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While Bloodsport, the 1988 martial arts tournament movie, is widely considered by fans to be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best film, it almost never saw the light of day. Indeed, according to Nick De Semlyen’s book, “Last Action Heroes” (buy it here), the film was deemed unreleasable by Cannon Pictures head Menachem Golan. The film sat on the shelf for fourteen months and was considered so bad that Golan intended to release the movie direct-to-video. Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.

According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when Bloodsport wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.

It can’t be denied that as far as martial arts movies go, the best ones come from Asia, particularly Hong Kong during their action heyday, which was arguably the 70s, 80s and first half of the ’90s. It’s tough to compete with the likes of the Shaw Brothers and the drunken master known as Jackie Chan. That said, martial arts movies were also making a foothold in the States decades ago, thanks mainly to Bruce Lee-mania following the release of Enter the Dragon. Before that movie, very few actors in Hollywood seemed like they were credible martial artists, except maybe James Coburn, a student of Lee’s, who pulled off some pretty good-looking moves in the otherwise silly Our Man Flint movies. Steve McQueen also had training but didn’t use martial arts on screen. Up to then, though, the most notable uses of martial arts in movies usually revolved around Judo,...

The Senate career of seven-fingered Montana dirt farmer Jon Tester came to an end on Tuesday after an expensive battle with former Navy Seal and questionably wounded Tim Sheehy, a Montana businessman. The win, called on Wednesday morning, is part of a massive Election Day for Republicans, with Donald Trump coasting to a presidential win and the GOP taking back control of the Senate.

For three terms, Tester had fought the headwinds of the Republican takeover of Montana, where Donald Trump won by 16 points in 2020. All six of the state’s key officeholders are Republicans,...

On Monday August 26 2024, NBC broadcasts American Ninja Warrior!

Las Vegas Finals 2 Season 16 Episode 9 Episode Summary

The excitement builds as “American Ninja Warrior” presents its next episode titled “Las Vegas Finals 2.” This thrilling installment continues the national finals in Las Vegas, where the remaining competitors face off in Stage 1. The stakes are high, with a chance to win a life-changing million and earn the title of the next American Ninja Warrior.

In this episode, viewers will see some of the best ninjas from across the country tackle challenging obstacles designed to test their strength, agility, and determination. Each competitor has worked hard to reach this stage, and they are ready to showcase their skills on one of the most famous courses in the series.

As the ninjas navigate the obstacles, the tension in the air is palpable. Fans can expect dramatic moments, close calls, and inspiring performances as each contestant strives...

American Ninja Warrior fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 16 Episode 5 episode titled Qualifiers 8!

Find out everything you need to know about the Qualifiers 8 episode of American Ninja Warrior, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

American Ninja Warrior Qualifiers 8 Season 16 Episode 5 Preview

Prepare for an adrenaline-packed episode of “American Ninja Warrior” on NBC, as the qualifying rounds reach their climax in Los Angeles. A diverse array of ninjas from across the nation converge to test their mettle against the world’s most formidable obstacle course. In “Qualifiers 8,” airing at 8:00 Pm on July 15, 2024, contestants face the daunting Mega Warped Wall and intense head-to-head runoff races, where every second and strategy counts to secure a coveted spot in the semifinals.

Viewers can expect a thrilling showcase of athleticism and determination as competitors push themselves to the limit.

Andrew “Drew” Drechsel, the former winner of the popular NBC competition show American Ninja Warrior, has been sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in child sex crimes.

The announcement was made on June 26, 2024, by the United States Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey. Drechsel was first charged in 2020.

According to the press release, Drechsel, a 35-year-old resident of Saint Cloud, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, to charges of receiving child pornography and knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a minor to travel across state lines for illicit sexual conduct.

The victim, who was between the ages of 14 and 15 at the time of the offenses, lived in New Jersey, while Drechsel resided in Hamden, Connecticut, from 2014 to 2019. After law enforcement agents searched one of Drechsel’s phones on Nov. 8, 2019, they found images of child sexual abuse and photos and videos of the victim.

The investigation revealed that Drechsel,...

Those of you who love martial arts movies and follow our JoBlo Original, Reel Action, on YouTube may have seen the recent spotlight we did on the Mark Dacascos 1993 capoeira movie, Only the Strong. While Only the Strong should have skyrocketed Dacascos to martial arts stardom, he would actually have an earlier credit with a smaller role in a film called American Samurai, which starred David Bradley of the American Ninja sequels. American Samurai would come from the director of many Ninja-related movies, Sam Firstenberg, for the infamous once-upon-a-movie studio, Cannon Films. Sam Firstenberg was a director who the studio often collaborated with, but American Samurai would be the first movie that Cannon took their famous scissors to and alter the film against the director’s vision.

A group on Facebook called The Official Restoration of American Samurai has been established with some news for fans of the film and genre.

A brand new “The Boys” spinoff series, the second season of “Wheel of Time” and football highlight a robust lineup of new movies and shows coming to Amazon Prime Video in September. “Gen V,” a spinoff of “The Boys” set at a college, premieres on Sept. 29, while new episodes of “The Wheel of Time” Season 2 are rolling out all month long after the season premiere on Sept. 1.

Thursday Night Football is streaming starting Sept. 14, and a whole host of library movies worth checking out – from “Four Weddings and a Funeral” to “Dracula” to “10 Things I Hate About You” – are now streaming.

There’s also the premiere of the original film “Cassandro” starring Gael Garcia Bernal as a gay wrestler, and the acclaimed drama “A Thousand and One” comes to Prime Video on Sept. 19.

Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in September 2023 below.

It’s a deceptively big month on Prime Video in September! To kick things off, The Wheel of Time will be back for a second season on the service, while a live-action The Boys spinoff series called Gen V will be capping off the original series content later in the month.

But there are also some interesting new projects lined up between those two biggies. On September 15, Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen star in what is sure to be a delicious tale of revenge. Wilderness, based on B.E. Jones’ novel of the same name, stars Coleman as a heartbroken wife who discovers her husband has been cheating on her after she gives up her whole life to move over to America with him and support his career.

You should also keep an eye out for Cassandro, landing on Prime Video on the same day. The film, which has been...

There is no shortage this September of new (and old) things to watch on Prime Video! The Amazon streamer is adding over 300 new TV series and films to its library this month, from highly anticipated season premieres to classic movies.

Included in the list this month are many Amazon Originals, including the highly anticipated “Cassandro,” starring Gael García Bernal, and the Season 2 premiere of the high fantasy series “The Wheel of Time,” starring Rosamund Pike.

But if you’re looking to revisit old favorites, Prime Video will be adding hundreds of movies to its library, including the “Bourne” franchise, “The Birdcage,” and many, many others.

Not sure where to start? Check out The Streamable’s picks below for what’s coming to platform this month!

30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in September 2023? “The Wheel of Time” Season 2 | Friday, Sept.

Some noteworthy new releases, a bevy of library titles and the complete series of “Freaks and Geeks” are among the new additions to Amazon Prime Video this month. May will see the streaming availability of the 2022 films “She Said,” “Violent Night” and “Till” on Prime Video, while the beloved (and short-lived) TV series “Freaks and Geeks” will be streaming on Amazon starting May 4.

We’ve also included everything new to Freevee, which includes the first three “John Wick” movies, “Scarface” and “The Usual Suspects.”

Check out the complete list of everything new on Amazon Prime Video in May 2023 below.

Also Read:

The 41 Best Movies on Amazon Prime (April 2023)

Arriving May 1

MasterChef Mexico S1-4 (2015)

A Beautiful Mind (2002)

Amistad (1997)

Babe (1995)

Babe: Pig In The City (1998)

Babel (2006)

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)

Biker Boyz (2003)

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Blue Crush (2002)

Blue Crush 2 (2011)

Bound (1996)

Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004)

Bridget Jones’s Baby...

With its list of new releases for May 2023, Amazon Prime Video is increasing its global reach.

The streamer’s biggest original offering this month is a German series. Hohlbeins’ – The Gryphon, based on the works of Wolfgang Holhlbein, will present a sprawling fantasy tale about three teens discovering a fantastical world called The Black Tower where “the Gryphon, a world-devouring monster, mercilessly subjugates all living creatures.”

The only other original title of note in May is Freevee comedy Primo on the 19th. Written by author and journalist Shea Serrano and produced by Michael Schur (The Good Place), this coming-of-age series will follow a teenager balancing “college aspirations, societal expectations, and a hectic home life on the south side of San Antonio.”

And that’s pretty much it for Amazon Originals this month! Thankfully, there is a huge influx of library content to keep Prime Video subscribers entertained. May 4 sees the...

The free streaming platform Freevee will debut its original bilingual drama “Casa Grande” on May 1. The saga follows two families in Northern California, exposing the privileged world of wealthy landowners and the undocumented migrants who toil on their behalf. Issues of class, family, culture, and immigration are explored against a backdrop of love and desire.

Watch the “Casa Grande” trailer:

Also hitting Amazon’s free streaming service next month are the first three films from the “John Wick” franchise. In the series, Keanu Reeves plays a former hit man forced to return to the criminal world that he had already escaped. The three films arrive on the platform on May 1.

Check out the trailer for “John Wick 3 - Parabellum”:

The WWII film “The Monuments Men” will also arrive on Freevee next month. The film recalls the true story in which a battalion of art specialists is assigned to...

Prime Video has no shortage of shows or movies arriving in September. The biggest new show on the block for Amazon Studios is “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” which is a prequel based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien that’s set thousands of years before the events of “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings.” Several new 2022 films will be available on the streamer as well: including Channing Tatum’s “Dog,” Michael Bay’s “Ambulance,” Zac Efron’s “Firestarter,” Dylan O’Brien’s “The Outfit,” and more.

Noteworthy library titles arriving this month include “Fight Club” (1999), “Legally Blonde” (2001) and “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991).

Here’s everything new on Amazon Prime Video and Freevee in September.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s Leaving Netflix in September 2022 September 1

American Ninja Warriors S12-13 (2022)

Friday Night Lights S1-5 (2007)

Texicanas (2019)

Wags Miami S1-2 (2022)

21 Grams (2004)

23:59 (2011)

A Family Thing...

With its list of new releases for September 2022, Prime Video is finally unveiling the most anticipated (and expensive) series in the streamer’s history.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will arrive to Prime Video’s servers on Sept. 2, 2022. This Lord of the Rings prequel, set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age, is in many ways the kind of TV property that Prime Video must have always wanted. It’s certainly the TV property most fitting with the company’s largesse and riches. The Rings of Power will cover the creation of the titular rings and many important events from Tolkien’s lore (condensed into a more TV-appropriate timeframe).

Middle-earth is going to be the happening spot on Amazon and the streaming world at large this month, but Prime Video does have a handful of other originals for the fantasy-phobic. Flight/Risk, a documentary about the Boeing 737 Max design disasters,...

It’s a big month for Prime Video and Amazon Freevee which are both gearing up for an exciting September of releases. The biggest premiere is the long-awaited The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debut which kicks off an unseen chapter in Tolkien’s Middle-earth. And if horror is your thing, don’t miss Naomi Watts in the buzzy film Goodnight Mommy in which she stars alongside The Boys‘ Cameron Crovetti and his real-life twin brother and former Big Little Lies costar Nicholas Crovetti. Other titles to look out for include Jungle, Flight/Risk, and more. Below, see the full list of offerings heading to Prime Video and Amazon Freevee. Available for Streaming on Prime Video: September 1 American Ninja Warrior S12-S13 Friday Night Lights S1-S5 Texicanas Wags Miami S1-S2 21 Grams 23:59 A Family Thing The Adjustment Bureau The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The...

“The Cannon Film Guide is a treasure trove of info for Golan/Globus fans. Even diehard Cannon scholars will learn from this tome.” – Paul Talbot, author of the Bronson’s Loose! books

The unbelievable story of the legendary 1980s B-movie studio continues in The Cannon Film Guide Volume II, which covers the company’s output from 1985 to 1987, their peak production years under maverick moguls Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. This highly-anticipated sequel to the original Cannon compendium takes an up-close look at sixty Cannon movies, from deep cuts to cult classics, including American Ninja, The Delta Force, Over the Top, Invasion USA, Masters of the Universe, Runaway Train, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, King Solomon’s Mines, Lifeforce, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and many more. Order the book Here

With hundreds of photos and more than forty interviews with Cannon directors, writers, and stars, this is an indispensable reference book for...

Daniel Gil revealed how he prepares for American Ninja Warrior, including how he incorporates his faith into competing, in his new uInterview. “I grew up as an athlete, played about every sport possible, and done like parkour and free running when I was in my high school years,” Gil told uInterview Founder Erik Meers, “but […]

The post Video Exclusive: Daniel Gil Reveals How Faith Helps Him To Be An ‘American Ninja Warrior’ Champion appeared first on uInterview.

Who will be the first ever American Ninja Warrior Women's Champion? Well, this preview proves the competition is fierce for the inaugural event!  On Sunday, May 9 (Mother's Day!), fans can watch 12 elite female athletes vie for the special title during Anw Women's Championship on NBC. Competitors will battle over two intense courses, with the top four going head-to-head on the Power Tower. The winner will receive $50,000 and make history as the first American Ninja Warrior Women's Champion. In an exclusive sneak peek, American Ninja star Jesse Labreck shows off her superhuman skills and intimidates competitors. The gym manager from North Aurora, Il is one of the top...

Banshee co-creator and Warrior creator Jonathan Tropper discusses Bruce Lee and some of his favorite action movies with podcast hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante!

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Devils (1971)

Star Wars (1977)

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Gremlins (1984)

Innerspace (1987)

The Adam Project (Tbd)

A History of Violence (2005)

Rocky (1976)

Rocky II (1979)

Rocky III (1982)

Rocky IV (1985)

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Blue Thunder (1983)

Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)

Missing In Action (1984)

Missing In Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

Enter The Ninja (1981)

Revenge Of The Ninja (1983)

Ninja 3: The Domination (1984)

American Ninja (1985)

Masters of the Universe (1987)

I Come In Peace a.k.a. Dark Angel (1990)

Showdown In Little Tokyo (1991)

Men of War (1994)

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Way of the Dragon a.k.a. Return of the Dragon (1972)

The Big Boss (1971)

Braveheart (1995)

First Blood (1982)

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Commando (1985)

The Terminator (1984)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Highlander (1986)

Bloodsport...

As we eagerly anticipate the release of the latest Mortal Kombat movie, many find themselves looking back on Mortal Kombat’s 1995 big-screen debut. While that film has its charms and its fans (myself included), the movie has rightfully been criticized over the years for lacking many of the best qualities of the game as well as many of the best elements of the martial arts movies that clearly inspired it.

Of course, the relationship between Mortal Kombat and martial arts films has always been close. Not only did the game utilize a then-revolutionary form of motion capturing that gave it a standout cinematic look, but many aspects of the title were practically taken directly from some of the best and biggest martial arts movies of that era.

As the years go on, though, it becomes more and more clear that no martial arts movie impacted the development of Mortal Kombat more than Bloodsport.

"Unleash the lion." Lionsgate has released an official US trailer for an indie underground fighting drama titled American Fighter, which originally premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival in 2019. A desperate teenager is forced into the dangerous world of underground fighting to win enough money to save his ailing mother. He finds out what he is made of in the face of these violent, hungry competitors. Sean Patrick Flanery co-stars as a a troubled handler who takes pity on the boy and trains him to be a fierce competitor — but is it enough to make Ali a winner? Based on a true story, this gritty action tale also stars George Kosturos, Tommy Flanagan, Allison Paige, and Bryan Craig. Haven't we seen this 100 times before already? More "fighting to save my family" stories over and over. Nothing new here, move along everybody. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Shaun Piccinino's American Fighter,...

I’ve always been of the principle that to truly appreciate good cinema, one must also experience the bad in order to be objective. As much as I love the good old fashioned exploitation, finding the good can be like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Entertainment however is not necessarily dependant on quality. Which if you have ever experienced an International Film Distribution Release (Ifd), then will know quality is a rare commodity.

Is this film any good?

In summary……no!

But that would be a ridiculously short review and so let’s put it into a bit more context. Richard Harrison the nominal “lead” was contracted to appear in several productions by Joseph Lai. What eventually happened was these scenes were spliced Frankenstein-like into other features to create fresh product. The fact that the joins were crudely constructed were of little interest to the producers,...

Bill Maher Friday compared Democrats trying to vote to an obstacle course competition show “where a contestant has to get across a terrain of giant bouncy balls and slippery balance beams and swing on frigging ropes like Tarzan.”

“It occurred to me while watching this, watching Ricardo lose his grip on a foam roller, that this is exactly what our voting systems has turned into. It’s American Ninja — Democracy Edition… Try to move forward without getting knocked off the voter rolls!” said the host of HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher.

“For people who say both parties are basically the same, voter suppression is the starkest example that’s not true. This is 100% a Republican thing. They know their policies aren’t as popular, so they catch up with an effective, time-tested political tactic called cheating. I can’t make you vote for me but maybe I can...

American Ninja Warrior champ Drew Drechsel has been charged with sex crimes involving a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of New Jersey announced Tuesday.

Drechsel, 31, of Saint Cloud, Florida, was charged with the manufacture of child pornography, enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and use of interstate commerce to entice a minor, according to authorities. He made his initial court appearance Tuesday. 

According to the complaint, Drechsel, the 2019 American Ninja Warrior champion (also a "mentor"...

Desus & Mero, stars of Showtime’s eponymous late-night talkshow, are heading out on a book tour, virtually.

Given that touring the country is a bit tricky in Covid-19 times, the pair have set up a virtual tour to promote God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx, which is published by Penguin Random House on September 22.

Tickets to the experience will include the virtual live show and a pre-order copy of the life advice book. Some tickets will be available for a virtual meet-and-greet.

The ‘tour’ kicks off on August 14 in the mid-Atlantic, before wrapping up in the south on September 20.

“We want to share all we’ve learned, after years in the Bronx streets, with you: the people. So with a lifetime spent building up a plethora of information from trials and tribulations and a handful of misdemeanors, we decided to write this book—a sequel to the Bible,...

A few days ago, Sam Firstenberg, the Israel-born movie director behind the '80s cult classics Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and American Ninja, was scanning a newspaper when he couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's almost bizarre — a surrealistic situation," says Firstenberg, 70.

He read about a domestic, anti-U.S. government extremist movement that had sprouted in the dark recesses of the internet and, amid recent protests over coronavirus lockdowns and George Floyd's killing, has sprung terrifyingly to life.

And the movement named itself after one of his movies.

The boogaloo movement has exploded into ...

A few days ago, Sam Firstenberg, the Israel-born movie director behind the '80s cult classics Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and American Ninja, was scanning a newspaper when he couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's almost bizarre — a surrealistic situation," says Firstenberg, 70.

He read about a domestic, anti-U.S. government extremist movement that had sprouted in the dark recesses of the internet and, amid recent protests over coronavirus lockdowns and George Floyd's killing, has sprung terrifyingly to life.

And the movement named itself after one of his movies.

The boogaloo movement has exploded into ...

Xena: Warrior Princess stuntwoman Zoë Bell’s cure for quarantined boredom just might liven up your day as well.

Bell, who kicked off her stunt career by doubling for Xena herself, rounded up, yes, Lucy Lawless, plus NCIS: Los Angeles star Daniela Ruah, Daredevil and Briarpatch‘s Rosario Dawson and dozens of others — a thrilling mix of fellow stunt performers and “badass” actresses — for one of the interactive-ish “lockdown” videos that are all the rage these days.

More from TVLinePerformer of the Week: Mahershala AliNCIS: Los Angeles: Daniela Ruah Previews Kensi's Sexy Salsa Dancing, Jag Nods and a 'Lovely' ProposalAsh vs.

What started out as a summertime experiment 11 years ago — an American version of a crazy Japanese TV show — has turned into something huge. American Ninja Warrior has succeeded beyond expectations, lasting for over a decade and spawning an entirely new industry: All over the country, there are Ninja Warrior-themed gyms where you [...]

The post Hosts Astounded By The ‘American Ninja’ Phenomenon appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Craig Lines Jun 6, 2019

Action star Mark Dacascos achieved mainstream attention for John Wick: Chapter 3 – here, we look back at some of his greatest hits.

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

2019 has been a good year for Mark Dacascos. Not only did he make a glorious return to the big screen as super-assassin/super-fanboy Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3, but he completely stole the show. Critics and audiences stood up and paid attention to what action connoisseurs have known for some time: Dacascos is the real deal.

If you’re a newcomer, you might find yourself daunted by his massive body of work, so here’s a whistlestop tour of some of the highlights and why they’re worth watching. And if you’re an existing convert? Sit back, enjoy the memories and let us know your own faves in the comments.

In the beginning, there was kung fu…...

Genre festival will screen the Nordic premiere of Stivaletti’s ‘Rabbia Furiosa’.

Genre festival Night Visions has revealed the line-up for this year’s event which will run from Nov 21-25 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.

The screenings will include Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, Gaspar Noe’s Climax, Yann Gonzalez’s Knife + Heart, Jim Hosking’s An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn, Quentin Dupieux’s Keep An Eye Out, Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade, Joel Potrykus’ Relaxer, Emma Tammi’s The Wind, Jimmy Henderson’s The Prey, Jonas Akerlund’s Lords of Chaos, and omnibus The Field Guide to Evil.

Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in August, including more installments in the first season of the critically acclaimed Stephen King thriller “Castle Rock” as well as more of season 2 of the costume drama “Harlots” and season 4 of the comedy “Casual.” And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites from other networks, including season 3 of “Insecure” and season 4 of “Ballers.”

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including the Oscar-winning “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Lost in Translation” and the recent nominee “Baby Driver.”

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in August

Available August 1

A Conspiracy to Rule: The Illuminati

American Gigolo

American Ninja

American Ninja III: Blood Hunt

Babe

Be Cool

The Beatles: Made on Merseyside

Black Hawk Down

Black Mask

Black Rain...

Amazon Prime Video has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in August, including the first season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.” John Krasinski, who is red-hot following the success of his winter hit “A Quiet Place,” takes on the role of the CIA spy that has been played on the big screen by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine.

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first appearances on Amazon Prime Video including the action comedy “Gringo,” which stars David Oyelowo as a businessman who unwittingly becomes involved with a Mexican drug cartel.

Unlike Netflix, Amazon does not disclose the shows and movies leaving the service in any given month. We’ve done some digging and unearthed a few titles that will be exiting Amazon Prime Video in the first week of August. News...

Documentary fans, get ready to queue up Hulu next month with the arrival of two originals on the streamer.

“Minding the Gap” (pictured above) will drop on Aug.17, a documentary that compiles more than 12 years of footage in Rockford, Illinois, filmmaker Bing Liu looks at the correlation between skateboarders’ upbringings and the complex nature of modern masculinity.

“Crime and Punishment” will follow, dropping on Aug. 24. Stephen Maing directed, produced and filmed this documentary that goes behind the scenes of discriminatory policing practices and corruption in the New York Police Department.

Also Read: Anne Rice's 'Vampire Chronicles' TV Series Heads to Hulu

Additionally, Hulu users can enjoy “10 Things I Hate About You” starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles on Aug. 1 (at least the ones who have the Showtime add-on), 2004’s “Hidalgo,” 2008’s “The Hurt Locker” and more throughout the month.

See the complete list of what’s coming to and leaving Hulu below.

Your wait for Jack Ryan is almost over.

“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” premieres on Amazon Aug. 31, starring John Krasinski as a CIA analyst who’s thrust into a dangerous field assignment. Another new Prime Original series, “All or Nothing: Manchester City” will premiere next month, though the specific date is yet to be announced. It follows Pep Guardiola, the legendary coach and the team’s 2017/2018 season.

Other titles coming to Amazon in August include 2004’s “A Cinderella Story” and 2008’s “Hurt Locker” on Aug. 1. “Mother!,” starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, will be available on Aug. 26.

Also Read: Emmys and #MeToo: 'Transparent' Shut Out of Nominations

See the complete list below.

August 1

Series

#MeToo: Now What?, Season 1

Movies

A Cinderella Story (2004)

American Gigolo (1980)

American Ninja (1985)

American Ninja III: Blood Hunt (1989)

Be Cool (2005)

Black Mask (1996)

Black Rain (1989)

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Boomerang (1992)

Cold War (2012)

Csny/Déjà Vu...

Ahead of the UK premiere of his latest film It Came From the Desert at the Horror Channel Frightfest Halloween event, director Marko Mäkilaakso shares his admiration for Roger Corman, love of B-Movies, spoofing and overcoming homeland obstacles.

It Came From the Desert is inspired by Cinemaware’s cult 1980s video game, which in turn was motivated by the giant creature feature craze infesting 1950s Hollywood. What was the main inspiration for you?

There’s so many movies and makers which inspired Icftd, but the main inspiration was exactly that; creature feature infested 1950s Hollywood films, and the legendary Cinemaware Desert games and creature features and action comedies I grew up with in the 1980s. I love B-movies and mainstream filmmakers who give homages to those in their works, like Joe Dante, John Landis, Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg etc. There’s something so pure and honest about B-movies and even...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Tuesday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best show currently on TV?” can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question: What’s the best documentary series you’ve seen on TV? Opening this up to past series, current ones, and those that you may have seen screeners for that are coming up soon.

Liz Shannon Miller (@lizlet), IndieWire

While we debate whether or not it technically counts as a TV show (certainly that Oscar it won would suggest otherwise), “O.J.: Made in America” was without question a seminal work, and one which owed a lot to its episodic structure while proving to be an addictive binge. Documentaries aren’t exactly my favorite genre, but “Made in America” was as gripping as any scripted series — and we have definitive proof of this,...

Author: Daniel Goodwin

Next week sees the long overdue release of Battle Royale director Kinji Fukasaku’s New Battles Without Honour and Humanity trilogy. Made in the mid-70s, Fukasaku’s sprawling crime saga is soon to be unveiled for the first time ever in the UK by Arrow Video, who have assembled Fukasaku’s three films into a sumptuously packaged Blu-ray box-set. The New Battles movies tell standalone tales of different Japanese Yakuza crime syndicates and the complex character/ business conflicts that occur within the clans.

Naturally (and thankfully) anarchic violence and bloodshed ensue amidst the criminal deliberations/ dialogue exchanges and while Fukasaku’s rugged, frenetic style festoons all three entries with exhilarating energy, they are coloured further by spirited camaraderie, anarchic gun battles and hand-cam captured car chases.

To celebrate the New Battles Blu-ray box set release, Arrow hosted a promo/screening event at Pimpshuei: a clandestine, East...

By Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com

I recently had a chance to talk with Kourosh Ahari. He’s a very promising young filmmaker that not only appreciates all the facets of good storytelling, but also embraces the technology that would allow him to tell those stories within and outside the realm of known possibilities. That approach has worked pretty well for guys like Spielberg and Cameron, so I relished the opportunity to talk to someone with that same passion at the dawn of their career.

He has already crossed genres with some pretty surreal and powerful stories involving human emotion intersecting with extraordinary circumstances, and now he’s using an innovative new three screen technology in his horror short film The Secret Of 40. Ahari talks with me in this interview about his beginnings, his very impressive body of work thus far, and what may be next for how we watch and enjoy films.

Sunday's episode of Fear the Walking Dead, "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame," introduced another new threat to Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and her family in the form of Walker (Michael Greyeyes), a Native American warrior with a long-standing grievance against the Broke Jaw Ranch that's finally

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Author Marco Sidelmann (The Untold, In-Depth, Outrageously True Story of Shapiro Glickenhaus Entertainment) is about to release a new book chronicling thirty years of filmmaking from filmmaker Sam Firstenberg, who is mostly recognized as one of the important in-house directors during the flamboyantly successful heyday of Cannon Group. The book itself is a collection of fresh, never-before-read interviews that begin before Firstenberg made box office hits like Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, Breakin’ II: Electric Boogaloo, American Ninja, just to name a few. The interviews reveal the famed director’s origins and influences, including memories from his childhood growing up in Israel, his experiences as a film student in Los Angeles, and his early work as an assistant director and technician for...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Filmmaker Sam Firstenberg is mostly recognized as one of the important in-house directors during the outrageously successful heyday of the legendary Cannon Group. The journey of this interview collection starts even before he made his way to direct box office hits just like Revenge Of The Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, Breakin‘ II: Electric Boogaloo, American Ninja, and several others. The conversations Siedelmann recorded with Sam are very thorough, and they shed light on his origins and influences, including childhood memories, private biographical chapters, his years as a film student in Los Angeles, the atmosphere he grew up around in Israel, and his early work as an assistant director and technician for people like Menahem Golan, Charles Band, Ephraim Kishon, Boaz Davidson, and many...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Christopher Pearce, who in the 1980s served as head of production of Cannon Films, the legendary B-movie house known for churning out a slew of action fare, has died. He was 73.

Pearce died Sunday in Boca Raton, Fla., after a battle with cancer, family friend Polly Chung told The Hollywood Reporter.

Working for Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus at Cannon, Pearce helped take the company’s production output from a handful of films per year to an astounding 43 in 1985. Movies made by Cannon that year included Death Wish 3, American Ninja, Missing in Action 2: The...

New bonkers series The Almost Impossible Game Show is coming to MTV tomorrow, October 13, with Irish duo the Rubberbandits set to steal the show. The pair — think classic Chuck Barris The Gong Show meets American Ninja Warriors with a whiff of Kentucky Fried Movie — will give running commentary during the stunts. It’s basically a case of tune in for the epic fails, but stay for the Rubberbandits — Ireland’s answer to Jackass-meets-Trailer-Park-Boys with a hefty dash of Insane Clown Posse. These Limerick-based smartasses will be one of the best things about the series, which guarantees failure in some of the most...read more...

There was a little bit of history made on last night’s American Ninja Warrior (1.9/7) as Jessie Graff became the first women to finish the show's Las Vegas Stage 1 course. The stuntwomen's feat also saw the NBC competition show finish even with last week's fast-affiliate results among adults 18-49, which went up tenth in final results. Nielsen's numbers were delayed this morning but in many ways last night looks a lot like last Monday. Like on August 22, American Ninja War…...

At the bitter end of a ten-year slide into ever-cheaper productions, The Cannon Group sends stars David Bradley (a nice guy), Steve James (everyone's favorite) and Marjoe Gortner (a stiff) to South Africa for an anemic entry in this series. Cannon is considered a 'fun' subject this year because of those funny documentaries that came out. Savant cut the trailer for this particular picture, so takes the opportunity to talk about the wild life and times in the Cannon trailer department. American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt Blu-ray Olive Films 19 / B&W / 2:35 1:85 widescreen / 1:37 flat Academy / 90 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.98 Starring David Bradley, Steve James, Marjoe Gortner, Michele Chan,Yehuda Efroni, Alan Swerdlow. Cinematography George Bartels Film Editor Michael J. Duthie Original Music George S. Clinton Written by Gary Conway from characters by Avi Kleinberger & Gideon Amir Produced by Harry Alan Towers Directed...

With the recent release and success of Captain America: Civil War, it seems that Marvel has already had a great start to their 2016. They've already exceeded expectations with that film, and with Doctor Strange, they seemed poised to mark this year down as another success for the Marvel machine. As good as this year is looking to be, however, 2017 may be even better. Between Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, and Spider-man: Homecoming, there will be a total of three films set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- a first for the studio.

Joblo's got the scoop on the first two films of 2017, so let's start with Thor: Ragnarok. 

It's been rumored for some time that the film will have elements of Planet Hulk in it, and Joblo confirms these rumors, going on to say that Thor will end up on a strange planet and become involved in...

It seems like Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok is shaping up to be something incredible. There’s a lot of rumored information that has been leaking out regarding the story, but we know for sure that Hulk and Thor will be embarking on a cosmic adventure in which they will have to battle Hela and her armies.

Now, according to JoBlo, it sounds like Thor: Ragnarok will also feature elements from the classic Planet Hulk story arc. A lot of fans like myself have been hoping to see Planet Hulk adopted into a movie one day, and it looks like this upcoming Thor film might be the closest we get to seeing that. Possible Spoilers ahead:

According to the report:

The film will definitely have the Planet Hulk element in it, operating as a kind of mash-up with the Ragnarok story. How Thor ends up on the planet in question is unclear,...

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Michael Dudikoff chats to us about American Ninja, his Cannon days, Spider-Man and Navy Seals Vs Zombies.

Michael Dudikoff is the American Ninja.

We were thrilled to get an opportunity to chat with the action star, who was doing press to promote the release of the action film Navy Seals Vs Zombies, but were kept at a considerable physical distance. While telephone interviews can be a bit difficult, I was secretly relieved that we wouldn’t have to come face-to-face with a man renowned for his work as a ninja. Safely tucked away in a different continent meant that, no matter how stupid our questions were, we weren’t in danger of being kicked in the chops.

It turns out that we needn’t have worried. Den of Geek found Michael Dudikoff to be a particularly friendly and fun interview subject. It’s great to talk to...