March is actively unfolding outside, the sun is already noticeably warming, spring winds are blowing through the streets, and we continue to work on the results of action films for 2018. The small number of comments under our materials this year seems somewhat depressing, but, as they like to repeat on TV nowadays: “Our cause is just!”
Today we will look at the nominations "Action or martial arts series" и "Comeback of the Year" for 2018 year.
Action or martial arts series 2018
It’s frankly pleasant that in recent years more and more interesting projects have appeared on television, including action-oriented ones. Often these are film adaptations of various comics, but there are also independent stories that took prizes in our voting.
In the desert of death. Season 3. Part 1. (2018) (25%)
If the year before last there was a post-apocalyptic series from the channel AMC modestly stood third on the podium, missing such mastodons as "The Punisher" и "Game of Thrones" forward, then in 2018 the story of the swordsman Sunny simply had no competition. The events in the third season, which for some reason were divided into two parts, are inflated to the absolute extreme and, despite the far from ideal script, are riveted to the screen.
"In the Desert of Death" - this is primarily about bright, interesting and deep characters, each of which is unique, from background to appearance. The local Wasteland is not a lifeless desert a la "Crazy Max" or Fallout , but a living and colorful world with its own laws and legends.
Well, we can safely say that “Desert” has the most beautiful fights that can be found on TV today. Yes, already from the first episode of the third season it becomes clear that the creators have completely gone into the notorious “wuxia”, actively using cables and the visual style of classic Chinese fairy tales. There are still excellent stuntmen working on the series, who make the charismatic actors look extremely convincing. Although, the main character performed Daniela Wu Doubles are needed only in extreme cases - after all, he is a very bright screen fighter. In addition, the cast was strengthened by another good on-screen fighter - Lewis Tan. Most votes and a gold medal!
Daredevil. Season 3 (2018) (19%)
It sometimes happens that the prize place is shared by two titles at once. The same thing happened with “silver” in the serial category. Comic in origin, but violent and noir in content "Daredevil" from Netflix и Marvel Since its release, it has been recognized by many foreign resources as one of the best series where the emphasis is on hand-to-hand action. Therefore, the blind warrior Matt Murdock performed Charlie Cox easily bypasses his comic opponents, although the same "Iron Fist" much more about martial arts than "Daredevil".
But here, it seems to us, it’s all about a cool story and well-built character lines that are interesting to watch and for whom you want to care. "Daredevil" in this regard, not a movie about superheroes in tights saving the world from a total threat, but a local thriller with a touch of neo-noir, where you believe in the drama and difficult choices, no matter what Mr. Stanislavsky says.
It's a shame that all the Netflix and Marvel projects have closed. But it’s especially sad that such high-quality comic series as “Daredevil" и "The Punisher" ended, because for an action fan they were at least interesting.
Cobra Kai (2018) (19%)
We live in a curious time of nostalgia for the past, which is expressed in many areas of media culture. Cinema, of course, is no exception. So there are endless remakes, remixes, reinterpretations, spin-offs, visual adaptations for “that time” and extremely sudden sequels. The news that the cult 80s youth drama about a karate kid would continue after almost 35 years was a little... disconcerting. But the final result was not only not upsetting, but also quite pleasing. Moreover, the new show from YouTube Premium has found a strong new fan base. What's the magic? "Cobra Kai"?
No matter how banal it may sound: all the gusto is in the presentation of the story. In essence, this is a coming-of-age drama, somewhat laced with humor. Moreover, we are talking not so much about schoolchildren (although about them too), but about the adult heroes of this series - successful businessman Daniel and loser Johnny, who are united by the events of the first "Karate Guy". The effect is enhanced by the fact that they returned to their roles Ralph Macchio, William Zabka and even Martin Cove! All of them, of course, have aged... But! Now these are experienced actors who can play drama, comedy and even emotionally convey complex moral choices.
In terms of hand-to-hand action, there is nothing special to catch here - the fights are made in the style of those very films about a karate guy, but in "Cobra Kai" such a decision does not cause rejection. On the contrary, despite modern gadgets and machines, the feel of the series is truly old-school and the fights from “that era” seem very organic here.
There are only 10 episodes of 20 minutes each, but the series is, as they say, “done.” And it’s extremely nice that "Cobra Kai" renewed for a second season. This is such retro magic and second place in our voting along with the cool Netflix "Daredevil".
Altered Carbon (2018) (13%)
Third place in our voting went to terry cyberpunk from Netflix "Altered Carbon". Being an adaptation of the fantasy novel of the same name Richard Morgan, “Carbon” offered the viewer not only a picturesque future, detective intrigue and interesting characters, but also action, which, importantly, was mostly hand-to-hand.
The main character, former warrior and revolutionary Takeshi Kovacs, is, among other things, a master of close combat, but due to the fact that Kovacs has different bodies at different times, his role changes from one to another. So, the main “body” of Kovacs was played by a spectacular Swede Joel Kinnaman, but the opportunity to wave his arms and legs in Takeshi’s body was given to Byron Mann и Willu Yun Lee.
In general, it’s quite clear why visitors to our site voted for this series: not only is everything here “expensive and chic,” it’s also not stupid, interesting and action-packed. Plus, the action scenes are very well shot. Solution Netflix renewing the series for a second season seems justified. And we give Altered Carbon bronze medal!
Comeback 2018
Over the past year, several famous names have made their return to the screens. We are, of course, talking about prominent roles after a long period or monotonous crafts in which the actors were completely lost. But the struggle for leadership in this category was so fierce that the golden pedestal had to be halved.
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Lucas) (15)%
Jean-Claude has always been an extremely controversial figure. Of course, we do not question his achievements in action cinema and his cult status, which inspired many boys and girls to pursue a career as an on-screen fighter (the same Scott Adkins и Amy Johnston), but there were always plenty of seditious thoughts in assessing his “creativity”. And, honestly, since the beginning of the 2000s, Uncle Vanya has had a total stagnation in good films. The only bright spots were "In hell" (2003) Ringo Lama and "J.K.V.D" (2008) Mabrouk El Mekri.
Summing up the results of 2016, visitors to our site chose Van Damme first in the nomination "Comeback of the Year", appreciating his Master Duran from the remake "Kickboxer" and his own alter ego from the series "Jean-Claude Van Johnson". Then it seemed that Uncle Vanya had taken a breath of fresh air and was now definitely focused on quality. But subsequent projects successfully buried this confidence.
And now, a year later, again ZhKVD is the main star of this nomination with another European project - a drama "Lucas". In spirit, atmosphere and mood it is the same "J.K.V.D." Mekri, only with a different plot and an even older action star in the central role. The film is really good and looks interesting. In fact, there is only one hand-to-hand scene, and that is at the beginning. But what a one! Realistic, slow, intense, and even filmed in one take until complete happiness.
Van Damme consistently plays drama well with a good director, but we have already seen this and guess that Jean-Claude is tired not in pretend, but in reality. And he was tired, apparently, of bad movies. However, here he is at ease, albeit without any obvious splits. But we no longer believe in miracles and do not expect new achievements from old Van Damme. And you?
Ray Park (Accident) (15%)
Breaking into the world of cinema with George Lucas' epic blockbuster "Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace" (1999) stuntman and martial artist Ray Park He so impressed everyone with his skills playing the role of Darth Maul that he was predicted to have a golden career as an action hero. However, the Briton has not had much luck with roles all these years. The last time Park let loose on screen was in 2014 in a cheap horror film "Genie". It would seem that everything is completely lost. But! It’s not for nothing that such a nomination exists.
Film by Jesse V. Johnson and Scott Adkins "Accident" brought together several big names from the world of combat cinema under one title. The now grown-up Ray Park, who played one of the hired killers opposing Adkins’ hero, also got there.
In fact, Park doesn't appear on camera without his on-screen partner Michael Jai White, but he noticeably draws attention to himself. Here Ray is a kind of angry and fat leprechaun with a red mustache, who is always running into trouble and using foul language.
In hand-to-hand terms, it turns out that Park also has something to show. Although he is heavier, he is still able to do high kicks, roundhouse kicks and jumps, and, unlike White, he falls on his own and without backups.
A little screen time is unlikely to turn out to be a full-fledged comeback, but still, it was extremely nice to see Ray Park on the screen. I would like to believe that the British film fighter will not be lost for years again.
Joe Taslim (The Night Follows Us) (14%)
Indonesian judo champion and actor Joe Taslim attracted attention from the very first "Reide", and his is not a title fight against Yayana Rukhyana breathed fresh air into the genre. But that was already in 2011, and over the past years it has become clear that Joe is a good multi-genre actor and one of those endless Asians who are expected in Hollywood to play minor roles as intermediate villains.
"Night is coming for us" - an Indonesian long-term project in which Taslim is the main star, playing the role of an assassin working for a triad. Joe in the film as an actor does not demonstrate anything like that, however, the character is written in such a way that he has nothing special to play here. But Taslim doesn’t just practice action scenes, he is interested and passionate about them - it’s clear. Fight between Taslim and Iko Uwaisom, who not only was the main villain of the film, but was also the fight director, is a kind of reference to the fight from "Reida", only longer, bloodier and more furious.
Taslim's return to hand-to-hand cinema, and even in a leading role, is truly a comeback that deserves at least second place in our voting.
William Zabka (Cobra Kai) (12%)
The American actor was a couple of votes behind Taslim William Zabka, standing on a bronze pedestal in this nomination. What a comeback! Comeback to all comebacks! Star "Karate Guy" and duologies "Hardest Impact" not only returned to the project, where he again got to wave his arms and legs, but also in his most popular role as the bully Johnny Lawrence.
Zabka has not remembered for a long time that in the 90s he represented himself precisely as an actor in action films. And here's a sudden series "Cobra Kai", where William returned to the iconic role. No, he doesn’t show anything cool in terms of fighting here. And the series is about something else. In the end, this is a kind of dramedy about self-discovery and such a difficult life. But, unlike Ralph Macchio, who also returned to the role of the karate guy that made him famous 25 years later, Zabka was given a fight scene, albeit a short one. And, despite the archaic choreography, it is clear that 53-year-old William still has gunpowder in the right place.
The entire first season of the series rests on Zabka: on his charisma, ability to competently convey the character’s drama, on his dark humor, etc. Rumor has it that the second season of “Cobra” will be through the eyes of Macchio. In the meantime, William takes the most deserved award of all the actors presented today - strong bronze!
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Tags: Altered Carbon, Cobra Kai, Daredevil, Into the badlands, Netflix, Byron Mann, Joe Taslim, Daniel Wu, Jean-Claude Van Damme, results of action cinema 2018, Lewis Tan, Martin Cove, Ralph Macchio, Ray Park, soap opera, Will Yun Lee, William Zabka, Charlie Cox, Joel Kinnaman
Tags: Altered Carbon, Cobra Kai, Daredevil, Into the badlands, Netflix, Byron Mann, Joe Taslim, Daniel Wu, Jean-Claude Van Damme, results of action cinema 2018, Lewis Tan, Martin Cove, Ralph Macchio, Ray Park, soap opera, Will Yun Lee, William Zabka, Charlie Cox, Joel Kinnaman
The JCVD is done, it’s all really uninteresting to him - the man is tired. We need to change his role.
It’s very nice that altered carbon still squeezed into the top, I was very impressed by this Swede, and yes - expensive, rich))