Trailer Tuesday

“Get over here!”

Welcome to another #TrailerTuesday. We’ve got some exciting trailers with the likes of Michael Jai White, the reboot of Mortal Kombat, animated kung fu and more.  Strap in and get ready for #TrailerTuesday! 

Jiang Ziya

Directed by Teng Cheng and Wei Li

Starring Zheng Xi, Yang Ning, Tute Hameng, Yan Meme, Hi Guanlin, Shan Xin

Plot: To earn his place amongst the gods, celestial army commander Jiang Ziya must vanquish a terrifying fox demon threatening the very existence of the mortal realm. After learning the creature’s fate is tied to that of a young girl, Jiang Ziya disobeys Heaven’s edict and spares the demon, resulting in his banishment to the mortal realm. Ten years later, he is given one more chance to complete the task, and Jiang Ziya must decide: is joining the ranks of the heavens worth the price of one innocent life?

Film Fan Dojo reaction: The animation looks awesome in this follow up to the box office hit Ne Zha and the second feature in the Fengshen Cinematic Universe!  The Chinese animation film has come a long way in recent years and the English dubbing seems on point too! We get a look into the world of gods, demons, and mortals in this trailer! I am looking forward to seeing some animated Wushu and the fight amongst the gods and demons! Jiang Ziya was released on February 9, 2021 an is currently available on DVD, Blu-Ray, Digital and VOD from Well Go USA.

Russian Raid

Directed by Denis Kryuchkov

Starring

Ivan Kotik, Alexander Krasovsky, Elias Antonenko, Vladimir Mineev, Nikita Kologrivy, Sophya Ozerova, Kirill Sarychev

Plot: Long after the murder of his father—a secret agent killed in a missile factory raid—former special forces operative Nikita (played by renowned stuntman Ivan Kotik) returns to Russia as a mercenary. He leads an elite team on a top-dollar heist targeting the same facility, but no one else knows his true objective is revenge.

Film Fan Dojo reaction: Sword fights, hammer swinging, explosions, and multi-person fights, what’s not to like? Well Go USA scores another one as Russian Raid seems like it’s running on all the action cylinders. Obviously, a homage to Gareth Evans’ The Raid, this trailer tries hard to pack in the action drama and intensity of the modern action classic. It does a decent job of creating an action environment with the aforementioned emphasis on the fight scene clips where we are teased that we will get plenty of hand to hand, hand vs weapon, and weapon vs weapon combat. I am looking forward to watching this film and I hope ,that while the filmmakers were influenced by The Raid, they will use it as a framework to craft their own unique vision for the action and fight scenes in this movie. Russian Raid is scheduled for DVD, Blu-Ray, VOD and Digital release on March9, 2021.

Assault on VA-33

Directed by Christopher Ray

Starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Michael Jai White, Mark Dacascos, Weston Cage Coppola, Abigail Hawk, Rob Van Dam, Rachel True

Plot: Jason Hill Sean Patrick Flanery), decorated veteran and PTSD sufferer, meets his wife, Jennifer, for lunch at the Veteran’s Affairs hospital where she works. After Jennifer is called away for an emergency consultation with the head of US Military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the hospital and everyone in it are taken hostage by heavily armed terrorists. Jason becomes the last line of defense and must battle the terrorists and his own PTSD induced demons to save his wife, the General, the hospital’s staff and patients.

Film Fan Dojo reaction: Sean Patrick Flanery fresh off of the well-received  MMA movie Born a Champion, bursts into action gain in Assault on VA-33. This trailer packs all the goodness that we fans expect from a B-level action movie ( this is not meant as an insult): gun fights, the lone ex-special forces guy, explosions, a helicopter scene and, of course, fight scenes! Co-starring martial arts movie icons Michael Jai White ( Welcome to Sudden Death) and Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Parabellum) so my expectation is high on the fight scene end. We do get a small glimpse of Flanery and Dascascos going at it, but I am hoping, no praying, that we get a MJW vs Mark Dacascos fight scene! The cast is rounded out by former ECW and WWE superstar Rob Van Dam, also a veteran of Bloodmoon, Wrong Side of Town, and Black Mask 2. Assault on VA-33 looks like a wild ride and an enjoyable cliched action flick: we can’t wait!!! Assault on VA-33 is scheduled for release in select theaters on April 2, 2021 and on Digital and VOD on April 6, 2021 from Paramount and Saban films.

Mortal Kombat

Directed by  Simon McQuoid

Starring Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Max Huang, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jessica McNamee, Sisi Stringer, Daniel Nelson, Josh Lawson

Plot: In “Mortal Kombat,” MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?

Film Fan Dojo reaction: “Get over here!” As a fan of the original Mortal Kombat video game (1992) and its subsequent sequels (I am getting better at MK 11) as well as the original movies: Mortal Kombat (1995) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) I was elated when I heard there was going to be a remake. Upon hearing that it was going to have an R rating and that names such as Lewis Tan, Hiroyuki Sanada, Joe Taslim and Ludi Lin were involved my excitement was brimming! Well, after waiting for what seemed like forever, I must say I am not disappointed with the official trailer. There’s a lot to digest: Jax has his arms ripped off by Sub-Zero at the 22 second mark, my favorites  Hanzo Hasashi (Hiroyuki Sanada)/Scorpion,  Kano causing havoc,  Liu Kang, and  Kung Lao.   The special effects look good (love the Liu Kang dragon), Raiden looks like a total badass, Jax’s arms look great, and the settings give me that video game vibe. With the introduction of Cole Young (Lewis Tan), the underrated Chin Han (Jia Sidao from Marco Polo) as Shang Tsung I think this movie will be awesome! I am looking forward to seeing some fatalities and the style of fight choreography mixed with great gaming like effects. Mortal Kombat is set to be released in theaters and HBO-Max on April 16, 2021  from Warner Brothers Pictures.

The next coming months look to be very good for us martial arts and action movie fans! What are your thoughts on the above trailers? Which trailers are you looking forward to? Before you leave your comments below check out our bonus: Mortal Kombat cast react to the trailer!!!!