A coming of age drama about four adopted brothers, and the surrogate father who raised them as his own. Their fear of rejection from society, and their father’s haunted past, keep them hidden away from the outside world, though they long for a life of normalcy. With a passion for culture, the arts, and Italian cuisine, they hope to one day be able to experience the joys life has to offer, while being accepted by the citizens of New York City…. oh, and they just happen to be KICK-ASS NINJAS! That’s right, this week Gavin and I are reviewing one of greatest comic book/martial arts/independent films ever made, the ORIGINAL ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’! Directed by music video maestro Steve Barron and backed by martial arts production royalty in the form of Golden Harvest, this totally tubular 90’s ninja flick is not your typical, franchise based film adaptation. Witty and lighthearted, yet equally as dark and gritty, this slickly shot and dynamically executed martial arts extravaganza is so much more than just a family friendly feature. With brilliant camerawork, editing, lighting, and a kick-ass score to boot, TMNT ascends genre cliches, and elevates itself to the level of a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster! Groundbreaking costumes and effects help accentuate the mesmerizing, visceral action of the turtles, whether they are battling Shredder and the Foot Clan, or dancing and chowing down on some delicious pizza! With how much of a personal influence the Ninja Turtles and this film in particular have had on us, this episode was an absolute blast to record! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy! Cowabunga dudes!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Jackie Chan

New episode alert! This week Gavin and I are attempting the difficult task of reviewing the new Netflix buddy action film, ‘Hidden Strike’, starring the one and only Jackie Chan and wrestling superstar turned leading man John Cena. Why is it difficult you ask? Did we like the film? Did we hate the film? Well…. we have mixed feelings to say the least. If you want to know how we TRULY feel about the film, you will have to listen to find out! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Jackie Chan Cinema: Hidden Strike

When corruption runs rampant, and the powerful exploit the weak, only a hero can defend the people, and bring the unjust to their knees. A Robin Hood of the east must team up with a Chinese folk hero in order to bring down a powerful government official with a deadly Buddha palm! Death-dealing nuns, killer Shaolin monks, and an army of soldiers can’t stop the righteous efforts of the one and only… IRON MONKEY! Listen in as we discuss the 1993 “wire-fu” classic, ‘Iron Monkey’, directed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping and produced by visionary filmmaker Tsui Hark. Included in this over the top martial arts extravaganza is a diverse and eclectic cast, led by superstar Donnie Yen, genre favorite Yu Rongguang, and… a female Wong Fei Hung?! Add to that some absolutely INSANE fight scenes, and this film is perfect for die-hard martial arts film aficionados, or those interested in dipping their toes into the world of Kung Fu cinema for the first time! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Iron Monkey

One is an illegal immigrant on the run from a ruthless Hong Kong gangster. The other, a struggling student from Taiwan just trying to make his father proud. Their paths cross in the most unlikely of circumstances, but together they must survive the mean streets of…. CHINATOWN! That’s right, this week we are taking a look at the 1977 Shaw Brothers Kung Fu classic, ‘Chinatown Kid’. Directed by genre pioneer Chang Cheh, and starring one of the biggest superstars of the era, Alexander Fu Sheng, this gripping tale of struggle, brotherhood, and revenge, delivers plenty of hard-hitting action, as well as a surprising amount of social commentary as well. Today’s episode is extra long as we spend a good 30 minutes trying to dissect how many different versions/edits there are of this film, and how the plot completely changes depending on which version you watch! We also take a look at the amazing Kung Fu battles, the thematic elements which make it a surprising entry in the long list of Hong Kong migration films, as well the interesting and tragic career of Alexander Fu Sheng. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Shaw Brothers Cinema: Chinatown Kid

This week we are tackling one of my all time favorite old school Kung Fu movies, and perhaps the first one I ever saw! That’s right, we are discussing the 1979 Jackie Chan classic, ‘The Fearless Hyena’! Crazy villains?! ✅ Non-stop Kung Fu battles? ✅ Hyenas galore?!…. uhhh no ❌ BUT there is a unicorn!… sort of🦄. If epically intense fight scenes, with crazy intricate choreography are your sort of thing, then you should check this one out ASAP! See a young Jackie Chan at his athletic prime jump, kick, punch, and cross-dress (wait what?!) his way to victory!  Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Jackie Chan Cinema: The Fearless Hyena

Chuck Norris

In honor of America’s birthday, we have a special Chuck Norris 4th of July episode for you this time around! If a karate kickin’, beer drinkin’, ex-marine Texas Ranger who drives a Dodge Ram Supercharger while battling gun smugglers and cartel bosses doesn’t scream “AMERICA”, then I don’t know what does! That’s right, we are taking a look at Chuck’s greatest film EVER- ‘Lone Wolf Mcquade’! This 1983 action classic features a modern day cowboy in a film heavily influenced by Spaghetti westerns, who uses guns, grenades, and grade A martial arts to bring down the bad guys! It’s a western! It’s an eastern! It’s American! It’s Italian! And shot entirely in and around the El Paso area in Texas, it’s also got some Mexican influence as well! Like our great country, it’s an amalgamation of multiple cultures all wrapped up into one! Heavily influenced by the style of Sergio Leone, yet maintaining a unique sense of individuality, this film is a must watch for any true action film fan! You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Chuck Norris Cinema- Lone Wolf McQuade!

Imagine you and your best mate are having the time of your life on the beautiful mediterranean coast of Malta. You’ve started a successful business, things are looking up, and all is good! Then, OUT OF NOWHERE, your life is interrupted by ninjas, killer clowns, vampires, and Italian mobsters. You’ve got to fend off a horde of assassins, while simultaneously playing bodyguard to the most ungrateful, spoiled mafia brat you could imagine- whose sh*t (both literally and figuratively) is driving you crazy. Throw into the mix a wild Kung Fu master looking to test your skills at the most inopportune moments, and a surrogate father figure who is about as loving as the Predator, and you’ll get just a TASTE of what Mike Fallon has to deal with in ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday’. A crazy, fun, action-packed martial arts extravaganza that will have you laughing from start to finish, this sequel to 2018’s ‘Accident Man’ far surpasses the original, and puts itself up there as one of the greatest VOD films of all time. With the look and feel of a major studio production, top-notch fight choreography, an extremely clever and legitimately hilarious script, as well as a phenomenal cast (including a scene stealing performance by Sara Chang), this is a film that just about anyone can have a good time watching! If you haven’t seen the first one, no worries, this is practically a stand alone film that gives you a rundown of the previous movie’s events and gets you up to date. Currently available on Hulu, I STRONGLY suggest you give this a watch ASAP! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy! And WHATEVER you do.. don’t forget the safe word… FLAMINGO!

Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday

A technological advancement that threatens the human race as we know it, a corrupt senator vying for ultimate power, and the one good cop who must travel through time and space to stop him, while saving the woman he loves… and still finding time to do the FREAKIN’ SPLITS! That’s right, this week we are taking a look back at the 1994 science fiction epic, ‘Timecop’! Directed by genre veteran Peter Hyams and starring the one and only muscles from Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme, this action-packed thrill ride hardly gives the viewer a chance to catch their breath! A non-stop barrage of shoot outs, explosions, and fist fights galore, integrated into a fun (albeit slightly disjointed) science fiction thriller, ‘Timecop’ will keep even the most jaded of viewers entertained. With a strong leading man performance from JCVD, and a wickedly good villainous outing by Ron Silver, this popcorn action flick is the perfect escapist entertainment we could all use once in a while! Now currently available to stream for free on Tubi, I highly suggest you give this one a go!  Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Timecop

This week, we are discussing our epically good time we had upon our return to the New Beverly Cinema! This time around, it was a hyper-kinetic Kung Fu double feature of ‘A Book of Heroes’ (1986) and ‘Kickboxer’s Tears’ (1992). The first- a balls to the wall, zany, Taiwanese action comedy with some of the craziest and impressive fight scenes you’ve ever seen! The second- A Hong Kong martial arts melodrama dealing with the shady world of underground boxing, forbidden love, and bloody revenge! With both film featuring the legendary Yukarki Oshima, and ‘Kickboxer’s Tears’ being led by genre favorite Moon Lee, it was a “girls with guns” double dose that left the entire theater cheering, gasping, and wincing in pain! Listen in as we discuss both movies, are experience at the New Beverly and hanging out with our friends Juan, Aaron, and former podcast guest Tiger Sheu! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Return to the New Beverly- 'A Book of Heroes' and 'Kickboxer's Tears'!

New episode alert! This week, Gavin and I are tackling one of the greatest Kung Fu movies of all time. YES, we have said this before, but this is truly one of the masterpieces of old school Kung Fu Cinema- ‘Martial Club’ (1981). Directed by Kung Fu visionary Lau Kar Leung, and starring the iconic Gordon Liu as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, this master class in martial arts filmmaking has all the elements of an all-time classic, and it doesn’t disappoint! With an emphasis on 武德 or “martial arts ethics”, this picture showcases not only the physical aspects of Chinese martial arts, but also the honor and morals that go along with it. You’ve got North vs. South, kicks vs. fists, righteous vs. dishonest-this along with ferocious fight scenes from start to finish, and an opening lion dance sequence that has to be seen to be believed, and ‘Martial Club’ delivers one heck of a ride! To add to all of that, you’ve got some of the most technical Kung Fu choreography ever displayed on screen, which is why it’s easy to see why ‘Martial Club’ might just be the pinnacle of Kung Fu cinema! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Martial Club

This is a podcast devoted to anything and everything martial arts, but specifically Kung Fu movies and the American martial arts flicks we grew up watching and loving. Hosted by super fans A.J. Richardi and Gavin Kelley. Logo courtesy of The Union Designs.

This week, Gavin and I get to share our AWESOME experience we had viewing an absolutely AMAZING entry from the golden era of Hong Kong martial arts cinema, ON THE BIG SCREEN! Not only that, it was a rare first time viewing for the both of us! I am talking about the 1990 action epic, ‘Licence to Steal.’ Starring Joyce Mina Godenzi (aka Mrs. Sammo Hung) and featuring one of the best supporting casts ever assembled, including superstar Yuen Biao, comedic genius Richard Ng, up and coming martial arts dynamo Colin Chou, World Kickboxing Champion Billy Chow- and that’s just to name a few! Directed by veteran Hong Kong stuntman/actor Billy Chan, and produced by Sammo Hung himself, this film features non-stop martial arts action of the highest caliber from start to finish. With fist fights galore, cat and mouse games of master thieves, and an eclectic cast of characters that have to be seen to be believed, this movie has a little something for everyone to enjoy! With a highly captivating opening Kendo battle, and not one, but TWO jaw-dropping final fight scenes, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! We want to thank the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for putting on this amazing evening of films as part of their moth long tribute to Sammo Hung! We hope they make this an annual tradition and look forward to whichever martial arts star they may decide to feature next year!  You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Licence to Steal

New episode alert! This week, Gavin and I are discussing one of the most beloved Cantonese Kung Fu comedies of all time, the Golden Harvest classic ‘Knockabout’. Directed by and co-starring everyone’s favorite martial arts filmmaker, Sammo Hung, and starring his younger Peking Opera brother, the extroardinary Yuen Biao, this tale of ruthlessness, righteousness, and revenge will leave your jaw on the floor with its absolutely incredible martial arts sequences! With a stellar supporting cast including a fantastic comedic turn from Leung Kar Yan (aka Beardy), an absolutely treacherous villain in Leung Kar Wing, and a plethora of other familiar faces from the era, fans of the genre are in for a real treat. Far more than your standard “Kung Fu flick”, ‘Knockabout’ delivers in every aspect, including one HELL OF A FINALE, full of flips, kicks, falls, and…. jump rope?! You’ll have to check it out to see for yourself! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Knockabout

This week, Gavin and I are discussing one of the best martial arts movies of the past decade that you probably missed, and maybe one of the GREATEST Manga adaptations to ever hit the big screen… ‘Blade of the Immortal’! Directed by the visionary action maestro Takashi Miike and based off of the long running manga of the same named created by Hiroaki Samura, this bloody, battle-tactic, Bushido bonanza will leave you on the edge of your seat! The story follows Manji, a samurai cursed with immortality, who reluctantly becomes the bodyguard for Rin, a young woman out for revenge against the ruthless assassins that wiped out her entire clan. Filled with non-stop swordplay, intricate action design, some the coolest manga characters come to life you have ever seen, and a plethora of wild weaponry, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this one! With a truly enthralling performance by iconic J-Pop star and actor Takuya Kimura as our grizzled protagonist Manji, as well as a stellar supporting cast who are as diverse as they are captivating, every scene keeps your eyes glued to the screen as you wait to see what insane scenario our characters find themselves in next. Listen in as we break down everything from the high-intensity swordplay, the genius of director Takashi Miike, and why this film succeeds where others have failed. You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Blade of the Immortal

This week, Gavin and I have a VERY special treat for you guys. International espionage? ✅  Nefarious criminal organization? ✅ Helicopter battles?✅ And most importantly….. NINJAS!? ✅🥷 That’s right, We are FINALLY tackling our first James Bond movie- ‘You Only Live Twice’. Starring the OG 007 himself, Sir Sean Connery, this film is the 5th entry in the long running series, and one of the most fun to boot! This time around, we see Bond investigating the mysterious disappearance of both Soviet and American spaceships, heightening tensions between these two nations during the already tense Cold War. Although both governments blame each other, her Majesty’s Secret service believes there are other powers at play, and send Bond to investigate before tensions escalate between the two super powers, and the Cold War becomes a whole hell of a lot hotter! Set almost exclusively in Japan, viewers are treated to absolutely beautiful locales, authentic Japanese culture, and most importantly for this podcast, some legit martial arts sequences involving sumo, Kyokushin Karate, and other various forms of Budo! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

You Only Live Twice

New episode alert! This time around, Gavin and I are giving you the 4th edition of our ‘Kung Fu Comfort Films’. Listen in as we share 5 movies each that we go back to time and time again. Whether we want to sit down and just get lost in a great action movie, or simply need some background noise as we work on other things, our Kung Fu comfort films are nostalgic favorites that never disappoint. This list is a lot of fun as we jump back and forth between Hong Kong and American martial arts cinema, including one ultimate 80’s action flick that everybody needs to check out! You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Kung Fu Comfort Films Part 4

New episode alert! We’ve got a special treat for you this time around, as we are reviewing one of the most unique and powerful martial arts pictures from the early 2000’s. The gritty, action-packed, psychological crime thriller ‘Unleashed’ aka ‘Danny the Dog’. Starring the one and only Jet li, and produced and written by French filmmaker extraordinaire Luc Besson, this film serves as one of the best examples of not only Li’s incredible physical abilities, but his stellar acting chops as well. Featuring an incredible supporting cast led by Morgan Freeman and the late Bob Hoskins, as well as fight choreography by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping, this picture has all the ingredients to be an action classic- and it definitely doesn’t disappoint! Far more than your standard Hollywood popcorn flick from that time, ‘Unleashed’ gives viewers a story they can get behind, characters they are invested in, and action that will keep them on the edge of their seats! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Unleashed

This week, Gavin and I are taking our first exploration into the world of Cambodian cinema, looking at the epic 2017 action thriller ‘Jailbreak’. Starring French martial artist/ stuntman Jean-Paul Ly as well as Dara Our and Tharoth Sam (experts in the ancient Cambodian martial art style of Bokator) this hard-hitting martial arts extravaganza can be looked at as Cambodia’s answer to ‘The Raid’. However, rather than simply produce a derivative copycat, director Jimmy Henderson and fight choreographer Ly offer us a truly captivating film with its own unique action style and technical slickness. Listen in as we breakdown everything from kinetic and visually captivating fight scenes, the star presence of lead Jean-Paul Ly, and why there needs to be more Bokator films! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Also, make sure and watch this film on Netflix before it leaves May 1st! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Cambodian Cinema: Jailbreak

This week, Gavin and I are going OLD SCHOOL and tackling an early Kung Fu film from the ‘Basher’ era- a time before the slick, fast paced, and clean choreography of the late 70’s. Back when things were still mean, gritty, and rough and tumble! Listen in as we discuss ‘The Prodigal Boxer’, a 1972 retelling of the Chinese folk hero Fong Sai-Yuk! Starring Meng Fei as the titular character, this version of the story has him going into seclusion to train under the tutelage of his mother, after his father is murdered at the hands of two treacherous martial arts expert brothers-one of whom is played by the legendary Yasuaki Kurata! We break down everything from the extremely unique, artistic approach of director Yang-Ming Tsai, the intriguing storyline, and of course the fight sequences, which set themselves apart from other entries of the ‘Basher’ era thanks to the genius choreography of Lau Kar-Wing and the performances of both Meng Fei and Kurata Sensei. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

The Prodigal Boxer

New episode alert! This week, Gavin and I are reviewing the brand-new action epic, John Wick: Chapter 4! It’s hard to put down in words just how extraordinary this film is, so I’m going to keep it brief. If non-stop martial arts melees, ballistic bullet ballets, and crazy colorful characters are your jam, then you are absolutely going to love this cinematic experience! With so many stars giving career defining performances, from the legendary Donnie Yen, to martial arts maestro Scott Adkins, Keanu Reeves has one of the greatest supporting casts in action cinema history backing him up. Throw in Marko Zaror and Hiroyuki Sanada on top of that, and you are in for one hell of a ride! Listen in as we breakdown everything from the absolutely brilliant fight scenes, the amazing cinematography, and hands down THE BEST NUNCHUKS SEQUENCE EVER CAPTURED ON FILM!  Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! If you haven’t already gone to see John Wick: 4 in theaters, do so immediately! You won’t regret it. Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!

John Wick: Chapter 4

New episode alert! This week, Gavin and I are finishing off Women’s History Month with an absolute BANG! We are taking a look at the brand-new Netflix martial arts picture, ‘Furies’- a hyperkinetic thrill-ride filled with more carnage, calamity, and chaos than you could possibly imagine! A prequel to the epic 2019 Vietnamese martial arts actioner ‘Furie’, this time around, star Veronica Ngo steps behind the camera to take over directorial duties as we are given the back story of the nefarious ‘Wolf’ character from the first film. We bear witness to the horrific childhood of our protagonist ‘Bi’, which leads her to the mean streets of Saigon, and eventually has her falling under the tutelage of savage vigilante Jacqueline aka ‘Aunt Lin’ (played by Veronica Ngo in a brand-new role). After teaming up with Aunt Lin’s other two proteges, Thanh and Hong, she is given the tools and training needed to become a ferocious killer herself and take vengeance on a sinister crime syndicate that has been exploiting the women of Saigon for too long. However, as she dives deeper and deeper into the dark and sadistic underbelly of society, she finds not everything is as it seems, and not everyone is who they claim to be. For fans of the newer, frenetic style of camera work found in pictures such as ‘The Villainess’ and ‘Carter’, you are going to be genuinely delighted by the abundant amount of action on display. For fans of the more grounded and traditional style of martial arts cinema, you will still find enough to enjoy in the carnage that plays out on screen, which can be looked at as an updated homage to the heroic bloodshed pictures of the early Shaw Brothers days. However, this time around, the theme of chivalrous brotherhood is flipped on its head and replaced with valiant sisterhood! For any and all fans in general, you will appreciate the brilliance of Veronica Ngo’s directing, and the absolutely hellacious yet mesmerizing mise-en-scène she creates for the setting of the film. WARNING- this movie is EXTREMELY violent and contains multiple disturbing images and scenes of sexual assault and exploitation. This is definitely an R-rated picture not suited for the whole family! Also, there are some MINIMAL spoilers throughout this episode. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! We highly recommend you check out this picture and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Veronica Ngo as a director, and what could possibly come next in the ‘Furie’ universe! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Furies

The Martial Arts Mania Podcast

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