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Last Updated on September 29, 2024

Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels. If you grew up in the early nineties, this handsome Belgian was everywhere. With his unique accent, good looks, and a butt he was all but too happy to show off at least once a film, he was the rare action star that was just as popular with the ladies as the dudes. Changing tastes in the mid-nineties meant that his career as a viable lead in theatrical films started to dry up, which wasn’t helped by some off-screen issues he had with drugs (a Hollywood tale as old as time). But, while his contemporary, Steven Seagal, became something of a parody of himself, Jcvd got clean and doubled down on his craft, emerging as a surprisingly potent actor in some Dtv movies that are way better than anyone gives them credit for.

While his days as an...

Back in 2017, legendary action star Jean-Claude Van Damme had the lead role in a film titled Kill ‘Em All, which saw him taking on the role of a mysterious stranger who arrives at a hospital on the brink of death – and yet still has to fight for his life when a gang raids the hospital with the intention of finishing him off. Seven years later, Kill ‘Em All is getting a sequel, appropriately titled Kill ‘Em All 2, which is set to receive a digital release next Tuesday, September 24th. In anticipation of that release, a trailer for Kill ‘Em All 2 has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

The feature directorial debut of fight coordinator Peter Malota, who had previously worked with Van Damme on Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Nowhere to Run, The Quest, and The Order, Kill ‘Em All was scripted by Craig Stewart, Brian Smolensky,...

Alan Scarfe, best known for the films Lethal Weapon 3 and Double Impact, has died at 77. Scarfe died on April 28 from colon cancer at his home in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, according to a recent obituary.

Born in England, Scarfe’s family moved to Canada. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art from 1964 to 1966, and then went on to appear in more than 100 roles in stage productions.

Scarfe made his film debut in 1963’s The Bitter Ash. Besides his film roles, he also appeared in the TV series Seven Days and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Scarfe received the Vancouver Film Critics Circle honorary award for lifetime achievement during his career.

He was married to actress Barbara (née March) for 40 years before her death in 2019. He is survived by daughter Tosia and son-in-law Austin, who acted as his caregivers in his later years. He is also survived by his brother,...

British-Canadian actor Alan Scarfe, who is best known for his work in Seven Days and Double Impact, has died. The performer was 77 years old. News of Scarfe’s death has become public months after he died on April 28, 2024. In an announcement from Scarfe’s family, it was revealed that the actor died from colon cancer at his home in Longueuil, Quebec. As mentioned, above, he was best known for his role as Dr. Bradley Talmadge on Upn’s former sci-fi series Seven Days which ran for three seasons between 1998 and 2001. The Bay Boy (Credit: Orion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection) Originally born in England, Scarfe was raised in Vancouver. Scarfe leaves behind several family members, including his actor son, Jonathan Scarfe who is known for shows like Van Helsing and The 100. In addition to his role on Seven Days, Scarfe’s television credits were numerous as he featured in titles...

Alan Scarfe, the classically trained British Canadian actor known for his turns as bad guys in Double Impact and Lethal Weapon III and as Dr. Bradley Talmadge on the Upn sci-fi series Seven Days, has died. He was 77.

Scarfe died April 28 of colon cancer at his home in Longueuil, Quebec, his family announced.

Survivors include his son, actor Jonathan Scarfe (ER, Raising the Bar, Hell on Wheels, Van Helsing).

Born in England and raised in Vancouver, Scarfe portrayed the Romulans Tokath and Admiral Mendak on episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1991 and 1993 and was another alien, the powerful Magistrate Augris, on a 1995 installment of Star Trek: Voyager.

“Science fiction on film and television, especially if you are playing some kind of alien character with fantastic make-up, is great for actors with a strong stage background,” he said in a 2007 interview. “The productions need that kind of size and intensity of performance.

Two of the credited screenwriters on Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" were Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes, the screenwriters behind the Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello flick "Back to the Beach," the two-Van-Dammes-for-the-price-of-one movie "Double Impact," and the 1999 would-be Oscar darling "Anna and the King." "Star Trek IV" was one of their first major screenwriting gigs, and it was a dizzying experience. The screenwriters remembered meeting with Nimoy and with producer Harve Bennett for a brainstorming session, and it seems that no one could come to any kind of solid conclusions. Bennett mentioned that he wanted the next movie to be a throwback to "The City on the Edge of Forever," one of the most celebrated episodes of the series. Nimoy was in a weird headspace, talking about environmentalism and biodiversity. Meerson recalls: "Leonard started talking about plankton, cells, that cells become plankton, that things eat plankton...

If you’re like us here at Reel Action, you probably love martial arts movies. And if you love martial arts movies, chances are, you are a fan of Mark Dacascos. And if you’re a fan of Mark Dacascos, then you probably know the movie, Only the Strong. Only the Strong is the best Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that Van Damme never starred in. In fact, if you look at the director’s filmography, he had a successful collaboration streak with Jcvd that led to Only the Strong. However, the movie actually fares better without him, because it features a star-making turn by the unanimously perceived underrated martial arts actor Mark Dacascos. Add in the teacher-savior plot and an introduction to a unique brand of martial art and you have an incredibly fun way to spend 90 minutes. We talk Only the Strong on this entry of Reel Action.

The...

Now a week into the new year, Max is, like many of us, cleaning house. The streamer is ushering in a new month of library additions and new originals, and, like usual, we have to give to get.

While the streamer has lost a few titles already this month, including 2018’s “The Nun,” nearly all of Max’s departures will make their exit during the final week of the month, including “Birdman,” “Barbarian,” and more!

Before January comes to an end, check out The Streamable’s top picks of what to watch before they’re gone, and see the full list of what’s leaving Max throughout the rest of the month!

7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Max in January 2024? “Barbarian” | Wednesday, Jan. 24

Georgina Campbell leads the horror-thriller as Tess, a young woman who books a rental home only to...

I still remember the exact moment when I became aware of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s presence in the entertainment industry. Although he had played the villain in No Retreat, No Surrender and made his leading man debut with Bloodsport, I didn’t know about him until the VHS release of Kickboxer. That’s when a local video store put up a large poster of the film – which the store’s owner gestured to while telling my mom and I about this new guy named Van Damme, who was meant to be the next action star along the lines of Stallone and Schwarzenegger. We rented the movie… and I’ve been a fan of Van Damme ever since. So I think it’s very cool that Diamond Select Toys will be releasing a Jean-Claude Van Damme action figure next year.

An image of the action figure can be seen at the bottom of this article,...

Jean-Claude Van Damme claimed in a recent interview with The Telegraph that Vin Diesel was not interested in having him star in the “Fast & Furious” franchise. The ongoing action series has employed action movie veterans such as Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham over the years, and Van Damme said the franchise was also interested in getting him on board. It was Diesel who allegedly said no.

The Telegraph notes: “Van Damme has also missed out on a role in another mega-franchises. ‘They want me in “Fast and Furious,”‘ he says. And what a bit of casting that would be. But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.'”

Variety has reached out to Diesel’s representatives for comment. Van Damme did not not disclose which “Fast & Furious” project he was potentially being courted for.

Instead of joining “Fast & Furious,” Van Damme got involved in another...

The serial killer thriller Squealer is set to receive a theatrical and digital release on November 3rd – and with just three weeks to go until that date arrives, a trailer for the film has been unveiled. You can check it out in the embed above.

Squealer marks the feature directorial debut of Andy Armstrong, who got his start in the entertainment industry by working as a stuntman. He earned stunt credits on more than fifty projects, including Nightbreed, Total Recall, Air America, Leprechaun, Universal Soldier, The Firm, Flesh and Bone, Stargate, Galaxy Quest, Charlie’s Angels, Planet of the Apes, Green Hornet, Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He also worked as assistant director or second unit director on many films, including The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Superman II, Krull, Highlander, Rambo II, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Double Impact. He has even...

The early nineties were arguably the heyday of brawny action. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world’s biggest star, thanks to Total Recall and Terminator 2. Sylvester Stallone was just a little behind him with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, but the lower-tier action stars were starting to catch up. Steven Seagal had a string of hits and was briefly about to hit the big time with Under Siege. At the same time, the Muscles from Brussels was finding his way into bigger studio fare and teamed up with arguably the greatest action director of all time for one of his best movies – Hard Target, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release.

Jump back to 1991, when Jean-Claude Van Damme had two movies that broke through at the North American box office. First up, in January of that year, was Lionheart, which carried a low budget but made $22 million for Universal.

Layla Sarakalo has exactly one (1) credit on her IMDb page. In Leonard Nimoy's 1986 film "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," she played a passer-by on the street who stopped briefly to talk to Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), who sought the location of nuclear vessels parked in Alameda, California. The scene sticks out in the memory because of Keonig's notorious pronunciation of "vessels" as "wessels." Koenig, as one might predict, has been asked to say "wessels" at multiple Star Trek conventions over the years, and is quite likely very sick of it. Keonig turns 87 in September, so please stop asking. 

Sarakalo, however, only ever appeared in this one scene in "Star Trek" and hasn't acted before or since. According to her IMDb page, Sarakalo landed the role as an extra through a stroke of bad luck. In order to clear the San Francisco streets for the scene in question,...

Summer is heating up on Max.

Back in May, Max added programming from TLC, HGTV and Food Network. That means Discovery’s popular Shark Week will be available to stream when it kicks off on July 23, with programming to be announced soon.

For fans of unscripted series, Season 3 or “90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise: Pillow Talk” (July 4) and Season 5 of “90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way” (July 10) are both streaming, as well as the series premiere of “90 Day Fiancé: UK.”

Home renovation fans will want to catch Season 16 of “Barnwood Builders” (July 6) and the special “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge” (July 16), hosted by Ashley Graham, just in time for the feature film.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s New on Amazon Prime Video in July 2023

“Project Greenlight” (July 13) returns, with executive producer Issa Rae along with Kumail Nanjiani and Gina Prince-Bythewood serve as mentors throughout the season.

Finally, the six-episode Max Original limited series “Full Circle,...

Max is following DC’s lead with its list of new releases for July 2023.

The two big ticket items this month are of the superhero variety. My Adventures with Superman arrives to Max on July 7 after making its Adult Swim premiere the night before. The end of the month sees Harley Quinn season 4 making its long-awaited debut on July 27. Other original TV titles of note are the Steven Soderbergh-directed Full Circle (July 13) and the third and final season of How To With John Wilson on July 28.

On the movie side of things, documentary Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia premieres on July 20. Before that on July 13 is both a fresh reboot of filmmaking competition Project Greenlight and the movie that came of it, Gray Matter. Library movies in July include Pulp Fiction, V for Vendetta, Lethal Weapon, and more on July 1.

Here is everything else coming to HBO and Max this month.

The original Max series “Full Circle” debuts on July 13. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the new drama investigates a kidnapping gone wrong in New York, revealing the secrets and lies of multiple characters. Or as the trailer warns: “Everything is connected.” The six-episode limited series stars Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Jim Gaffigan, Jharrel Jerome, Timothy Olyphant, and Dennis Quaid.

Watch the “Full Circle” trailer:

The four-part documentary “Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York” is set in the early 1990s as the AIDS crisis worsens. The media’s distorted coverage of the gay victims, coupled with the homophobic biases of the criminal justice system, undermine the investigation. The docuseries — which premieres on Max on July 9 — illustrates how the LGBTQ+ community fought to solve the murders and demand attention for those murdered.

Preview “Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York”:

Arriving on the platform on...

Timothy Olyphant, Claire Danes, and Dennis Quaid in ‘Full Circle’ (Photograph by Sarah Shatz)

Max’s July 2023 schedule includes the premiere of the drama Full Circle and the return of Shark Week. The hot summer month’s lineup also includes the final season of How To With John Wilson, the premiere of Project Greenlight, and the final episodes of the popular comedy The Righteous Gemstones.

The two-part documentary The Golden Boy about the life and career of Oscar De La Hoya joins the streaming service’s lineup on July 24th. Shaun White: The Last Run, a docuseries about the Olympian, is set to premiere on July 6th.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In July 2023:

July 1

300 (2006)

17 Again (2009)

20th Century Women (2016)

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

American Sniper (2014)

Angels Sing (2013)

Ballet 422 (2014)

Barbershop (2002)

Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

Beauty Shop (2005)

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Brandi Carlile: In the...

Have you seen Back To The Future II? The Flash assumes you have. Indeed it's perhaps more essential to understanding it than anything that's actually in the Dceu. That doesn't just come from a pasta-based explanation of the mechanics of parallel universes through time-travel but also because of Crispin Glover, and maybe Jean-Claude Van Damme.

They're not in it. They've enough weird antagonists, indeed they add to them in the course of events. Between Glover's lawsuit against Universal and subsequent changes to Screen Actors Guild agreements regarding use of likenesses, it becomes important. The Muscles From Brussels is in there for Timecop, naturally, but also because he played twins in Double Impact. He's not alone in that, indeed I could reference Nicolas Cage in Adaptation or Michael Keaton in Multiplicity but their presence would complicate things I'd said earlier.

As does this being a vehicle for Ezra Miller. Playing.

“You can’t run from this war soldier! Not under my command. You’re growing weak. You should have taken your… medication.”

Director Roland Emmerich’s action-packed sci-fi film, Universal Soldier, arrives June 21 on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate.

Director Roland Emmerich’s action-packed sci-fi film, Universal Soldier, arrives June 21 on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook® from Lionsgate. The sci-fi classic features Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Ally Walker, Ed O’Ross, as well as Primetime Emmy® nominee Jerry Orbach. Universal Soldier will be available on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook® for the suggested retail price of 27.99.

Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and Sgt. Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) are two soldiers who kill each other in Vietnam and are brought back to life 25 years later for a secret government program. Known as “Unisols,” they are genetically enhanced, unstoppable killing machines without memory, feelings, or free will.

In his latest interview/podcast, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with writer/director Ross Boyask about his new film I Am Vengeance: Retaliation and a celebration of 5 Great Action Movies – which include:

Project A (1983) Dir. Jackie Chan & Sammo Kam-Bo Hung; written by Jackie Chan & Edward Tang; Jack Maeby (English adaptation) Revenge Of The Ninja (1983) Dir. Sam Fisterberg; written by James R Silke Commando (1985) Dir. Mark L Lester; written by Steven de Souza Roadhouse (1989) Dir. Rowdy Herrington; written by R Lance Hill and Hilary Henkin Double Impact (1991) Dir. Sheldon Lettich; written by Sheldon Lettich & Jean-Claude Van Damme

I Am Vengeance: Retaliation, starring Stu Bennett and Vinnie Jones, is available to rent on most VOD platforms and available to stream for free on Netflix UK.

Sonia Darrin, the actress and dancer who as the gangster girlfriend Agnes sparred with Humphrey Bogart's Philip Marlowe in the convoluted Warner Bros. classic The Big Sleep, has died. She was 96.

Darrin died July 19 of natural causes at a hospital in New York City, her son, onetime child actor Mason Reese, told The Hollywood Reporter. She had been slow to recover from a broken hip suffered in a fall, he said.

After appearing in small, uncredited roles in such films as The Corsican Brothers (1941), The Hard Way (1943) and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Darrin auditioned ...

Sonia Darrin, the actress and dancer who as the gangster girlfriend Agnes sparred with Humphrey Bogart's Philip Marlowe in the convoluted Warner Bros. classic The Big Sleep, has died. She was 96.

Darrin died July 19 of natural causes at a hospital in New York City, her son, onetime child actor Mason Reese, told The Hollywood Reporter. She had been slow to recover from a broken hip suffered in a fall, he said.

After appearing in small, uncredited roles in such films as The Corsican Brothers (1941), The Hard Way (1943) and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Darrin auditioned ...

Julie Strain is not dead. Collaborator Malibu Bay Films yesterday reported that the prolific B-movie actress had died aged 57. The company now says that they were mistaken.

“The information we received from a trusted source of the community on the status of [Malibu Bay Films] icon #julie strain was found to be False!” the film company posted on Instagram. “We deeply apologize for needlessly upsetting anyone.”

Family members have also taken to social media to deny Strain’s death.

Strain has struggled in recent years with degenerative dementia and lingering effects of a major head trauma suffered in her early 20s during a bad equestrian mishap. A former high school athlete in Pleasant Valley, Ca., the native of nearby Concord endured the difficult road to recovery and then began a career as a model and actress. Despite the medical factors, Strain handled much of her own stunt work over the years while carving...

The time has come for Hulu to release its list of everything coming and going in the month of August.

This will come in handy after the “Bachelorette” season finale in late July leaves us in desperate need of something else to watch.

In August, a new episode of Hulu’s horror anthology “Into The Dark” arrives, in which a group of social outcasts who are stuck in weekend detention are confronted by the school’s legendary hauntings.

Also Read: 'Mrs. Maisel' Star Alex Borstein Is Frequently Asked to Sign Plungers, and She Thinks It's Weird

Other Hulu originals include: “The Amazing Johnathan Documentary,” in which a filmmaker profiles a dying magician on his final tour, but the lines between reality and magic begin to blur; Season 2 of “Find Me in Paris,” and “Jawline,” a Hulu original documentary that follows 16-year-old Austyn Tester, a rising star in the live-broadcast ecosystem...

Before we say goodbye to the month of May, we have one final day of Blu-ray and DVD releases ahead of us, and it’s an eclectic bunch of titles, to say the least. If you missed them in theaters earlier this year, Gaspar Noé’s Climax as well as Neil Jordan’s Greta hit both formats this Tuesday, and for you David Lynch lovers out there, Criterion is showing Blue Velvet some much-deserved love with their brand-new release of the cult classic as well.

Scream Factory is doing the dark lord’s work with their new Blus for both When A Stranger Calls Back and The Alligator People, and Severin Films is bringing home The Uncanny in HD for the first time ever this week.

Other home media releases for May 28th include Double Impact, Near Extinction, Splatter Farm, and a Shark Attack 3-Pack.

The Alligator People

Terror in the Bayou!

New titles available on Amazon Prime next month include Amazon original series like “Six Dreams” Season 1, the second half of “Wishenproof” Season 2, “Pete the Cat” Season 1, “Forever” Season 1 and “King Lear” Season 1.

Some classic comedies will also become available in September, like the original “Ghostbusters,” “Jerry Maguire,” and “Smokey and the Bandit.” In more of a dramatic mood as the weather shifts? Dramas like “Sleepless in Seattle” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan should do the trick.

Other movies arriving include newer flicks “Future World,” “Beirut,” “Strangers Prey at Night,” “Pistorius,” “Stronger,” “On Chesil Beach,” “My Little Pony,” “Hot Summer Night,” “Escape Plan 2,” “Jigsaw” and “Suburbicon.”

Also Read: Amazon Explores Acquisition of Landmark Theatres (Report)

See below for the complete list.

September Tbd

*King Lear, Season 1 (Prime Original series)

Sept. 1

Series

Asylum, Season 1

The Blue Rose, Season 1

The Broker’s Man, Seasons 1-2

The Field of Blood, Seasons 1-2

Golden,...

Beat the back-to-school blues with new movie titles like “13 Going on 30” and “Sixteen Candles” hitting Hulu on Sept. 1, as well as new and favorite fall TV series.

The Hulu original series “The First,” starring Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone, is about a group of astronauts attempting to be the first humans on Mars. It premieres on Sept. 14, and new episodes of Sarah Silverman’s “I Love You, America” will arrive on Sept. 6.

Fall TV also arrives next month, and you’ll be able to watch premieres of network hits like “This Is Us” on Sept. 26, “9-1-1” on Sept. 24 and “Grey’s Anatomy” on Sept. 28. New shows will also become available after they premiere, like “Manifest” on Sept. 25, “New Amsterdam” on Sept. 26 and “A Million Little Things” on Sept. 27.

Also Read: 'Castle Rock' Just Explained Why So Many Stephen King Stories Happen There

See below for...

Producers Moshe Diamant (Black Dalia) and Christopher Milburn (Outcast) are teaming up with Superkombat Fighting Championship CEO Eduard Irimia to launch action film and TV label SuperFilm.

SuperFilm will have a presence in La, London and Bucharest and among its initial slate, the team will develop properties inspired by Superkombat, the European kickboxing and martial arts promotion.

Diamant and Milburn have collaborated on titles including Rob Cohen’s action-thriller The Hurricane Heist and Ethan Hawke-starrer Getaway. Action vet Diamant is well known for producing a string of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies including Time Cop, Hard Target, The Quest and Double Impact.

Romanian-born entrepreneur and promoter Irimia has previously struck broadcast deals for Superkombat with Eurosport, CBS and Fight Now TV.

Diamant stated, “My love for action films genre spans over four decades, having made more than 85 titles that brought on to the silver screen action heroes that are now icons in popular culture.

Hello and welcome to one of our shoutouts for projects casting around the U.K. As always there’s a mix of opportunities for all ages, abilities, and locations but do remember to check if you fit the bill before applying. Although we make every attempt to verify castings before we hit publish, please ensure that you do your own research before firing off those headshots and Backstage links. “Double Impact” In a time where strong female characters are in demand, one production is looking for talent that fits that description both literally and figuratively. The team behind a remake of the cult action film “Double Impact” is looking for a strong female bodyguard. The original saw the “Muscles from Brussels,” Jean-Claude Van Damme, take up the dual role of Alex and Chad, twins who become embroiled in a fight for justice in Hong Kong. The production is seeking female talent for the new iteration,...

A magical journey is waiting for you in today’s roundup! “Faunutland and the Lost Magic,” a feature film about a young girl who goes on a journey to find happiness for her mom, is casting a young actor for its lead role. Plus, the new devised play “Punch the Judy” is seeking talent with immersive theater and puppetry experience, a supernatural horror film is looking for a young lead, and the remake of “Double Impact” is casting a fit female actor for fighting scenes. “Faunutland And The Lost Magic”“Faunutland and the Lost Magic,” a feature which follows the story of a young girl who goes on a tough but magical journey to find happiness for her mom, is now casting two roles. A female actor, aged 11–16, is wanted to play the lead role of Emily. There is also a role available for a female actor, aged 18–29. A genuine...

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Peter Stormare, Maria Conchita Alonso, Autumn Resser, Daniel Bernhardt, Kris Van Damme, Mila Kaladjurdjevic, Paul Sampson, Kieran Gallagher, Peter Organ, Eddie Matthews | Written by Jesse Cilio, Brian Smolensky, Craig Stewart | Directed by Peter Malota

After a massive shootout, a mysterious stranger (Van Damme) arrives at a local hospital on the brink of death. Then, a foreign gang brazenly comes to the hospital to hunt him down. His nurse, the sole surviving witness to the follow-up shootout, must face an FBI interrogation that unlocks a plot of international intrigue and revenge.

For those of us that grew up in the VHS age, guys like Jean-Claude van Damme were gods amongst men. Action heroes that semingly churned out hit after hit after hit, with fans – like me – calmouring for news of their latest release and… if you were also like me, pre-ordering each and every film for that first night of release rental,...

Author: Matt Rodgers

Jcvd returns this week in Peter Malota‘s Kill ‘Em All, a fiery shoot ’em up which sees the man himself return to form as a one-man killing machine caught up in the crossfire between an international criminal gang and an increasingly desperate FBI investigation. It is a ridiculously fun throwback to the Van Damme days of glory with well suited henchmen being reworked internally by the the muscles from Brussels. A wonderfully-bearded Peter Stomare and another key 80s action star Maria Conchita Alonso (who partnered The Running Man and took the alien to task in Predator 2) join in the fun. Take a look at the trailer, and you’ll know exactly what we mean…

Kill ‘Em All Movie Trailer

Now Matt Rodgers takes us all the way back, to remind us why Jean-Claude was such a big hit…

For an entire generation Jean-Claude Camille François...

Larger-than-life polyglot worked with Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Evzen Kolar, the Czech-born producer of The Boys & Girl From County Clare and City Of Industry, has died in California after a brief illness. He was 67.

Kolar was born in Moravia in the Czech Republic to a diplomat and got his first taste of entertainment as a child actor, before becoming an assistant director in Europe on commercials, television projects and features.

He lived in London in the late 1970s and produced fringe theatre before moving to the Us in 1979 where he built a name for himself as a production executive, notching up numerous line producer and producer credits.

After stints as vice-president of production at Fireline Productions, a subsidiary of the Armand Hammer Company, and CEO at Crossover Films Ent, Kolar worked as a line producer. His credits included Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery, Street Smart starring Morgan Freeman, Master Of The Universe with Dolph Lundgren...

Is a Once Upon a Time curse poised to end? Does Lucifer have some ‘splaining to do? Does Arrow‘s Felicity need an intervention? Will Scorpion‘s wedding go off without a hitch? Read on for As to those Qs plus teases from other shows.

RelatedAsk Ausiello: Scoop Once Upon a Time‘s Rockin’ Queen and More

Anything you can tell us about Once Upon a Time’s Snowing? —Kat

“More romance and adventure are coming” for the marrieds, Once co-creator Adam Horowitz assures — despite the fact that they thus far are still trading Zzzzzs as part of the sleeping curse.

Stars: Alexander Nevsky, Kristanna Loken, Adrian Paul, Robert Davi, Robert Madrid, Matthias Hues, Oksana Sidorenko, Emmanuil Vitorgan, Olga Rodionova, Polina Butorina | Written by Brent Huff, George Saunders | Directed by Alexander Nevsky

So let me get this straight; we have a brand-new direct to DVD film, the second feature from star/director Alexander Nevsky, who’s been dubbed the “Russian Schwarzenegger”, that is exec produced (and apparently re-written) by Sheldon Lettich, the writer/director of Awol, Double Impact and Only the Strong, and who also wrote Rambo 3 and Bloodsport. Not only that, the film stars a who’s who of 90s action including Adrian Paul, Robert Davi and – surprise, surprise – villainous action movie stalwart Matthias Hues. And… it comes from the writing team of Brent Huff, writer/director of the awesome 90s action flick The Bad Pack, which also starred Robert Davi; and George Saunders, who penned Bloodsport 4 and co-wrote the...

There was a time when you could count on action movies to have cheeky, playfully-on-the-nose titles. Jean-Claude Van Damme, in particular, was the king in this arena, with classics - yes, classics! - like Sudden Death (terrorists take over a hockey rink during the Stanley Cup finals), Double Impact (where Jcvd plays his own twin brother), and Timecop (about a time traveling police officer). But these days action movies have forgotten how to have fun with their titles. Everything is either a character's name (John Wick, Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne) or a generic noun (The Accountant, Criminal, The Gunman). But one actor is still keeping their self-aware action movie title game strong. We are of course talking about Liam Neeson. Sure, Taken 1-3 may be generic, but...

Read More...

With Jean-Claude Van Damme hitting the big screen this month in Kickboxer: Vengeance (a remake of his 1989 smash hit) we decided to find out who is the greatest of the legendary Eighties action heroes. Who kicked hardest, fought longest and has the staying power to be the last man standing? Let the fight begin!

Sylvester Stallone

Evidence: Sylvester Stallone is not only an enduring action star of note – from Rambo and Rocky, Cobra to Cliffhanger, right through to The Expendables, Sly has always set the box office cash tills ringing; but he is also an Oscar-nominated writer, a director, and even a painter. There is, it seems, very little he cannot do.

Verdict: Stallone is more rennaisance man than action hero king.

Dolph Lundgren

Evidence: At 6ft 5 and built like a Sherman tank, Swedish powerhouse Lundgren has taken on James Bond and Rocky, played The Punisher, a Universal Soldier and was one of The Expendables.

The folks over at Humble Bundle have picked another batch of games to give fans at discounted prices in the name of charity, this time partnering up with Capcom to offer a range of classics for PlayStation owners. There’s over thirteen games from Capcom’s vast back catalogue up for grabs this time around, including the likes of the excellent Resident Evil HD and critically acclaimed cult favorite Okami HD.

Other titles included are platforming game Strider, as well as the Devil May Cry HD Collection, which in itself contains the first three games in the series. As always, there’s a number of different tiers and unlocks for the bundle, so the more you pay, the more you get.

Pay $1 or more:

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Strider Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Final Fight Double Impact 45% off Street Fighter V Ps Store Coupon

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Jean-Claude Van Damme: Double Impact (1991) ReviewStory65%Acting68%Action73%Directing72%Van Damage85%Lots of Van DamageVan Damme Times Two is a lot of funTruely early 90s vibe Cheesy as hell (but this can be seen as a good thing as well)Loses some speed during the end2016-02-2477%Overall ScoreReader Rating: (2 Votes)72%

Van Damme. Times Two. They`re damn quick. Damn cool. Damn hot.

Double the fun. And Double…. The Van Damage!

With the above stated words, audiences in 1991 were introduced to Double Impact, one of my personal favorite, if not my very favorite, Jean-Claude Van Damme film. Just fresh from the success of Bloodsport (1988), Kickboxer (1989), Lionheart (1990) and Death Warrant (1990) Double Impact was the next smash hit Van Damme had at the box office, making him a household name in the early 1990s. With split screen effects Van Damme is able to portray two roles; the role of twin brothers Chad and Alex.

If you thought a compilation of all of Jason Statham's punches was impressive, just wait until you see this.

YouTube user Benjamin Combes has gone to the painstaking task of putting together every single one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's screen kills into one awesome video - and we're so glad he did.

It takes a whole half-hour to relive every one of the actor's kills to date, but it's totally worth a watch the see the martial arts master in action.

The clip takes a look back at the bloodiest moments from such films as Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Double Impact.

The clip also sticks to a set of rules, which are listed as follows:

1. Guns, blades and projectiles always kill unless otherwise depicted.

2. Close proximity explosions kill unless otherwise depicted.

3. Indirect kills as a result of an explicit action by Jcvd count.

4. Kills must occur on screen.

5. Dream sequences,...

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the new video of Blake Shelton’s version of “Forever Young” from the Max movie soundtrack. Check it out, along with the new TV spot, below.

A precision-trained military dog, Max serves on the frontlines in Afghanistan alongside his handler, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott. But when things go terribly wrong on maneuvers, Kyle is mortally wounded and Max, traumatized by the loss of his best friend, is unable to remain in service.

Sent stateside, the only human he seems willing to connect with is Kyle’s teenage brother, Justin, so Max is saved when he is adopted by Kyle’s family. But Justin has issues of his own, including living up to his father’s expectations, and he isn’t interested in taking responsibility for his brother’s troubled dog. However, Max may be Justin’s only chance to discover what really happened to...

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first TV spot for Max, a family action adventure from writer/director Boaz Yakin (“Remember the Titans), starring Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham and Thomas Haden Church.

Blake Shelton’s special version of “Forever Young” from the ‪Max Movie‬ soundtrack is now available on iTunes! Get it now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/forever-young-single/id998028981

A precision-trained military dog, Max serves on the frontlines in Afghanistan alongside his handler, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott. But when things go terribly wrong on maneuvers, Kyle is mortally wounded and Max, traumatized by the loss of his best friend, is unable to remain in service.

Sent stateside, the only human he seems willing to connect with is Kyle’s teenage brother, Justin, so Max is saved when he is adopted by Kyle’s family. But Justin has issues of his own, including living up to his father’s expectations,...

The Dark Mirror

Written by Nunnally Johnson

Directed by Robert Siodmak

U.S.A., 1946

A doctor is found murdered in his own condo one morning by the cleaning lady, a knife plunged into his heart. The police, led by the lively Lt. Stevenson (Thomas Mitchell), learn very soon of a possible suspect…or suspects. The recently departed had in fact proposed to a lovely looking girl named Terry Collins (Olivia de Havilland), presently the prime suspect in the investigation, that is, until Stevenson discovers the existence of her twin sister Ruth (de Havilland as well). Neither will reveal very much about who was where and doing what on the night of the murder, putting Stevenson in quite the pickle. Enter psychiatrist Scott Elliot (Lew Ayres), who has dedicated his academic and professional life to the study of twin siblings. He accepts to assist Stevenson by having private sessions with each sister individually.

"Animals can come down with post-traumatic stress the same as people can." If for some reason you thought American Sniper would be better with a dog than Bradley Cooper, we have some good news. Max is just that, as the film from Remember the Titans director Boaz Yakin follows a dog who has just returned from being a military canine in Afghanistan, but has trouble adjusting to life back in a family's home. It's literally the same kind of war drama we've seen before, but through the eyes of man's best friend. It has some flares of E.T. and Air Bud along with the typical Ptsd drama, but it does look pretty cheesy. Watch? Here's the first official trailer for Boaz Yakin's Max, originally from Yahoo: Max is directed by Boaz Yakin (Safe, Remember the Titans) from a script he wrote with Sheldon Lettich (Double Impact, Bloodsport). The story...

Update: In quite possibly the greatest bit of irony, the video has been taking down due to copyright claims by Funny or Die. They held a contest to insert the footage into people's own video projects, and now that contest is over. I guess that footage could only be free for that amount of time. Damn you! The original article is as follows: Jean-Claude Van Damme has never been one of my go-to 80s/90s stars for laughably bad action films. I do greatly enjoy films like Bloodsport and even Double Impact, but they aren't my favorites. They aren't, say, Commando. But, then again, what isc He did make Jcvd, which is a terrific film but far from the type of stuff I'm talking about. What I truly respect about Van Damme is he is 100% self aware of who he is and what people take away from his presence. So,...

Stars: Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, Michael Pataki, E.J. Peaker, Richard Balin, Carmen Argenziano, Beverly Dixon, Hal Bokar, Denise Cheshire, Bill Hufsey, Linnea Quigley, Vanna White | Written by Herb Freed, David Baughn, Anne Marisse | Directed by Herb Freed

Laura, played very briefly by Ruth Ann Llorens (The Comeback Kid) is a talented high school track runner who meets her demise during a race, where she collapses and dies on the spot in front of her whole school (how embarrassing! Even more so due to the fact she won!) Fingers are immediately pointed towards Coach Michaels, played by the ever charming Christopher George (City of the Living Dead, The Exterminator) because he is a determined and often ruthless son of a gun! A couple of months pass and Laura’s sister Anne, played by Patch Mackenzie (Serial, It’s Alive 3) returns home from the Navy to honour her sister’s graduation.

The man who teamed with Michael Douglas to launch Columbia-based production outfit Stonebridge Entertainment died today of cancer in L.A. Peter McAlevey was 58. The Suffern, NY, native was working as a Newsweek entertainment writer when Jeffrey Katzenberg recruited him to the new Disney team. During McAlevey’s tenure there, he partnered with Michael Douglas on Stonebridge, where they produced such films as Flatliners (1990), Double Impact (1991), and Radio Flyer (1992). Outside of Stonebridge, McAlevey also produced the romantic comedy Hard Promises (1991), starring Sissy Spacek and future CSI star William Petersen, which bowed at the Toronto International Film Festival. After Stonebridge shuttered in 1994, McAlevey launched Thunderbrid Pictures, which made such pics as Klash (1995) and the boxing remake Body And Soul (2000). Other credits include Shadow Hours (2000) and the System of a Down docu Screamers (2006). The Columbia University grad, who roadied for the New York Dolls during their 1970s heyday, also produced last year’s horror pic Kill Her,...

Peter McAlevey, a film producer who partnered with Michael Douglas’ production company Stonebridge Entertainment in the late 1980s, died Friday in Los Angeles after a short battle with liver cancer. He was 58. Survivors include his wife, Melissa Hufjay McAlevey, vp publicity at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and their 4-year-old twin daughters, Rowan and Bailey. During his tenure at Stonebridge, the company produced such films as Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners (1990), starring Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts; Double Impact (1991), the first studio hit for Jean-Claude Van Damme; and Richard Donner’s Radio Flyer (1992), starring Lorraine Bracco and

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Feature Ryan Lambie 17 Apr 2014 - 06:28

What do the film characters of Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Stallone, Norris et al get up to in the non-action bit of an action movie? Er...

Nb: This article contains certain words and images which may be considered unsafe for work.

When asked what he did between acting jobs, Robert Duvall once said, "Hobbies, hobbies and more hobbies." This is fair enough because, to quote James Bond, "everybody needs a hobby." Bond himself has all kinds of things to do in his spare time: playing Baccarat and Poker, talking to exotic ladies and drinking Martinis. For all we know, Bond might also be into origami and bell ringing.

The question is, what do other action heroes get up to when they're not shooting bad guys, blowing up trucks or rescuing their daughters from Val Verde? In most movies, we never find out. But in very,...

Interview Ryan Lambie 31 Mar 2014 - 06:27

As his latest film, The Double, appears in UK cinemas, we chat to director Richard Ayoade about its making, social awkwardness and more...

“Maybe Brad Pitt doesn’t know what it’s like to be unpopular,” actor, writer and director Richard Ayoade tells me, his voice quiet and reflective, “but most people know what it’s like to have no one interested, or to be lonely, or to be knocked back, or to regret.”

Ayoade’s referring to his new film, The Double, a brilliantly surreal and poignant drama starring Jesse Eisenberg. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Fyodor Dostoevsky, it’s about a painfully shy young office worker (Eisenberg) and his polar opposite (also Eisenberg), who’s outgoing and confident. Unfolding like a science fiction nightmare, The Double is like a visual representation of anxiety and awkwardness, a portrait of...