Woovember
Current Events:
Watch an action film set on a train to celebrate the claustrophobic intensity of Kill (Red Sun, The Gauntlet, Millionaire's Express)
Watch an action film starring Sammo Hung because he's still kicking ass in Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Millionaire's Express)
Memorial Special:
Corey Yuen (2022) (Kiss of the Dragon, Millionaire's Express)
Roger Corman (May 9, 2024) (Death Race)
Anniversary Special:
Watch an action film directed by James Cameron to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Terminator (T2 3D)
Death Race (2008 via Prime)
I've a bit of a soft spot for the original film as it's such a curio and a product of the time.
This film is also a product of its time too - remake, Statham, Paul W.S. Anderson action film, gritty colours.
I think Roger Corman's involvement was probably just adding his name to the credits, if I'm honest, but I ended up finding this a perfectly watchable Statham vehicle that I happily watched to the end with the ignition to my brain switched off.
I think I mentioned at the time I first saw it that the cars reminded me of the Matchbox toy car spinoff of the Roadblasters arcade where you could put plastic armour and weapons on them.

Terminator 2 3D (Via Blu-Ray)
I dunno, as the years go by, I like this less and the original more.
I just found the no-kills and humanising of the Terminator a bit silly, with Arnie grinning as he finds a minigun.
It's still an amazing film, excellent example of a sequel upping the stakes and total thrill ride.
3D is decent in this too. Fave shot being where Sarah Connor shoots the T1000 and we see her through the gaping hole in his head.
Millionaire's Express (1986 via Blu-Ray)
Any reason to dig out this Eastern-Western is fine by me!
Apart from Jackie Chan, I can't think of anyone else from 80s Hong Kong films that isn't in this, even just cameos.
There's plenty of humour in this that translates to Western audiences, like Richard Ng happily trotting along the train roof to see his mistress or when a dozen people are hiding in a hotel room and they all pretend that they're spies to avoid getting in trouble, but it's the action that we're here for.
Particularly epic is Yuen Biao Vs. Dick Wei, Richard Norton Vs. Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Ôshima Vs. a dozen baddies and Sammo Hung Vs. Cynthia Rothrock.

It's not just the fights that are epic, but some of the stunts are nuts with people falling of buildings awl o'er the shop.
Yuen Biao jumps from the top of a burning building, lands and carries on acting.
It's the way the fights are framed too, giving it the sense that lots is happening simultaneously, rather than the bad guys lining up to get kicked.
Action moves from the fore to background and other fighters step in and we follow them instead.
It's this ability to frame the action is what has always set Hung apart, IMHO.
Current Events:
Watch an action film set on a train to celebrate the claustrophobic intensity of Kill (Red Sun, The Gauntlet, Millionaire's Express)
Watch an action film starring Sammo Hung because he's still kicking ass in Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Millionaire's Express)
Memorial Special:
Corey Yuen (2022) (Kiss of the Dragon, Millionaire's Express)
Roger Corman (May 9, 2024) (Death Race)
Anniversary Special:
Watch an action film directed by James Cameron to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Terminator (T2 3D)
Death Race (2008 via Prime)
I've a bit of a soft spot for the original film as it's such a curio and a product of the time.
This film is also a product of its time too - remake, Statham, Paul W.S. Anderson action film, gritty colours.
I think Roger Corman's involvement was probably just adding his name to the credits, if I'm honest, but I ended up finding this a perfectly watchable Statham vehicle that I happily watched to the end with the ignition to my brain switched off.
I think I mentioned at the time I first saw it that the cars reminded me of the Matchbox toy car spinoff of the Roadblasters arcade where you could put plastic armour and weapons on them.
Terminator 2 3D (Via Blu-Ray)
I dunno, as the years go by, I like this less and the original more.
I just found the no-kills and humanising of the Terminator a bit silly, with Arnie grinning as he finds a minigun.
It's still an amazing film, excellent example of a sequel upping the stakes and total thrill ride.
3D is decent in this too. Fave shot being where Sarah Connor shoots the T1000 and we see her through the gaping hole in his head.
Millionaire's Express (1986 via Blu-Ray)
Any reason to dig out this Eastern-Western is fine by me!
Apart from Jackie Chan, I can't think of anyone else from 80s Hong Kong films that isn't in this, even just cameos.
There's plenty of humour in this that translates to Western audiences, like Richard Ng happily trotting along the train roof to see his mistress or when a dozen people are hiding in a hotel room and they all pretend that they're spies to avoid getting in trouble, but it's the action that we're here for.
Particularly epic is Yuen Biao Vs. Dick Wei, Richard Norton Vs. Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Ôshima Vs. a dozen baddies and Sammo Hung Vs. Cynthia Rothrock.

It's not just the fights that are epic, but some of the stunts are nuts with people falling of buildings awl o'er the shop.
Yuen Biao jumps from the top of a burning building, lands and carries on acting.
It's the way the fights are framed too, giving it the sense that lots is happening simultaneously, rather than the bad guys lining up to get kicked.
Action moves from the fore to background and other fighters step in and we follow them instead.
It's this ability to frame the action is what has always set Hung apart, IMHO.
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