action

Interview: Adam Wingard on directing Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire; “They’re more like a buddy cop kind-of duo.”

The epic battle continues! Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire delves further…

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Film Review: The Beekeeper; Jason Statham is the bee’s knees in ridiculous actioner

If there’s one thing we can rely on Jason Statham for, it’s B-movie cheap thrills that epitomise the term “guilty pleasure”.  Escapism in its purest, bloodiest form, The Beekeeper (Statham took the B-movie memo a little too literally, it would seem) is a ridiculous actioner from proven genre director David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury,…

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Film Review: Ruthless; Dermot Mulroney proves predictable revenge thriller’s sole saving grace

Whilst Dermot Mulroney won’t exactly see a career shift in the same manner as Liam Neeson did as an action-heavy persona in the wake of Taken, his rough and ready stature as a vigilante wrestling coach in Ruthless certainly works in his favour, and proves the film’s only true saving grace. Directed by Art Camacho…

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Film Review: Silent Night; John Woo’s dialogue-free actioner is brutally unique

Though prolific action director John Woo has maintained a steady hand behind the camera for decades now, it’s been 20 years since he helmed an American production; the last standing as the largely-forgotten Ben Affleck sci-fi leaning Paycheck. Returning stateside with a mentality that feels far removed from the oft-outlandish, budget-aplenty genre films he was…

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Interview: Joel Kinnaman on taking a risk in John Woo’s dialogue-free actioner Silent Night; “I realised it was a lot more demanding for me.”

From acclaimed Hong Kong-based action director, John Woo (Face/Off, Broken Arrow, Mission: Impossible II) comes Silent Night – his first American film in 20 years. Starring Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad, Robocop, Hanna), Silent Night tells the story of a man who witnesses the death of his young son on Christmas Eve, when the boy gets caught in…

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Interview: Catalina Sandino Moreno on the freedom of working without dialogue for John Woo’s Silent Night

Returning to the American filmic scene for the first time in 20 years, John Woo’s Silent Night is a bold, visceral tale of revenge told in the most unique of ways. Foregoing traditional dialogue, Woo’s violent, emotional action film emphasises the beating heart and the bloody pulp behind the slick choreography, with Joel Kinnaman leading…

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Film Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a journey of fantastical and comedic riches

23 years after Hollywood first attempted to adapt the Dungeons & Dragons phenomenon with an entirely forgettable fantasy that starred Jimmy Olsen from TV’s Lois & Clark, and had Marlon Wayans setting back racial stereotypes by a good few decades, the (studio) powers that be have opted to re-polish the IP, rolling the dice on…

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High On Life Review: As Funny as it is Functional

My first few hours with High On Life were something different, with the final product proving to be one of the most polarizing and subjective games I’ve played in recent memory. But it’s not for the reasons you might think. High On Life ticks many of the boxes associated with the first-person shooter genre; it’s…

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Film Review: Bullet Train is brutal, tongue-in-cheek fun guided by a bombastically charming Brad Pitt

The Hitman Vs. Assassin subsect of the action genre is one that rarely deviates from its rather tried and true formula; aside from a hefty injection of cash and a star-studded cast, something as recent as Netflix’s throwaway actioner The Gray Man is proof that the genre, even in 2022, seems comfortable resting on its…

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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Review: Victorious on and off the battlefield

I’ve always admired musou style games for their sheer intensity. Repeatedly hacking and slashing waves of villains never seems to get old, from the Dynasty Warriors franchise, to the more recent Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. As a result, the Fire Emblem franchise has decided to try its hand at the genre for the second…

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Interview: Director Michael Bay on injecting a level of humanism into the action of Ambulance

Since breaking out with 1995’s Bad Boys, director Michael Bay has been synonymous with the action genre.  Defying the critics year after year, Bay’s films have collectively grossed over $7.8 billion, making him one of the most successful directors in cinematic history. After taking a break from the big screen – he helmed 2019’s Netflix…

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Film Review: Panama indulges in an excessive aesthetic that speaks to Mel Gibson’s unbridled energy

Sporadically seen but frequently heard throughout via storytelling-like narration that speaks to the throwback era of filmmaking Panama adheres to, Mel Gibson waltzes in and out of Mark Neveldine‘s action effort with little care as to how his scene chewing is going to disrupt the heavy lifting supplied by co-star (and actual lead) Cole Hauser….

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Interview: Mark Williams on directing Blacklight with Liam Neeson and filming in Australia

Ever since 2008’s Taken reorganised Liam Neeson‘s career, the actor has embraced his action persona and, almost annually, kept his fans satiated with each subsequent outing. His latest release is Blacklight, a slightly more grounded action film where he stars as FBI operative Travis Block who uncovers a conspiracy within his own agency.  To coincide…

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Film Review: Blacklight opts for an emotional and political edge over standard action thrills

It’s almost hard to believe there was a time before Liam Neeson took an almost exclusive stance on the midrange-budgeted actioner where his character, usually an operative in some form or another, possessed enough of a skillset to inflict pain on an interchangeable villain.  It’s been the actor’s go-to for almost 15 years, and whilst…

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Film Review: Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City struggles to stay alive as it rests on horror cliches

Whilst I completely understand wanting to re-visit a fruitful series such as Resident Evil, one that pulled in significant coin despite being critically slaughtered, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City hardly makes such a trip worthwhile. For starters, Milla Jovovich, patron saint of these entirely disposable films, hasn’t been brought back.  Yes, it being a…

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Film Review: No Time To Die is an emotional swan song for Daniel Craig’s 007

Although it leans into the tropes of what we come to expect from the institution that is a James Bond film, and in some ways this 25th entrant is possibly the most self-aware of the pack, No Time To Die keeps largely in tune with the mentality of the wave of Daniel Craig-led films; the…

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Film Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an extravagant tale strengthened by the star-making turn from Simu Liu

Familiar with a little father-son friction thanks to his role on TV’s Kim’s Convenience, Simu Liu experiences similar, though considerably higher emotional stakes, but no less dramatic, as the titular warrior-to-be Shang-Chi in Marvel’s latest extravagant offering, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  There’s the typical end-of-the-world dilemma to contend with, but Destin…

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Film Review: The Ice Road is a by-the-numbers actioner buoyed by a surprising emotional current

Seemingly defined at this point in his career by the grizzly, no-nonsense avenger-types he encapsulates – first realised in the 2008 actioner Taken – The Ice Road eases up on Liam Neeson‘s menacing persona and gives his somewhat-everyman a blue collar temperament. He’s still out there risking his life, mind you, but it’s comparatively slightly…

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Win a double in-season pass to see Liam Neeson in The Ice Road

Thanks to Rialto Distribution we have five double passes to give away to the upcoming release of the action film The Ice Road, starring Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne, in Australian cinemas from August 12th, 2021. After a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, an ice driver leads an impossible rescue mission…

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Film Review: Gunpowder Milkshake overcomes genre familiarity with a sense of violent humour

Given how well she’s utilised her heart and her humour when leaning into the action heroine outfit – see the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji franchises for reference – it makes sense that both additives be applied to Karen Gillan‘s latest genre effort, the delightfully named Gunpowder Milkshake. Initially she’s a little too cold-hearted…

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Win a double in-season pass to see the female-led action film Gunpowder Milkshake

  Thanks to StudioCanal we have five double passes to give away to the upcoming release of the action film Gunpowder Milkshake, starring Karen Gillan, Michelle Yeoh, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett and Carla Gugino, in Australian cinemas from July 15th, 2021. Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite…

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Win a double in-season pass to see Pierce Brosnan in The Misfits

Thanks to Rialto Distribution we have ten double passes to give away to the upcoming release of the action thriller The Misfits, in Australian cinemas from July 1st, 2021. After being recruited by a group of unconventional thieves, renowned criminal Richard Pace (Pierce Brosnan) finds himself caught up in an elaborate gold heist that promises to have…

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Interview: Sung Kang on his return to the Fast & Furious franchise; “It’s very humbling”

Despite supposedly meeting his maker at the end of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Sung Kang‘s fan favourite character Han Lue is back in action for Fast & Furious 9.  Reuniting with director Justin Lin and Fast family patriarch Vin Diesel, Kang’s return to the franchise has been shrouded in mystery. As the…

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Henry Golding suits up in first Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins teaser

Set for an exclusive theatrical release in July this year, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Crazy Rich Asians breakout Henry Golding as the titular ninja commando made famous from his appearance in the G.I. Joe line of action figures, comic books and animated series. Known for his concealed appearance behind all-black attire and lack of vocals,…

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Film Review: Wrath of Man works primarily as a driving seat feature for Jason Statham

After making a name for himself in the late 90’s/early 2000’s with his distinct brand of British gangster villainy, writer/director Guy Ritchie seemed to trade in authenticity for capital.  The success of such studio projects as Sherlock Holmes and Aladdin seemed to gradually distance Ritchie from his more unkempt beginnings, before 2019’s The Gentlemen seemingly…

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Film Review: Ascendant harnesses its strength through its ability to surprise with both its story and psychology

Ascendant is one of those films that’s equally as difficult to write about it as it is deceptively simple.  A film that banks entirely on the fact that it unravels and reveals its narrative in an unexpected manner, Antaine Furlong‘s ambitious sci-fi-leaning action/thriller is a testament to the first time Australian filmmaker’s bold vision and…

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Interview: Nobody producer Kelly McCormick on being a female voice in a testosterone-filled genre

Following its box office success in the US – the film topped the North American chart as one of the few films to maintain a cinema-only rollout – Nobody is planning its Australian unleashing on April 1st (no joke!).  In relation to the film’s release (you can read our review here), Peter Gray chatted with…

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Film Review: Godzilla vs. Kong is a titan match not worth the spectator fee

You would think by now that the proprietors of the particular cinematic universe that encompasses films surrounding a giant ape and a radioactive lizard would gather that we really don’t care about the human characters involved.  Sure, it’s great for there to be suitably formed players, and in the case of these films they’re often…

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Film Review: Nobody is aware of how smart it needs to be in order to sell its action-driven lunacy

A film like Nobody is inevitably going to be likened to similarly-themed actioners such as John Wick and Taken.  And that’s not a bad thing, given how well-liked those films are (or, in the context of Taken, at least the first one), with the middle-aged-man-defending-what’s-rightfully-his narrative proving an easy sell.  Nobody is perhaps the easiest…

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First Impressions: Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is comforting in its canon familiarity

Right from the opening moments of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – an extended action sequence amid rock formations spearheaded by Anthony Mackie‘s Falcon – it’s evident that the intent of this show is to link it to the prototype of the Marvel canon we’ve come to expect.  After WandaVision took bold swings, this…

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