Some movie genres are meant for a dedicated audience. Not that the genre isn’t widely popular — it’s just that, in the larger picture of mainstream media, it doesn’t always break through. But when they do, they’re quite glorious. Such is the case for martial arts films. In these movies, hand-to-hand combat and physical discipline drive the story. These films prioritize meticulous fight choreography over complex plots, featuring charismatic martial artists, themes of honor, and the physical poetry of combat.

For martial arts movies, moviegoers have seen some extraordinary films like Enter the Dragon and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But in between those masterpieces were some really great films that were somehow forgotten. It’s those films we are going to celebrate here. The 10 movies on this list are high-octane thrillers that put martial arts ideals front and center. Though devoted followers of the genre may remember these films, we’re here to remind everyone else.

1

‘Black Dynamite’ (2009)

Image via Destination Films

There are certainly subgenres within the grander martial arts genre. These films allow for an extension of martial arts to be introduced through a different lens. While some may not call Black Dynamite an outwardly martial arts film, its reliance on it within the blaxploitation realm is exceptional. The 2009 film directed by Scott Sanders pays homage to and parodies the 1970s blaxploitation movies. It centers on Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White), an ex-CIA agent and kung-fu master who, upon discovering a shadowy syndicate is pumping heroin into local orphanages and flooding the streets with tainted malt liquor, goes on a relentless crusade to clean up the neighborhood. Black Dynamite wages a one-man war against pimps, mobsters, and the government to avenge his brother Jimmy’s (Baron Vaughn) death. With a spot-on emulation of the ’70s aesthetic paired with meta-humor and charming odes to low-budget films, Black Dynamite‘s allure is the central character.

Black Dynamite flourishes thanks to the eccentricities of the titular character. He is a lethal martial artist, but he’s also a bona fide ladies’ man. Joined by an equally colorful crew, including his cunning, rhyming sidekick Bullhorn (Byron Minns), the streetwise and soft-hearted pimp Cream Corn (Tommy Davidson), and the beautiful social activist Honey Bee (Kym Whitley), Black Dynamite’s characters bring the necessary charm. Black Dynamite is pure entertainment. Its authenticity to the period is spot on, providing just enough subtle Easter eggs and references to fans of the films it mocks to enjoy. It’s a B-movie made well. Thanks to White’s real-life experience as a martial artist, the fight sequences are crisp with a highly disciplined display of technique. While it mocks the “chop socky” era in which almost every ’70s action hero was thrust into a kung-fu showdown, the genius of the film is the gravity-defying combat played with straightness. It allows for the over-the-top commitment to the alpha male types to be poked fun at. Black Dynamite is a legitimate love letter to the genre.

2

‘Blood and Bone’ (2009)

Image via Sony Pictures 

Now, for something similar but completely different: Blood and Bone. Another film starring Michael Jai White, this film is more on the serious side. Blood and Bone follows Isaiah Bone (White), an ex-con and former Marine who enters the Los Angeles underground street-fighting scene to fulfill a promise to a dead prison friend, Danny Soto (Kevin Phillips). When he learns that the man’s wife, Angela (Michelle Belegrin), has been forced into drug addiction and abducted by a ruthless mob boss named James (Eamonn Walker), Bone’s goal is to win fights, gain the mob’s trust, and dismantle James’ operation from the inside. An intense film with a brutal final showdown, Blood and Bone became an instant cult classic in the martial arts genre.

Blood and Bone relies heavily on practical fight choreography. In order to create its great authenticity, the film populates the underground fighting ring with actual combat sport legends, including Kimbo Slice, Bob Sapp, and Gina Carano. By straying away from stunt doubles, Blood and Bone looks like the world it’s portraying. Once again, it’s White’s star power and martial arts prowess that lead the film to victory. The film allows him to showcase his explosive technique through a character that is a calm, terrifyingly competent force of nature. The film honors the spirit of classic samurai films as Bone fights for a personal, moral code and a promise of loyalty. With this core theme, Blood and Bone isn’t just another mindless brawler movie; there’s a profound purpose and message for its action.

3

‘Equilibrium’ (2002)

Image via Miramax

This entry is more of a mainstream film that has had a mixed bag of reactions. That said, there’s no denying the entertainment factor that Equilibrium brings action from start to finish. Written and directed by Kurt Wimmer, the science fiction thriller is set in a dystopian world in which a totalitarian regime eliminates war and conflict by forcing its citizens to take daily doses of emotion-suppressing drugs. Should one feel emotion or possess banned art, books, or music, they are labeled a “sense offender” and executed. John Preston (Christian Bale), a top-ranking government agent known as a Cleric, hunts down sense offenders. After accidentally missing one of his daily doses of the suppressant, he begins to experience human emotions for the first time, leading him to an awakening that forces him to question his reality. Now, Preston is on a mission to overthrow the regime alongside an underground resistance movement. A gritty thriller that brilliantly invented Gun Kata, Equilibrium is a massively important film in the larger martial arts picture.

To begin, Gun Kata is a stylized combat system that blends Wing Chun and Goju-ryu karate with dual-wielded pistols. This makes nearly every sword fight appear like a stylized sword dance. Through its impeccable fight choreography, Gun Kata redefined on-screen gunplay by treating firearms as both weapons and defensive martial arts tools. Further, math is used as a superpower in the sense that the Clerics know the geometric distribution of attackers, creating a lethal auto-dodge and targeted precision. Released in 2002, Equilibrium looks and feels very much like a product of the new century. It has shades of The Matrix; it just lacks the prestige and masterful precision. Nevertheless, it’s still an amazing film. Bale does a great job rising to the occasion in his journey that will ultimately lead him to play Batman. He takes on the elite enforcer while balancing a robotic killing machine with an eventual rage-fueled aura by the end. Equilibrium was an early precursor to John Wick, though that franchise one-upped it.

4

‘Fist of Legend’ (1994)

Image via Golden Harvest

When it comes to legends of the genre, one of the most important and prominent names is the brilliant Jet Li. With a rich resume of films, some of his greatest have been forgotten over time. One such title is Fist of Legend. A remake of Bruce Lee’s 1972 film Fist of Fury, the film is set in 1937 during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Upon returning home from studying in Japan, Chen Zhen (Li) discovers his revered master, Huo Yuanjia, died after a match with a Japanese fighter. Suspecting foul play, Chen exhumes the body and proves his master was poisoned. Chen fights to clear his name, avenge his teacher, and protect his school against corrupt military leaders and oppressive martial arts rivals. One of the greatest martial arts films ever made, Fist of Legend abandoned flashy, exaggerated acrobatics in favor of realistic combat while highlighting profound themes.

Directed by Gordon Chan, Fist of Legend is more than just a fantastical action movie. Fist of Legend addresses severe ethnic and cultural tensions, but also breaks away from simple stereotypes by showing that not all Japanese characters are corrupt. By introducing characters like his Japanese love interest Mitsuko Yamada (Shinobu Nakayama) and the honorable sensei Funakoshi Fumio (Yasuaki Kurata), the movie champions individual respect and martial discipline over blind nationalism. Now, to the performance. Li is at his peak. He brings a surprisingly dramatic performance, finding layers of vulnerability to build upon that Lee’s character lacked. It’s all thanks to pushing against a singular revenge plot and into a culturally significant story. The film’s legacy is quite profound. It inspired the Wachowskis to hire Yuen Woo-ping as a fight choreographer for The Matrix.

5

‘Iron Monkey’ (1993)

Image via Golden Harvest

Some legends are worth telling. That’s why Iron Monkey is such a prolific film. The 1993 film directed by Yuen Woo-ping tells the tale of a masked vigilante known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rongguang), who relentlessly fights to give hope to the oppressed from an unjust land plagued by government corruption. By day, he operates as a mild-mannered physician who treats the poor at no charge. When a skilled traveling physician named Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen) and his young son, Wong Fei-hung (Angie Tsang), arrive in town, the corrupt officials mistake the father for the Iron Monkey. To force Wong Kei-ying into hunting down the real Iron Monkey, the governor (James Wong) kidnaps his son. Eventually, the two martial arts masters discover they share the same righteous ideals and team up to take down the corrupt regime. Filled with mind-blowing, gravity-defying fight choreography and a relatable Robin Hood-like narrative, Iron Monkey serves as a loose prequel to the famous Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, exploring his martial arts origins as a young boy.

A genuine masterpiece, Iron Monkey expertly balances breathtaking “wire-fu” choreography with a universally appealing, folklore-driven story. The narrative embraces the vigilante tale as the hero in question is relatable and someone to cheer for. Iron Monkey gets every bang for its buck with a tight 90-minute thrill ride. There’s no excess, as every minute of its quick runtime is warranted. It’s a universally rewatchable film thanks to its easy tone, mixing serious themes of political corruption with lighthearted humor. Woo-ping’s direction is sharp, ensuring his film’s action is both poetic and acrobatic. The usage of traditional kung fu, seamless wirework, and inventive props like umbrellas and spinning poles allows for non-stop thrills. Iron Monkey is a delightfully fun period film that serves as a great gateway flick.

6

‘Police Story’ (1985)

Image via Golden Harvest

While Western audiences know Jackie Chan from his mainstream Hollywood films, his career in Hong Kong was quite extraordinary. In 1985, he wrote, directed, and starred in Police Story. A film that inspired stories and sequences in cinema after, the movie follows a dedicated detective named Chan Ka-Kui (Chan), who, after single-handedly capturing a notorious drug lord, must protect a key witness, Chu Tao’s (Chor Yuen) secretary, Selina Fong (Brigitte Lin), who plans to testify in court about her boss’s illegal activities. Wanting revenge, Chu Tao captures Selina. When Ka-Kui comes to the rescue, he is ambushed and framed for the murder of a corrupt police inspector who was on the drug lord’s payroll. Now, he must clear his own name and take down the criminal syndicate before it’s too late. Though it did launch a mega franchise of its own, Police Story’s mainstream legacy tends to be from future projects, and it deserves to be rediscovered and celebrated once again.

Police Story was an important film in the grander scheme of martial arts cinema, and we have Chan to thank. The film revolutionized stunt work and how it was filmed. Chan helped to pioneer fluid, wide-angle fight choreography, which allowed the audience to clearly see Chan and his stunt team performing complex martial arts combinations and taking real impacts. Filmed at full speed, Chan utilized the full environment surrounding him. The stunt-driven sequences strayed away from mystical martial arts of the past to make way for a gritty, modern police procedural. Whether hanging off a double-decker bus or sliding down a pole through arcing electric lights, the action went full throttle. Police Story was a brilliant blend of high-stakes thrills and slapstick physical comedy, redefining what audiences could expect from an action-comedy martial arts film.

7

‘The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter’ (1984)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Another great film straight out of Hong Kong was 1984’s The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, or Invincible Pole Fighter, as released in North America. Directed by Lau Kar-leung, the film is based on the legends of the Generals of the Yang Family. Beginning with a devastating ambush, the influential Yang family of warriors is trapped by Mongol forces, having been betrayed from within. One brother, Fifth Brother (Gordon Liu), goes mad from grief and takes refuge in a Shaolin Temple. Another brother, Sixth Brother (Alexander Fu), escapes but returns home deeply traumatized. Seeking to avenge his slaughtered family, Fifth Brother devotes himself to martial arts at the temple. Because he cannot use traditional Shaolin weapons, as monks are forbidden to shed blood, he adapts the Shaolin staff into a deadly new eight-diagram pole-fighting technique. It is celebrated by martial arts fans for its intense choreography, incredible staff-fighting sequences, and its status as one of the ultimate Shaw Brothers epics.

The heart of the film stems from the titular technique. Kar-leung showcases stunning, intricate choreography that elevates the humble wooden staff into a dynamic weapon. Through training with the unique weapon, the film showcases our hero transforming his blind rage into a disciplined technique, training against life-sized, articulated wooden wolves with giant silver teeth. These creatures also serve as a powerful metaphor for overcoming inner demons and animalistic threats, and the finale is often considered one of the greatest in the genre. The history behind it is quite storied, as it was originally meant to be a co-starring vehicle for Fu. Tragically, he died in a car crash during production, causing a major rewrite to occur. This made the remaining brother’s story darker and deeply poignant, turning the movie into a cinematic tribute to the fallen star. The climax, though, resulted in a fight with the intention of incapacitating rather than killing: bizarre yet brilliantly executed moves where they literally rip the teeth out of their opponents using the poles. If that doesn’t make you want to watch, I don’t know what will! ​​​​​​​

8

‘The Night Comes For Us’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

Now, for an action thriller straight from Indonesia, The Night Comes For Us was originally conceived as a graphic novel before transforming into the 2018 flick. The hyper-violent thriller written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto follows Ito (Joe Taslim), a high-ranking assassin and enforcer for the South East Asian Triad. When he spares a young girl named Reina (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) and kills his own men during a village massacre, he becomes the target of a relentless, bloodthirsty gangland hunt. The Triad unleashes legions of assassins to eliminate Ito, including his estranged childhood best friend, Arian (Iko Uwais). Should he succeed, Adrian is promised an elite position in the syndicate. Widely lauded for its relentless pacing, incredible silat choreography, and extreme, almost horror-movie levels of gore, The Night Comes For Us pushed martial arts thrillers to new heights.

The film is honest in its mission: being action-oriented. With an easy conceit of protecting the innocent, it served as a capable framework for spectacular, escalating fight sequences. With audiences seeking something visceral, The Night Comes For Us fired on all cylinders. The thriller elevated the martial arts genre into an extraordinary, hyper-violent ballet. Focusing on silat, the Indonesian style of combat, the choreography highlighted lightning-fast strikes, brutal joint locks, and vicious takedowns. Add in the slasher-level mentality, and The Night Comes For Us was an unrelentingly brutal showcase that doesn’t skimp on the gore. Tjahjanto utilized pool balls, meat hooks, caution signs, and even a cow femur. I mean, have you ever seen something so wild and creative?​​​​​​​

9

‘The Paper Tigers’ (2020)

Image via Well Go USA Entertainment

Riding high on the mainstream allure of Netflix’s Cobra Kai came The Paper Tigers, a coming-into-middle-age action comedy. The Bao Tran-directed film follows three estranged, middle-aged former kung fu prodigies: Danny Eight Hands (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan), and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins), who, in their youth, were an unbeatable trio known as “The Three Tigers.” They must now overcome old grudges, dad duties, and rusty skills to avenge the murder of their beloved master, Sifu Cheung (Roger Yuan). The ultimate battle that’s overshadowing their midlife crises, the high-energy martial arts comedy puts a heartfelt, comedic exploration of aging, brotherhood, and fatherhood at the forefront.

Unlike any other film on this list, The Paper Tigers subverts the genre as it replaces invincible, youthful warriors with out-of-shape, middle-aged men wrestling with real-life responsibilities. In turn, it comes across as a refreshing, light-hearted story where the messy fights are endearing. These firmer prodigies are bogged down by bad knees, so we watch them stretch, pop their hamstrings, and catch their breath during a fight. The fight choreography by Ken Quitugua perfectly matches the characters’ current limitations. Tran paid homage to the classic structure of the Shaw Brothers kung fu films through a calmer, more reflective pace that ultimately builds to a series of duels and a final confrontation with the antagonist, Zhen Fan (Quitugua). ​​​​​​​

10

‘Wheels on Meal’ (1984)

Image via Golden Harvest

To round out our journey, we finish with another quirky film by Jackie Chan called Wheels on Meals. Written and directed by Sammo Hung, the action comedy set in Barcelona follows two cousins — Thomas (Chan) and David (Yuen Biao) — who operate a modified food truck called “Everybody’s Kitchen.” They cross paths with Sylvia (Lola Forner), a cunning pickpocket with a mysterious past. She is unaware that she is actually a wealthy heiress being targeted by an organized criminal syndicate. Enter Moby (Hung), a clumsy, bumbling private investigator hired to track down the missing heiress. A pinnacle film of the “Three Brothers” collaboration of Chan, Hung, and Biao, Wheels on Meals is as eccentric as its title, which got its name after the production company’s superstition after two previous movies starting with the letter “M” flopped at the box office.

Wheels on Meals is a masterful display of athleticism and comedy synergy. The action sequences are sublime, thanks to Chan’s direction. The film plays host to one of the very best one-on-one martial arts duels in cinema history: Chan’s Thomas versus former professional kickboxing champion Benny “The Jet” Urquidez’s thug. The film’s legacy comes in the form of an arcade game: Spartan X. It is a loose adaptation of the film’s final part, which involves Thomas climbing the castle to rescue Sylvia. This helped to lay the foundation for the beat ‘em up games of the time, including inspired Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Red Ribbon Army in Dragon Ball.

Advertisement

Wheels on Meals

Advertisement

Release Date

August 17, 1984

Runtime

108 minutes

Advertisement

Director

Sammo Hung

Advertisement

Writers

Edward Tang, Johnny Lee Kwing-Kai

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Raz-B has fans scratching their heads after he dropped a message on social media ahead of B2K and Pretty Ricky’s upcoming Verzuz battle. In the middle of that, Pleasure P jumped on a livestream with Bow Wow to spill a lil’ tea about his game plan for the highly-anticipated music face-off.

RELATED: Uncle Time! Fans Lose It After Raz-B’s Son Links Up With Omarion & Lil’ Fizz At His First Birthday (PHOTOS) 

Raz-B’s Message For Pretty Ricky Has Fans Saying “Huh?”

Okay, so BOOM! Raz-B recently hopped on his Instagram Story with a message for Pretty Ricky ahead of the Verzuz battle on Thursday, June 25. Fans know that B2K and Pretty Ricky are set to go track for track, but before they hit the stage, Raz wanted to make on thing clear — “he can get turnt up too.” He told the group in his PSA that he wants to have a good time and catch a vibe, but he also reminded them that his silence shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness.

“Don’t get it twisted, though. While we’re all out here celebrating, getting our flowers, and giving the fans what they came to see, don’t take my silence for weakness,” Raz wrote.

However, he added that he meant every word with all due respect. “If any of y’all get out of line, I got something for every last one of y’all.” He continued, “And I mean that with nothing but love and respect.” 

The Roommates Weigh In On Raz-B’s Message

Fans wasted no time sharing their thoughts in The Shade Room’s comment section after Raz-B dropped his message. Plenty of folks admitted they felt confused by his post, while others made it clear they’re riding with Pretty Ricky when the Verzuz battle kicks off.

Instagram user @_princessjustine wrote, “Did he just politely threaten them?” 

Instagram user @yanah_____ wrote, “Who he feeling like 😂😂😂😂” 

While Instagram user @kidinfamous wrote, “Raz B is literally the least threatening person out of both groups 😂😭” 

Then Instagram user @justjasminenoelle wrote, “Comparing a TEEN BAND to an ADULT BAND is crazy. They are not in the same orbit. TBH they shouldn’t be doing a Verzuz. 😂” 

Another Instagram user @shelovecj wrote, “He could have kept this to himself.” 

Then another Instagram user @nolimitnook wrote, “I fw wit b2k but as a group they not fw pretty ricky respectfully 😂” 

While another Instagram user @shanae310 wrote, “I love B2k and all, but pretty Ricky stays in Rotation♥️🎵🎶😭😩😮‍💨”

Pleasure P Sets Strict Rules Ahead Of Verzuz

Not long after Raz-B’s PSA started making rounds online, Pleasure P jumped on a livestream with Bow Wow to set a few things straight. He made it clear that he has no plans to perform any of his solo records and intends to stick strictly to Pretty Ricky’s group hits.

“I ain’t doing no solos. I came to do group s**t.” Pleasure added, “So if they run out of songs, f*** that! It’s album against album.”

Pleasure P also doubled down on his stance about Omarion, telling viewers that if Omarion performs any solo songs during the battle, he’s packing his bags and walking out. He then threw a little shade, saying that if Omarion reaches for solo tracks, it just means that B2K ran out of songs to perform. “I ain’t come to do no solo’s. This the Pretty Ricky show. This ain’t Pleasure P show. It’s about my group n***a.” 

RELATED: Still Got Love? Omarion Reflects On Past Romance With Solange Knowles & Gets Real About His Feelings Now (WATCH) 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

Thanks to franchises like Star Wars, there is plenty of sci-fi out there, but most modern films are just lighthearted adventures. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but sometimes, we’re in the mood for thrillers that offer a stark reminder of just how scary outer space can really be. If that sounds a bit like you, here’s some good news: Stowaway is now streaming on Netflix, and this impossibly dark sci-fi thriller will have you biting your nails from beginning to end.

The Stowaway Setup

Stowaway focuses on a team taking to space for an ambitious two-year mission to Mars, but that mission goes sideways once they discover an unconscious engineer who accidentally stowed away aboard the ship.

When the device providing oxygen for the ship isn’t going to cut it, this straightforward trip to Mars becomes a fight for survival as everyone aboard is in danger of suffocating long before they reach their destination.

A Tight Cast In A Claustrophobic Setting

The nature of the film means that Stowaway has a very small cast, but each one brings something special to the table. Anna Kendrick, for example, plays the ship’s doctor, and her performance is a real revelation for anyone only familiar with her more comedic work.

If you mostly know Kendrick from movies like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and the Pitch Perfect franchise, you will likely be very impressed with the dramatic chops she brings to this sci-fi thriller.

The rest of the small Stowaway cast is just as impressive: Toni Colette, best known to horror fans for her standout performance in Hereditary, plays the ship’s mission commander.

Daniel Dae Kim (best known for his performance in the hit TV show Lost) plays the biologist on this mission. And Shamier Anderson (best known to genre fans for his performance in Wynonna Earp) plays the engineer who accidentally stows aboard the ship.

A Moral Dilemma With A Tight Script

It may sound like a backhanded compliment, but we were really impressed with how much Stowaway managed to do with such limited resources. It had only four actors and a budget of only $10 million, but this beautifully shot movie can still go toe to toe with the best of modern sci-fi.

Much of the credit for that goes to Joe Penna, who managed to parlay a hit YouTube channel into a robust career in Hollywood.

In case you’re wondering, it’s not just us gushing about this film: Stowaway currently has a 75 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that while the pacing is a bit slow at first, the film features great performances and a very thoughtful story.

Plus, in centering that story around such a difficult moral dilemma, Stowaway takes its place among the very best science fiction, including genre staples like Star Trek (a franchise that is no stranger to moral dilemmas).

Fortunately, those who are curious about Stowaway won’t have to infiltrate a mission to Mars to experience it. All you have to do is stream this ambitious sci-fi tale on Netflix today. When it’s over, you might just be grateful for every breath you take after streaming this oxygen-starved thriller.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 13 seconds ago

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys has a lot in common with pro wrestling. The fights are all choreographed, the plots are soap opera drama for men, and sometimes, the actors will go into business for themselves. Most of the time a fight scene goes off without a hitch, or at least, nothing that can’t be fixed in post. During the filming of Season 2’s “Siege at Naxos,” the battle between Hercules and Goth devolved into an actual fistfight requiring both actors to be separated. What caused it? Jealousy. 

A Real Fight With Cameras Rolling

The story of the fight between Kevin Sorbo and Brian Thompson, playing the barbarian leader Goth, started before the two were on set together. When Sorbo won the coveted role of Hercules, Thompson was the runner-up. In the back of his head, he thought the role should have been his. That was enough for him to stop thinking straight and start throwing real punches at Sorbo during the filming of the fight. Sorbo fought back, and quickly, the two were separated with Thompson being escorted off set for the day. 

These things happen, no lasting damage was done, though Thompson never did appear on Hercules again. The story of the fight was relayed on an extra from the DVD box set, and while it was a bit of a shock for real punches to be thrown, it wasn’t as bad as other on-set injuries Sorbo experienced filming the show. In the very first episode, he was cut by a sword, and he again took a real punch in a later season when he wasn’t able to move out of the way like he needed to.

No Blood, No Foul

Brian Thompson went on to have a long career in Hollywood filled with guest star spots on every show that needed a muscular villain or a stern authority figure. He played aliens on multiple Star Trek series, from Next Generation through Enterprise, the Alien Bounty Hunter on The X-Files, he was on The Orville, and most recently, Fallout. In retrospect, had he been given the role of Hercules, he would have absolutely killed it. 

Kevin Sorbo isn’t acting as much these days, but part of that goes back to his time on Hercules where it wasn’t a stunt gone wrong or a fight that left him with a lasting injury, it was a chiropractic adjustment. Sorbo’s explained that the release of blood clots caused him to suffer not one, but three separate strokes while filming in New Zealand. This left it hard for him to move, and acting becomes considerably more difficult when your muscles stop listening to your commands. 

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was one of the most successful shows of the 90s, though it always lagged behind its own spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess. Thompson didn’t get the part, and acted a fool for a brief moment, but in the end, everyone went on to find success in their own way. Given the horror stories of other sets, it was the best possible outcome, and at least “Siege of Naxos” is one of the best episodes of Season 2.

Mark Wiliams‘ Blacklight stars Liam Neeson as a quintessential Neeson variant. Travis Block, a government operative, specializes in extracting agents whose covers have been compromised when missions go sideways. As he attempts to lay his shadowy past to rest, the lines between friend and foe begin to blur when he brushes up against another agent he once protected. Despite the initial lackluster response upon the film’s release, thanks to Prime Video and Apple TV, Blacklight has gone from a forgettable left-swipe-worthy title to an unequivocal streaming hit.

Throughout the film, a conspiracy boiling just underneath the surface is slowly uncovered through Block’s growing distrust of his superiors. In an attempt to repair the strained relationships, Travis Block attempts to slowly retire from his former life and to heal his strained familial relationships. However, one of the big guys calling the shots, Gabriel Robinson, played by Aidan Quinn​​​​​​, protests this vehemently, thus creating a primary footing of conflict which then forces Block to question everything. Quickly, as two former confidants become adversaries, Block unearths some unscrupulous work Robinson has been doing right under his nose. Emerging journalist Mira Jones, played by Emmy Raver-Lampman, hungry for a salacious story, is hoping to make a story out of this push and pull. However, her naivety and zeal put her directly in harm’s way with only Block to protect her.

The ‘Blacklight’ Critic Vs. Audience Gap

Image via Briarcliff Entertainment

To say there’s just a radical difference between critic and audience reception would be the understatement of the century. Film aficionados have thrown around words like “stale”, “cliché”, and even “unwatchable”. Especially in comparison to Neeson’s legendary work in films like Taken or Cold Pursuit, these scathing reviews aren’t necessarily misguided. Those pictures defined the genre, thus anything that misses that impossibly high mark pales in comparison. Due to the reportedly dull action sequences and disjointed plot, the film received an abysmal and truly shocking 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. With all of this being said, it’s fair to wonder if this espionage thriller is truly so terrible, and more than that, should critics be the deciding factor in a film’s value?

Adversely, in examining the streaming numbers alone, it would express that audiences felt decidedly different. Despite its original box office failure, and terrible critical reception, the film has frequently topped viewership charts on Netflix, Prime Video, and Tubi. In fact, on Netflix in particular, the film has grossed over 13.3 million hours of time watched. Additionally, it also achieved a whopping 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Perhaps this is due in part to Neeson’s decorated reputation, convincing fans that a technically bad film is not only watchable but entertaining. Or maybe the cliché, but albeit exciting, quintessential action tropes captured in the film provide the surface-level entertainment streaming audiences want.

In summary, this controversial film, with a truly baffling discrepancy in reviews, is nonetheless soaring in popularity. As far as spy thrillers go, Blacklight has everything one can hope for. Mark Williams captures Neeson doing exactly what he does best, and proves yet again that, against all odds, the actor will remain an undying force in the action genre.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

February 11, 2022

Runtime

108 minutes

Advertisement

Director

Mark Williams

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 26 seconds ago

The One Piece is coming to Netflix in 2027, but it’s not to be confused with One Piece that’s already available for streaming or One-Piece live-action which is One Piece but with live-action, though it’s actually closer to The One Piece. Eiichiro Oda’s manga has been running since 1997 with no end in sight. The anime has been running since 1999, and with over 1,000 episodes, tackling it is a lifetime commitment. That’s why Netflix, alongside Oda, has produced The One Piece, a modern retelling of a series that hasn’t finished yet, with improved animation, visuals, and best of all, no filler episodes. 

The One Piece Is All Killer No Filler

Right away, you can tell that The One Piece looks incredible. The CGI enhanced ships look fantastic while retaining the character and charm of Oda’s original designs from 30 years ago. While the live-action series has done a great job with casting and costuming, it’s also nice to see that the classic character designs have been retained for the new anime. Everything looks sharper, Luffy delivering a punch looks smoother than the original East Blue Saga does at it best, but the best part of the remake can’t be shown in a teaser: the new pacing. 

One Piece is infamous for adding new story arcs in order to stay behind the manga. Over the last 27 years this has resulted in hundreds of filler episodes that exist only to eat up time. That doesn’t mean they’re all bad, the G-8 arc in particular is so good fans want it to be canon. 

The Rare Remake Fans Want To See

Between One Piece, The One Piece, and One Piece live-action, there will soon be three separate sets of canon to keep track of, which might irritate fans. Except, One Piece fans are built different, and on average, they’re excited to see what The One Piece changes and to relive their favorite moments with better animation. We’ve seen Whiskey Peak twice now, what’s The One Piece going to do differently when Zorro takes on 100 Baroque Works agents? Will we ever get to see Blackbeard or Gear 5 Luffy in The One Piece?

Who knows? Netflix is committed to One Piece as a franchise and has been opening the wallet for Oda in addition to including him in all creative decisions. The investment is paying off with an ever-growing collection of anime on Netflix including more, such as Sakamoto Days, coming to the service as exclusives. The fans win, Oda is winning, and Netflix gets subscribers. For some reason, One Piece is the only time that Netflix is doing everything right for the existing fans. 

We’re still months away from The One Piece hitting streaming. Expect more trailers, more character art, and more information on what is and isn’t going to be covered by the new anime remake. This is a chance for Netflix to include both Jango and Chouchou, both of whom were left on the cutting room floor for the live-action series. Fans need to see the moonwalking hypnotist and the bestest boy ever in the new, stunning animation style.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 12 seconds ago

You know how the subtext of every single conversation we have is that a bunch of billionaires gather in remote locations to commit horrible crimes against humanity as if they’re simply playing a game with human lives? By now, we’ve seen the emails, the court documents, and enough leaked files to know these things happen, and to our horror, the world keeps spinning because most of us can only be revolutionaries until the rent is due.

2024’s Blink Twice, a psychological thriller written and directed by Zoe Kravitz and led by Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie, whisks viewers away to one of those remote places, where women are unknowingly rounded up as prisoners, only coming to their senses after a series of traumatic incidents force them to confront the reality of their situation.

Having never heard of this one because of its limited theatrical run before being relegated to on-demand purchases, I finally had a chance to sit down with it now that it’s streaming free on Tubi, complete with an opening trigger warning. And why is there a trigger warning, you ask? Because this movie is absolutely batsh*t insane.

Seriously, it takes a lot to make me upset while watching a movie, and Blink Twice certainly delivers on that front. To the film’s credit, it’s not shocking for the sake of being shocking, and its willingness to go all in on criticizing how the ruling elite treat ordinary people makes for an enthralling watch that’s not only going to keep you up at night, but also make you wonder what we can do as a society to dismantle the power structures that allow the ultra-wealthy to operate this way.

A Series Of Unfortunate, Horrifying Events

Blink Twice offers a visceral experience that’s best experienced firsthand. There’s no real way to break down the plot without revealing major spoilers, so beyond the setup, it’s probably best to either use your imagination or simply fire up the film and give it a go.

We’re introduced to Frida (Naomi Ackie), a nail artist and waitress who works corporate events attended by some of the world’s swankiest public figures and financiers. She has a run-in with vaguely disgraced tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who invites her and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) to a gathering at his exclusive private island. They take him up on his offer and are showered with gifts, the finest food and drink money can buy, drugs, and sex.

The problem, however, is that Slater’s assistant Stacy (Geena Davis) confiscates everybody’s phones, every woman is suffering from memory lapses, and once the fog from the drugs and opulent overstimulation finally wears off, a feeling of fear begins to consume the collective consciousness.

Everybody within Slater’s inner orbit, like Vic (Christian Slater), Cody (Simon Rex), Tom (Haley Joel Osment), and Lucas (Levon Hawke), acts suspiciously about what they’re getting into during the nights when memories become imperfect, while the other women guests, Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen), grow increasingly apprehensive of one another as alliances form, loyalties are questioned, and Jess voices her suspicions to deaf ears.

A High-Concept Brainwashing Catastrophe

Slater King’s alleged paradise is basically Epstein Island without explicitly saying it’s Epstein Island. It’s a place where people of influence, washed-up child actors, reality TV stars, and social climbers can get together and act as uninhibited as they damn well please. They have the resources and privacy to do whatever they want while operating above the law.

The women lured to this island are manipulated at the highest level. They know something is wrong. They know they’re witnessing crimes against humanity and even crimes against their own well-being, but they’re so charmed by everything Slater and his entourage have to offer that they don’t want to give up the lavish lifestyle they’re quickly becoming accustomed to. Once the charm wears off and they catch wise, however, they’re still fed an unthinkable amount of illicit substances to keep their rational minds at bay.

It doesn’t matter that the perfume is administered strategically as if it’s something more than just perfume, that nobody ever wakes up remembering what happened the previous night, or that certain members of the group share the exact same snake tattoo. The private island is a free meal ticket, and to most of the people unwittingly trapped there, the trade-off seems fair, even as their mental and physical autonomy is constantly compromised in increasingly invasive ways.

Blink Twice offers a horrifying glimpse at what can happen when morally reprehensible people with seemingly infinite resources get to treat the world like a playground while the average person watches helplessly from the sidelines. It’s one of those movies that will make you wish similar behavior doesn’t actually happen behind closed doors in real life.

But after all of the impropriety, carnage, and brutal lessons learned, it somehow gets the last laugh with an ending so far out of left field that you can’t help but give your TV a standing ovation.

As of this writing, Blink Twice is streaming free on Tubi. It’s a wild ride, but one worth the cost of admission.

Who ya gonna call? Apparently, a brand-new team of Ghostbusters.

Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation have officially unveiled the first details for Ghostbusters: Night Shift, an all-new animated series set within the beloved supernatural franchise. Alongside the announcement came the first concept art, a logo reveal, and an official story synopsis that teases a fresh generation of paranormal heroes.

Set in New York City in 1994, the series takes place five years after the events of Ghostbusters II, when the original team famously brought the Statue of Liberty to life to save the city. But while that battle may have ended, a new supernatural threat is just beginning.

According to the official logline:

“A new wave of supernatural terror hits the Big Apple, forcing a group of scrappy, young New Yorkers — untrained, underappreciated, and kinda sorta responsible for the problem — to put on proton packs, face their fears, and bust some ghosts.”

The newly released concept art hints at a darker and more cinematic tone than previous animated entries. One image showcases a massive fiery ghost towering over a lone figure inside an industrial building, while another depicts eerie creatures roaming the streets of New York beneath an orange sunset sky.

The series is being executive produced by Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, Amie Karp, and original Ghostbusters star Dan Aykroyd. Reitman and Kenan previously collaborated on Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, helping usher the franchise into a new era while honoring its roots.

Ghostbusters: Night Shift [credit: Netflix]

Fans have been eager for more animated Ghostbusters adventures ever since The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters aired decades ago. Early reactions online have praised the title Night Shift and the moody art direction, with many hoping the series embraces a slightly darker tone while maintaining the humor the franchise is known for.

Netflix has confirmed that Ghostbusters: Night Shift will premiere exclusively on the streaming service in 2027.

With a 1990s setting, a new generation of ghost hunters, and the backing of several key figures behind the recent films, Ghostbusters: Night Shift may be the franchise’s most exciting animated revival yet.

What do you think of the first look at Ghostbusters: Night Shift? Are you excited to return to the world of Ghostbusters?