So since A2 Classics began we have covered a lot of American work but today I would like to cover something a bit more foreign. If you recall, in December I wrote about the Jackie Chan movie, Who Am I which was produced and marketed mainly for a Hong Kong audience and therefore constitutes what Action/Adventure film lovers call a Hong Kong Cinema picture. Since the 70’s there have been a ton of great, and very underrated action, adventure and martial arts pictures coming out of the island city of Hong Kong. HK was almost single handily responsible for the influx in martial arts films within the united states. One of the HK cinemas biggest stars in the early 90’s was Jet Li and today we will be looking at one of his films, The Defender.

The Defender (as the American title goes), or its original title Zhong Nan Hai bao biao (Hong Kong title: The Bodyguard from Beijing) is a 1994 action flick starring the ever impressive and youthful Hong Kong martial arts master Jet Li as a bodyguard from the Beijing secret police, sent to Hong Kong to protect a beautiful young witness to a mob killing, played by Christy Chung (dream girl!!). Li turns her home into a high-security prison, complete with video cameras surveying every room, even her bedroom. Furious, Chung resists his efforts to protect her–until the threat to her life is made abundantly clear in a spectacular shopping mall shootout. As is natural under such circumstances, romance begins to bloom, much to the dismay of Chung’s lawyer boyfriend, who hired Li in the first place. Made in the last few years before the British province of Hong Kong was returned to the rule of mainland China, The Bodyguard from Beijing makes many (possibly anxious) jokes about the differences between the austere Communist bodyguard and the lackadaisical H.K. police.

As with most HK films you get a super combination of both weapons and martial arts through out. It makes for a really entertaining up and down ride with a crazed unseen individual in the drivers seat. I have to say that the use of weapons in this film is really well done to. Guns are used quite often, though mostly hand guns which makes for more skilled shoot outs. There is a scene in a large shopping mall involving Li and two lowly H.K. Police officers vs. a seemingly endless stream of pen and silenced 9mm toting assassins. Even in the climax of the film guns are used right up till the point of the ‘boss fight’ where we launch into Li’s familiar Wushu martial arts styling. In all, I would say that the action in this film is of the highest quality.

As with most H.K. flicks from this time period, The Defender is full of a spectacular strawberry red violence. Basically what I mean is that the blood that is frequently drawn through out the picture is so red that it is ridiculous. While gory and horrifyingly epic, the violence is almost of a fantasy nature. It helps ground the viewer a bit. The action is however very amazing and epic in scale and variety. Jet and the assassins use everything from flashlights to skateboards and the baddest baddie comes equipped with this super evil looking Red Army bayonet that creates a three sided, easily recognizable and sinister wound. And how often do you get to see venetian blinds used as an offensive weapon? It is simply marvelous.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same thing about the cinematography and the editing. While it captures exactly what needs to be captured and does include some pretty good scenes, I feel that a lot of the shots were a bit wonky and some of the picture could have been cut down. Its hard to explain with the H.K. film style being so different and possibly more advanced than american cinema from an action standpoint, but I just felt like the camera could have been positioned better and perhaps some different lighting effects used in various places. But hey, they are the film makers creating enjoyable flicks for big bucks and I am just a filmophile sitting at home wishing I could kick as much ass as Li and Chan, who am I to judge.

In any case the films character development played right to Li’s strengths as an actor. His character is quiet, shy and very good at what he does. That is the impression Li gives off in most his roles so it was almost fitting to see him play a character in The Defender that is just that type. You do however notice a somewhat dynamic nature to the what portrays his character toward the end. She is no longer just an assignment but more of a person and possibly a love interest.

Which brings me to the next point about why you should watch this movie. If the gunfights and car chases don’t entice you, or the awkward dinner scene then perhaps the fact that the year ‘2000 Hottest Woman in Asia,’ Christy Chung is playing the part of the female lead/body needing to be guarded opposite Jet Li. She is a beautiful, demanding, whirlwind next to Jet’s quiet and shy yet dangerously protective character. All I have to say is Night Gown and you gents should be running for the dvd shelves. She is beautiful, and classy while at the same time a tad naughty, and in real life she is Canadian. Right on, eh?!

One of the other great subjects touched on during The Defender was the whole Communist China vs. Hong Kong idea that you see display quite often. The up tight and very efficient Jet Li represents China where as the laid back and fun yet wildly irresponsible H.K. police officers represent, obviously Hong Kong. This movie was filmed right around the time where it was decided that the Chinese government would again take over Hong Kong so they clearly display this contrast between the Red China Bodyguard and the H.K. Police in the same situation and how working together they can accomplish the impossible.

I can honestly say that of all Jet Li films (and there are a ton out there), The Defender aka The Bodyguard from Beijing is one of my favorites. Please check it out as soon as you can and I promise you will not be disappointed. Take care and as always, kick back, relax and throw on a classic.

Looking back we have gone through quite a bit of your stereotypical action films with your stereotypical action stars. This week I took a look at your regular action stars, chose one and decided to go with a not so mainstream action film from them. This film, while not particularly note worthy, even within its own time period was one of my favorite films as a kid action fanatic mainly because it encompassed so many action elements in one place with out seeming garish about. It also is quite funny and charming for an action film.

Bird on a Wire is the 1990 John Badham directed film about Rick Jarmin (Mel Gibson), an FBI informant who helped convict a drug dealing FBI agent named Eugene Sorenson (David Carradine) and was placed in the witness protection program. 15 years later, his former fiancée Marianne Graves (Goldie Hawn) crosses paths with him at a gas station in Detroit, Michigan. Rick refuses to recognize Marianne because Sorenson has since been released from prison and he does not want to put Marianne’s life in danger as Sorenson and his partner Albert Diggs (Bill Duke) are now out for revenge. Marianne has blown Rick’s cover, and he makes a frantic call to his relocation contact for a new identity — only to discover that his old contact has retired. What’s more, his new contact, Joe Weyburn (Stephen Tobolowsky), is in league with Diggs and Sorenson. Just as Marianne prepares to confront Rick, Sorenson and Diggs show up at the gas station with guns blazing.This gas station gun-down heartbreakingly kills Rick’s kindly old boss at the gas station, destroys his latest cover identity and sends Rick and Marianne on the run after the murder is made to look like they did it. What ensues is a high speed action and adventure story that takes you from a catwalk of a high rise to a horse farm and back to a city zoo, all the while danger lurks around every corner in the form of David “Bill” Carradine.

I would like to start with the fact that Mel Gibson makes a fantastic action hero. At this point of his career he is believable as the regular guy put in a bad situation and doing his best to protect his loved ones while he tries to fix the situation. He doesn’t have any Jet Li style perfect fighting moves or Terminator invincibility, he makes due with what he has and gets the living crap kicked out of him because of it. It makes for an amazingly believable protagonist in this tale of desperation and overcoming of hopeless odds.

As I said earlier, I really dug this film because of all the action elements it brings to the table. Its got a kick arse motorcycle chase through the back alleys and streets of an urban environment. It also has a epic car chase scene involving several cars and a train. There is a real good sense of believable comedy to the film even though it is a tough and dire situation that the main characters are in. The leads do a really good job of playing off each other to make a really well though out and comedic dialog. There is tragedy in the fact that friends of the protagonist are killed left and right. It creates a big sense of hopelessness that the characters need to overcome. As a part of witness protection, Jarmin has to go back through some of his other identities through out the film and that allows Gibson to play several very different roles. There are lots of animals which is always a good contrast in action films. David Carradine, as usual plays a really good baddie. Finally, the film has a real bang up soundtrack by ze great Hans Zimmer.

One thing I can honestly complain about is the marketing for Bird on a Wire. While I cant lay this on the director or the stars. If you look at most of the posters and the images that you can find of some of the DVD cases and such you will see that they have MEL & GOLDIE real big at the top to catch the attention. While I understand that the staring couple is one of the films biggest draws, I hate that they really took it overboard with the promotion and that actually overshadows the fact that the movie is really quite good on its own.

As far as post production on Bird on a Wire goes, the editing is not to bad but not terribly notable. cinematography is not to bad, with good camera angels, coloring to set the proper tones and decent effects. The sound is about average and everything about the back side of the film screams normal action flick. What makes this film stand out is the chemistry of the cast members thrown into this ridiculous action packed situation the GH is not made for and MG seems destined to be a part of. In short I would have to say this is one of the most underrated but entertaining films of the early 90’s and certainly both Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson’s careers. I definitely recommend checking it out if your looking for some good old action entertainment. I believe that comcast has it ala ON DEMAND right now and Netflix is sporting it in the Watch Instantly section. I am sure you can also pick it up at a local rental joint as well but in any case I hope you enjoy what is one of my favorite underrated action films of the 90’s. Take care and as per usual, kick back, relax and enjoy some action… films.

Tell me, what do you think would happen if today’s reality television craze got out of control? Well I have to tell ya, Hollywood had their prediction down pat 20 years ago in the form of an film that was equal parts action and adventure. The second A2 Classic of this week will be the late 80’s film accurately known as The Running Man.

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, this 1987 futuristic sci-fi film stars none other then the great “Governator” himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger as former police officer Ben Richards. In the year 2017, the world economy has collapsed. The great freedoms of the United States are no longer, as the once great nation has sealed off its borders and become a militarized police state, censoring all film, art, literature, and communications. Even so, a small resistance force manages to fight the oppression. With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation’s yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives. The most popular and sadistic of these programs is “The Running Man,” hosted by Damon Killian (Richard Dawson). When a peaceful protest of starving citizens gathers in Bakersfield, California, a police officer named Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) is ordered to fire on the crowd, which he refuses to do. Subdued by the other officers, the attack is carried out, and Richards is framed for the murder of almost a hundred unarmed civilians. Following a daring jail break months later, Richards is captured once again and forced to appear on “The Running Man” with three other convicts, friends who also escaped with him. With their help, he fights his way through a cadre of sadistic slayers hunting them down through the ruins of a Los Angeles earthquake, but not before promising Killian that he’ll return to settle the score when the show’s host double-crosses him. In the meantime, Richards and the other contestants must search through the ruins for the resistance in the hopes of finally broadcasting the truth about the government.

Before I begin to talk about this film, I would first like to bring it to your attention that the screenplay was created from a story written by the great Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Brachman. it was a 214 page tale with the tag line “Welcome to America in 2025 when the best men don’t run for president, they run for their lives.” Though the film is “loosely” based upon the book, it still owes most of its creative inspiration to the mind of King, who was therefore given a writing credit.

So with that basic frame work laid out for you, picture a film, where the setting is in a destroyed then re-inhabited LA. Throw in, that at the time of the films production, the story takes place 30 years in the future and you have a great recipe for an amazing setting. I give the art director and production designers so much credit for how this film turned out. In a decade where black lights and neon is all the rage, they take it to the next level and manage to create a set that is so tacky and futuristic that you cant take your eyes off of it and strangely it looks like what you imagine it would if you just tacked 30 years on to the 80’s.

I cant bring up the production design without looking at the costumes and weapons now can I. The baddies in this film are decked out with the most hilariously terrifying outfits one could imagine. Spandex makes a very heavy appearance in The Running Man, which I suppose can’t be helped. The ones hunting the contestants, or Slayers, have a wide range of ridiculously evil implements ranging from a dirt bike and chainsaws to a LED covered electricity shooting suit and a dune buggy. The range of props and FX in this film are pretty out there, but it all comes together to give the movie an fantastic, yet believable future vision.

The cast of this lovely futuristic action adventure is pretty grand as well. While Arnold obviously leads the cast, he is supported by a plethora of beautiful and/or famous folks of the time. The leading lady of The Running Man is the beautiful and fiery Maria Conchita Alonso who was the former Ms. Venezuela. In contrast to these to protagonists is Richard Dawson who gives a fantastic performance as the host of this sadistic game show. Supporting them is a crew of famous or formerly famous athletes, musicians and cult favorites playing parts key to the success of this picture and doing a good job of it. Most notably are the people playing the Slayers within the game including; Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown and Erland Van Lidth.

Another thing that makes The Running Man such a great film is that fact that it appears that King and the writers of the screen play might have been predicting the future of our society’s television consumption. Look at how man reality TV shows are out there now and how ridiculous they are getting. It went from watching people in a house, to watching former stars in a house to getting people married and now they are simulating putting people in a life and death situation for entertainment. Now what would be the natural progression from that point in entertainment? Yep, you guessed it, either this Running Man style of game show or a Gladiator or Death Race style of show. Sad, true, but the masses must have their entertainment.

In any case the flick is semi predictable and yet entertaining as all hell. The plot is unique and creepily accurate to the way things are going for reality tv in our generation. The cast, while not as recognizable to most people of our age, are perfectly suited to bringing in the crowds to the movie theaters during the time of the films release. The set work and overall design are fantastic and beautiful and the direction was not half bad. Well the film is showing its age, it is till one of my old standby films that I can watch over and over. In short, I suggest if you haven’t seen it, you might want to get on this ride and enjoy the mayhem that is The Running Man. Check it out at your local rental joints as well as Netflix. Stay frosty my friends and remember that every once in awhile you need to kick back and enjoy a classic.

Sorry about the late post guys but I will make it up to you with two in one day, how does that sound?

In the past 7 posts we have discussed work from notorious A2 (action & adventure) actors such as Willis, McQueen, Van Damme, Chan, Russell and Lundgren. So there I sat, thinking of what action actors films I haven’t covered yet and I remembered one of my favorite actors who we recently lost, Patrick Swayze. Upon thinking of all the films in his career, one stood out as my favorite of all. I am sorry Black Dog fans but I had to go with the Swayze brawler classic, Road House.

Directed by Rowdy Herrington, the 1989 film Road House tells the tale of Dalton (Swayze), an expert “cooler” — a barroom bouncer who can break up fights without getting himself killed in the process. Frank Tilghman, the owner of the Double Deuce in Jasper, Missouri, has hired Dalton away from a bar in New York City, because Tilghman needs someone who can handle the nightly outbreaks of violence at the Double Deuce. Once arriving in Jasper Dalton meets up with a familiar face. The band, protected from the violent crowd by a metal cage, is led by Dalton’s old friend Cody (legendary blind blues guitarist, Jeff Healey). Dalton is injured in a huge brawl during his first week on the job and is treated by Elizabeth “Doc” Clay (the gorgeous Kelly Lynch), the local doctor. Dalton and Doc soon fall for each other, and this, amongst other things, angers Brad Wesley, a crime boss that Doc was once involved with. Wesley is responsible for the rampant corruption in Jasper, as well as a lot of the violence at the Double Deuce. With the local sheriff in his pocket and the townsfolk in fear, Wesley has complete control of the whole town. Wesley is out to get rid of Dalton buy any means necessary including using his own private army of goons to harass and hurt Dalton and the friends he has already made within Jasper. What ensues is complete and utter mayhem within this small Missouri town.

There are a couple of things about this bar brawl of a movie that I have noticed on my most recent viewing. First of all, at the beginning there is a lot of hidden hilarity and clever statements that I didn’t notice right away. You have the fantastic Patrick Swayze line in response to a offered plane ticket: “I don’t fly, its to dangerous.” Little do we know that later he will be in gun, knife and fist fights that would make a ordinary man pee. There is also the nasty message written on the wall in the Double Deuce that the owner Tilghman, played by Kevin Tighe promptly changes to say “For a great Buick call 555-7617.” Take a guess at what word Buick used to be. There are a bunch of funny little things like this built into the frame of this semi violent super brawl of a film.

Another thing, the soundtrack in this film, while not mind blowing, is perfect for the type of movie it is. This blues-rock fueled film includes the sounds of amazing blind blues rocker Jeff Healey, the gentleman who is/plays the singer/lead guitarist of the band at the Double Duce in Road House. His style of blues is soulful and yet rock driven which fantastic for dancing or fighting and makes it a perfect fit for this film. When a song by the Jeff Healey band is not bursting through the speakers, the soundtrack for this film is filled out with other mind blowing rock of the time and with the occasional film score to heighten a dangerous mood, for example, the beach fight pitting Dalton against Jimmy (Marshall Teague).

That beach fight brings me to another interesting bit about this film. Now every teenage girl for several generations after its realize has heard of, seen and loves the film Dirty Dancing. Swayze plays a dance instructor in that film who takes a young woman going to the summer getaway under his wing and slowly falls for her. In Road House, during the beach fight I mentioned earlier, there are several points through out this whole seen from the explosion to the fights finish that you will see Swayze’s graceful dance training come into play in the fighting, and if it weren’t such a gruesome scene, it would be almost beautiful to watch him fight. I bring this up because I thought the traces of Dirty Dancing in this film were interesting due to the complete moral flip flop that those two films have and that the fact, even 2 years after DD is released he still is displaying his grace from the dance sequences.

In conclusion, I would say that this is one of my all time favorite 80’s movies, one of the best fighting films and one of the most recognizable Swayze pictures. I highly recommend that if you haven’t seen it, you should rent or buy it considering the inexpensive price tag at the moment. If you have seen it, maybe its time to bust it out again for some amazing moments from the late, great Patrick Swayze (RIP) and supporting parts by the fantastic Sam Elliot and the beautiful, mostly naked Kelly Lynch. Per usual, I hope you pick it up, kick back and throw on this A2 Classic. Cheers!

Thus far in this new segment we have covered several fantastic pure action flicks that you can’t help but enjoy. Everything from future ass-kickery to the most amazing chase sequences ever made. This week, I decided to choose a more adventure based film. I wanted something that was more about the journey being taken then the ass that was being kicked. With this in mind, I began to look through my film collection and my walking fingers came to rest on the case of one of my favorites, Stargate.

The 1994 film Stargate is the tale of an amazing adventure that begins when Egyptologist Daniel Jackson (James Spader) is brought to an underground military base where his considerable knowledge is instrumental in the decoding of symbols on a series of Egyptian cover stones. It turns out the stones are used to allow a alien device known as the Stargate to “dial” another Stargate and open a doorway to another planet on the other side of the universe. A team led by Air Force Colonel Jack’ O’ Neil (Kurt Russell) and Jackson to travel through the gate, across the known universe to a distant planet. Arriving on the planet, they find a culture enslaved and ruled by someone posing as the Egyptian sun god Ra. Soon, Ra captures the team and takes control of a nuclear weapon brought to the planet in case of the discovery of hostile aliens. Jackson and O’Neil, with the help of the indigenous people have to escape and must fight Ra and his army of warriors to save Earth from being destroyed.

Right off the bat I want to say that I am aware that this film is not the best film ever but it has one thing that all films wish they could boast; watchability. Like The Fifth Element of two weeks ago, this is one of those films that I can watch over and over again and never get sick of. It is always entertaining, no matter how many times I see it. I think one of the main reasons for this watchability is the amazing production design in this film. The set pieces are so fantastic and the camera shots and pans give the audience a grand opportunity to experience it all. It is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. Color wise, sure, not to amazing. It takes place in the desert wasteland after all, and yet the slave village, the pyramid and the space ship sets are so brilliantly constructed.

The cast is pretty well constructed too. You have to love the combo of tormented action hero paired with a out of place science geek. Only if they work together they can save the day. Russell and Spader play their parts perfectly in this amazing sci-fi adventure tale. The supporting cast in this film are just as important. Most of them have to play characters that are completely alien to us and yet someone we can sympathize with.

Communication and understanding become a big theme in this film. When the team first arrives on this new planet and meets the indigenous inhabitants, there is a event, a sandstorm to be exact. The gates are closed and locked but due to their lack of understanding the commandos take villagers hostage to try an escape. Thanks to some hand signals and understanding, the commandos are shown the sandstorm as it approaches. I enjoyed how “Kawalski” apologizes by bowing and then shrugs. It sums all the confusion up perfectly and I couldn’t stop laughing.

One of my favorite parts of this film is the mythology that it both creates and modifies to fill out the plot. It is very intelligently done using a dying alien species came to earth and uses its extensive knowledge to appoint itself ruler and essentially becomes the basis for the Egyptian god Ra. Its a pretty large tale, but the way its explain makes it seem just possible. Then due to a rebellion, the Stargate on earth is buried to prevent further spread of the rebellion and that is the reason these aliens were not seen as aliens but as gods of myth in our history. The movie has a fantastic back story and it is create very intelligently using both myth and fact.

On a final note I want to say that the visualization of traveling through the Stargate was mind blowing as far as special effects go. The vortex itself was not so much. It looked like the Dr. Who ‘time vortex’ and the Star Wars ‘warp speed’ boned and created the first Stargate transport effect. You will find a bunch of cheesy effects in the classic action genre but you know what, I think in this film they actually add to its appeal. I can say that in the A2 Classic realm, this film, while only 16 years old, is one of my all time favorite classics. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you get your hands on the blu-ray version, it looks great and sounds even better! As always, enjoy this adventure classic and keep your eyes peeled for more.

You know what never goes out of style? The buddy cop movie. We keep seeing it over and over again in different reincarnations from “Starsky and Hutch” and “Dragnet” to more off-the-wall varieties like “Turner and Hooch”. With more news coming out about Kevin Smith’s new film “Cop Out”, I figured I would go back and pull one of my favorite instant classics out of the pile whose cop match-up was both familiar and different at the same time with a bit of a cultural twist added in there for flavor.

The movie I am of course talking about is the 1991 buddy cop classic, “Showdown in Little Tokyo” starring Swedish action machine Dolph Lundgren and American cinema newcomer Brandon Lee. For 400 years, Japan has been home to a secret criminal organization dedicated to its own supremacy in the underworld. Ruled by an ancient, arcane code of honor, the deadly Yakuza have been among the most feared members of society. Even today, they are immediately recognizable by the stunningly ornate tattoos that cover their bodies, telling the terrifying story of their stature and career in a dark order that knows no mercy. Now the Yakuza are coming to Los Angeles. But in America, they’re going to meet their match. Two cops are on their trail.  One’s a warrior. One’s a wise-ass. Chris Kenner (Lundgren) is an American raised in Japan who contains the mind and spirit of a samurai, and the body of a human fighting machine. His new partner, Johnny Murata (the late Brandon Lee), a Japanese-American raised in California’s San Fernando Valley enjoying malls, pizza and MTV. Conversely, he can disarm five gunmen with his bare feet. Opposites in attitude, once they get on the streets of Little Tokyo, they’re a perfect odd couple. And what they have in common is their enemy–the Yakuza who are bringing a lethal new drug trade to Los Angeles, coupled with a macabre taste for violence and cruelty.

Now the plot is following a basic action movie formula, gang of baddies moves into town, muscles the locals, puts drugs on the streets and is very, very violent. What was new and fun about this film at the time was the fact that you are pairing two cops — your protagonists — from two different lifestyles that are a complete flip-flop of what you think they would be. In Kenner you have an orphaned white child, raised in Japan with a samurai spirit and code who is partnered with Murata, a Japanese-American raise on 80’s pop culture. Team these two polar opposites up and its time to kick some serious arse. I mean serious, especially if you look at the Yakuza, how it is portrayed in this film and who the leader of the group is played by.

Your main villain, Yoshida, the leader of the Iron Claw sect of the Yakuza is played by none other then your famous movie baddie Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, Balls of Fury). This gentleman has been a cinema bad guy ever since I can remember the need for a baddie of asian decent. His character in this flick is just as evil as the rest but way, way more sadistic. He crushes people in a car compactor, drugs a woman up and beheads her, chops off a bikers hand to prove a point and many more gruesome acts that prove he may be one of the worst bad gents in 90’s cinema.

Of course in any action film the likes of Showdown in Little Tokyo, you have to have the love interest. Minako is a lounge singer a club Yoshida takes over. She is dragged, kicking and screaming right into the middle of all the trouble. Upon meeting, Minako (played by the lovely Tia Carrere) is instantly drawn to Kenner. Naturally toward the end of the film there is a love scene that takes place that is actually fairly revealing, though I tend to think she used a body double for the nudity (no clear face shot, as well as poofy hair). In any case she is a beautiful, shining presence added to this violent and action pact slugfest.

For the action portion of this film you have several people that make it work. You have Lundgren’s aggressive might, throwing, kicking, chopping and destroying the bad guys with vengeance. He is a massive, muscle bound brawler with the skills of a Karate expert. You have Brandon Lee with his agility and acrobatic fighting style flying all over the place with a beautiful and youthful grace and determination. Last but not least you have Tagawa and his Yakuza who don’t give a crap about who they hurt as long as their mission is complete. With all these forces going head to head in one big event, you get some mind bending action complete with car chases, bath house fight sequences, one man rescue missions, katana fight in the middle of a parade route, gun battles in an exploding brewery and much, much more.

I think this combination of heroes, baddies and hotties is one that will occur again and again in future films but I can guarantee that there will be no set up like with this particular cast. Most of these classic action actors have aged to the point where they just can’t keep up with todays cinema style. Of course everyone who is an action fan, is missing Brandon Lee, who met with an unfortunate accident during the filming of The Crow in 1993. He was much, much too young and a rising star in American cinema. He has, and will continued to be missed much like his father.

As far as A2 Classic go, this one is up there among my favorites. Its got all the action elements you could possibly ask for, a great and varying cast, decent direction and an solid and interesting buddy cop concept. I think that you really can’t go wrong with this one if your looking for a good action and adventure flick. Even if it isn’t award winning, I felt that I at least needed to bring it back into the edge of the spot light so that people can be reminded how brutally entertaining old action films were. Check it out on Netflix watch instantly, buy it at Amazon or rent it at any of your local video stores. Thanks for checking out the 2nd A2 Classic of 2010.

It is officially the future so I’ve decided to go with an instant classic from 1997 that takes place there. The first A2 Classic of the new year is an epic visually stunning films that boasts an extremely high replay factor. I can’t tell you how much I love this beautiful movie known as “The Fifth Element”. Two hundred and fifty years in the future, life as we know it is threatened by the arrival of a “Great Evil.” Only the fifth element (Milla Jovovich), an alien being who, using the power of four ancient elemental stones, can stop the Evil from extinguishing life. She is helped by ex-soldier, current-cab-driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), who is, in turn, helped by a Prince/Arsenio looking radio personality, Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker) and a holy man in charge of the stones protection, Priest Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm). Unfortunately, Evil is being assisted by Mr. Zorg (Gary Oldman) and his alien mercenaries, who seek to profit from the chaos that Evil will bring. What ensues is a fantastically rich action film filled with gunfights, aliens, space ships, far away worlds and an amazingly colorful cast.

One of my favorite bits about this film is the assembly of the the cast. It is a straight-up action/adventure comedy film that has been casted to perfection. For the action department they brought in Bruce “Bad Ass” Willis and Milla Jovovich. They needed to balance out the pure ass-kickery with some comic relief and for that they had a combination of Chris Tucker and Charlie Creed-Miles. And more amazing still is the drama and credibility they add to the film by bringing Gary Oldman and Ian Holm in to the mix. There is a perfect balance with action and drama juxtaposed with a well built comedy element.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a hugantic fan of the visual element in this film. I have to praise the fantastic look that production designer Dan Weil created for this futuristic action flick. The vibrant colors and odd creatures in this film create a beautiful path that your imagination cant help but take a stroll down. The special effects in The Fifth Element are still what I would consider brilliant, even 13 years after its release. There is a particular scene where Korben puts the cab into a screaming dive right through several layers of traffic spread out vertically over what must be a half a mile. He is dodging cars back and forth and they keep cutting between a overhead follow cam shot and an interior camera shot which match amazingly well. Not only that but the animation of the cab’s antics are just seamless and potent as today’s effects.

Speaking of effects, you have to appreciate the the creature design in this film. With several different alien races, as well as an ultra futuristic human element, this movie has some of the best creature work I have seen. While a lot of the effect work in the creature department was “outdated,” even at the time, it is done in such a way that it actually enhances the feel of the movie.

Lastly, I am such a huge fan of the scene transitions that “The Fifth Element” has to offer. The tale is told quite chronologically and when several things are happening at once they used several clever transitions between different parts of the plot. There is a part at the end of a performance where one of the main characters is saying ‘Bravo, Bravo’ and it cuts to another character in a different location at the same time who is also saying bravo but in a completely different context. The cut is decisive but perfectly timed to make it flow and bring you right into the new situation. This is just one example of several amazing pieces of fantastic editing this flick offers.

All in all, “The Fifth Element” is a well designed and executed action and adventure film that takes elements of action, comedy and drama and seamlessly mixes them in a big bowl. Throw in a fantastic cast, good direction, mesmerizing production design and brilliant editing and you have yourself a recipe for one of the most watchable action flicks of the 90’s. I highly recommend that you pick up a Blu-ray copy of this film for it includes a flawless, high res version of the movie as well as loads of special features. And if you don’t feel like buying, then rent it or Netflix it, just make sure its on Blu-ray or another HD format. Hope you enjoyed this weeks flashback and as always, sit back, relax and enjoy a classic.

With Christmas just over, I thought we might have a gander at a film that takes place around this time of year. That film is of course, is ELF!… This movie is by far… not the one I am going to be talking about. Though entertaining, not one of the A2 Classics. The 1988 action film Die Hard, on the other hand is.

“This seminal 1988 thriller made Bruce Willis a star and established a new template for action stories: ‘Terrorists take over a (blank), and a lone hero, unknown to the villains, is trapped with them.’ In Die Hard, those bad guys, led by the velvet-voiced Alan Rickman, assume control of a Los Angeles high-rise with Willis’s visiting New York cop inside. The attraction of the film has as much to do with the sight of a barefoot mortal running around the guts of a modern office tower as it has to do with the plentiful fight sequences and the bond the hero establishes with an LA beat cop. Bonnie Bedelia plays Willis’s wife, Hart Bochner is good as a brash hostage who tries negotiating his way to freedom, Alexander Godunov makes for a believable killer with lethal feet, and William Atherton is slimy as a busybody reporter. Exceptionally well directed by John McTiernan.” –Tom Keogh

Die Hard was one of the most influential and ground breaking action movies in the last 25 years on two levels. First, as mentioned, is the fact that it created this new template for future action/hijack films to come. How exciting is the fact that there are several wildly prepared, intelligent, and lethal terrorists taking over a building with an unpredictable everyman cop is inside. Throw in some explosives, a visible location, and you do have the perfect template for many, many films to come.

The second ground breaking thing that Die Hard brings to the table is the fact that your hero, John McClane (Willis), is mortal. He gets cut, burnt, bruised, kicked about, thrown down stairs and generally beat to shat. In the past, your heroes were all invincible, could survive just about anything. John, he was just your regular guy, put in an extraordinary position. This set a new standard for the action hero, a hero who could be hurt, struggle, maybe even die. By the end of the film, he was half naked, bleeding and limping, and because of all that it made his triumph that much better.

As I said earlier, Die Hard is perfect for this time of year, because it takes place during the Christmas season in LA. I am not going to rob you with spoilers, though I assume most of you have seen it, but the end of the film makes it very fitting for this time of year with paper acting in the place of falling snow. And while it may not be something you sit down and watch with the family it is most enjoyable with your mates during the holiday season. (Hell, it’s most enjoyable with your mates in any season I suppose.) The dialog might not be award-winning and comparatively, its got a couple of cheesy effects but its an 80’s action movie — but come on, you have to admit that its low on the CG and high on the awesome! Anyways, its your holiday Action Adventure Classic. I hope you enjoy your holidays and remember, Yippee-ki-yay, M-Fers.

Today on AA Classics I am enjoying a brutal 80’s classic, “Bloodsport”. A well-oiled Jean-Claude Van Damme makes his starring debut in what may be one of the few kickboxing films to be based on a true story. The Muscles from Brussels plays Frank Dux, a very talented western martial artist and soldier in the US military. As a child, the miscreant Frank was taken in and trained by a champion martial artist, who went so far as to adopt him into his family after the premature death of his own son. At the bidding of his sensai and against direct orders from his military superiors, Frank travels to Hong Kong to participate in a mysterious, no-holds barred, highly illegal martial arts tournament in Hong Kong known only as the Kumite. While preparing for the tournament, he makes friends and meets a lovely blonde reporter (a must for any classic fighting movie) while striking man-tastic poses in several well known locations across the islands of Hong Kong. This is a testosterone driven, never-back-down action classic involving some of the most brutal and awing inspiring fighting and choreography of any of the “Arse-Kicking” movies to come out of the late 80’s and early 90’s.

I can honestly say that Bloodsport is probably in my top 5 fighting movies of all time. It sits up there with the likes of “Ong Bak”, “Chocolate”, “District B13″ and “Drunken Master”. JCVD manages to pull together a semi-decent performance in his first jump as a starring actor but where he really shines is in the stunt/fighting department. One example: fighting blind… Yep, that’s right.

While admittedly “Bloodsport” is a tad lacking in the script department (to say the least), this undeniably bad-ass movie succeeds by “letting Van Damme play to his strengths: namely, minimal acting and a lot of impossibly acrobatic splits while kicking people in the head. A guilty-pleasure testosterone blast of the highest order with a memorable villain and a multitude of well-choreographed fight scenes.”¹

A random highlight in this classic is a couple of the supporting actors involved. The now award-winning Forest Whitaker cameos as a hapless (and non-kickboxing) MP, who with his partner is trying to track down Dux to bring him back to the military. Donald Gibb, better known as Ogre from “Revenge of the Nerds” fame makes an appearance as the only other “American” fighter in the competition. With his over the top and brawling based fighting style and wild personality, he and Dux quickly become friends. The film also includes one of the most memorable villains from Bruce Lee lore, the fantastically huge and evil Bolo Yeung from “Enter the Dragon”.

In my opinion, you can’t have high expectations of a movie like this otherwise your in for a let down. If you went into “Ninja Assassin” thinking it was going to be of “Green Mile”-caliber, you’re dumb. You walk in expecting a film high on ass-kickery and low on acting quality. This film applie. Sure, it’s no award winner, however the simple pleasure in watching a man fight his way to the top using a series of mid air splits and roundhouse kicks is a pleasure all its own.

I can work out a couple other good things from “Bloodsport” as well. Due to its “success” for JCVD, production companies reused several pieces of the plot in other JCVD films. In “The Quest”, they used the tournament idea again, though the reason and location were a tad different. They also mimicked parts of the training regime from this movie and put it in the 1989 film “Kickboxer”. In “Lionheart”, they reused the idea of him running away from the military (a different military) to help someone. They also have two hapless agents chasing him again. I am sure there are others but that’s all I can think of at the moment. A side note: did anyone notice how the recent movie Fighting is a direct plot rip-off of “Lionheart” with a bit of a modern twist? Look into it and you’ll see.

All in all, I think I can honestly say that the action in this film saves it from the dialog. “Bloodsport” is one of the few action movies to not try and mask what it is behind fancy dialog or a amazing set. It is a movie about beating someone’s arse to prove you can and it doesn’t try and hide that. If you like great action, fantastic fighting, a legendary bad guy, Hong Kong, and tasers (you will see) then check out Bloodsport on Amazon (for $6 right now), Netflix and in most of your local rental joints. As always, make some popcorn, kick back, relax and turn on a classic.

1. Andrew Wright, Amazon.com

Today on AA Classics, I am taking a look at one of my favorite 90’s classics to come out of Hong Kong, “Who Am I?.” It is Jackie Chan’s last film with Golden Harvest Films; about a man who has to fight to regain everything he once was. Directed by Benny Chan and Jackie himself, it is the story of a man who wakes up in a isolated African tribal camp with no memories. He is nursed back to health by the tribe and begins a quest to find out who he is, regain what he has lost and and figure out who is trying to kill him. Along the way he meets new and interesting friends, gets in car chases, fights in clogs and participates in some of the best Chan-tastic action of any Jackie Chan film past or present.

Depending on how you take your action, this movie has quite a bit of different types of action. There are gunfights, where per usually Jackie never uses a gun. There is a breath-taking Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-led car chase as well as a Rally Race sequence in the desert. It takes place in lots of very far off destinations ranging from Africa to Amsterdam, from the desert to the rainforest. It’s also got all the stunts you could possibly shake a stick at. Last, but not even close to least, there are some of the most amazing fight sequences, include a very internationally casted one. What do I mean? You will see!

For the naysayers, I will admit that some of the long camera shots are of dodgy quality and there is a sequence or two that is choppy, but this is an action movie! ‘Who am I?’ was not shooting for the awards season. This is one of Jackie’s best action based films and one of my all time favorites.

I highly suggest you pop out to your local rental store, jump onto Netflix or go on amazon and purchase this beast of a flick. Its fun, action packed and it doesn’t let up till the very, very end. Please, for my sake and everyone else here at Everything Action, check out ‘Who Am I?’ as this weeks action classic. Enjoy and I’ll see you next week with another Action Adventure Classic.

Watch a fight scene from “Who Am I?” below:

Welcome to a new Everything Action segment called Action Adventure Classics. Now, with all the amazing special effects driven action movies coming out as of late its hard to look back but we must. Some of the most amazing, suspenseful and just plain bad ass action movies were made back before CGI was even thought of. There are two kinds of classics – your classics from an age standpoint (that is to say a older movie that is bad ass), and your instant classics, say a movie made in early 21st century that is so immediately good that it becomes a classic.

The movie I am talking about today is the former of the two. Made in 1968 when the guns, the explosions and the action were all huge, “Bullitt” was the biggest. Now I know that any person who calls himself an action fan has seen at least part of this movie (the epic genre influencing chase scene), but I urge you action fans to go back and watch this action classic for what else it holds. Look at the amazing cinematography and editing. The gorgeous background and the fierce and determined acting of McQueen. “Bullitt” has everything you could want in your classic action movie. Just look at the checklist:

• Steve McQueen… Check!
• Iconic poses… Check!
• Explosions and gunfights… Check!
• Hot female lead… Check!
• Amazingly long and intricate car chase… Double Check!

This is also the movie that helped me fall in love with the muscle car. The Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 quickly became the car of the dreams of many, including mine, with its throaty growl as it tore through the streets of San Francisco with McQueen behind the wheel. When pitted against a 68’ Dodge Charger R/T, it created an instant classic chase sequence that heavily influenced the chase genre of movies.

If all the action weren’t enough to convince you, it was also an Oscar award winning movie for Best Film Editing in 1968. This award winning, edgy thriller of the vintage variety should be a important part of an action fan’s movie collection. I myself own the Blu-ray version of the film which came with some great documentaries and really cool commentary by the director. Steve McQueen in “Bullitt” is this week’s Action Adventure Classic. So buy, Netflix, rent, or borrow it and the enjoy classic action in all its beautiful and organic glory.