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Chicago – The 30th edition of the Chicago Underground Film Festival concludes their short run on Sunday, September 17th (8:30p), with the World Premiere of the documentary “For Kicks,” directed by veteran filmmaker Sean Patrick Fahey. For details and ticket info, click For Kicks.

Semi-retired Chicago security guard Eugene Thomas reflects on his life, music, and martial arts practice. Oh, and that decade between the 1980s and 90s when he was an international movie star, appearing in a dozen ninja movies filmed in Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Also featuring the legendary Ron van Clief (“The Black Dragon”), “For Kicks” is a unique doc exploring the history of black martial arts in the movies, and the African Americans who became legion.

Closing Night CUFF30: ’For Kicks,’ Directed by Sean Patrick Fahey

Photo credit: CUFF30.org

A global champion of the underground scene, the Chicago Underground Film Festival...

A singularly wacky moment in film history is poked in “Enter the Clones of Bruce.” It surveys the years immediately following Bruce Lee’s untimely 1973 death, when the sudden international thirst for martial arts movies that he’d awoken could seemingly only be slaked by the man himself — or by a host of imitators who popped up under lookalike pseudonyms.

David Gregory’s documentary won’t convince most viewers that the resulting flood of opportunistic cheapies are worth more extensive investigation. But they’re certainly cheesy fun in excerpt, and interviews with surviving participants provide an entertaining window into an anything-goes heyday for Hong Kong cinema. Premiering in Tribeca’s midnight section, this high-kicking flashback should appeal to the same fans who previously enjoyed such prior psychotronic excavations as “Not Quite Hollywood,” “Electric Boogaloo” or this director’s own prior investigations of cult figures Al Adamson and Richard Stanley.

When...

Upon his death in 1973, Bruce Lee left a legacy of martial arts and kung-fu that left ripples across the cinematic landscape that was especially challenged in Hong Kong which tried, wave after wave of imitators to recapture the magic and grace of the fallen star. While most of the projects were relegated to cult status at best, filmmaker Matthew Mallinson attempted a different approach with this meta-take on the legend of Bruce Lee which now comes packaged together in a special 40th Anniversary edition from The Film Detective.

Also, as a result of delays, Fist of Fear, Touch of Death is now available for pre-order on The Film Detective website in a limited-edition Blu-ray ($24.99) or on DVD ($19.99)—With a pressing of just 1,500 Blu-rays. Fans can secure a copy (which will be shipped Asap) at www.thefilmdetective.com/fist-of-fear.

As the world gathers for a new kung-fu display, participants from around the world including Fred Williamson,...

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

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Blaxploitation? No, Bruceploitation!

The Film Detective Presents 40th Anniversary Edition of the

Cult Classic Fist of Fear, Touch of Death on Blu-ray & DVD

Collector’s Set 4K Restoration With Exclusive Special Features

(With Blood-Red, Blu-ray Case), Available March 31st

Rockport, Mass. — March 23, 2020 — For Immediate Release — The Film Detective (Tfd), a leading classic media streaming network and film archive that restores classic films for today's cord-cutters, is proud to announce the 40th anniversary edition of the cult classic Fist of Fear, Touch of Death in a special collector’s set.First presented in 1980 by veteran distributor and producer Terry Levene and director Matthew Mallinson, the action-packed Fist of Fear, Touch of Death premiered as one of the final pieces of the Bruceploitation era.

A subgenre of 1970s cinema, Bruceploitation clung to the box office success of...

The Film Detective (Tfd), a leading classic media streaming network and film archive that restores classic films for today’s cord-cutters, is proud to announce the 40th anniversary edition of the cult classic “Fist of Fear, Touch of Death” in a special collector’s set.

First presented in 1980 by veteran distributor and producer Terry Levene and director Matthew Mallinson, the action-packed Fist of Fear, Touch of Death premiered as one of the final pieces of the Bruceploitation era.

A subgenre of 1970s cinema, Bruceploitation clung to the box office success of the Bruce Lee legacy after the star’s untimely demise in 1973, utilizing Lee lookalikes and archival footage from the legend himself. Carving a niche within the grindhouse market, Bruceploitation not only appealed to fans of the day, but has generated a cult status in recent years.

True to Bruceploitation fashion, “Fist of Fear, Touch of Death...

The Film Detective (Tfd), a leading classic media streaming network and film archive that restores classic films for today’s cord-cutters, is proud to announce the 40th anniversary edition of the cult classic Fist of Fear, Touch of Death in a special collector’s set.First presented in 1980 by veteran distributor and producer Terry Levene and director Matthew Mallinson, the action-packed Fist of Fear, Touch of Death premiered as one of the final pieces of the Bruceploitation era.

In addition to a restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, this 40th anniversary set has special features you won’t want to miss…​

A featurette of behind-the-camera takes on the film in brand new interviews with Fist of Fear, Touch of Death actors Fred Willaimson and Ron Van Clief, producer Terry Levene, director Matthew Mallinson, and scriptwriter Ron HarveyOriginal theatrical trailerLiner notes from Will Sloan and Justin Decloux, hosts of The...

Demetrius Angelo is the founder of the Urban Action Showcase and Expo (Uase) which

advocates diversity and celebrates the multicultural achievements in the blockbuster Action

genre of Heroes. The Uase was created out of concern for the lack of positive Heroic role

models of color in the Action film genre. We are trying to play a part in the shifting of the

common and unflattering portrayal of minorities in entertainment. We do this in several ways from encouraging the craft through our Uas International Action Film Festival platform competitions which boasts the Cinemax Action Short Film Competition , by exposing previous works that represent positively and teaching all necessary skills of the trade.

About Urban Action Showcase and Expo

The Urban Action Showcase and Expo (Uase) is the premier entertainment platform celebrating diversity and honoring the past, present and future multicultural achievements within the blockbuster Action genre including Adventure, Fantasy, Grindhouse,...

Craig Lines Feb 7, 2018

The Last Dragon was quite a different martial arts film. We dig into its story, and what happened...

When I was a kid in the local video library, I worked my way through as many martial arts films as I could, renting literally anything that had a bare-chested dude in a fighting stance on the cover. One film that fit the description, but stood out as being very different, was The Last Dragon.

As the brainchild of Berry Gordy, the mastermind behind Motown Records, it mixes martial arts, music, supernatural adventure, Bruceploitation, comedy and dance to surprisingly dazzling effect. The soundtrack is a showcase of what Motown Records was about in the mid-80s (arguably a second golden age for them), and its lead single – Rhythm Of The Night by DeBarge – should be familiar to anyone who knows their pop classics. But, far from being a flimsy...

http://www.movingimage.us/films/2014/01/02/detail/fist-and-sword-2014/

urbanactionshowcase.com

Warrington Hudlin is a renowned Director/Producer and Martial Artist, last year he was on the panel at the Urban Action Showcase and could be back in November to help out once again. Warrington presents a monthly Martial Arts Action film screenings, usually followed by a Q&A with the Stars in NYC called Fist and Sword Martial Arts Films at the Museum of the Moving Image, where he is the Trustee and Curator.

Warrington Hudlin has also built up online communities and online media to show how disruptive power of the internet can be and show a new way of creative freedom. He has been a powerful figure in the Black film movement and has been involved in the business for over 3 decades. He continues his fantastic work and to spread his message to the world and with Fist And...

http://www.urbanactionshowcase.com

https://www.facebook.com/UrbanActionShowcase?fref=ts

Urban Action Showcase is an event to showcase action and martial arts to the world. The events are presented by Action Scene Combat (Asc) Productions, a production company which was founded in 2000 by Demetrius Angelo. Demetrius worked on movies and tv shows, not only as a fight choreographer, but also as an actor and director. Some of them include S.E.A.L.S Domestic Warfare (TV series), 3 X Harder: My Man’s and ‘Em and more. Demetrius also has a great background in Martial Arts, studying in styles such as Western Boxing, Chinese Boxing, Kobudo and many more.

Past events have brought many stars which include Michael jai White (Blood And Bone), Robert Samuels (Dont Give A Damn), Kelly Hu (Martial Law), Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, Ron Van Clief and many more great stars. Urban Action also brings you workshops to get involved with,...