News

Influential electronic musician, producer and filmmaker Flying Lotus has signed on to the soundtrack of Asian action showstopper film “The Furious.”

The film, from Japanese director Tanigaki Kenji, is written by Mak Tin Shu and follows a simple tradesman (portrayed by mainland Chinese star Xie Miao) who fights his way through a complex web of criminals and evil agents in a frantic attempt to win back his kidnapped daughter by any means necessary.

Produced by the region’s top producer Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Hero”), Frank Hui and Shan Tam, the film features a pan-Asian cast that also includes Indonesian’s Joe Taslim, Thai star Jeeja Yanin (“Chocolate”), Yang Enyu, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga and Yayan Ruhian.

Michael J. Werner, former principal at Fortissimo Films, and Todd Brown and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films serve as executive producers. Kong’s Edko Films is financing the movie and will distribute in Hong Kong,...

There are many modern martial arts actors that have yet to go head-to-head in any films, but that has not stopped fans from dreaming about what these matchups might be like. From major names like Donnie Yen and Keanu Reeves to rising actors, martial arts films with incredible action and storylines are also known for their stars and what they bring to the table. Marrying this visceral action and incredible fight scenes with character development is important, which is why having lead stars who can convey both of those aspects is crucial.

These performances are not relayed solely to film, however. There are plenty of martial arts television series with great performances as well, showing the wide variety of content that fans have been served in recent years with shows such as Wu Assassins and Cobra Kai. Many of these iconic martial arts actors and more have yet to fight on screen,...

An upcoming action thriller could very well be what every action movie fan has been waiting for. Sounding like the perfect cross between Liam Neesons 2008 hit Taken and director Gareth Evans The Raid, the movie boasts an incredible cast of martial arts actors with enviable action movie pedigree, a filmmaker with a penchant for stunts, and an exquisitely no-nonsense plot that should allow for the punches, kicks, and everything else in between to fly hard and fast.

Titled The Furious (which should tell you everything you need to know about what were in for), the action outing is all set to be helmed by Tanigaki Kenji, who is best known for his stunt work in the likes of the Donnie Yen movie Raging Fire, G.I. Joe spin-off Snake Eyes, and this years martial arts hit Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. Without further ado, you can check out the synopsis for The Furious below,...

Thai martial arts movies are known for their non-stop intensity, impressive stunt work, and downright brutal violence, leading to some truly classic releases. By utilizing Thai martial arts styles such as Muay Thai, Thailand has carved out its own unique identity in the realm of martial arts cinema that has made stars of performers like Tony Jaa and Yanin "JeeJa" Vismitananda. With incredible works from accomplished directors like Prachya Pinkaew and the late Panna Rittikrai, theres a wealth of truly awe-inspiring Thai movies that every martial arts lover should be sure to check out.

While there are plenty of incredible Thai horror movies, another genre of cinema that Thailand excels in is martial arts movies. Whether it's through insightful retellings of Thai history or bare-bones action narratives, Thai martial arts films are known for their incredible stunts, fast-paced action, and highly accomplished real-life fighter performers. From franchises like Ong-Bak to the female-led triumphant Chocolate,...

Japanese director Tanigaki Kenji has completed production in Bangkok, Thailand, on his upcoming film “The Furious,” intended as an elite-level Asian martial arts actioner.

Written by Mak Tin Shu, the film follows a simple tradesman (portrayed by mainland Chinese star Xie Miao) who fights his way through a complex web of criminals and evil agents in a frantic attempt to win back his kidnapped daughter by any means necessary.

(For full Bangkok set report see here.)

Produced by the region’s top producer Bill Kong, Frank Hui and Shan Tam, the film features a pan-Asian cast that also includes Indonesian’s Joe Taslim, Thai star Jeeja Yanin (“Chocolate”), Yang Enyu, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga and Yayan Ruhian.

Michael J. Werner, former principal at Fortissimo Films, joins Todd Brown and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films as an executive producer.

Kong’s Edko Films is financing the movie and will distribute in Hong Kong,...

Yesterday Variety broke news that legendary Hong Kong producer Bill Kong has started production on a new action film called The Furious in Bangkok, Thailand, and he's enlisted the help of some of Asia's leading action talent. Like, the best of the best. The Furious will be directed by Japanese stunt director and action choreographer Tanigaki Kenji. His Pan-Asian cast includes former Chinese child actor and action star Xie Miao, Indonesia’s Joe Taslim (The Raid: Redemption), Thailand’s Jeeja Yanin (Chocolate), Yang Enyu and Indonesia’s Yayan Ruhian (The Raid: Redmeption). That's a lot of heavy hitters. Here's the scoop from Variety, of what to expect...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Bill Kong is cautious, vastly experienced and has an impeccable reputation as a key gateway between Hollywood and China to maintain. He is someone far more likely to deadpan than gush.

So, to hear him getting into high gear with a pitch for his bucket list martial arts movie project “The Furious” immediately invites comparison with previous Kong-produced action pictures including Oscar-winner “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Jet Li’s Fearless” or the Zhang Yimou-directed “Hero.”

“I’m going to do an action movie that rocks the world. And to prove that Hong Kong still has something to give the film industry. I want to show that Asian people can still make an action movie that is better than the rest of the world,” Kong tells Variety.

Significantly, “The Furious” is a project made by Hong Kong, rather than made in Hong Kong. Kong’s Edko Films is financing and producing.

Representation of disabilities in action movies raises awareness and can dispel misinformation. Characters with disabilities in action movies should be portrayed with good writing, avoiding clichés or exaggerated abilities. Several action movie heroes with disabilities, such as Ed Elrich and Daredevil, inspire audiences with their bravery and resilience.

Action movies have featured some awesome characters with disabilities throughout the years who are often overlooked by audiences and misunderstood by writers. As a result, many of the heroes with disabilities either receive minimized depictions in the form of weak writing, or excessively exaggerated depictions in the form of one's disability granting the character superpowers. While it's admirable that the entertainment industry is making greater strides to be more inclusive, clumsy writing can often be more harmful than good. With representation in Hollywood improving, it is still necessary for the industry to be mindful of how it portrays different groups.

Diversity in...

The third feature directed by Vietnamese superstar Ngo Thanh Van — better known to western audiences as actor Veronica Ngo in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “The Old Guard” — lives up to its title with a furious display of female revenge set in the seedy streets of late-’90s Ho Chi Minh City. Despite a routine plot and some abrasive tonal shifts, this tale of a motherly mentor turning three damaged young women into deadly assassins is packed with exciting action and boasts fine performances from four killers bound by blood, bullets and all manner of deadly weapons. Following a series of rowdy screenings in SXSW’s Midnighters section, “Furies” will stream worldwide as the first Vietnamese Netflix original feature on March 23.

A gritty and often brutal action thriller, “Furies” is reminiscent in tone and texture of old-school Hong Kong heroic bloodshed epics and has a dash of the “indestructible...

JeeJa Yanin plays Zen, an autistic teen who uses her extraordinary Taekwondo skills to settle a score in Prachya Pinkaew’s wild Thai thriller from 2008. Though critical reaction was mixed, the movie lit up the box office and a 3D sequel was quickly announced. Director Pinkaew built the film around the young Yanin’s very real fighting ability.

The post Chocolate appeared first on Trailers From Hell.

There are so many great martial arts movies on Netflix. Always with a watchful eye on foreign film, Netflix has acquired many of the most talked about titles, fresh off the boat from Asia which remains the cutting edge of the genre. Netflix also has a solid collection of the classics, so many groundbreaking films that launched enduring franchises.

With movies ranging from internationally recognized masterpieces to cheesy and gratuitously ultra-violent flicks, it’s time for “Netflix and Kill” as we take revenge on the villains who dishonored our family and the Shaolin Temple. Here is a selection of some of the latest actioners to have recently become available on Netflix, which longtime fans may have overlooked. And for those newbies to the genre, here are also some of the must-see classics, just to get you started.

Ip Man (2008)

U.S. Only

When Donnie Yen launched this fictionalized account of Bruce Lee’s master,...

Chris Tucker, Adrien Brody and Paul Haggis were on hand Saturday to give a huge high-tech finale to the fifth edition of the Jackie Chan Action Film Week. So too were Crystal Liu Yifei, star of Disney’s upcoming “Mulan,” and a bevy of top Chinese talent.

Moving the event from the fringes of the Shanghai festival in June, to a new date and spectacular outdoor venues provided by provincial town of Datong, some 200 miles East of Beijing in Shanxi Province, may have revitalized the Action Film Week. Upbeat organizers now talk of franchising the event to other countries.

If the opening on July 21 was reportedly relatively quiet, the closing ceremony was a razzamatazz of stunts, choreography and pyrotechnics with ambitions of matching an Olympic Games or World Cup opening.

Held in a full-sized sports arena, with perhaps 20,000 spectators, the show opened with a troop of astronauts arriving from the skies,...

Stars: Tony Jaa, Tiger Hu Chen, Iko Uwais, Scott Adkins, Celina Jade, Michael Jai White, Michael Bisping, JeeJa Yanin, Dominiquie Vandenberg, Ron Smoorenburg, Monica Siu-Kei Mok | Written by Joey O’Bryan, Fangjin Song, Paul Staheli | Directed by Jesse V. Johnson

Growing up action movies were, for me, second only to horror flicks as my go to genre. I used to scour the pages of Impact for news on the latest films and then pre-order the VHS at my local video shop – because yes, back in the day you could actually pre-order a video rental and I Always had to be first to rent my most-anticipated flicks! I mention this only because it was back in that era that the action movie star was king. Starting out with the likes of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, the VHS era gave birth to a myriad of action movie superstars: guys like Jean-Claude Van Damme,...

Triple Threat, directed by Jesse V. Johnson, is a thriller teams over half a dozen of the world’s biggest action stars for the martial arts event film of the year. When a hit is taken out on a billionaire’s daughter, it’s mercenaries versus assassins in an all-out war. Starring Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Chen, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Michael Bisping, Celina Jade, and Jeeja Yanin, Triple Threat is currently available now on digital platforms and then as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and DVD only on May 14th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The Blu-ray + DVD combo pack features a bonus interview with the cast.

Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of Triple Threat. We Are Movie Geeks has three copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us what your favorite movie starring Tony Jaa is.

If you were at all interested in Triple Threat, it’s most likely going to be from the casting. Tony Jaa, Iko Uwasis, and Scott Adkins? Those are some good attention grabbing names. Throw in the always reliable Michael Jai White and the interesting forms of Tiger Chen and now I’m raising an eyebrow. But wait there’s more! Chocolate’s Jeeja Yanin is also along for the ride as well as Who Am I’s rooftop kicker Ron Smoorenburg. Don’t forget about some obligatory Mma fighters and now you have my attention. So what could possible go wrong? There’s no need to go into the plot of this movie because it’s just there to have the stars run into each other at random moments and fight/shoot their way...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Not that previous years didn’t have their fair share of action, but with all due respect to Erik Matti or Tsui Hark or Wu Jing, “Triple Threat” is the film so impatiently expected that the question “Is “Triple Threat” a triple treat?” is more palpable than Tony Jaa`s knee in solar plexus. So – come up to the lab and see what`s on the slab. I see you shiver with antici…

…pation.

Triple Threat will be released in more than 150 screens on Tuesday, March 19 and on DVD/VOD, March 22, courtesy of WellGo USA

‘

I hope you are in expectation of a narrative that offers nothing too elaborate but is coherent enough to carry the drive, the “archetypal” characters, and own world’s laws of logic and physics. A narrative that gives you good guys running on personal motives and bad guys driven by assignments and money.

“Triple Threat” is the expected reunion of the kings of Asian action, which features the participation of renowned stars such as Iko Uwais, Tony Jaa, JeeJa Yanin, Tiger Hu Chen, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Micael Bisping and Celina Jade among others. Jesse V. Johnson is the person in charge on carrying out this action packed fest full of well-known stars.

Triple Threat will be released in more than 150 screens on Tuesday, March 19 and on DVD/VOD, March 22, courtesy of WellGo USA

A group of mercenaries formed by Payu (Tony Jaa), Long Fei (Tiger Hu Chen), Mook (JeeJa Yanin) and Devereaux (Michael Jai White) among others perform a mercenary operation to rescue their colleague Collins (Scott Adkins), a known terrorist. During this operation, Jaka (Iko Uwais) is harmed due to being in the village with his beloved wife during the mercenarie’s operation. Jaka survives and decides to seek revenge,...

Some of the biggest Kung Fu and Martial Art stars have movies being released in 2019, from Jackie Chan to Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa to Scott Adkins. Many fans are excited for the Donnie Yen remake of the Sammo Hung classic “Enter The Fat Dragon“, Jackie Chan and John Cena teaming up for “Project X – Traction“, the all out action movie “Triple Threat” and Ip Man 4.

Here are some of the upcoming Martial Art/Action Movies coming your way in 2019.

1. Enter The Fat Dragon

Remake of the Sammo Hung classic

Directed By: Wong Jing

Cast: Donnie Yen, Sandra Ng, Teresa Mo, Wong Jing

2. Blade Master Li Bai

Directed By: Li Boxun

Cast: Steven Zhang, Ma Muxuan, Steve Yoo, Li Dougguo

3. Altar Angel

Directed By: Wu Zhiguo

Cast: Timmy Hung, Chen Bingquiang, Cheung Tat Ming, Ouitsuka Ng

4. The Mystery of Dragon Seal: The Journey to China

Directed By: Oleg Stepchenko

Cast: Jason Flemyng,...

In order to be a great martial art film, a movie just has to follow one rule: keep audiences entertained. Those films produced in Thailand manage to do just that, earning the praise of being home to some of the best martial arts movies. The films may lack a serious story-line, but the incredible choreography more than makes up for it all.

Narrowing down the movies to find the best is no easy task, but we came up with what we feel are the top five best Thai martial arts films. Each movie in our list features the enchanting choreography from the late famed director and martial artist Panna Rittikrai. His films used no CGI to show off each actor’s athletic prowess.

Born to Fight (2004)

This remake of the 1986 film bears little resemblance to it beyond a title. Nevertheless, it is just as action-packed and entertaining. It follows Deaw,...

"We find them, we kill them, no messin' about." Well Go USA has debuted a brief teaser trailer for the new action film Triple Threat, from stuntman-turned-director Jesse V. Johnson, who also has the film Savage Dogs being released this year. Triple Threat features one hell of a kick ass cast - mainly action superstars Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais teaming up, along with more action stars: Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins, Celina Jade, Michael Bisping, Selina Lo, JeeJa Yanin, Ron Smoorenburg, and Tiger Hu Chen. Not that the plot matters much with this cast, but it's about a team of mercenaries who must take on a group of professional assassins and stop them before they kill an important woman. This looks like it'll be badass. Here's the very first teaser trailer for Jesse V. Johnson's Triple Threat, direct from YouTube: A hit contract is taken out on a...

In which the headline says it all and I don't need to write anything else... Okay, well, that's not quite true. Only a few days after announcing they accquired the North American rights, WellGo USA has dropped a teaser to what is no doubt going to be a hotly anticipated title for 2018. Triple Threat sees Iko Uwais (The Raid: Redemption), Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) and Tiger Chen (Man of Tai Chi) as a band of rag-tag mercs who take on a gang of profesh assassins led by Scott Adkins. Directed by stunt veteran Jesse V. Johnson and co-starring Michael Jai White, Celina Jade and Jeeja Yanin, Triple Threat looks to hit the spot for those in need of some raw martial arts action. Watch...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Katie Smith-Wong May 31, 2017

With plans afoot for a live action take on Mulan, we look at the challenges facing Disney...

After more than 50 years of making animated features, Disney have now turned their attention to live-action adaptations of their famous films. After releases such as 101 Dalmatians (1996), Maleficent (2014) and Cinderella (2015), the studio's new creative direction has earned critical acclaim and financial success. It is also making its mark on the global box office, as the recently released Beauty And The Beast remake has earned small change in the region of $1.2bn and counting.

Among the upcoming remakes planned is Mulan, which already has fans of the 1998 Disney film debating about its faithfulness to the animated feature. That's especially so given reports about director Niki Caro's indecisiveness regarding the inclusion of songs such as Honour To Us All and I'll Make A Man Out Of You, as well as the...

Stars: Jija Yanin, David Bueno, Marc Nghi Hoang | Written by Sompope Vejchapipat | Directed by Rashane Limtrakul

Deu, a rock and roll drummer abandoned by her family and recently sacked from her band, finds herself being pursued by a gang of kidnappers. She is rescued from their clutches by Sanim, a master of an obscure drunken fighting technique known as Meyraiyuth. After informing Deu that she is the target of the Jaguar Gang, a group of criminals who kidnap young women and extract their pheromones to sell as a potent aphrodisiac on the black market, Sanim and his three sidekicks – Pigshit, Dogshit and Bullshit – agree to train her in their unique methods of combat. Her training complete, Deu insists on joining Sanim and the others in infiltrating the Jaguar Gang’s underground lair and bringing down their lucrative and exploitative people trafficking empire. Their mission brings them face to face with...

Craig Lines Feb 9, 2017

Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and more feature, as we salute the female stars of martial arts movies...

It’s arguably a rare sight when female characters lead a major genre film, and last year’s online Ghostbusters drama proves it’s still, depressingly, a controversial choice if they do. Too often, female characters are reduced to sidekicks, damsels, sex objects and caricatures. It sometimes feels like every day there’s a new statistic about women being under-represented in Hollywood and while, to some extent, things are looking brighter and more diverse by the day, it’s an uphill struggle. Still, as we wait for Hollywood to get its act together, I thought I’d celebrate a genre where awesome, strong, multi-faceted female characters have led casts as a regular occurrence for decades - martial arts!

See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's...

Last Updated: Dec 17, 2015 @ 3:10 Pm

2016 is shaping up to be a classic year for fans of martial arts / action movies. All of the big names are back , Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Sammo Hung and lets not forget Jean Claude Van Damme.

So you don’t miss out , we’ve compiled a list of stand out movies which we think you should not miss.

So without further delay here are Amp’s Best Martial Arts Movies to look forward to in 2016

Note: Bookmark this article as we will keep this updated with more news, pictures, posters, trailers as we get them.

ContentsThe Best Martial Arts Movies To Look Forward To In 2016Ip Man 3 (Donnie Yen) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon : Sword of Destiny (Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh)Kickboxer: Vengeance(Jean-Claude Van Damme)The Deadly Reclaim (Wu Jing)The Monkey King 2 (Aaron Kwok)Rail Road Tigers (Jackie Chan)Kung Fu Yoga...

I think many people will be happy with the news that Jeeja Yanin has signed on to star in the International movie series Never Back Down. Jeeja recently starred in Tom Yum Goong 2 and also shot a fight scene for a tv series in Thailand, making her mark on audiences all over the world.

It is fantastic to see Jeeja Yanin getting a role, all her hard work in past movies and constant hard training has paid off and we couldn’t be happier. Michael jai White will also appear in the movie and you never know, we could get a cameo from Tony Jaa if we are lucky.

We shall post news and updates on the movie when we hear more soon.

Jeeja working the arm lock...

If martial arts action star Tony Jaa made one thing clear in the 2005 film The Protector, it's that he loved elephants and would do anything to, well, protect them.  It seems that he didn't quite get the message across to some folks in the first go round since he returns in the role of Kham for The Protector 2.  If it's top-notch acting and taut plotting you're looking for, look elsewhere my friend.  However, if it's some insane action sequences and an anti-poaching sentiment you're after, then you've come to the right place! Also starring Mum Jokmok, Marrese Crump, Jija Yanin Wismitanan, Ratha Pho-ngam, Kazu Patric Tang, Kalp Hongratanaporn, David Ismalone, and RZA in a can't-miss performance, The Protector 2 is available now on Blu-ray.  Hit the jump for The Protector 2 Blu-ray review. Feature: In the second installment of Jaa's elephant-centered movie series, a civil war in the Southeast...

Stars: Tony Jaa, RZA, Petchtai Wongkamlao, JeeJa Yanin, Marrese Crump, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam, Solatorn Lungluang | Written by Eakasit Thairatana | Directed by Prachya Pinkaew

I don’t watch as many fighting movies as I’d like so when I got the chance to review Warrior King 2 I was at first happy. I’m a Tony Jaa fan, especially because of Ong-Bak so when I watched this I had that movie in my mind as where the bar would be set. Maybe that was unfair or not, but Warrior King 2 is a movie that has the best of intentions, but struggles to see them through.

When Kham’s (Tony Jaa) elephant is stolen he goes on the hunt for the kidnappers, soon finding himself the number one suspect in the death of the man he believes to be to blame. With not only the police on his trail but also...

To celebrate the release of Warrior King 2 – the triumphant, breathtaking and action-packed return of modern martial arts star Tony Jaa in the high-octane sequel to the hugely successful “Warrior King” out on DVD 1st September 2014 – we have a copy to giveaway!

Directed by Pratcha Pinkaew, co-creator of Ong-Bak and Warrior King, and featuring an all-star cast including Wu Tang Clan’s RZA and JeeJa Yanin, this is a must-watch for those who love their punches fast and their kicks even faster. An adrenaline-fuelled spectacle for fans of The Raid!

Order your copy today on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1BhiQoS

To win Warrior King 2 on DVD, just answer the following question:

Warrior King star Tony Jaa also appeared in which movie? Was it:

a) Rumble in the Bronx

b) Ip Man

c) Ong Bak

Email your answer to NerdlyComps@gmail.com, making sure to include your name and address.

The calls have been heard loud and clear, both on stage and off at the Oscars or in the annals of the web and at the box office: the world demands more movies with women, about women, by women and for women.

Every week a movie seems to be failing the Bechdel test, and every week a separate movie ends up walking away with the lion’s share at the box office. From hits like Maleficent, The Fault in Our Stars and Lucy to monster franchises like The Hunger Games, the old notion that teenage boys are the ones driving the demand at the movies is rapidly eroding. The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy opened to a 44 percent female audience on the film’s opening weekend, the highest share for any Marvel movie to date.

And although they’ve taken their sweet time, Hollywood...

Panna Rittikrai, the action choreographer who introduced Thai action movies to world audiences, has died aged 53.

According to local press reports, Panna died from liver disease on Sunday in a Bangkok hospital. He had been battling illness since November 2013.

Born in 1961 in Khon Kaen province, Panna started working in the Bangkok film industry in 1979 training actors to fight. After moving back to his hometown, he put together his own stunt team and started making action movies. He trained Tony Jaa and had a major hit in 2003 with Ong Bak, produced by Sahamongkolfilm.

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, Ong Bak introduced a new style of realistic, wire-free action choreography and put the Thai martial art of Muay Thai on the world map. It was swiftly followed by Tom Yum Goong (aka The Protector), reuniting the same team.

Panna soon turned director, as well as action choreographer, and directed a string of films for Sahamongkol including The Bodyguard, Ong Bak 2 and...

Panna Rittikrai, the action choreographer who brought us Tony Jaa and Jeejaa Yanin has sadly passed away at the age of 53. It was said Panna was suffering from a long illness, which he sadly did not come through. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

Panna had some great movies under his belt as choreographer, he brought the world Tony Jaa (Ong Bak movies) and more recently Tom Yum Goong 2. Also we seen Jeeja Yanin come through in the movie Chocolate and Dan Chupong (Born To Fight).

Panna started off by forming his own 20 man stunt team and was driven by watching movies from Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. In an interview he once said “When the audience realises that the stunt-work is real — that they’re not special effects — they’ll regard it not only as spectacle but as something more high-impact,...

New Release

The Protector 2

R, 1 Hr., 44 Mins.

Thai martial-arts maestro Tony Jaa’s newest film overloads on terrible F/X that rob the film of the actor’s usual brute-force balleticism. Also, RZA plays the bad guy — and someone needs to tell the Wu-Tang master that he can’t act (or fight). The Protector 2 does have a loony charm (actual line of dialogue: “You lost your elephant again?”), and Jija Yanin Wismitanan has a scene-stealing turn as a lady warrior seeking — wait for it — vengeance. (Also available on iTunes and VOD) B- —Darren Franich

New Release

Beneath the Harvest Sky

Not Rated,...

Well folks, it’s April and over the last couple weeks, we’ve seen movie studios step up their marketing for some hotly anticipated films. We’ve been flooded with new trailers, images, and posters for a variety of films slated to hit this year, which can mean only one thing...Summer Movie Season is right around the corner (seems like just yesterday we were handling the 2013 Summer Movie Awards)! With the wealth of films hitting in these upcoming months it’s easy for moviegoers to be overwhelmed. Thus, as we have in years past, we present our Summer Movie Guide, so you know what’s coming, when, and decide for yourself if a film is worth your time. Come inside to learn about all that May has to offer!

We’re running this guide very similar to how we have in the past. We’re breaking down each page...

Tony Jaa is back in the anticipated action sequel The Protector 2. Starring as Kham, Jaa is on a mission to find his missing pet elephant Khon, while also being the suspect in the murder of an influential business owner. He gets help from an Interpol agent sent to Thailand on a secret mission, but soon finds himself pulled into an underground fighting ring run by a crime lord (RZA) obsessed with collecting the world's biggest and best martial artists. Will Kham and Khon reunite? Or will Kham fail in his search and die at the hands of some of the world's most brutal fighters? Check out our exclusive TV spot, which teases some of the exciting action on display in this soon-to-be classic in the kung fu genre.

The Protector 2 comes to theaters May 2nd, 2014 and stars Tony Jaa, Marrese Crump, JeeJa Yanin, Vince Makiling, Ujal Thapa, Eddie Ruiz,...

International action star Tony Jaa reprises his role from 2006's The Protector in The Protector 2. Magnolia Pictures has released the first trailer and poster for this follow-up, which follows Kham (Tony Jaa) as he is lured into an underground fight ring run by Lc (RZA), while trying to clear his name after being accused of murder. Check out the first footage and the one-sheet from director Prachya Pinkaew's upcoming sequel, debuting on iTunes March 27 before arriving in theaters May 2.

Boss Suchart is the owner of an elephant camp. When he is murdered, all evidence points to Kham (Tony Jaa), who was seen with the victim before he died. Kham is forced to run as the police launch a pursuit. Meanwhile, the twin nieces of Boss Suchart (JeeJa Yanin and Teerada Kittisiriprasert) are out for revenge. But luck is on Kham's side when he runs into Sergeant Mark (Mum Jokmok...

Tony Jaa reunites with the team that helped make his name in the martial arts world, but both he and co-star Jeeja Yanin are eclipsed by impressive up-and-comer Marrese Crump in this otherwise underwhelming action sequel.There is a moment midway through Tom Yum Goong 2 when RZA's principle villain Lc begins monologuing to our captured hero, Kham (Tony Jaa). "We were all real impressed with what you did in Sydney," he declares, "but the last five years have been so disappointing". In this moment, Lc speaks not only for himself, but for martial arts fans the world over. After the one-two punch of Ong-Bak and the first Tom Yum Goong, Jaa looked set to conquer the martial arts world. But his apocalyptic meltdown during production...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Sahamongkol film has posted the second 3D clip for the highly anticipated Thai action flick Tom Yum Goong 2 on its official Youtube channel.  The clip showcases a fight scene with Tony Jaa, along with Jija Yanin (aka Jeeja Yanin) going up against rising American martial arts star Marrese Crump, who employs 52 Blocks or Jailhouse rock, a fighting style that was supposedly practiced and developed within the U.S. penal system.The theatrical release date in Thailand is October 23.  You'll find the clip (with optional 3D mode) embedded below....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Stars: JeeJa Yanin, Cho Jae Hyun, Phettai Wongkamlao, Ye Ji-won, Tae-joo Na | Written by Jong-suk Lee | Directed by Prachya Pinkaew

The Kick has one hell of a pedigree. Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who lensed to international hit Ong Bak, as well as the well-regarded Chocolate – whose star JeeJa Yanin is also in this – the movie features a wealth of Thai talent, including Cho Jae Hyun from The Isle and Phetthai Vongkumlao, who is one of Thailand’s biggest comedians.

But the real star is Tae-joo Na – in only his second ever film role – who shows the same type of martial arts skill that made Jackie Chan famous, mixing slapstick and fighting with consummate ease; and the scene in which he tries out to be a K-Pop star, blending dance with martial arts, are breathtaking.

The story is a little light – it essentially bad guys versus kung-fu family – but that doesn...

Director: Prachya Pinkaew. Review: Adam Wing. Thailand's top action movie director Prachya Pinkaew - the man behind Ong Bak and Chocolate - delivers another breakthrough in action cinema with The Kick, the first Thailand-Korea joint production. Cho Jae Hyun (Bad Guy), Ye Ji Won (Hanji), and taekwondo athletes Kim Kyung Suk and Na Tae Joo, form a family of Korean taekwondo masters living in Thailand. The Kick pits them against a gang of ruthless criminals, in an endearing action movie that mixes comedy, choreography and crocodiles to blistering effect. You can't have a Thai action movie without the presence of Petchtai Wongkamloo, the pintsized comedy sidekick whose smart mouth gave Tony Jaa a run for his money in Ong Bak and Warrior King. Wongkamloo is joined by the ever-so-striking JeeJa Yanin, kick-ass heroine of Chocolate and Raging Phoenix fame, who still manages to impress despite an alarming lack of screen time.

It’s not a good idea to give Tony Jaa anything sacred or precious. Chances are someone is just going to steal it, kill it, or cook it. “Ong Bak” director Prachya Pinkaew’s “Tom Yum Goong 2″ (aka “The Protector 2″) finds the hero from the original film searching for a missing elephant one more time. Here’s hoping he has better luck this time around. In addition to Jaa, the upcoming sequel features Petchtai Wongkamlao, Marrese Crump, JeeJa Yanin, Dan Chupong, Rhatha Phongam, and RZA. I’m particularly excited about JeeJa Yanin’s involvement with the flick. I could literally watch that girl kick phone books for 90 minutes. Do people still use phone books? Never mind. I feel old. Check out this synopsis: Kham is the last in long line of guards who once watched over the King of Thailand’s war elephants. Traditionally, only the perfect elephants could successfully help defend the throne.

It would appear that the powers that be at Sahamongkol Film in Thailand have taken a breather from holding "How dare Tony Jaa have a career outside of Thailand?" press conferences long enough to remember that they're actually meant to be promoting the upcoming release of Jaa star vehicle Tom Yum Goong 2 right now, and you know what that means? That means it's time for the final trailer for the film.We got some elephant. We got some gunplay. We got fists, elbows, knees, motorcycles and some Jeeja Yanin. We got Mum Jokmok smushing his face up against a window. We got some dodgy CGI (though just a bit), a bit of RZA and a fresh look at that amazing car stunt from the first...

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If you are looking to get your fix while waiting for Tom Yum Goong 2 to hit any sized screen near you perhaps this behind the scenes clip featuring Jeeja Yanin will quell your hunger pangs.First she talks about her character Ping Ping...Jeeja talks about her character Ping Ping in the film and how she's different from the one in Chocolate. In Chocolate she was more like a child while Ping Ping is more focused and knows what she wants and how to get it. Then she talks about the martial arts and fighting in the film..."Not just Muay Thai anymore but more modern day hand to hand. Fighting with a twin is difficult. Timing and rhythm is very important. Tyg 2 took so long to...

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What's not in the new teaser for Tony Jaa star vehicle Tom Yum Goong 2: His elephant. Which, yes, has gone missing again.What is in the trailer for Tom Yum Goong 2: A lot of punching and kicking, some high flying stunts, The RZA, Jeeja Yanin and Marrese Crump looking rather impressive. And also one heavily CGI assisted stunt that will leave the old school purists tearing out their hair.That final shot aside, this latest trailer looks far more impressive than the first effort which already wasn't half bad. Take a look below....

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With the Thai release of Tony Jaa star vehicle Tom Yum Goong 2 edging up a quartet of new posters have released for the film focusing on four of the main characters - Jaa and Chocolate star Jeeja Yanin among them - with nary an elephant to be found anywhere. Check them out in the gallery below and remember you can click to enlarge....

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The film’s title does not lie: madcap Thai action-comedy This Girl is Badass is indeed about a very badass chick. Her name is Jukkalan, and she makes a living as a very talented bike messenger while mooning over her guitar-playing neighbor and getting frustrated with her awkward Uncle Wang. Jukkalan is badass because she is portrayed by Jeeja Yanin, a pint-sized martial arts star from Bangkok best known for flaunting her mad taekwondo skills in the films Chocolate and Flying Phoenix.

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Chicago – It’s difficult to determine whether the Thai action comedy, “This Girl is Badass,” is so stupid it’s funny or just plain stupid. There were long stretches in which I felt utterly dumbfounded by the bizarrely infantile hijinks unfolding on the screen. The film is rated R for violence, but most of the humor seems to be pitched at a third-grade level. It’s like a “Mortal Kombat” game interrupted by knock knock jokes.

Judging by the film’s title, not to mention its cover art, one would assume that the picture consisted purely of wall-to-wall action. Indeed, the heroine, Jukkalan (JeeJa Yanin, a natural beauty refreshingly devoid of makeup), is a skilled and resourceful fighter who can use pretty much any tool at her disposal to obliterate her attackers. In the film’s first (and best) setpiece, she takes on a gang of enemies by beating them...

Director: Petchtai Wongkamlao. Review: Chris Sawin. A man known as Uncle Wang (Petchtai Wongkamlao) runs a movie store and lives with his niece Jakkalan (JeeJa Yanin) who he's raised on his own since she was a child. Jakkalan works as a bicycle delivery runner and is extremely independent, but things become a little complicated when she's hired to smuggle drugs for a local gangster and gets in between an ongoing war between two of the town's most ridiculous druglords. "This Girl is Badass" begins with JeeJa Yanin doing some pretty unbelievable maneuvers on a bicycle (stuff that is logically impossible) while combining it with some tactics that are a bit more grounded. Once you're past that and try to choke down the generic blend of rock music blaring in the background - that you'll have to tolerate over and over again for the next hour and forty minutes - things...

Written & Directed by Petchtai Wongkamlao (The Bodyguard 1 & 2) and starring all round action gal Jeeja Yanin (Raging Phoenix, Chocolate) Thai action comedy This Girl is Badass is coming to the U.S on DVD next month, via Magnolia pictures. If you’re expecting all out action then bare in mind this is comedy heavy (which in Thailand means drag queens, and continuous wack-wack-oops sound effects punctuating every joke) but between the humour there’s plenty of Jeeja kicking ass, to enjoy. This Girl is Badass, streets: May 21, 2013. Synopsis: In This Girl is Badass, Jeeja takes her skills to the next level as a bike messenger who is hired by competing mob bosses to smuggle goods. Caught in the middle and given an ultimatum, the only way out is a confrontation erupting into a battle of bullets, face kicks and blows. This Girl is Badass trailer...

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew of Ong-bak fame, choreographed by stunt coordinator Panna Rittikrai and debuting Yanin Vismitananda, Chocolates a no stunt double martial arts extravaganza and one of the best and craziest fight films in the last decade and it’s the next film up for a screening a the Terracotta Film Club, at the Prince Charles Cinema, London. If you’ve never seen this movie (shame on you) we can’t think of a better way to take it in for the first time, than on the Big screen. The Event is on Wednesday 27 March and we’d imagine they will go fast, so snap up a ticket in advance, from the Prince Charles Cinema website. Synopsis: What happens when an autistic girl, with uncanny reflex and mimicking abilities, spends a lifetime watching martial art films? She becomes the baddest chick on the planet. Though born autistic, Zen has...