If you’re like me, you get excited to see new trailers. Some catch us off guard, some make us say “WTF” and some leave us ready to view the film right then and there.
Welcome to another #TrailerTuesday. We’ve got some exciting trailers with the likes of Michael Jai White, Nicolas Cage, Tony Jaa, Jackie Chan and more. Strap in and get ready!
Click the poster to view the trailer.
Take Back (2020)
Starring Michael Jai White, Gllian White, James Russo, Mickey Rourke
Directed by Christian Sesma
Release Date: TBA
Plot: Zara Taylor is a pillar of the community, along with her loving husband, Brian, and teenage step-daughter, Audrey. One night she stops to pick up groceries and walks into a two-man robbery with a kid held at knifepoint. Using her martial arts skills, she thwarts both perps. Nationwide news coverage of Zara’s heroics follows. A week later, a nervous-looking woman, Nancy, shows up at Zara’s office. After seeing the news, she wants to confirm Zara’s identity—she calls her “Kate”—citing their shared past. Zara denies ever knowing Nancy and asks her to leave.
Film Fan Dojo Reaction: Take Back brings the action in this trailer. After showing some serious screen-fighting skills as an evil special forces agent in Welcome to Sudden Death Gillian, White kicks ass in Take Back! Gillian is shown taking out a would-be abuser, wielding firearms and being a woman not to mess with. The quick clips we get of the fight scenes seem to highlight MMA- and karate-style fights as well as gun-fu for good measure. Added to the mix are panoramic cinematography of urban and rural environments, the always-menacing Mickey Rourke and fellow karate ass kicker (hubby) Michael Jai White. Take Back looks to propel Gillian White into the ranks of the female action star (there are currently no African-American women in that space) and judging by this trailer she belongs in those ranks.
Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Alain Moussi, Tony Jaa, Frank Grillo, Marrese Crump, Juju Chan, Rick Yune, Marie Avgeropoulos
Directed by Dimitri Logothetis
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Every six years, an ancient order of expert Jiu Jitsu fighters faces a vicious race of alien invaders in a battle for Earth. For thousands of years, the fighters that protect Earth have won… until now. When celebrated war hero Jake Barnes (Alain Moussi) is defeated by Brax, the indomitable leader of the invaders, the future of humanity hangs in the balance. Injured and suffering from amnesia, Jake is rescued by Wylie (Nicolas Cage), Keung and his team of fellow Jiu Jitsu fighters. They must help Jake to regain his strength in order to band together and defeat Brax in an epic battle that will once again determine the fate of mankind.
Film Fan Dojo reaction: From the director of Kickboxer: Retaliation and Kickboxer: Vengeance comes a truly crazy (in a good way) trailer. Jiu Jitsu is based on a comic written by Logothetis’ Jim McGrath and McCrary Greg. In the trailer, there’s an alien who seems to have one Predator-like ability and some serious killing skill, the trademark acrobatic kicks that we saw star Alain Moussi display in the Kickboxer series, Tony Jaa kicking alien ass, and Maresse Crump, Juju Chan and Frank Grillo all displaying their fight styles against soldiers. Did I forget to mention an insane Nicolas Cage doling out Yoda-like advice? Considering the cast, this movie looks like it’s going to be an enjoyable train wreck with some great fight scenes. I think it’s the perfect no-brainer type film that may be what’s needed during this time: a no big idea, simple yet truly fantasy story with visceral action scenes that should be highly stylized and not generic (if we let each actor perform his or her signature style). I have read some of the comments regarding no “jiu-jitsu” being on display in the trailer. Here’s my reaction to that: Get over it! This is not a UFC fight or a jiu-jitsu competition, it is a sci-fi action martial arts movie! I am looking forward to seeing this train wreck and enjoying the mayhem that will no doubt ensue!
Vanguard (2020)
Starring Jackie Chan, Yang Yang, Miya Muqi, Lun Ai, Rouhan Xu, Zhengting Zhu, Desmond Aldridge, Can Aydin, Sayed Badreya, Ilez Badurgov
Directed by Stanley Tong
US Release: November 20, 2020
Plot: Vanguard is an internationally-renowned and privately-owned high-tech security agency founded by Tang Huanting (Jackie Chan). Their client, Qin Guoli, alerted the U.S. intelligence agencies of his boss, Massym, as the leader of an aggressive military group in the Middle East. Maasym is then assassinated by the U.S. government and his son, Omar, ordered to have Qin captured.
Film Fan Dojo reaction: Jackie Chan is back with another international action movie! Reunited with director Stanley Tong and it shows, with car chases, gun battles, lots of explosions and other signature Stanley Tong-isms. The trailer showcases some hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon fight scenes with Jackie and his younger co-stars. Given Jackie’s age, I don’t expect a whole lot from his fight scenes, but I do expect to enjoy the film. It looks like fun, but it will likely be standard modern Chinese action movie fare. I mainly watch modern Jackie movies because I am simply a Jackie Chan fan, and Vanguard will be no exception. Here’s a word to the people who are ragging on Jackie for his latest action output: the man is 66 years old! Not only is he 66, he has been involved in some of the most dangerous stunts in movie history, he had absolutely killer fight scenes with stars such as Sammo Hung, real-life kickboxing champs like Benny “The Jet” Urquidez (twice), Ken Low, master kicker Hwang Jang Lee (twice) and many, many others! My point is Jackie Chan has earned a high place and a level of respect that few action stars in the world can match! Jackie is making movies for fun right now and if they aren’t a Wheels on Meals or a Dragon’s Forever, in my eyes, he deserves some leeway considering his career and the high-quality output he produced for decades! I am adding Vanguard to my watch list for sure!
Thanks for reading!
What trailers excited you? Please leave the name of must see action or martial arts movies in the comments.