Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Universal Planning Death Race 3 Before Death Race 2 Hits Store Shelves



Death Race 2 arrives on DVD & Blu-Ray on Jan. 18th.  Based on the international reception to Death Race 2, Universal Home Entertainment has put Death Race 3 into development.

Death Race 2 takes place before the events of the 2008 remake of the classic Roger Corman movie.  It is not yet known if this upcoming 3rd film in the franchise will be a direct sequel to the direct-to-DVD prequel, or if it will be during another time line.

So far, the reviews have been pretty positive on Death Race 2, which is a rare thing for a Direct To DVD sequel.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Michael Jai White Brings Us "Never Back Down 2"


Michael Jai White will be pulled double duty as star/director for Never Back Down 2. This is a direct-to-DVD sequel of the 2008 theatrical film. In the sequel, Four fighters from different backgrounds come together to train under an ex MMA rising star and then ultimately have to fight each other and the traitor in heir midst.

Never Back Down 2 is currently in post production and will be hitting DVD sometime this summer.

Bloodrayne 3 The Third Reich: Movie Trailer

Uwe Boll Is Bringing Us "In The Name of The King 2"



Dolph Lundgren will be staring in Uwe Boll's sequel to In The Name of The King. I would ask why make a sequel to a turd-of-a-film like ITNOTK, but this is Uwe Boll, all his movies are turds.(With maybe the exception of Rampage, I kinda liked that one). Filming kicked off on December 1st. Here is what Boll had to say about the film.

"It's like contemporary, right now big city, and we have Dolph Lundgren basically being a cop or like a fighting coordinator working as this, and one night he gets attacked by ninjas in his house and fell with the ninjas into a vortex back in time. And then it turns out it's like 50 years after the first part In the Name of the King ended, and Ehb is destroyed and everybody is dead, Jason Statham and everybody who was in the first part, got wiped out. They say he was basically sent into the future, he's the son of Jason Statham, and he was sent into the future, brought up in an orphanage, because the parents felt that they would all die. So he is basically the last survivor of the kingdom of Ehb so he should bring the kingdom back in charge."

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Open Season 3 Now Available For Pre-Order On Blu-Ray & DVD


Boog, Elliot and all their forest friends return with an all-new adventure that is their fastest and furriest yet – this time in a big top circus! When Boog’s buddies can’t make their annual guys-only getaway, he decides to take a trip by himself. Stumbling across a visiting circus, Boog switches places with a look-alike circus grizzly and takes over his part in the act. But when the circus decides to go back to Russia, it’s a race against time for Elliot, McSquizzy, Mr. Weenie and the gang to rescue Boog before it’s too late!



Open Season 3: Movie Trailer

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2: Movie Trailer

Mean Girls 2 Now Available For Pre-Order On DVD


The Plastics are back in the long awaited follow-up to the smash-hit Mean Girls… and now the clique is more fashionable, funny and ferocious than ever! Confident senior Jo (Meaghan Martin) begins the new school year by breaking her own cardinal rule: don’t get involved in girl drama. But when she sees timid Abby (Jennifer Stone) preyed upon by Queen Bee Mandi (Maiara Walsh) and her minions, she takes sides in a viciously funny girl-world-war that turns the whole school upside down.


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Now Available For Pre-Order On Blu-Ray & DVD


From the creators of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, everybody’s favorite talking Chihuahuas are back in a comedy that’s a pack of outrageous fun for the whole family. Puppy mayhem turns the lives of newlywed Chihuahua parents, Papi and Chloe, upside down when their playful puppies present one challenge after another. But, when their human owners find themselves in trouble, the tiny pups will stop at nothing to save them—because in good times and hard times, the family always sticks together. Papi, Chloe and the puppies embark on a heroic adventure, proving once again that big heroes come in small packages.



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Mirrors 2 - Movie Review


The original MIRRORS (Alexandre Aja’s American remake of the Korean movie INTO THE MIRROR) was a pretty good little b-movie. Kiefer Sutherland played a troubled night watchman at a fire-damaged department store who starts seeing creepy things in the building’s mirrors, causes his estranged wife to believe he’s lost his mind, solves a mystery and faces down a curse or something. But that story left alot of questions unanswered, for example “What if a different troubled individual worked as a night watchman in a different not-currently-open branch of the same department store chain where a different bad thing happened, so he has to solve a different mystery about what the mirror wants, and kind of on a smaller scale as if it were being filmed on a smaller budget?”

Well, wonder no more, friends. MIRRORS 2 answers that question with fierce adequacy.

Nick Stahl (John Connor #4 [after "Old John Connor" Michael Edwards, "Infant John Connor" Dalton Abott, and Edward Furlong, before Thomas Dekker and Christian Bale]) plays Max Matheson, who’s been depressed and on medication since his fiancee died in a car accident. Actually she started out the trip as his girlfriend, but he proposed to her in the car, she said yes, and then the moment was quickly spoiled when he wrapped the car around a telephone pole and they both died (but he was revived).

So now he’s alone and obviously blames himself (and will never try another wild romantic gesture again) but for some reason his dad (William Katt from CARRIE, but I didn’t recognize him with his new hair do), the owner of the Mayflower department store, thinks the best thing for him would be to spend every night alone in a spooky building where the last guy went crazy and nearly killed himself chewing on broken mirrors. I mean I know his dad means well, but I don’t think he’s thinking this through too well. Even if there was no supernatural mirror curse I just don’t think that’s an environment for fostering a positive mental attitude, in my opinion.

By the way, 8-MILE was on TV last night and I watched part of it, and I had forgot about Jimmy Rabbit’s dorky friend Cheddar Bob, so I was happy to see that Cheddar Bob is the guy who eats the broken mirror in MIRRORS 2. Welcome back, Cheddar Bob.

Right away Max starts catching glimpses of a girl (with ghoul makeup) in the mirrors at work. His therapist thinks it’s not that big of a deal, but Max thinks it’s visions form beyond death because he was half past dead in that accident. Meanwhile some of the other employees of the not-yet-open store are gorily murdered by their own reflections.

One of the things I enjoyed in MIRRORS was the way Sutherland had to try to convince his family of this crazy supernatural menace, but they know he has a past of substance abuse and other problems so when he starts painting over all the reflective surfaces in their house they think he’s lost it and react accordingly. Part 2 skips over that. He has to convince a stranger whose sister is missing that he’s seen her in the mirrors. It’s hard to believe that it’s not that hard to believe, and this actress (Emmanuelle Vaugier) is not really up to the task of selling something like that. But the movie does start to pick up around then. I like the way the mirror tells him what it wants (the reflection of his flashlight shines, bounces off other mirrors and points at what it wants him to look at). The story wraps up pretty neatly and quickly for a reasonably satisfying conclusion, and wisely doesn’t repeat the cool ending of part 1.

The best thing about the movie is a couple of over-the-top brutal deaths, clearly taking inspiration from the jaw-breaking and leg-shaving of part 1. That makes it feel kind of forced, and there’s a very questionable digital shot involved, but the deaths are still amusing in their horribleness. I mean, you gotta respect a slipping-in-the-shower-decapitation. That’s an ambitious pratfall.

The worst thing about the movie is the familiarity. Every time there’s a mirror you just watch the reflection waiting for it to do something, and you usually don’t have to wait long. So there’s not alot of time to be in suspense and get creeped out. Like so many DTV sequels the main problem is that it doesn’t justify there being a sequel. You gotta really come up with some crazy new twist on the idea, otherwise it just seems like what it is: the same thing done not as good for less money.

So I figure it’s gotta be above average for a DTV sequel to an Americanized remake, but I’m not gonna go much further than that. On the other hand it does have the original Korean movie on the flip side of the DVD, that’s pretty cool, because I’m sure most people who rent it won’t have bothered to see that. I speak from experience, and I still haven’t seen it. But maybe you’ll be more responsible.

-Vern

Check out Vern's site below
outlawvern.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

30 Days of Night: Dark Days - Movie Review


Holy shit, all the sudden it’s October. And you know what that means, this is when I pretty much switch to an all horror programming lineup. I’m gonna be watching horror movies all month, and most likely failing to find a great ’70s or ’80s slasher movie I never saw before. (Don’t worry non-horror junkies, I still got some residual September viewing I haven’t written up yet, and I’ll do some new releases I’m sure.)

We’ll get into the good shit soon enough, but I remembered I had a review I was gonna send to Ain’t It Cool and hadn’t yet, might as well kick off the celebration with a  not-very-anticipated DTV vampire sequel. I know in some cultures that’s considered bad luck, but to hell with it. I ain’t afraid of no curse.

mp_30days230 DAYS OF NIGHT: DARK DAYS is the DTV sequel to 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: REGULAR. It begins by re-enacting the ending of part 1’s re-enactment of the ending of BLADE 2 where a couple sit and watch the sun rise together as a sort of love-suicide because one of them is a vampire who turns to ash and blows away. But I could’ve sworn the lady in the Blade/survivor role was Melissa George from TURISTAS, turns out she’s Kiele Sanchez from A PERFECT GETAWAY as Stella, a fire marshal of Barrow, Alaska and sole survivor of the 30 day vampire siege.

But now she’s in L.A. following her new career in public speaking. She does little talks trying to spread the word that all those people in Alaska were killed by vampires, not a gas leak like they say on TV. I mean, she was a fire marshal, she can tell the difference between gas and vampires. But the whole thing was covered up, probly as part of some questionable oil deal would be my guess. I bet Governor Palin knew about the whole thing too and didn’t say shit, not even on Twitter. And she couldn’t have been bothered to veer her wolf-hunting helicopter off course to bust a couple shots off at those fucking bloodsuckers. Anyway I’m getting off topic here. The point is it’s a surprisingly cool opening as we find out how she uses speaking engagements to lure vampires and kill them in front of everybody, a one-two-punch of extermination and awareness. Killing two bats with one stake.

After some vampire killing and some police harassment she goes back to her hotel room where she’s ambushed by three unfriendly fellow vampire-survivors: Harold Perrineau, a white guy, and a really obnoxious whiny girl who thinks she’s tough because every once in a while she takes a dainty sip from her little flask. They scare Stella, then take her to meet this guy Dane, a sort of anti-vampire guru who’s been her pen pal for a while. You know how they always say if you meet a hot girl on the internet it’s really an old fat dude? Well, if you have an anti-vampire pen pal he’s gonna turn out to be a vampire. And she should’ve know too, because who the hell still writes letters with a typewriter?

Anyway these guys recruit her, not for a support group but a vampire hunting team. They’ve used Dane’s insider knowledge to track a vampire queen to L.A. and they’re on a suicide mission to take the bitch out. I don’t know if it works like bees or what – don’t they just hatch a new queen if you kill it? I guess they must know what they’re doing.

This queen is played by Mia Kirschner, who I gotta admit is really attractive even with monster fangs and contacts. I can see why they’d follow her. She’s planning another Barrow, Alaska 30 day all-you-can-suck blood buffet, so the movie is about the humans trying to stop the boat from leaving. There’s not another 30 days of night in the sequel. So it should be called NOT ANOTHER 30 DAYS OF NIGHT!. Or also I thought maybe 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: DARK DAZE would be good, if there was some vampire stoner hijinks in there. Adding a “National Lampoon’s” or “American Pie Presents:” on the front could also work.

It’s nicely shot with lots of faces covered in dark shadows with little golden highlights along the edges. It has a pretty cool ending, a cool way of defeating the queen (or DO they?) and an unexpectedly fucked up conclusion. And I respect that it’s not just a lower budget, lower quality rehash of the original like so many DTV sequels (I’m looking at you, three different WILD THINGS sequels) especially since the original didn’t entirely work and nobody needs to see a not-as-good version of that.

On the other hand the first one did have that cool premise and setting. By moving the story to L.A. you make it more like every other vampire movie. It’s like vampire hunters from VAMPIRES going into a dark building like I AM LEGEND, dealing with vampires and their sycophant minions in the police force like the “familiars” in BLADE, so it reminds you of all these movies that have much better stories, characters and slayings. I don’t remember what rules were established in the first one but this time they just kill vampires by shooting them with machine guns. Not alot of tactics and weirdly not alot of bullet holes even when they shoot up a small hotel room.

So it’s not that bad, but you and I both know we’re in an age when really good DTV movies do exist, so “not that bad” isn’t a recommendation anymore. E for effort, I guess.

But if you hear I got killed by a gas leak don’t believe it.

-Vern

Check out Vern's site below
outlawvern.com

Scorpion King: Rise of the Dead Gets Victor Webster


Victor Webster starring in Scorpion King: Rise of the DeadWhat's Playing is reporting that a new sequel to The Scorpion King is being lined up called Scorpion King: Rise of the Dead, with Victor Webster (Castle) set to star.

This third installment will be a straight-to-dvd sequel like the second movie, Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. Here's a brief excerpt from the site's article, which describes the plot:

"Scorpion King: Rise of the Dead will see Mathayus (Webster) taking on impenetrable bad dudes in the wilds of the Northern Tribes in 3000 BC."

Roel Rein will direct the new movie. Victor Webster beat out Mike O'Hearn for the role. No production schedule was given for the project.

From  Movieweb.com

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Stephan Smith Collins Is A Pinhead


A few weeks back bloody-disgusting.com reported that Devon Sorvari (The Dark, The Realm), Steven Brand (as "Dr. Ross Craven"), Sanny Van Heteren (as "Kate Bradley"), Tracey Fairaway (as "Emma") and Daniel Buran (as "Vagrant") were all cast (more info on their character) in Dimension Films' low budget Hellraiser: Revelations, now filming in Los Angeles under the direction of Víctor Garcia (Return to House on Haunted Hill, Mirrors II). Bloody Disgusting was the first to tell the horror world that Derek Mears was the new Jason Voorhees, now we've got the exclusive scoop on who will replace Doug Bradley as the infamous "Pinhead"!! You'll find the details inside, along with the name of who will be playing "Pseudo-Pinhead".

bloody-disgusting.com has been doing some hard digging over the past week and finally got exclusive confirmation that Stephan Smith Collins (pictured below - he looks pretty badass) will star as your new Pinhead in Victor Garcia's Hellraiser: Revelations.

FX specialist Gary J. Tunnicliffe penned the screenplay that follows two friends who unleash Pinhead, who becomes their master of pain. Apparently, one of the friends has a change of heart. He backs out on his oath hoping to swap himself out with one of his friend's family members.

In addition, bloody-disgusting.com learned that Nick Eversman (Vampires Suck) has been cast as "Steven" and Jay Gillespie will star as "Nico / Pseudo-Pinhead".

The character "Steve" is the son of Sarah (possibly Devon Sorvari) and Ross (Steven Brand). His character kicks off the mayhem while on a backpacking trip in Mexico with his friend Nico (Gillespie). On their trip the duo are presented with a choice to "experience a reality beyond current existence"thanks to the infamous puzzle box. Pinhead becomes his master.

The story continues as Nico realizes that he's commitment to Pinhead forever, and thus attempts a daring switch plan to release himself from the puzzle box. But apparently things go wrong as he's also said to be starring as "Pseudo-Pinhead". This Pseudo-Pinhead is such a devoted servant of Pinhead, he mimics his appearance as closely as possible and revels in the pain that leads to his pleasure. There may also be a stunt actor playing this role.


From bloody-disgusting.com

Thursday, August 19, 2010

“Hellraiser: Revelations” Filming Soon


After a few false starts, and horrible rumors, it looks as if Dimension Films is ready to roll on their long gestured Hellraiser redo, reports Shock. According to the site, the non-3D film will be titled Hellraiser: Revelations and will be directed by Victor Garcia (Mirrors 2, Return to House on Haunted Hill). The screenplay was delivered by special effects artist Gary Tunnicliffe, who also pushed his (horrible) ideas for the new Pinhead  online last year. One can only hope the Weinsteins aren't using those designs. Although pegged as a remake, they are reporting that this will in fact be a stand alone movie. Whatever, just give me more Hellraiser STAT!

UPDATE....
This morning it was revealed that Pinhead would be returning in Hellraiser: Revelations, a stand alone film in the Hellraiser  franchise being directed by Victor Garcia from a screenplay by special effects artists Gary Tunnicliffe. Bloody Disgusting did some digging and got a few more pieces of info. Shooting is already scheduled to begin this September(!). It is in fact a sequel, and not the long-gestured 3-D remake (which could very well still happen). Dimension Films is behind it. It's a small budget film that's said to be going "balls to the wall." Lastly, Doug Bradley could possibly return as Pinhead, although we're being told he won't (bumma). Casting is underway as we speak.

From bloody-disgusting.com

Children of the Corn: The Dweller" Filming Next Month


Bloody Disgusting just got tipped off that a new Children of the Corn is also in the works. Entitled Children of the Corn: The Dweller, Joel Soisson is set to direct from his own screenplay. Shooting is scheduled to begin this September is Los Angeles. Soisson, who produced the 2001 Children of the Corn: Revelation, directed both Pulse and Prophecy sequels for Dimension Films. He wrote the screenplays for Dracula 2000, and all of the sequels, along with Hollow Man II, Hellraiser: Hellworld  and many others. The plot begins on a trip to California, a family's car overheats leaving them stranded in the home of a creepy couple and their kid.

From bloody-disgusting.com

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mirrors 2 - Now Available For Pre-Order On DVD & Blu Ray


The 2nd chapter in the Mirrors franchise is now available for pre-order over at Amazon.com. You can click on the links below to order the blu ray or DVD.


Thursday, August 5, 2010

30 Days of Night - Dark Days DVD Cover Art Revealed


Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced DVD ($24.96) and Blu-ray ($30.95) releases of 30 Days of Night: Dark Days for October 5th. Extras will include a Filmmaker Commentary, and a Vampires Exist: The Gritty Realism of Dark Days featurette. The Blu-ray release will also include an exclusive Graphic Inspirations: Comic to Film feature.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Lost Boys: The Thirst - Now Available For Pre-order On DVD & Blu Ray

The 3rd chapter in the Lost Boys franchise is now available for pre-order over at Amazon.com. You can click on the links below to order the blu ray or DVD.


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Lost Boys - The Thirst DVD Cover Art Revealed


Warner Home Video has announced DVD ($27.95) and Blu-ray ($35.99) releases of  Lost Boys: The Thirst which stars Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander, and Tanit Phoenix. Each will be available to own from October 12th. The only extra material on the DVD release will be a Charisma Carpenter Hosts The Art of Seduction: Vampire Lore featurette. The Blu-ray release will include that, along with 3 additional features ("What is the Thirst?", "How to Kill a Vampire with Edgar Frog", "The Return of the Frog Brothers Hosted by Corey Feldman"), and a digital copy of the film.

From DVDactive.com

Friday, July 9, 2010

30 Days of Night: Dark Days Coming This October On Blu-ray & DVD


Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray October 5 from Sony Home Entertainment is 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, the sequel to the live-action Steve Niles adaptation starring Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Harold Perrineau, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird, Rhys Coiro, Monique Ganderton, Marco Sorian, and Katherine Isabelle. Directed by Ben Ketai, some early extra features include: Filmmaker Commentary and a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette.

"It’s been a year since the Alaskan town of Barrow’s population was decimated by vampires during its annual month long sunset. Riddled with grief over the death of her husband, bound by nightmares and void of all emotions beyond hate and sorrow, Stella (Sanchez) has spent the past months traveling the world, trying to convince others that vampires exist. Met with skepticism and laughter, Stella is ready to throw in the towel when a group of lost souls (Coiro, Baird and Perrineau) offers an incredible opportunity: the chance to exact revenge upon Lilith (Kirshner), the vampire queen responsible for the assault on her sleepy Alaskan town. With nothing remaining to live for, and nothing left to fear, Stella joins their mission and ventures into the uncharted underbelly of Los Angeles where she pushes herself to the most extreme limits to stop the evil from striking again."

The bloodthirsty vampires are back October 5th when 30 Days of Night: Dark Days -- the action-packed sequel to the globally successful franchise -- arrives on DVD and in a Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo pack from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The cast features Kiele Sanchez (TV’s “Lost”, A Perfect Getaway), Harold Perrineau (Felon, TV’s “Lost”), Mia Kirshner (The Black Dahlia, Not Another Teen Movie), Diora Baird (My Best Friend’s Girl, Wedding Crashers) and Rhys Coiro (TV’s “24”, TV’s “Entourage”). From production company Ghost House Pictures, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days was co-written by Steve Niles, the creator of the original graphic novels, along with director Ben Ketai.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack contain special features, including filmmaker commentary and The Gritty Realism of Dark Days, a new featurette that provides an all access behind-the-scenes exploration of the production design, make-up effects and cinematography used to create the gory war on the vampires. The Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack is also enhanced with an exclusive Blu-ray interactive featurette, Graphic Inspirations: From Comic to Film, which compares and contrasts the visuals of the graphic novel with the imagery from the film, with discussion by director Ben Ketai.

30 Days of Night: Dark Days will be available in a Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack for $30.95 SRP and on DVD for $24.96 SRP.

From bloody-disgusting.com

Monday, July 5, 2010

Out Of Nowhere.....A Marley & Me Sequel


I was actually watching the "Tooth Fairy" DVD last night and I noticed before the movie, they has a trailer for "Marley & Me: The Terrible 2's".  I had no idea about this sequel.  The trailer does not give you much of anything to go on. I have no idea if it's a prequel or sequel.  I even looked on IMDB.COM and there was absolutely no information on the film.

Another Space Chimps Is Upon Us


I do not know anyone who has actually watched the first "Space Chimps" movie, so I am not sure if it was any good to begin with.  It looks like later this year, we will be getting "Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back" on DVD & Blu-Ray.  So be on the look out if you have any interest in it at all.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Hostel: Part III, Shooting This August


Sony Stage 6 - the company behind the direct-to-disc 30 Days of Night sequel - is gearing up for an August shoot for Hostel: Part III, the second sequel to Eli Roth's horror from 2006. Scott Spiegel will be directing from a screenplay by Michael Weiss. Hostel: Part III will head to Vegas where a bachelor party goes horribly wrong. Eli Roth returns to produce.

bloody-disgusting.com

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Jeepers Creepers 3: Cathedral - Now In Pre-Production


The Creeper will be creeping up on us all again in a direct-to-DVD sequel, which is now in pre-production. The new film is titled "Jeepers Creepers 3: Cathedral " and stars Ray Wise, Luke Edwards, and Jonathan Breck as The Creeper.  Look for it to hit DVD in 2011.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Mean Girls 2 Is Filming Soon


Looks like the DTV sequel to "Mean Girls" is currently casting in Atlanta. Filming should begin shortly after.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Let's Shake Things Up With Tremors V: The Thunder from Down Under


Looks like a 5th Tremors movie is in development.  No word on who will be in it or the plot, but as soon as we hear something, we will post it.

Bloodrayne: The Third Reich, Now In Post- Production


Lucky us, we get a 3rd chapter in the Bloodrayne franchise and I can't imagine who actually wants to watch this???  The first 2 films were horrible and notorious director Uwe Boll is yet again in the directors chair for "Bloodrayne: The Third Reich."  In this new film  Rayne fights against the Nazis in Europe during World War II, encountering Ekart Brand, a Nazi leader whose target is to inject Adolf Hitler with Rayne's blood in an attempt to transform him into a dhampir and attain immortality.  The film features Clint Howard, Natassia Malthe, & Michael Paré

Friday, June 4, 2010

Would You Like Some More Honey??? Honey 2 Is Coming.


Universal Home Entertainment is currently filming a direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2003 Jessica Alba movie "Honey".  The story for the new film is as follows. Recently released from juvenile detention, talented dancer Maria Ramirez finds an outlet for her passion with a new dance crew. The film stars Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries) and will have a release sometime in 2011.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

DVD Review: Undisputed 3: Redemption


Walter Hill's original UNDISPUTED was an exaggerated look at the classic concept of the prison boxing league. UNDISPUTED II showed that the same thing is going on in Russia, but with full-on mixed martial arts. Naturally UNDISPUTED III: REDEMPTION takes it to the next level by creating an international tournament for the champions from all different prisons. Part 4 might have to send them into space.

But the true genius of director Isaac Florentine's two DTV UNDISPUTED sequels is that each one stars the villain of the previous chapter. In UNDISPUTED II: LAST MAN STANDING Michael Jai White took over for Ving Rhames as the asshole accused rapist heavyweight champ George "The Iceman" Chambers. He was the last man standing of the title. Part III, which comes out on DVD Tuesday, is about the next-to-last man standing. Scott Adkins returns as the man whose knee the Iceman crushed, disgraced Russian prison champion and convicted double-murderer Uri Boyka.

To this day I would love to see Stallone direct a movie called IVAN DRAGO, in the style of ROCKY BALBOA but telling what happened to the communist golden boy. If I never get that at least I have UNDISPUTED III, where I get to root for the menacing (and in the end honorable) villain from part II.

Most DTV action is bad for the same reasons: bland, generic characters in overly convoluted plots setting up poorly shot and staged action scenes. UNDISPUTED III succeeds by being the opposite of those three things.

Boyka is a simple character. He doesn't talk much, and usually wants everybody else to just shut the fuck up. His life is shit but he doesn't want anyone's pity. He rehabilitates and trains himself in his dank cell using buckets and pullies. He's friendly with the rats that crawl all over him in his cell, and even uses one of them to cross his heart during prayer. He's so not a people person that when he does the ol' begrudging-respect-exchange with his loud-mouthed American antagonist Turbo (Mykel Shannon Jenkins) it's actually kind of sweet. Even at the end, when the kicking and punching was over, I was genuinely interested in what happened to these characters.

Marko Zaror, the Chilean asskicker so good at playing innocent manchildren in his movies like KILTRO and MIRAGEMAN, has even more fun as a hissable villain nicknamed Dolor. He seems crazy and lives a decadent lifestyle by prison standards. As the local champ he gets to sit in a lawnchair and do his summer reading while everybody else does hard labor in the rock quarry. It's a great lightly sketched character with only one problem: I don't see how they could make this prick the hero against the space prisoners in part IV.

The story is simple too, with the classic tournament structure but enough stakes added on the sides to create tension (for example the fighters don't know, but we do, that after you lose a round your next fight is against the firing squad). I think too many modern filmatists miss the importance of an elegant, streamlined story in a bare knuckle, headbutting kind of film. Not Florentine.

And of course the main attraction is the fights. In-the-ring competition is usually the most boring type of cinematic martial arts, but Florentine and choreographer Larnell Stovall make it thrilling. Since the fighters are from different countries they represent different styles, for example Lateef Crowder (you saw him in TOM YUM GOONG/THE PROTECTOR) uses capoeria. You can't call these fights realistic (Boyka sure is doing alot of jumping and flipping for a dude with a bum knee) but that's why I'm watching this and not one of those shitty street brawl videos. It's an exaggerated style that creates its own skull-crushing reality. You get the feeling a muscle is torn or a bone is crunched with every hit. And yes, Adkins does his trademark flying double spin kick where the first pass is a fake-out and the second one connects. In my opinion it's a better trademark than Van Damme's doing-the-splits.

So what you have here is a fun, fast-paced, completely badass martial arts movie that when you think about it is also a testament to the concept of second chances and finding good in the worst people. Or at least finding fighting skill.

You definitely don't need to have seen the other UNDISPUTEDs to understand what's going on here, but I recommend watching part II first to get the full effect of the villain-turned-hero. I'm actually not a big fan of the original, despite the usual great performance by Wesley Snipes. This is the rare series where the DTV sequels are better than the theatrical original. I'm not yet prepared to declare which of the sequels is better. I miss the dry humor of Michael Jai White, but I think the fights might be even better this time. They might be tied.

Fans of DTV action already know these movies, but they're good enough to break through into the mainstream. I know at that Actionfest film festival the jury (including our wayward son Moriarty and Chud's Devin Faraci) were so impressed with this they changed the rule to give it a couple of awards. I recommend watching UNDISPUTED II-III and if you like those you can go back through the other films of Florentine and Adkins.

Florentine is the king of DTV martial arts and Adkins is his kickboxing DeNiro. Adkins stole SPECIAL FORCES in a supporting role as an asskicking SAS officer. He played #2 bad guy in THE SHEPHERD: BORDER PATROL (that was taken away from Florentine in the editing, but it has great fights and Jean-Claude Van Damme carries around a bunny for the whole movie). And he had the lead in the recent NINJA, which I think is underrated. It's a solid use of classic ninja tropes and weapons, a charismatic villain and great fights (especially the one on the subway). It even has Big Oil executives who are also robe-wearing cultists. But admittedly when he's not fighting Adkins is a little bland as the ninja Casey (playing American for some reason).

Non-Adkins Florentine joints include BRIDGE OF DRAGONS (a Dolph Lundgren fantasy movie, but not literally about dragons) and US SEALS 2 (which I honestly like better than the studio movie it's a sequel to a rip-off of). As a martial artist himself Florentine is very passionate about the choreography, and having built up his directing chops doing that tv show "Power Rangers" he has a strong foundation of energetic camerawork that emphasizes the action instead of muddling it like most directors do these days with their wobbly cameras, quick cuts and inept closeups.

Years ago I claimed the DTV beat as my own because I got a laugh out of trashy unwanted sequels and increasingly weird vehicles for action stars of the '80s and '90s. But I justified it with an idealist pipe dream about this format, that there was no reason these low budget, under the radar movies couldn't be like the ones from the Roger Corman days: a training ground for interesting new directors and a place where they were given the freedom to do whatever the fuck they wanted as long as they finished the movie on time. Well, maybe it's not quite that, but in the last two years the standards for direct-to-video action have raised a hell of alot. I truly like last year's BLOOD AND BONE (starring Michael Jai White, directed by Ben Ramsey), this year's UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: REGENERATION (directed by John Hyams) and Florentine's two UNDISPUTED sequels better than pretty much all American action movies released theatrically in the last few years.

I'm hesitant to say it, because I wouldn't want these guys to get wasted on mediocre Hollywood movies, but the studios are idiots to keep hiring inept commercial and video directors to do their bidding when proven directors like Florentine, Hyams and Ramsey are right here under their noses. Well, okay, they're probly all in Bulgaria somewhere, far from their noses. But the movies speak for themselves. These guys are making much more entertaining and better crafted movies for nothing and most likely under more difficult conditions than the Hollywood pansies ever dreamed of. Why is it I keep spending money to watch incomprehensible bullshit action scenes projected onto a giant screen while Florentine's carefully crafted ones go straight to my cramped living room? That seems backwards to me.

I'm not saying the guy is gonna make 2001. But give Isaac Florentine a Punisher, a GI Joe, a Transporter, or better yet just tell him "here is a modest Hollywood budget, go make a kickass action movie with Michael Jai White and/or Scott Adkins," I guarantee you he'll knock your socks off. And you don't need those socks. You don't deserve those socks if you don't notice this shit. I deserve your socks. Hand them over.

Nah, forget I said anything. I hope he does UNDISPUTED IV with Zaror and an Adkins spin-off called BOYKA. You guys can keep your shakycams, I'll be happy over here.

--VERN

Author Of
Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer !

Check out Vern's site below
outlawvern.com

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Tanit Phoenix talks Death Race 2 & Lost Boys: The Thirst


Moviehole.net got an exclusive interview with South African model Tanit Phoenix about her roles in two upcoming DTV Sequels.  Death Race 2: Frankenstein Lives & Lost Boys: The Thirst.  Click the link below to check out the whole interview.

Moviehole.net

A Fourth Naked Gun Movie Will Be Straight To DVD In 2012


Paramount Pictures has announced that sometime in 2012, a 4th Naked Gun movie will be hitting store shelves. The title is "Naked Gun: What 4? The Rhythm of Evil".  Not much has be released as far as details on the film, but we will keep you posted when we learn more.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Dennis Hopper Passes Away At 74


Today legendary actor Dennis Hopper passed away, losing his battle with prostate cancel.  This is a very sad day.  Even though he has been featured in such classics such as Easy Rider, Raging Bulls, Apocalypse Now,  He has also been guilty of starring in a direct-to-DVD sequel entitled The Crow: Wicked Prayer (The Crow 4)  And not only that, he has also been in a made-for-TV sequel as well entitled Firestarter 2: Rekindled.  Even the great actors have to resort to just cashing a paycheck.   The Photo above is from his part in The Crow sequel.



 

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Lost Boys: The Thirst Movie Trailer

Surf's Up For Blue Crush 2


Production kicked off this month in South Africa on the direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2002 theatrical hit "Blue Crush"  The storyline for the sequel is as follows.  Haunted by the memory of her deceased mother, Dana leaves Malibu behind and heads to South Africa to fulfill her mother's dream of surfing Jeffery's Bay.  The new film features Sasha Jackson (Dana), Tiffany Hines, Elizabeth Mathis, & Ben Milliken.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Billy Zane is back for Sniper: Reloaded


Billy Zane is back as Richard Miller in the 4th film of the "Sniper" franchise titled "Sniper: Reloaded" .  In this new film Richard Miller is out to help Brandon Beckett. Son of Thomas Beckett (Tom Berrenger's character from the first 3 "Sniper" movies.  The film is being directed by Claudio Fah (Hollow Man 2)

Training Day 2 Is In Development.


Warner Premiere Studios is now developing a straight-to-DVD sequel to 2001’s “Training Day“.  The original film featured Denzel Washington & Ethan Hawke, Though we can be pretty sure that neither of them will be back for the sequel.

The story picks up 8 years after the original with Jake Hoyte (Hawke’s character) still working narcotics but now a veteran.  He is teamed up for a day with a new Trainee, a black officer. Now it’s Jake’s turn to train the new officer in the ways of the street.  At the same time Jake is being pursued by someone else who is seeking revenge.

Stomp The Yard 2...Coming Straight To DVD ????


Originally “Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming” was supposed to hit theaters Fall 2010, But it looks like things have changed.  Now it seems that a producer for the film is saying that it will go direct-to-DVD. 

The sequel features Terry Crews, Pooch Hall, Tika Sumpter, & Kiely Williams.  The original films star Columbus Short is not in the the new film, but he does have a production credit.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Open Season 3 Is Currently In Production



That is correct.....A second sequel to the animated film Open Season is currently in production and is being directed by first time director Cody Cameron (who you may know as the voice of Pinocchio & Three Pigs from the Shrek movies)

Open Season 3 is going to be released on DVD & Blu Ray in January 2011.

Friday, May 14, 2010

S.W.A.T. Sequel Is Currently In Production


The female Terminator herself, Kristanna Loken is starring along side Gabriel Macht & Robert Patrick in a direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2003 theatrical film S.W.A.T.   The title for the sequel is S.W.A.T.: Fire Fight and should hit DVD shelves in 2011.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Universal Soldier 4 Is Coming.....And In 3-D !!!!


Don't get too excited.  I am willing to bet that this new 3-D sequel will still be direct-to-dvd, to take advantage of the new 3-D TV's. Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren are returning for a 3D Universal Soldier IV  with John Hyams (director of Universal Soldier: Regeneration) once again behind the camera.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Wild Things: Foursome


Wild Things Foursome is the seductive next film in the hot and sexy Wild Things series. Hotel magnate Ted Wheetley is tough on his arrogant hard partying son, Carson (Ashley Parker Angel), who believes his wealthy, womanizer father drove his mother to her death. When Ted is killed in a speed boat accident, Detective Frank Walker (John Schneider) is assigned to investigate the case. As he digs deeper into the death, he becomes more and more suspicious of the scheming, seduction, greed, double-crossing and possibly even cold blooded murder.

Death Race 2, Mirrors 2, Lost Boys 3, & 30 Days Of Night 2



DEATH RACE 2 : Frankenstein Lives

Moviehole can reveal that Luke Goss will star in Universal's direct-to-DVD sequel to 2008s "Death Race".

In director Roel Reiné's "Death Race : Frankenstein Lives", Goss ("Blade II", "Hellboy II : The Golden Army") plays Luke, the young man that donned the 'Frankenstein' mask prior to Jensen Ames (Jason Statham's character in Paul W.S Anderson's "Death Race").

Luke, the right-hand man for a notorious mobster, is busted for killing a cop in the process of robbing a bank. Once behind the bars of Terminal Island, the confident newcomer is roped into entering the 'big race' by it's green-eyed producer.

The project reunites Goss with Universal, whom he worked with on "Hellboy II : The Golden Army".

"Frankenstein Lives", Written by Tony Giglio, begins shooting in Eastern Europe next month.


From moviehole.net



MIRRORS II

Lensing is now underway for 20th Century Fox's Mirrors 2, their direct-to-disc sequel to Alex Aja's ghostly gorefest that's being helmed by Victor Garcia (Return to House on Haunted Hill) in the heart of Louisiana. While Bloody Disgusting already brought you guys the casting logline, along with the exclusive announcement that Nick Stahl will be topling, we've now got the entire cast listing and "official" synopsis below.

"When MAX, a recovering addict, takes a job as a night time security guard job at his father’s department store, he begins to see visions of a young woman in the store’s mirrors. Unsure whether his visions are side effects of his prescription sleeping pills or actual reality, he begins to look deeper into the source of the images in the mirrors. When employees of the store turn up dead and Max is a suspect in the murders, he must expose the girl’s connection to a scandal within the department store’s walls in order to prove his innocence and put a stop to the spirits in the mirrors."

Cast list
MAX MATHESON - Nick Stahl
JACK MATHESON - William Katt
ELIZABETH - Emmanuelle Vaugier (Saw II, House of the Dead 2, Dolan's Cadillac)
KELLER WILSON - Lawrence Turner
ELEANOR - Stephanie Honore
JENNA MCCARTHY - Christy Carlson Romano
RYAN ROSEN - Jon Michael Davis
HENRY SCHOW - Evan Jones
DET. HUSTON - Wayne Pere
DET. PICCIRILLI - Lance E. Nichols
DR. BEAUMONT - Ann McKenzie
KAYLA - Jennifer Sipes

From bloody-disgusting.com



LOST BOYS 3: THE THIRST

Dario Piana, director of The Deaths of Ian Stone, is getting behind the camera for Warner Premiere's Lost Boys 3: The Thirst, which was scripted by Evan Charnov. Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander are said to return at the Frog brothers, although I could only confirm Feldman's involvement. Here's the exclusive plot crunch: "When veteran vampire hunter Edgar Frog finds himself destitute and almost friendless, he thinks his life has hit bottom - but wealthy vampire-romance novelist Gwen Liebling offers him a small fortune to go on the vampire hunt of a lifetime and rescue her son Peter from the Alpha Vampire D.J.Dusk. With the help of his friends Zoe, Lars and Blake, Edgar heads into a bloody battle to exterminate evil." Shooting is set to begin this November in South Africa.


30 DAYS OF NIGHT 2

Rhys Coiro (TV's "Entourage"), Harold Perrineau ("Lost"), Kiele Sanchez ("A Perfect Getaway"), Diora Baird ("Texas Chiansaw Massacre: The Beginning"), Mia Kirshner ("The Black Dahlia") and Monique Ganderton have all joined the cast of "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" for Sony Pictures says Bloody Disgusting.

A direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2007 feature film adaptation of Steve Niles' graphic novel, the story follows a desperate and lonely Stella who decides to join a group of rogue vampire hunters to seek revenge on Lilith, the powerful vampire responsible for the attack on her Alaskan town

Ben Ketai helms the project which began shooting this week.



Undisputed III: Redemption


Eight elite fighters – prisoners from maximum security prisons around the world – are brought together by a powerful underground gambling syndicate for a secret, survival-of-the-fiercest battle competition. The prize: freedom for the champion…and a payday of millions to the organizers. Except the syndicate really doesn’t plan on allowing anyone to walk free.

Scott Adkins (the fearsome Weapon XI in X-Men Origins: Wolverine) returns as Boyka in a spin-kicking, iron-fisted, ground-and-pound fury of martial arts mastery. With the odds against him overwhelming, Boyka will take on the syndicate his way. If his gambit works, it might send the whole scheme crashing down around them.