 'win'. What develops moves past competition into bromance and, in true Action Movie Hero fashion, they <<SPOILER>> do the right thing. Something I haven't seen before was the two lead characters hyping each other. To be an Action Movie Bad Ass you need some to Trash Talk you up.

Everything about the movie was a "wow", like Rome: gaudy, gauche, glitzy, and glamorous—a gilt-y pleasure! There were a lot of scenes that were great because there was no dialogue. They didn't do a lot of exposition either. You just knew by what you were shown. The filmmakers seemed to be having a good time with it. While they didn't talk down to the audience, they didn't let that stop them from being campy and cheesy just for the fun of it. Guy Ritchie knows what to do with the Action Movie Essentials!

Another thing that kept the movie going was sexual tension. You really didn't know whether 'the girl' was good or bad for a while. They kept you guessing about that, but not about how they felt. You knew it was love because they just couldn't deny the attraction, no matter what the circumstances. I especially love <<SPOILER>> that it was not resolved, so we can look forward to what happens in a second movie: Two Men And A Girl From U.N.C.L.E. because, surprise, she's not just a mechanic. She's also a secret agent at the top of her game. Funny, because they made the men so pretty, for once good looks didn't detract from the female character. The lead villain was a woman too. You go Guy Ritchie. The next movie will probably be all about 'the girl'. You'll see.

 


 

Coolest Action Movie Project: "In Action"
The World's First Two-Person Action Movie
August 10, 2015

If you could imagine a cool Action Movie project, it probably wouldn't be as intense as this one.  Distill your ideas down into super-concentrated form, and you would have this feature film project:  In Action.

 

"The project is a purposely mega-low-budget Action Movie. A two-man show with the stars acting out their adventures, playing numerous villains, and engaging in fight scenes of epic proportions . . . all taking place in one room."

You're thinking, that's been done. Nuh-uh. Not like this. Eric Silvera and Sean Kenealy of In Action

"While the plot resembles a conventional, big-budget Action Movie, they're[these two guys are: Eric Silvera and Sean Kenealy] presenting it in this unconventional way to show that solid storytelling, even on a shoestring budget, can keep an audience on the edge of their seats just like a $200M summer blockbuster can."

Good luck with that, right? Don't be hasty, there's more . . .

"By utilizing set design, sound design, make-up, costumes, and the genre's classic camera/editing techniques, [they] will create the style and feel of an awesome Action Movie for a totally new and fun movie experience! Basically, [they'll] be making the indie-est Action Movie of all time. [Still skeptical? Check out this example of what you can do in your own house.]

And that's the "coolest" part. It should be easy to do whatever you can think of with an unlimited budget, but HOW MUCH COOLER is it to try to do it with as little as possible?! What an amazing learning experience. After this, any budget will go just that much further because of what they learned to do with 'nothing'. I'm certainly envious of this experience and can't wait to see what they come up with. I love beginners (so to speak—their team sounds really creative) and so I made a pledge. I can't help it, I love Action Movies.  So, if you can help, please do! If you can't afford to then help them via social media: Like In Action movie on Facebook and share, and follow @InActionMovie on twitter. And stayed tuned to their project to see how it's going.


www.inactionmovie.com  | Contact Sean Kenealy 518.928.9765 or sean.kenealy@gmail.com.
 


Mission: Impossible - Ilsa Nation
August 1, 2015

Tom Cruise delivers yet again in this very M:I story. They've set it up for the next film so that they can now do what they want with the backing of the CIA, and, they've added one of the coolest female characters to be in an Action Movie yet. The performance by Rebecca Ferguson is incredible! There isn't an ounce of fat on her/her stunt double. Regardless of her body type (I'm always harping for bigger, stronger women), she's a machine. Anything she's doing seems believable because she seems so fit, and handles the movements so realistically . . . I was blown away. So, kudos to Rebecca and especially to her stunt double Lucy Cork @CorkLucycork! BAM!! The fight scenes (and all the others) were top notch. I really have not been so impressed since Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

All hail "Isla Faust"
What worked really well was the combination of the physicality of the role and the character herself. Deciding to save Tom (not just once), and seeming to be so the Good 'Guy' in the end. Fearless, balls out, on the edge, whatever you want to call it, even Ethan Hunt was impressed with Ilsa Faust. I would like to see her join the IMF in the next movie. She and Ethan and the team can then recruit younger CIA operatives and do a Charlie's Angels kind of thing, overseeing/rescuing the new team. I think theyr'e all looking a bit older and while that's very cool on its own, I've been dying to see a James-Bond-00-Academy movie (The Kingsman doesn't really count.) . Since they don't seem to be making one, then an IMF Academy movie would be great as well.

Rebecca Ferguson looks adoringly at Tom Cruise

 


Schwarzenegger + the WWE = Awesomeness
July 27, 2015

Play as da Turminadah . . . Pre-Order WWE 2K16 to receive playable Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator! Raise some hell! For XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, PS3, and PS4.

 

 



 

RIP KINNIE GIBSON: A "First-Class Stuntman"
July 20, 2015

ActionFest is no more, but many hope it will rise again. And, even though the Norris brothers were the heart and soul of the Festival, the face of it was surely Kinnie Gibson, "The Rocketman". For those of us of a certain age group, the Jetpack was the ultimate cool invention that we never thought could be realized. To have someone learn (and it was not easy to control and unbelievably LOUD AS HELL) to ride it like the smooth secret-agent-type we always thought we'd be when we got to fly, Kinnie Gibson brought that cool factor to ActionFest's Stunt Show the first year. Tell me you wouldn't turn out just to see that. The last year, Dan Schlund kicked off ActionFest 2012 by landing on the red carpet in a tuxedo. It went something like this:

Overheard: "Dude, man, what was that? That was so loud. Rocket Maaaaan. No way! That's way cool!"

And it was way cool. Here's a video of Kinnie speaking to a crowd in Asheville, inviting them to come out to the first year of ActionFest. Like everyone associated with the festival, he was incredibly nice and gracious. He died way too young. My heart goes out to his family. He will be missed and he was greatly appreciated and admired.

 

 

 

 

TERMINATOR GENISYS: Smile!
July 1, 2015

Contains SPOILERS . . . Don't read this unless you've seen it. And YES you should go see it! (I didn't watch the trailers because trailers ruin movies, so I enjoyed seeing it all for the first time.)

So I tweeted "@Schwarzenegger carries @Terminator Genisys with muscle and heart. True fans will enjoy it. Others will complain."  I'm a BIG FAN of all the Terminator movies. I happen to like 3 better than 2. Sacrilege, I know, what can I say? I think the action's some of the best ever and I really liked that the T-X was a girl and the scene with Arnold carrying a coffin on his shoulder. Nothing that other people complained about T3 bothered me much. I was just grateful for a great ride! But enough about Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines . . .. Now I'm going to contradict myself and seem like I'm full of it, but give me a chance. I did enjoy the movie, but it's not without its issues. Here goes:

This movie is fun. All the way through there's plenty of action. It's just a little weird seeing other actors as characters we loved so much. That said, it's really minor, because we're all about Arnold anyway, and we get at least 3 versions of him: Young, older, and old. The suspension of disbelief is easy because he's a robot underneath. And he's Arnold. This is the Arnold we want to see. Big, Bad Ass, Funny.

People have complained about the script, but there was a good deal of humor and enough continuity with repeated lines from the earlier movies to keep the illusion, cause this movie kinda pretended to be a Terminator movie, I mean, they have Arnold, right, and 3 kinds of terminators, so what was 'off'?

John Connor made a Big Dog Entrance, which was cool, but after that he was not in the movie much until later and he didn't come across as this legend/savior at all. I wondered if this was your first Terminator movie, would you think he was this big hero? Would you even be scared of the machines? Other than John Connor not being large and in charge, the thing that bothered me the most was, at times that were urgent, the characters took their time with exposition. (Excuse me but a Terminator was just sent through the portal. You should be following him ASAP. No time for sitting down and chit chat.)  Arnold makes several Big Dog Entrances as well, but since he's a good guy now, he's a father/grandfather figure and the Bad Assery is toned down with sweetness. It's this heart that his character has that carries the film (with Schwarzenegger's understated spot-on performance). How do you play emotion with an emotion-less machine? He does it, and does it well, as he has all along since the Terminator went from evil to good.

black TerminatorThe movie is a love story and ends with a kiss (to be continued?). All For Love happens to be one of my Action Movie Subgenres, but either they have no chemistry and/or it just doesn't work here. Emilia Clarke handles the action well but her doe-y eyed baby face doesn't look the part. Neither does Jai Courtney.  Byung-hun Lee was great as the T1000 but they hardly used him, and kudos to J. K. Simmons who stole the scenes he was in.  I think a big thing that was lacking was that Jason Clarke wasn't scary as the converted John Connor. There wasn't that terrifying sense of betrayal and danger. I wondered if that was because of the casting. We weren't invested in him, nor attached. Although there is one intense scene where the skeleton of an old Terminator tries to kill Kyle, the thrill of the relentlessness of the machines has worn off. They were really creative in how many different ways they tried to put evil John Connor down but it was no longer scary. Terminators are supposed to be scary. The new version of The Terminator looked wicked in black but it was just a robot. There was nothing really malevolent about him. Plus, he talked too much!

Another thing is the music is supposed to be really intensely noisy, not orchestral. I was expecting Brostep. I mean, Terminator movies kind of invented Dubstep, right?

Arnold got the only above-the-line credit, which was cool and as it should be. I was afraid they were going to kill him off but he stayed as the central character in the movie throughout. Without him, this would not be a movie worth watching. Arnold as the "Guardian" spends years stockpiling weapons (in Iron Man's old bunker) but how many can they carry? They end up blowing it all up, and it still doesn't do the trick. Plus, Skynet is wide open and seemingly deserted—They just fly in, land, and walk in through the front doors. They take out the complex of buildings like a chain reaction of implosions with just 3 bombs in the basement of one building. How is that possible?!

Overall, they paid homage to all the critical elements of a Terminator movie, it's just a shame the casting was off. That is a minor thing though. If you're a true fan you will enjoy the movie all the way through despite these little nit picky things. It's always hard when they try to resume something like this series that was so popular, and try to keep the ball rolling. The way they leave the ending, they could do another. They probably will, and it will be a tear jerker when they kill off Arnold (we cried once before as it was). With the time travel thing, the sky's the limit on plot twists. With the advancements in movie magic, I was expecting another level. What I got was more of the same. Good thing that same was so good to begin with.  A good analogy would be unwrapping a present when you know what it is.  It's still a gift: Shut up and eat your awesome.

 


 

BIG GAME: little meat
June 29, 2015

The trailer for this movie gave EVERYTHING away. WHY do they do that?! It was a great trailer and a fun movie, but there didn't seem to be much left to watch since I SAW IT ALL ALREADY. That's what I get for watching another trailer.

This movie is enjoyable but it didn't seem like 110 minutes. Samuel L. Jackson's version of the President really didn't do much. I am sure we all paid just to hear him say "Motherfucker" again. If I hadn't seen the trailer, I might have been happier because I wouldn't have known about the freezer falling and the ejector seat. In the end it was like eating a great big burger with all the fixings but no meat. The hero of an Action Movie has to be beefier. I thought SLJ would make up for that in attitude and go Obama's Anger Translator on us but he kept it downright wimpy. Still, it's fun. I would probably watch it again.

 

 


 

 

 

 

BALLERS
starts tonight
on HBO
June 21, 2015

Set in Miami, "Ballers" is a :30 minute TV show from HBO @BallersHBO. "A series centered around a group of football players and their families, friends, and handlers" is the @IMDb synopis.

From the Miami New Times article in 2014: "What could be better than an Entourage-inspired HBO series created by Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson both filmed and set in Miami?  Here's what: A series that is all of those things, and also titled Ballers. (We'd have preferred Ballerz, but whatever.)"

More better: the Director is Peter Berg.

"Legends don't retire. They reinvent." is the tagline. So it's all about @TheRock. And "Get Rich, Get Laid, Have Fun." As big a star as Dwayne Johnson is, the city of MIAMI might outshine him. Damn, we look good on film! Can't wait to watch the Samoan Thor take charge. Know your role and shut mouth.

 

 

 


 

Jurassic World: Nightmares in Babysitting
June 11, 2015

Steven Spielberg says it best "To see Jurassic World come to life is like seeing Jurassic Park come true." I haven't been this happy after seeing a movie since T3.  Read more . . .

Jurassic World canoeing through dinosaurs

 


 

Jason Statham on LIVE with Kelly and Michael
June 3, 2015

If you're a big Jason Statham fan, you probably already know he was an amateur high-board diver, but did you also know he wanted to be a stuntman? In now unavailable video I had here, he told LIVE with Kelly and Michael that he really wanted to be a stuntman and he shared his insight into stuntwork. Jason Statham also knows what it means to be a total  Action Movie Bad Ass. He's always praising the stuntmen first, and even does his own stunts when he can. (Like the time we nearly lost him to drowning on the set of The Expendables 3.) I don't need to convince you what a true Action Figure he is. Here, IGN covers the accident.

Thanks to ";LIVE with Kelly and Michael" Production Associate Alexa Monahan for sharing this clip from the show (now 404).

 


 

The Athena Project to Star Ronda Rousey
June 2, 2015

The Athena Project book coverBook Synopsis: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor, The Athena Project is the first in a thrilling series featuring Delta Force's newest members: four fearsome, deadly, and incredibly skilled female operatives. Part of a top-secret, all-female program codenamed The Athena Project, these four women are about to undertake one of the nation's deadliest assignments.

When a terrorist attack in Rome kills more than twenty Americans, Athena Team members Gretchen Casey, Julie Ericsson, Megan Rhodes, and Alex Cooper are tasked with hunting down the Venetian arms dealer responsible for providing the explosives. But there is more to the story than anyone knows.

In the jungles of South America, a young US intelligence officer has made a grisly discovery. Surrounded by monoliths covered with Runic symbols, one of America's greatest fears appears to have come true.

Simultaneously in Colorado, a foreign spy is close to penetrating the mysterious secret the US government has hidden beneath Denver International Airport.

As Casey, Ericsson, Rhodes, and Cooper close in on their target, they will soon learn that another attack—one of unimaginable proportions—has already been set in motion, and the greatest threat they face may be the secrets kept by their own government.

____

According to deadline.com, the script will be written by Ashleigh Powell. In an interview with Blue Cat, she says she's written 12 scripts, only 3 of which she would show anybody. This is quite a feather in her cap then and I wish her much success. I hope she knows what a responsibility it is to represent women well. I hope they get a female director and I look forward to hearing which stuntwomen will star (I say star because we all know it's the stunts that make the movie). Here's an introduction by the author. His heart seems to be in the right place, even if his perception of women is as sexy and beautiful first, and people second. With the exception of the stupid line about "stilettos" (by a woman!) as a teaser. When are we going to be able to strong without having to dilute it to nonthreatening status by being attractive? 

 

 



 

San Andreas is epic Movie Magic!
May 29, 2015

What are you looking here for? Go see it! Go see it again if you already have. Give @TheRock more money to make more Action Movies. San Andreas looks so real, it's beyond the suspension of disbelief. How do they do that?!

San Andreas movie poster

 


 

Mad Max: Fury Road poster

Max Takes a Backseat in Mad Max: Fury Road
May 16, 2015

One of my favorite details in movies is when they change the logos at the start to reflect the theme of the movie. Love the rusting logos in this one; the throaty sound of a thirsty engine, and then the narration begins:

"My name is Max."

Thomas Hardy as 'Mad' Max is captured by a pack of 'wild dogs' from a cult-like society under the control, and fueled by their worship of, their leader (the Immorten Joe). Driven by the need for gasoline and bullets, speed and violence, and with insane delusions/illusions of an afterlife/rebirth in Valhalla, they are the "Mad Boys"—the muscle that drives the 'machine'.

Near the top of the chain is Charlize Theron's character "Imperator Furiosa". Once she appears onscreen, the movie detours with her in her flight to freedom and Max takes a backseat to Furiosa. Because of that, you expect there to be a spark of romance that will play out in future movies, between the two of them, but there isn't (yet?). That may be the most 'feminist' thing of all in a movie being widely hailed as feminist. A female character who's not there merely to be a romantic interest! Who would have expected that in this macho, post-apocalyptic culture!? The other main female characters are "breeders/wives", which makes the fact that the Imperator is female even more unusual, but then we see that she comes from a tribe of strong women (capable of surviving alone).

It's encouraging that so many who are labeling this movie as feminist see it as a positive thing. That's progress. Charlize does a great job of fighting. She swings as hard as a man, and in true Action Movie style, goes all out to help further her cause and protect the weaker females. It's a clear distinction that seems to be increasing. Yes, there are still the damsels in distress who need rescuing, but it doesn't have to be by a man. More progress.

That may be because this is just an installment in a longer story—Tom Hardy told Esquire magazine he's attached to 3 more Mad Max films, which is great because he does a great job and that will give us a chance to see him as Max because this film kind of did not. While he had a big part, not much of it was vocal, and a lot of it played second fiddle to Furiosa. There's even one surprising scene where he misses 2 shots out of 3 total bullets left, and so hands the gun to Furiosa for the final shot. All it needed to be "Mad Furiosa: Fury Road" was her backstory in the beginning to get us invested in her success, but we don't find out until near the end what is 'driving' her.

Against the rich tapestry of Felliniesque freaks that Mad Max is, for a woman to not only survive, but hold her own and rise to the top of their screwed-up society to drive a war rig is really something. But really, who cares about all that They didn't invest us. We were just along for the ride. What a wild ride. You have to see it for the stunts. There's nothing like it! It's as edge of your seat as it gets for a Chase movie.

 


 

SuperGIRL preview
May 13, 2015

Supergirl reveals her S on her costume just like Superman ripping her shirt open  

What do I love so much about it? Pretty much everything. The one thing that stood out was the too-short-skirt shot from behind before they added pantyhose to the outfit but the costume is not revealing overall and they kept her wholesome. Plus, but, most importantly, she's a SUPERHERO and she's a girl! Love the amount of pink, and Calista Flockhart doing a Devil Wears Prada/mean boss thing, the romantic interest(s), and the career jokes. Should be fun!

 

 

 

 

Life of Action: The must-have Action Movie book!
May 3, 2015

Mike Fury holding his book Life of ActionLIFE OF ACTION is a new paperback book by Mike Fury (a Martial Arts & Film Journalist, at right) that features interviews with many actors, filmmakers, and stunt people from the world of Martial Arts and Action Movies, like:

and many more. The book has just been released and you can buy it at mikefury.net/lifeofaction or on amazon.com. Any Action Movie Freak you know will have to own this book!

Scott Adkins shared the book on his official Facebook page and posted: “Brilliant new book on action film making out now.” A quote by Scott from the book gives us an idea of the exciting content: "I'll always stay immersed in Action as long as I can. For me, great fight scenes are the most dynamic form of cinema."

Amen to that! There are some sample pages below. Great reading . . . Dolph attended Clemson #whoknew.  
(Click here to Like the book on Facebook.)

Scott Adkins holding the book Life of Action by Mike Fury

 

Click on the photos below to read larger versions:

 

 

Avengers: Age of Ultron
May 1, 2015

According to Wikipedia, "A mixture of close-ups, concealing costumes, stunt doubles, and visual effects were used to help hide [Scarlett] Johansson's pregnancy during filming." (Their footnoted link to insidemovies.ew.com isn't working.)

There was plenty of Action and it was good, and there were only a couple of times the fight scenes were hard to follow (you know 'how they do' with too much shaky cam). The Camaraderie and Dominance was fun, but each of the characters seemed to get too little screen time (especially the black actors).

And what's with Black Widow calling herself a "monster" just because she can't have kids? After seeing the movie, they (the actors in real life) were way off base calling the Black Widow character a slut. That was so unfounded. It just makes me realize we women haven't come very far at all. We still get no respect even when we are playing superheroes. I heard somewhere that Black Widow had "taken over" this movie, and stupid me, my mind went to stuntwork (which was incredible in the last movie), but this time, all they cared about was having her be in love (rolling my eyes) . . . BORING. Is that what they think we want to see, or is that what they think of us, or both? Which would be  worse?

A flying city, lots of Ultrons (like Agent Smiths) . . . it all seemed like I'd seen it all before. Remember the first movie and how cool the flying battleship was when you first saw it? Plus how special the whole laboratory/Hulk-Iron Man/scientists bromance seemed? They flushed Pepper Potts, yay! This was NOT an Iron Man movie—but that was more of a minus than a plus.  The Mjolnir jokes were the best thing about the movie.  Iron Man was more than subdued. Hardly any "merry quips" as my Dad used to call them. Just some little jokes about cursing.

There were so many characters it was like a carousel of swirling people: heroes, villains, by the time we got to Ulysses Klaue I didn't care anymore about who the hell he was.  Seemed like too much detail and very little movement forward.

I'm kinda tired of Superhero movies in general, although I'm a huge Superman fan (over Batman) and an even bigger Aquaman fan. 1) Aquaman, 2) Superman, 3) Thor, 4) Wonder Woman. As Action Movies go, I prefer real characters, not fantasy creatures with strange powers like pointing your fingers to use a red light and mind control. The kind of mind control I like is true physical superiority. I thought I would hate the brother/sister act, but they (the actors) were both good and then [too bad] SPOILER they kill one of them off.  The whole time I was thinking they were going to kill Iron Man, because he's human, and because RDJ doesn't (supposedly) want to do any more Iron Man movies(?).

Unless you're really into the story line of the whole stones thing from the comics, I can't see much reason to go see another Avengers movie. I'm ready for the Justice League.

NEWSFLASH:

Just read that "Tom Hardy Wants to Play Frank Castle in the Next Punisher Movie". 
How soon can we see that!?

 


 

Indiana Jones spotted in Miami . . .
April 28, 2015

What does Indiana Jones drive? A Jeep, of course! A nice khaki green.  [Sorry it's blurry (phone shot taken hastily in the mist of the car wash). ] The Punisher lives here too. Drives a flat black pick-up.

 


 

I'm Ready for Avengers: Age of Ultron
April 28, 2015

I haven't watched the trailers. I saw a bit of the first teaser so I know what Ultron looks like and that tons of people are running from something in the city.  I am so excited that nothing has been spoiled for me. I have heard the rumors that someone is going to get killed and that it's Captain America but I was thinking Iron Man . . .

Thor is still my favorite (after Aquaman LOL #notfunny).  Watched this to get psyched:

 

 


 

Get Ready for Star Wars
April 25, 2015

Amazon.com's blowing it out with a "Get Ready for Star Wars Day" page

Loving this Darth Vader ring. That's cool!  And this Star Wars logo ring . . .
 

darth vader ringstar wars logo ring

 


 

Whole Lotta Love for Jeremy Marinas
April 7, 2015

Check out Stuntman Jeremy Marinas' mad skillz (and follow him on twitter @jermskillz) . . .

 

 


 

Furious Seven says goodbye to Paul Walker
April 7, 2015

SPOILERS . . . It's so poignant, I couldn't help but wonder how much of the story was always there and if they added anything (other than that final goodbye with the computer-generated smiling face of Paul Walker). It really was a family, and Brian was the heart.

Those who truly love the franchise also loved 2 Fast 2 Furious, a movie a lot of people complained about. That's when they hooked me, although I loved the first movie too. 2 Fast 2 Furious was just too much fun (that's a good thing)—Brian and Roman were great together. For me the best movie was Fast Five. It was everything you hoped it would be (a Heist fairy tale). I hadn't seen such an intense opening since T3. This movie is almost non-stop action sequences. Some of them are nail biters. This seemed like an ending to the whole series but I would watch 8 just to see 'the family' again, and the cars. This movie (as usual) is FULL of great cars.

Ronda Rousey was wasted in this movie. What was with the weird eyeliner? If they want to make you up like that, you should just say no. She's so strong, she looked like she could snap Michelle Rodriguez like a twig!

Ronda Rousey in Furious Seven

The plot was really simple but the one thing that really stood out was why they had to steal the "God's Eye" (which would need a supercomputer to run and yet is portable) to find Jason Statham's character, when he just keeps finding them and showing up? Stick together and wait.

Kurt Russell was good and his role was probably more screen time that he would have gotten in an Expendables movie.

Jason Statham vs. The Rock was great to watch but the final fight scene of Jason Statham vs. Vin Diesel looked like a mismatch. I thought the copied Romeo Must Die a little (this image below). It was kind of crazy how they cut away from this fight scene and then came back to it. Even though Vin is bigger, I thought Jason seemed like such the better fighter that it showed. (The movie borrowed from a lot of other action movies: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (bus scene), The Expendables 3 (The Rock is out), Mission: Impossible 2 (backwards hanging hand hold), Live Free or Die Hard (took out a drone with an ambulance), maybe more . . . (haven't written about it yet).  They did their own take on it all though and it was still enjoyable.

Vin Diesel fighting Jason Statham in Furious Seven

I don't know how they make Paul Walker hold his own against Tony Jaa.  It looked like such a beating, but guess who wins?

I am sure Furious Seven (the credits spell out 7 but everywhere they use the number) will break box office records. I will buy the movie just to see the extras. It delivered on all the things we love the series for. You gotta see it. And try not to cry. Just try . . .

 


 

First-ever FEMALE Action Heroes Film Festival: Artemis WOMEN IN ACTION Film Festival
Feb 23 2015

Big News today! Just found out via a Google Alert that Artemis Motion Pictures will be holding the inaugural Artemis WOMEN IN ACTION Film Festival in Los Angeles from Friday thru Sunday (April 24- April 26, 2015). They have an IndieGoGo Project for funding. Contribute if you can, please.  Also, they are on Facebook and twitter @Artemis_FF.

“If we want to see women taking up a stronger place
in society on every level, we must create those images
in our filmed entertainment as this is the fastest path
to change that paradigm.”


-
Melanie Wise,(via PRWeb) festival co-founder.

Amen! How women are presented on film now that movies with female "superheroes" like Wonder Woman are finally being made is quintessentially important for the future of all women.  Not to be Cosplay Bimbos but real women of strength. Not fantasy dick accessories but properly attired heroes. Not a pair of tits in a tight costume bouncing around for the amusement of men. Not a skinny girl that it's impossible to suspend disbelief for when she wields a sword.  Not a bloodied victim to feed misogynistic fantasies, or relegated to a sidekick, or a damsel in distress. I only hope their red carpet will have properly attired women as well [my thoughts on that are in issue 2 of PAYBACK action movie magazine celebrating the emergence of women in action movies <--shameless plug], and that their choices or awards will not be concerned with what is "hot".

Congratulations to @ActionChick Katrina Hill (author of the book Action Movie Freak") who was chosen as a judge. If only I could get her and all women to stop putting their desirability to the forefront . . . Yes,  you're pretty. You're so much more than pretty, be more than.

. . . and if only I could attend the festival.  Well, I will certainly be there at heart. #grrrlpower!

Katrina Hill's Action Chick twitter cover photo in bed

 


 

Spartacus

Spartacus doesn't 'cock' it up.
Feb 19 2015

In the Spartacus series on Starz, words spew forth, like buckets of blood, and none more forcefully uttered than "cock"—Could be a drinking game (no doubt is). They use that word so often and with such force that it becomes funny when you hear it, but it wasn't until John Hannah as "Batiatus" bemoaned for the second time how the universe "rammed cock in ass" that it hit me how often I'd heard it. With all the beefcake, boobs, 'Action', and penis there is in this series, it's a compliment to Hannah's acting that the character of Batiatus commands the most attention.

I wondered if the series would really be about gladiators or if they would be just a backdrop, but it's ALL about gladiators.

I've always groused about gratuitous female nudity, degradation, and debasing, saying that it might be a different matter if it wasn't always one-sided, but it never was. And then, there was Spartacus. A nearly equal offender (certainly more so by Season 3), the series is ripe with male and female nudity and festers with soft porn, delivered roughly. So much so, it's ridiculous at times, but viewers not easily offended could discount it, and enjoy the plot and the Action. The first season's fighting was top rate, and oh, the Drama. Passion, and even true love, drive multiple story lines, and it was a testament to the writing that all the various characters were equally engaging and the stories held our interest. (I've read some complain that it's poorly written. Are they crazy?! Game of Thrones has some of the worst dialogue I've ever heard. Spartacus is F. Scott Fitzgerald by comparison. And then we lost Spartacus himself when actor Andy Whitfield died. So Season 3 began with a back story, and when we caught up we had another actor in the lead. There was a resemblance but he's not nearly as built, so they covered him up a bit. It took a while to accept him in the role but the Drama is so compelling that even a radical feminist like me can roll her eyes at the ridiculous and ignore the blatantly misogynistic rape, disfigurement, and murder scenes (believe it or not) to be engrossed, enthralled even, in the story line.  Guess I'm just a bloodthirsty warrior at heart. Aren't all Action Movie Freaks?  In Season 3 they give women more of a fighting chance. Took me a while to get to watch this but the life/death stakes are such a hook, that I'm hooked!  Wouldn't want every series to be like this but it is entertaining. The characters make it great, and I love that there are so many of them, and yet it doesn't dilute the main plot as it so often does in movies because of the time constraint.

 


 

Kingsman: The Secret Service delivers
on Action Movie Essentials and Bond-iness

Feb 14 2015

The story was surprisingly engaging, and there was quite the spectacular A Clockwork Orange homage at the end. It's rare that situational violence is set so well to music for visual and comedic effect. If you'd never seen A Clockwork Orange (1971) it seems genius, yet even if not original, it holds its own and it's a mother of a payoff.  The new Bond-type character "Eggsy" was a refreshing change from the upper-class wankers that the Kingsmen seemed to be. When Eggsy puts on the suit and glasses at the end, it's kind of funny and endearing how it doesn't 'fit' who he is. He takes it all on though, fills the shoes, and more (saving the world), and that seems to be the movie message. Don't underrate people based on where they come from. He's not only good enough to be a Kingman, he's the better man (as his father was). I mistakenly thought it would be a bit more about where he came from in terms of juvenile-delinquent-type activities, like he was a bad boy and they were setting him to right, taking the skills he used to use for crime and making him use them for good . . . but, they surprised me. That's not really what his situation is about, which was a good thing. (There's a funny scene where Colin Firth rattles off the title of similar movies, including "La Femme Nikita" (Point of No Return), and the one Eggsy relates to is "My Fair Lady".)

Samuel Jackson's character makes a biting commentary on modern life with his villainous antics and ridiculous world-dominating plot à la classic Bond Movies. From Oscar Pistorius, to McDonald's, to Apple, to Westboro Baptist Church, modern life is askew and skewered. Samuel Jackson's performance was both convincing and highly entertaining, but the stand-out performance was easily dancer Sofia Boutella as the evil sidekick "Gazelle"—Frightening female villains being another Bond Movie classic. Yes, Sofia has feet in real life. A testament to movie magic that her special effects blades were flawless. In fact, she's so good in the role, you were just squirming for them to finish her in some awful way after all the damage she inflicts. I won't spoil that for you. After all, how much can we root for them to kill some with a 'disadvantage' even if they are evil?
 

Most of the movie's appeal is owing to Taron Egerton's performance as Eggsy, not to seeing Colin Firth in 'Action' as the movie was promoted. They more than deliver on that account though, as Mr. Darcy racks up an impressive Killcount and lots of Gnarly Kills. Also, if you missed the Bond gadgets after Skyfall announced "We don't really go in for that anymore", you'll be extra pleased at all the tricks up their sleeve here.  It really was laugh-out-loud enjoyable violence for violence's sake. How often can you say that? Action Movie Freaks know what I'm talking about.

How this movie holds up as a 'Bond' movie is arguable. Speaking of Skyfall, the double meaning in the conversation where 007 meets the new quartermaster "Q" at The National Gallery when they are gazing at Turner's masterpiece "The Fighting Temeraire" comes to mind (everything of Turner's is magnificent but they must be seen in person—photos don't do them justice).

Q

It always makes me feel a bit melancholy. A grand old warship being ignominiously hauled away for scrap. The inevitability of time, don't you think?

Whereas Skyfall revised the outdated version of James Bond into someone who could believably do the physical side of field work even if he was not that young, this movie takes a very young man (26 in real life), who is probably 20-21 in the movie, and completes the transformation. The "inevitability of time" transformed James Bond into someone athletic (an Action Figure not just an actor), something Skyfall addressed. And Kingsman: The Secret Service completes that transformation, however, they use the old version of Bond rather tongue-in-cheek, and there really is (in my opinion) no place or desire for a James Bond Academy series where just one person at a time gets picked.

Q

 What do you see?

007

A bloody big ship.

The bloody big ship in Skyfall was "M" but it could also be the MI6 or the James Bond movie franchise, and this movie proves there's room for more than one Bond (in the past there was as well with satires, which this movie treads the line on). I'd like to see a co-ed Bond Academy movie that focuses on the training (like the focus of G.I. Jane or The Right Stuff, as examples). Also, where this movie gives some due to women, they 'kill off' one of the two female prospects (out of 9), the women are the shortest, and the one remaining girl is fearful. And while all the 'kids' are physically fit, none are Super Soldier material. That brings to mind "Soldier" starring Kurt Russell, and I would really love to see a remake of that! Really, isn't James Bond supposed to be the cream of the crop? Having upper-class kids play at Bond is fun and a fantasy, but is noblesse oblige enough to carry one into a secret life of danger? After the "weak chins" joke, it's hard to imagine they would want to do this.  Having had everything handed to them, what's their motivation?

Casino Royale set it up, nicely:  "By the cut of your suit, you went to Oxford or wherever, and naturally think human beings dress like that. But you wear it with such disdain, my guess is you didn't come from money, and your school friends never let you forget it. Which means you were at that school by the grace of someone else's charity, hence the chip on your shoulder. And since your first thought ran to orphan, that's what I'd say you are . . . Oh, you are. I like this poker thing. And that makes perfect sense, since MI6 looks for maladjusted young men that give little though to sacrificing others in order to protect Queen and country. You know, former SAS types with easy smiles and expensive watches." 

[No, I didn't mention Mark Hamill, or the yoga pants/gun/whiskey poster (<-hate that).]

 


 

Jupiter Ascending soars!
Feb 6 2015

Teary-eyed Channing Tatum captivates as an unwilling suitor in this . . . chick flick with action—I'm calling it a chick flick because that's how good the romance is, which puts it solidly in the All For Love subgenre. Also captivating are all  special effects. The movie knocks it out of the park on the Sci-Fi. The detail in the other worlds is beyond stunning and there can be no complaints about the creativity (lots of wow moments). Yet, for all there is to see in Jupiter Ascending, the most enjoyable part was the simple message that we should appreciate whatever we have, because, no matter how lowly your position, it could all be taken away from you at any moment. In a sense, it was just like The Matrix, in reverse. Jupiter is 'the one'. Earth, where she is an ordinary girl, is real life, and being Queen is the Matrix. Jupiter just wants to get out of being Queen and get re-inserted back into her real life. And, like The Matrix she finds her true love. The best line in the movie has to be when she says "I love dogs. I've always loved dogs." And, at that moment, we couldn't agree more. Channing Tatum is so likeable, so everyman-yet-unattainable. He's that boy-next-door, all-American hunk, good guy we all had a crush on. Take that to the bank, because whatever else you think is going on, that's what's selling here. And rocket boots. Didn't you have to go just to see the rocket boots?!

Channing Tatum in Jupiter Ascending

 


 

 

 

Unlucky Stars trailer is up!
Feb 4 2015

Back in 2012 a group of talented young action stars began their journey to make an old-school Action Movie. Love this part about having a blog—being sent information on what is new!

The trailer more than delivers on the promise of epic beatdowns. Some of the hits are truly cringe-worthy. Can't wait to see the film. Action Movie Freaks should definitely check it out and support them so we can see more from them in the future.

Follow them on twitter @Unlucky_Stars
and Like them on Facebook Unlucky Stars The Movie
 

Love the sound effects and the energy and enthusiasm. They are having more fun than you! "This is going to be an Action Classic!"

Their synopsis:
"When Peru's Biggest Action Film Star and Jordan's newest rising talent find themselves pursued by a notorious Bookie, a couple of private investigators are forced to choose between their job and their conscience. With martial arts and comedy inspired by the golden era of 80s Hong Kong Action Cinema, Unlucky Stars is an exciting action packed ride that pays homage to the greats who paved the way."

 

 



 

Chris KyleAmerican Sniper:
Portrait of Bravery

Jan 18 2015

When the movie was over, you could hear a pin drop. Nobody moved during the credits. As we poured out of the theater, you could hear many people sobbing. Movies like this ground us and make us appreciate all we have.  In paying tribute to a real-life Hero (Chris Kyle pictured at left and below right), it reminds me why I love Action Movies so much, and what true Action Movies (not just movies with Action in them) strive for.

Bradley Cooper does a great job as "Chris Kyle". I was thinking he might not fit the part but he does Chris' life justice and in the end, it seemed like a special honor that we used one of our best actors to honor one of our greatest Heroes.  I wanted someone who was already beefy but Bradley was more than an Action Figure, he was the total Bad Ass.  I'm going to have to add him to the Bad Ass Action Figure list just for this role alone.  I'm writing about the movie now, but I have to finish a website (real life interferes but makes this blog possible, so please check back if you want to read how much I enjoyed the movie).

You really should go see it. It has so many of my Action Movie Essentials. The boys and their toys (not to make light of war but the equipment, machinery, helicopters, guns, vehicles, etc. are impressive), the military speak "2 clicks out", and the Camaraderie and Dominance, give us much needed Comic Relief in this portrait of Bravery, and tragic ending to a life that honored and saved so many others. It feels and looks so real! A cinematic masterpiece that will undoubtedly not get the full recognition it deserves in the awards, so give it your recognition and respect by paying to see it.

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle American Sniper

 


 

Action Movies to Look Forward to . . .
Dec 28 2014

What stayed with me most from 2014 was Lone Survivor, Murph the Protector, and The Raid 2 Berandal, plus the stuntwork by Heidi Moneymaker for Scarlett Johansson and the fight between Cap (Chris Evans and/or his stunt doubles Chris Brewster/Daniel Hargrave/Sam Hargrave?) and George St-Pierre in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

For 2015 and beyond, there is so much to look forward to—these are in order by release date, and then alphabetical by year where there is no release date other than the year—including my favorites in orange . . .   And these are just a fraction of the movies (check out the full list of Action Movies By Year from IMDb).  Some I'd heard of, some I picked just because the title or plot was intriguing. Most link to their IMDb page. And I skipped War movies and Westerns. They are their own thing. It bothers me when people count them as Action Movies. They are not. They are movies with action in them.  Disagree? Check out my Action Movie Essentials :)

2015

January

  • The Night Crew
    action thriller
    January 13
    ("Centers on a group of hard up bounty hunters who must survive the night in a desert motel against a horde of savage border runners." Danny Trejo movie :D)

  • American Sniper
    action biography drama (war)
    January 16
    (Starring Bradley Cooper . . . see above.)

  • Alien Outpost
    action sci-fi thriller
    January 30
    ("A documentary crew follows an elite unit of soldiers in the wake of an alien invasion."  All-male cast! Filmed in South Africa.)

  • Wild Card
    action crime drama January 30
    ("When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play . . . and it's all or nothing." This is a remake—hopefully a faithful one—of one of my favorite Burt Reynolds movie Heat (1986). It stars Jason Statham (more perfect). The Director is Simon West (Con Air, The General's Daughter, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Mechanic, The Expendables 2, Stolen), and the writer is author and two-time Academy Award winner William Goldman (and the writer of many greats: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, Marathon Man, The Princess Bride, Maverick, Misery, and 3 of his screenplays are on the Writers Guild of America, West  101 Best Screenplays list.)

February

  • Jupiter Ascending
    action adventure fantasy February 6
    (Ah, another great movie by Writer/Directors Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. It stars Channing Tatum and Sean Bean, and David Leitch of 87eleven is the Stunt Coordinator.)

  • Seventh Son action adventure fantasy February 6
    ("Young Thomas is apprenticed to the local Spook to learn to fight evil spirits. His first great challenge comes when the powerful Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away." It looks cool even if the story is a little hokey. Djimon Hounsou is in it, and Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges (whose accent is hilarious)

  • Kingsman: The Secret Service
    action adventure comedy
    February 13
    ("A veteran secret agent takes a young upstart under his wing." I've been wanting a Secret Service school/academy movie, but when I watch it the kids are too young. I guess I was expecting more 20-somethings. They look like prep school kids. Effects and Gadgets should make it worthwhile. Colin Firth sure looks like he's having a good time. The stunt double making him look good is Rick English (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins.  Director Matthew Vaughan told Firth "“One of the reasons I'm casting you is because you're probably the last person anyone could imagine kicking people and kicking off the villains.” Read this EW article about how much Firth enjoyed his first Action Movie.)

  • Batalon (Battalion)
    action drama history
    February 20 (Russia)
    ("Russia, 1917, WWI. This is the story of the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death, formed as part of an ill-conceived propaganda ploy by the Russian Provisional Government in late May of 1917."  Intriguing. $10M budget. Seems like it will be shown only in Russia. Somebody get it for me, please?)

March

  • Chappie
    action thriller
    March 6
    (Neill Blomkamp! Starring Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley . . . I had you at Neill Blomkamp, right? Plus it seems very Robocop to me.)

  • Run All Night
    action crime drama
    March 13
    (Liam Neeson as "an aging hitman who is forced to take on his brutal former boss to protect his estranged son and his family." Sound familiar? Also stars Joel Kinnaman. He's a hell of an actor. I'll see it for him even though it seems like another Taken . . .)

  • The Gunman
    action crime drama March 20
    Sean Penn
    ("A former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name." The Director is Pierre Morel (Taken, The Transporter, Transporter 2)—that's awesome, and the movie stars Idris Elba, Sean Penn, Ray Winstone, and Javier Bardem. I confess I laughed at the first trailer and the idea of Sean Penn in this movie and at Javier Bardem as a Bad Ass but the international trailer was much better than the first. The action makes it look worthwhile although the subject matter seems a bit depressing. )  

  • Tracers
    action 
    March 20
    (Taylor Lautner stars as "A New York City bike messenger wanted by the mafia who escapes into the world of parkour after meeting a beautiful stranger.")

April

  • Furious 7 
    action crime thriller
    April 3
    [HOLY CAST! They've added Jason Statham. This is his character's revenge for the killing of his brother played by Luke Evans in Fast & Furious 6. Plus, Kurt Russell, and Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Johnny Strong (rumored), and Lucas Black is back. The movie will be bittersweet over the real-life tragedy of the death of Paul Walker. Paul Walker's brothers Cody Walker and Caleb Walker helped complete his role.  On a lighter note, Noel Gugliemi is in it. You know him, the guy who always has a monkey come out of his butt LOL]

cast of Furious 7

 

May

  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
    action adventure fantasy
    May 1
    (Another much-anticipated Joss Whedon project, written with Stan Lee. The villain looks incredible! It's one of the top three Boys Clubs cooler than The Expendables (along with The Fast and Furious cast).

  • Hot Pursuit
    action comedy
    May 8
    ("A police officer and a prisoner are on the run in Texas." What if the police officer and the prisoner were Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara? I don't know that for sure but it's a comedy. It's probably a Buddy Movie where how they don't get along will be funny.)

  • Mad Max: Fury Road
    action adventure thriller
    May 15
    "My world is fire and gasoline."
    (Self-proclaimed—it ain't bragging if it's true—"Visionary" and "Mastermind" Writer/Director George Miller revisits his epic triology after a 20-year break and takes us for a 4th wild ride. The trailer is the most exciting thing I've seen in years! The inspiration came from artwork and a script by artist/designer Scriptwriter Brendan McCarthy. The trailer is the most exciting thing I've seen in years.  From the flaming skull logo to the music in the trailer to the oh-so-vibrant colors: vivid blues and intense reds and yellows. So f-ing excited for this one!)

  • Cowboys vs Dinosaurs 
    action sci-fi
    June 12 May 19
    ("After an accidental explosion at a local mine, dinosaurs emerge from the rubble to terrorize a small western town. Now, a group gunslingers must defend their home if anyone is going to survive in a battle of cowboys versus dinosaurs.") [laughing]

  • Tomorrowland
    mystery sci-fi
    May 22
    (Brad Bird is directing and writing with Damon Lindelof.  It's not Action but it looks so cool, I included it. The trailer is intriguing!)

  • San Andreas
    action drama thriller May 29
    (Starring The Rock! That's all I need to know.)

June

  • Jurassic World  
    action adventure sci-fi
    June 12
    (This movie needs no introduction. We'll all be there to see if they use any of the new giant dinosaurs discovered since the last one and how they are going to kick it up a notch this time.  For me, Christ Pratt is very Jeff-Goldblum and should bring the same sense of fun. I'm so excited about this movie, I am not even watching the trailer. Don't want to spoil anything for myself.  It seems from the cast list like there's another "moveable feast".)

July

  • Terminator Genisys  
    action adventure sci-fi
    July 1
    (The greatest news is that Byung-hun Lee is the T-1000! Okay, okay, Arnold is in it too. Young and old versions. Should be cool to see how they pull that off. We've been waiting for "the war" movie all these years, and I see glimpses of it in the trailer, but here's the synopsis:  "After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor's mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, 'Judgement Day'.")

  • Aurora
    romance sci-fi thriller 
    March 22 July 7
    ("In 2020, super-computer Kronos concludes that human beings are the biggest threat to the planet. 60 years later, Andrew finds himself lost in a world run by machines when he meets Calia, a girl on the way to a place called Aurora." No Action but the trailer says otherwise.)

  • Ant-Man
    action sci-fi July 17 ("Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world." Starring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly. Huh. Why don't they use strong men instead of actors?)

  • Pixels
    action comedy sci-fi 
     July 24
    Giant, pixelated, killer Pac Man. Need I saw more? How about Qbert, Asteroids, Centipede, Donkey Kong? I bet they throw in some Tron, Frogger, and hopefully, my old favorite, Dig Dug.


PIXELS TRAILER
  • Attack on Titan posterMission Impossible 5  
    action sci-fi
    December 25 July 31
    (Christopher McQuarrie—He wrote Edge of Tomorrow, Jack Reacher, Valkyrie, and The Usual Suspects (his first script, which won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen—impressive! He also directed Jack Reacher and The Way of the Gun, so MI5 will be only his 3rd film! Guess when you're that good, you get the cherry assignments.  Tom Cruise must love him! The Stunt Coordinator is Wade Eastwood. His career is incredibly impressive so this movie's action should be—as all the Mission Impossible movies have been—off the chart and ahead of their time!)

  • August

    • Attack on Titan  
      action adventure drama fantasy 
      August (Japan) ("Mankind is under the terror of titans, a beast in which feast on human flesh. Eren Yeager, a young boy determined to make change when he himself could transform into one. He is humanity's last hope." Don't know if this poster's legit.)

    • six-gun-savior-movie-posterSix Gun Savior  
      action adventure drama April 1 August 1
      (Eric Roberts and Martin Kove. Now you have to see it, right? "Supernatural Western" Looks "B"-ish but that makes it more appealing to me.)

    • Fantastic Four  
      action fantasy sci-fi 
      August 7
      (New cast. Described as a re-imagining. I'm game. "Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.")

    •  Hail Mary: The Drew Pearson Roger Staubach Story 
      action drama sport
      August 9 ("Catch life. Don't let it pass you by.")
    • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  
      action adventure comedy
      August 14 ("In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons."

    • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend  
      action adventure drama 
      August 28  ("A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption." Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, and starring Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeah, and Jason Scott Lee.)

    September

    • Zero Tolerance 
      action
      September 1 (UK)
      ("Two former para-military operatives, Johnny and his police detective friend Peter, search Bangkok to find the killers of Johnny's beautiful daughter Angel - Leaving carnage and retribution throughout city." Starring Scott Adkins and Dustin Nguyen)
    • The Transporter Legacy now The Transporter Refueled
      action crime thriller
      June 19  September 4
      ("A reboot of the story of transporter Frank Martin." Directed by Camille Delamarre (Camille is not a woman :-( ). The movie stars Ed Skrein who is a really interesting person. He looks/fits the part. Should be interesting!)

      Ed Skrein as The Transporter in The Transporter Legacy

       

    • Dragon Blade (Tian jiang xiong shi)
      action adventure drama  September 4
      ("Lost Roman soldiers navigate their way through China." Starring Adrien Brody, John Cusack, and Jackie Chan.

    • Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials  
      action thriller September 18 (Apparently the scuttlebutt was that people were upset that The Maze Runner just sets up this movie. You can't please some people. What else was it supposed to do? I enjoyed the changes between the book and the movie. I'm going to wait to read the next book until after I see The Scorch Trials so I have no expectations :D.)

    November

    • Spectre   
      action adventure thriller
      November 6
      [Sam Mendes, who is an amazing Director (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead) is back. Since Skyfall was so visually stunning and so very Bond, I am thrilled! It was really cool seeing how much he gets it. The latest photos from Spectre were on location in the snow. Such a throwback and, again very cool. Some of the best stunts in the Bond movies were in snow.]  

    • Blood Reef   
      action sci-fi
      November 11
      (subtitled Tropical Hell "A former black ops soldier is kidnapped by a corrupt intelligence agency looking to create the ultimate killing machine." Starring Ving Rhames and Luke Goss. Should be "great crap".)

    • THE KICKBOXER: City of Blood 
      action
      May 15  November 14
      (Sounds hard core—but never heard of any of the stars . . .)

    December

    • Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens  
      action adventure fantasy
      December 18
      (Writer/Director J. J. Abrams with Lawrence Kasdan. The original cast is back:  Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. They are joined by Oscar Isaac (he blazed his way through Sucker Punch, eclipsing everything but the stuntwork), Lupita Nyong'o, The Raid's Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian (holy shit!), and many other cool choices! It's sure to produce some superstars. John Williams will be doing the music again. Nothing could be better.)

    • Point Break
      action 
      July 31  December 25 ("A young undercover FBI agent infiltrates a gang of thieves who share a common interest in extreme sports." A remake of the 1991 film. It stars Delroy Lindo, Luke Bracey, and Édgar Ramírez.)

    • The Prototype
      action sci-fi thriller July 2  December 25
      ("A government agent stumbles upon an alien conspiracy to conquer Earth. Using a blue liquid created by the aliens to make soldiers stronger, he becomes The Prototype—the only hope for mankind." )


    ____________

    • Andròn-The Black Labyrinth  action (Leo Howard makes it an Action Movie, Alec Baldwin and Danny Glover makes it weird.)

    • Beyond Skyline action sci-fi ("A tough-as-nails detective embarks on a relentless pursuit to free his son from a nightmarish alien warship." Sounds like someone wished Ripley was a man. Stars Frank Grillo, Iko Uwais, and Yayan Ruhian

    • Boyka: Undisputed IV  action (We have been waiting and hoping for this! Boyka! Boyka! Boyka!)

    • Checkmate  action crime thriller ("Six people are thrown together during an elaborate bank heist where any move can alter the outcome. Is it coincidence, or are they merely pawns in a much bigger game." Starring Vinnie Jones, Johnny Messner, James Remar, Michael "Eddie and the Cruisers" Paré, as well as Danny Glover, Sean Astin . Three of these stars appear also in . . . )

    • Close Range  action crime ("A rogue soldier turned outlaw is thrust into a relentless fight with a corrupt sheriff, his obedient deputies, and a dangerous drug cartel in order to protect his sister and her young daughter." Starring Scott Adkins, directed by Isaac Florentine)

    • Cyborg X  action horror Half Man. Half Machine. No Mercy. ("After X-Corp, a radical weapons manufacturer, is taken over by a Cyber Virus, a group of survivors must fight to save humanity from the army of Machines the Virus now controls." Another Danny Trejo movie #hardestworkingmaninshowbusiness More "great crap"!)

    • Daylight's End  action horror sci-fi (Zombie movie starring Johnny Strong! Watch the trailer. Directed by Sinners and Saints Writer/Director William Kaufman.)

    • Decommissioned  action thriller ("A retired agent's life is turned upside down when he discovers he's the patsy for an impending CIA planned presidential assassination."  Retired being the key word. Was thinking anybody but Bruce Willis please, and preferably someone whose physique is impressive even if they are older. Someone tough, like a Fighter or Wrestler—Yay! They picked Vinnie Jones. Also stars Johnny Messner and Michael Paré.)

    • Division 1900 action sci-fi thriller ("2039. Jails have been turned into online portals where the public gets to choose what prisoners eat." Wait, what?!  I smell sick AWESOMENESS . . .)

    • Echo Effect action sci-fi thriller (Starring arring Michael Jai White and Steve Austin.)

    • Gunned Downn ("Armed robber and career criminal Jack Cregan seeks to discover the truth behind his father's murder" . . . wait for it . . . starring James Woods!)

    • Isolation  action thriller (A movie that's sure to be bad, but we'll watch it anyway. Stars Vinnie Jones, Dominic Purcell, and Tricia Helfer who says she "would change the push for women to look like Playmate Barbie dolls, that is just ridiculous" and yet her profile photo has cleavage in a tank top. Let's see if she walks the walk in this movie or if she's just eye candy.)

    • Juarez 2045  action adventure sci-fi ("It's the year 2045. War on drugs in Mexico has escalated as a ruthless drug Cartel use robots to enforce their operations." Starring Danny Trejo! Sounds like "El Terminador".)

    • Max Steel ("The adventures of teenager Max McGrath and alien companion Steel, who must harness and combine their tremendous new powers to evolve into the turbo-charged superhero Max Steel.")

    • Mercury Plains ("Facing a bleak future, a young man runs away to Mexico where he is recruited by the mysterious captain." Scott Eastwood!)

    • Noodle Man ("A cop-turned-noodle shop owner finds a new lease on life in New York's Chinatown when a Chinese drug lord—responsible for the death of the former's partner during a botched mission 15 years ago— walks into his life." Stars Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh.)

    • SPL 2: Rise of Wong Po (With so much fighting talent, it can't fail. Hoping for another classic. Stars Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Jacky Wu, Tony Jaa, Andy On. Action Coordinator is Dion Lam.)

    • Stan Lee's Annihilator (Hmmm . . . "A Chinese expatriate and practicer of Qijong and martial arts receives additional training in a secret U.S. program. Now armed with remarkable powers, he looks to take down a villain bent on destroying everything he knows and loves.")

    • Terror Island ("A fight-to-survive thriller about a couple and their teenage children who live reasonably well on a desolate island, until they are haunted by a serial killer." Reminds me of the game Dead Island.)

    • The Rogue ("Recruited from an elite military unit, CIA officer Mike Cutler carries out a dangerous mission to track and trace Al Qaeda leaders, only to find himself at the center of a deadly political standoff." Starring Scott Patterson, Luke Goss, and Costas Mandylor.)

    • Transformers: Robots in Disguise

    • VANish (NO. "A kidnapped young woman is forced on a road trip full of murder and mayhem that takes place entirely in her captor's getaway van." Another Danny Trejo movie. Why do they keep making these movies?! We're—I'm speaking for all women—sick to death of movies where the only way for a woman to be a hero is to be a degraded victim first, or the only way for her to be powerful is half naked! Enough already!

     

    2016

    • 1421: The Year China Discovered the World action adventure
    • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea  action adventure sci-fi August 8 (Any underwater movie, I want to see it. Been too long since The Abyss.)
    • A Ticket to Die
    • Badass Muthers (Love the title . . .)
    • Batman Infinite (?)
    • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Sorry fanboys, I'm going with Superman!)
    • Beverly Hills Cop 4 (The casting will be everything for this movie . . .)
    • Blood Money
    • Broad Daylight ("When an ex-US Army Ranger is brutally killed at the hands of a shadowy private military contractor his old military unit re-teams stateside to expose the contractor's corruption and avenge his death.")
    • Captain America: Civil War (What an excellent series. This should be the best yet!)

    • Chemical Cowboys
    • Cloudveil (now there's an intriguing title!  why isn't it cloud veil?)
    • Cranium Intel ("The President wants a military/scientist dead after he discovers the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is actually a portal to the real Planet >X<." Sounds like a so-bad-it's-good movie.)
    • David & Wally: Buddy Cops  (I'm a sucker for a Buddy Movie but isn't this 21 Jump Street? "Two stupid cops from Boston, seeking action, go undercover as high school students to take down a drug operation that could destroy their lifelong friendship." Gotta get a better title!)
    • Deadpool (Wondering if this is a remake?)
    • Death Race 4 (Always worth it for the cars)
    • Die Fightin' the Domination (is this a women's lib movie? #funnynotfunny)
    • Dragon and Phoenix
    • El Patron (John Leguizamo plays  Pablo Escobar—A must see!)
    • Emerald
    • Extinction
    • Extreme Combat (yes, please!)
    • Eye of War
    • Girl Samurai
    • Going Rogue
    • Gun Play
    • Guns, Hookers & a Pound of Coke (pass, unless the hookers are men)
    • Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 2
    • Head Smash
    • Hour of Vengeance
    • IDF Girls
    • Jason and the Argonauts: The Kingdom of Hades (BIG SHOES to fill!)
    • Jump
    • Koyakatsi ("A young scientist and a military doctor team-up to investigate a series of unidentifiable, non-biological attacks. What they discover is a threat far greater than they could have ever imagined.")
    • L.A. Atlantis
    • Legend of Black Lotus
    • Lone Wolf
    • Lowlifes ("Troubled teens in a 2nd chance 'bootcamp' program encounter a group of terrorists trying to take out a rural nuclear power plant.")
    • Mechanic: Resurrection (I'll see anything with Jason Statham in it!)
    • Mind-Bender 3
    • Mission 9
    • Moana (starring everyone's favorite demi-god Dwayne Johnson "A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.")
    • Night of the Hell Hunters
    • No Fear
    • Own3d
    • Overdrive (is this based on the Stephen King story?)
    • Panzer Dragoon  (another game-based movie)
    • Police Cops (and the winner for worst title goes to . . . )
    • Power Rangers
    • Red 3 (I'm game: Red 2 got the old-school action so right!)
    • Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Oh, I doubt that, but . . . WHY?!)
    • Ride Along 2
    • Rise of Spider (Now where have I heard this before . . . "A teenager is bitten by a spider and turns into a hero and facing new and old enemies.")
    • Semi-Super Heroes (Gonna be bad. Just depends who's in it.)
    • Six Hot Chicks in a Warehouse OH HELL NO. Action Horror. Why are they still making this crap?!
    • Skin Traffik (It's got Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Michael Madsen . . . )
    • Space Racer (hope it's not for kids—want it to be for adults :D)
    • Spectral ("A sci-fi/thriller story centered on a special-ops team that is dispatched to fight supernatural beings that have taken over New York City.")
    • Star Trek 13
    • Steel Man
    • Steele Aces
    • Suicide Squad (Much-anticipated DC event! Here is the cast from SuperHeroHype.com:)

    • Tarzan  (Alexander Skarsgard is Tarzan?  Nooooo)
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
    • The Brutes
    • The Courier
    • The Huntsman (sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman but what could it possible be about?!)
    • The Junior Squad ("A group of superhero teenagers are hired by the president to take down and bring down an army of villains and bring them to justice."  Because putting children in harm's way is our only hope?)
    • The Last Warlord
    • The Mummy
    • The Six Billion Dollar Man (starring Mark Wahlberg This is from FilmFad.com "The story is loosely based on Martin Caidin's 1972 bestseller, Cyborg. The book inspired the film's television-based predecessor, ABC's Lee Majors led The Six Million Dollar Man as well as spin-of series The Bionic Woman. The homage to classic tech centric sci-fi favorites . . . will likely draw in fans of the old series as well as target the younger generation of special effects craving sci-fi movie goers." )

    • Thunder Lord
    • Top Fuel
    • Transformers 5 (not by Michael Bay. WHEN will they ever do BEAST WARS?!)
    • Tremors 5: Bloodline
    • Uncharted (always interested in any "El Dorado" story)
    • Uncommon Honour
    • Unearthed
    • Untitled Jeremy Renner/Bourne Sequel
    • Untitled Matt Damon/Bourne Sequel
    • Untitled Planet of the Apes Sequel
    • Untitled Star Wars Project
    • Untitled Teenage Cop Project (Teenage Cops? What?!)
    • Vengeance II
    • Virtua Cop
    • Warcraft (Have to see this at an off time so I don't have to hear the complaints on how it doesn't match the game)
    • X-Force
    • X-Men: Apocalypse
    • Xombie


     

    2017

    • Avatar 2  action adventure fantasy December 25

    • Black Panther action drama sci-fi November 3 ("The royal leader of an African nation's father is killed leaving him with the the kingdom and a costume called the black panther." Starring Chadwick Boseman. Before this movie comes out he'll be Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War)

      Writer: Mark Bailey (screenplay)

    • Guardians of the Galaxy 2

    • High Rise

    • Kong: Skull Island (All this movie needs to be totally bad ass is MUSCLE. It could be Predator with an ape!)

    • Necrosis: Colony 10

    • Pacific Rim 2

    • Star Wars: Episode VIII

    • The Fantastic Four 2 (Loved the first one but the Silver Surfer didn't measure up)

    • The Justice League Part One

    • The Legion of Super-Heroes

    • The Lego Batman Movie (If this is a little satirical like he was in The Lego Movie, it should be hilarious!)

    • Thor: Ragnarok

    • Untitled Female Superhero Spider-Man Movie

    • Untitled Terminator 2

    • Untitled Wolverine Sequel (always down for that!)

    • WONDER WOMAN (at last!)

       

    2018

    • AQUAMAN

    • Avatar 3 action fantasy drama December

    • Avengers: Infinity War - Part II

    • Captain Marvel (the female version)

    • Godzilla 2

    • The Amazing Spider-Man 3

    • The Flash

    • Untitled Terminator 3
       

    2019

    • Avatar 4 action adventure fantasy December

    • Avengers: Infinity War - Part II

    • Justice League Part Two

    • Shazam

    • Star Wars: Episode IX

     

    2020

    • Cyborg (not a remake . . .)

    • Green Lantern
       

     

     

     

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