by Joe Gillis, Jun 13 2013 // 8:30 AM

When you’re a successful actor looking for the next challenge, that next challenge is often to direct a movie. Add Keanu Reeves to that list of actors.
His first time in the big chair is a martial arts film called Man of Tai Chi. In it Reeves plays the owner of a Beijing underground fight club who recruits a skilled tai chi practitioner (Tiger Hu Chen) to battle on his deadly martial arts circuit.
There’s a new international trailer for Man of Tai Chi out today and in it you can get a look at Reeves, Tiger and all the action. As the star fighter of the movie was also Reeves’ martial arts trainer and stunt double from The Matrix series, we expect some pretty great fights from this one.
We hope Keanu’s direction will rise to the occasion too. Look for Man of Tai Chi to arrive in theaters later this year.
The trailer is after the break.
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Posted in: Martial Arts · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Action, Iko Uwais, Karen Mok, Keanu Reeves, Man of Tai Chi, Martial Arts, The Matrix, Tiger Hu Chen, Trailers, Yuen Woo-Ping
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by Nat Almirall, May 3 2013 // 3:30 PM

The Avengers has come and gone, and now we get to see Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) dealing with the trauma he apparently experienced in New York. He has insomnia, and it strains both his work on the latest Iron Man suit as well as his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). His bodyguard Happy (Jon Favreau) is now head of security for Stark Industries. And, all around the world, there’s broadcasts from a strange terrorist figure named “The Mandarin” (Ben Kingsley).
The movie opens with Stark recounting a New Year’s Eve party way back in 1999. He’s at a conference in Bern, trying to bed a buxom botantist, Maya (Rebecca Hall) before the year’s turnover. He’s interrupted by pimply geek Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who’s trying to start a think tank and wants Stark’s help. Stark blows him off, and if the use of Guy Pearce didn’t already suggest it, Stark states outright that it was the beginning of trouble.
Thirteen years later, Aldrich shows up at Stark Industries, again seeking support, though he does seem more interested in rubbing everyone’s nose in his success. He has created a new whatsit kind of technology called “Extremis” that allows the brain to regenerate tissue…and, somehow, make the patients melt things with their hands. (Dr. Curt Conners from the latest Spiderman films is going to be smacking his head with his tail when the inevitable crossover comes.)
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Posted in: Action · Disney · Martial Arts · Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Ben Kingsley, DMG Entertainment, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man, Iron Man 3, James Badge Dale, Jon Favreau, Jr., marvel comics, Marvel Studios, Rebecca Hall, Robert Downey, Stan Lee, Stephanie Szostak, The Avengers, Ty Simpkins, Walt Disney Studios, William Sadler
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by Joe Gillis, Nov 16 2012 // 2:00 PM

Even though we often cover big Hollywood movies here, we can’t forget that there’s a large group of people who make smaller movies too. Some of these smaller movies are extremely artistic, deal with difficult subject matter or are otherwise far out of the mainstream in some way.
And others have a lot of guys shooting guns and blowing stuff up. The latest movie from director Jesse V. Johnson, called The Package, is one of those kinds.
It features Dolph Lundgren and Steve Austin and tells the story of a “courier for a local crime lord (who) must deliver a mysterious package while being chased by a horde of unusual gangsters.” Sounds like my kind of movie.
To help you decide if it’s your kind of movie, there’s a new trailer for The Package that dropped recently. Check it out after the break.
Look for The Package to come to DVD, VOD and more early next year.
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Posted in: Martial Arts · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Action, Dolph Lundgren, Indie Action Movies, Jesse V. Johnson, Movies, Steve Austin, The Package
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by Chris Ullrich, Jun 24 2011 // 8:00 AM
Not to be confused with the James Caan film of the mid-seventies called The Killer Elite, this film, which is just called Killer Elite, features Jason Statham and Clive Owen going toe to toe trying to see who the best killer is. Along for the ride are Robert De Niro as Statham’s mentor and master assassin in his own right and Chuck’s Yvonne Strahovski who’s also pretty killer in her own way.
Now, we’ve got some pics and a trailer for the film to share with you today. In the trailer we get a good idea of the rivalry that’s going to be the centerpiece of the film and also the requisite explosions, running, shooting and even a brief glimpse of Yvonne Strahovski in a bikini. Don’t worry, I’m sure she also manages to kick some ass in the film and not just show some.
The film is based on a true story and is “the action-packed account of an ex-special ops agent (Statham) who is lured out of retirement to rescue his mentor (De Niro). To make the rescue, he must complete a near-impossible mission of killing three tough-as-nails assassins with a cunning leader (Owen).”
Click through for the trailer and all the pics. Killer Elite hits theaters on September 23rd.
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Posted in: Action · Martial Arts · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Action, Chuck, Clive Owen, Jason Statham, Killer Elite, Open Road Films, Pics, Robert De Niro, Trailers, Yvonne Strahovski
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by Joe Gillis, Apr 20 2011 // 8:30 AM
There are some pretty amazing martial arts films out there these days, but when you mesh the timeless genre with another timeless genre in spy thrillers, you get the Legend of the Fist franchise and the hero Chen Zhen.
That hero, who was once played by legends Bruce Lee and Jet Li, is back, and this time next generation Kung Fu master Donnie Yen is taking on the role. Here’s the official synopsis.
Legendary Kung Fu hero Chen Zhen is an iconic cultural mainstay in China and Hong Kong, having spawned both record-breaking feature films and a TV series. Over the years, martial arts legends such as Bruce Lee (FIST OF FURY) and Jet Li (FIST OF LEGEND) have played the popular hero. In LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN, Donnie Yen continues this rich historical legacy, but with a brand new take on the urban legend.
In 1920s China, the nation is divided by infighting. Japan has become the most powerful force in Asia, taking over Northern Shanghai. With the city torn in half by international conflict, the popular nightclub “Casablanca” has become a hotbed of spies, mobsters, English officials and the Japanese military- all looking to gain control of the country, with little regard for what happens to its citizens.
To help you get ready for the film’s upcoming release, we’ve got 4 action-packed clips for you after the jump. Enjoy!
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Posted in: Action · Drama · Foreign Films · Martial Arts · Movies · News · Video
Tagged: Donnie Yen, Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend, Legend of the Fist, Martial Arts, Return of Chen Zhen
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Apr 20 2011 // 7:00 AM
For those of you who missed it, Machinima launched the first episode of Warner Premiere’s brand new web series dedicated to the world of Mortal Kombat last week, titled Mortal Kombat: Legacy.
With just over 5 million views in under a week, the show was a massive success. Director Kevin Tanchoroen’s new view of the classic video game universe has come at the perfect time, as the game has gotten new life this week with a brand new release on both XBox 360 and PlayStation 3.
In the first episode, we were introduced to Jax (Michael Jai White), Sonya Blade (Jeri Ryan) and Stryker (Battlestar Galactica’s Tahmoh Penikett) as they attempt a take-down of terrorist Kano (Darren Shahlavi).
Take a look at episode 2 after the jump, and keep your eye out every week as the web series progresses.
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Posted in: Action · Games · Martial Arts · News · Sci-Fi · Video · Video Games · Warner Bros
Tagged: Battlestar Galactica, Darren Shahlavi, Jeri Ryan, Kevin Tanchoroen, Michael Jai White, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, Stryker
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by John Carle, Jan 18 2011 // 9:00 AM
Remember Pit Fighter for the Sega Genesis and how cool it was bashing your opponent’s heads in with a no holds barred fighting game? Now imagine upgrading those graphics about twenty years with realistic bodily damage physics added in for good measure. Being published by 505 Games of ArmA: Armored Assault fame, Supremacy MMA is being developed by the newly founded Kung Fu Factory studio.
In the trailer and screens below, you’ll see a first peek at this extreme version of the MMA world. Not licensed, the fights in Supremacy MMA look to be more brutal than anything sponsored by the UFC or ever Pride. There won’t be any shortage of blood, broken limbs and big knockouts in this game.
505 Games was also pleased to announce that former UFC lightweight champ Jens Pulver will appear in the game. Jens is one of only two fighters to ever beat UFC legendary lightweight BJ Penn. Jens will be competing XFO 38 on January 22 which will be sponsored by Supremacy MMA. Interestingly enough, Jens is a self proclaimed avid PC gamer and is known to play World of Warcraft.
Check out the full press release, screens and debut trailer below of Supremacy MMA and stick to the for more info as it becomes available.
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Posted in: Announcements · Games · Martial Arts · News · Playstation 3 · Screen Shots · Trailers · Video Games · Xbox 360
Tagged: 505 Games, Announcements, BJ Penn, Games, Jens Pulver, Kung Fu Factory, Playstation 3, Supremacy MMA, UFC, Video Games, Xbox 360, XFO, XFO 38
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Dec 3 2010 // 9:00 AM
While we may still be getting films like Warrior’s Way here in the states, there are still plenty of mind-blowing martial arts films being made across the world. One of those films is the first in the Ip Man franchise. Now that list may get slightly larger as the first trailer for Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster has arrived. From the official press release.
After escaping the Japanese occupation of his hometown of Foshan, China, Ip Man and his family have arrived in Hong Kong, which is living under the iron fist of British colonial rule.
Ip wants to support his family by opening up a martial arts academy to teach his unique Wing Chun style. But a corrupt cabal of Hong Kong martial arts masters, led by Hung Chun-nam (the legendary Sammo Hung), refuses to allow Ip to teach until he proves himself – and prove himself he does, in an intense series of fights against the masters showcasing a dazzling variety of martial arts styles, culminating in a highly anticipated brawl between Ip and Hung atop a rickety table.
But even after gaining the respect of the masters, Ip’s troubles are far from over. Hong Kong under British rule is a world of corruption, and when a Western-style boxer named Taylor “Twister” Milos comes to town to entertain the British upper-class, and insults both Chinese martial arts and the native citizens in a horrifically violent way, Ip must step up and fight for the honor of both his kung fu and the Chinese people.
Yes, the film has been seen in many parts of the world by now, but we’re getting the original, un-dubbed international version that was released in Asia, and it’s hitting major theaters in both the US and Canada on January 28th. Check out the first full teaser trailer after the jump.
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Posted in: Action · Drama · Filmmaking · Foreign Films · Martial Arts · Movies · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Donnie Yen, Ip Man, Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster, Kung Fu, Sammo Hung
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