Anyways, it's time for me to lay out my Top 10 Most Anticipated Action Films of 2016! I feel much more confident with my choices this year, as many of the films being released are sequels to tried and true classics. In fact, every single film on my list is either a sequel or a spin-off minus one. Regardless, let's get to it and hope that I am right this time around with my choices.
10) Kickboxer: Vengeance (John Stockwell) - This remake of Van Damme's classic martial arts film is looking to be one of 2015's many great martial arts films. Not only will the film update the material for a new day and age (after all, the original is a flawed but entertaining cult hit), but it will also bring back Van Damme, but in a new role. Throw in Dave Bautista and George St. Pierre and you have yourself a tournament fighter that action fans are going to fall in love with.
9) Boyka: Undisputed IV (Isaac Florentine) - The fourth Undisputed film, and the third direct to video entry, will once again reunite Florentine with Scott Adkins for another round of brutal martial arts action. While Florentine has tackled several kinds of characters with Adkins, their Undisputed films are the ones that show off the two's love for martial arts better than the rest. Toss in the fact that the film will take Boyka out of prison, and you have a sequel that looks to separate itself from the rest of the series and try something fresh.
8) Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Edward Zwick) - 2012's Jack Reacher was one of the best studio actioners to come along in awhile thanks to its brutal fights, intriguing mystery, and incredible sound design. The film was an old fashioned throw back to the good old days when Hollywood actors beat the crap out of one another and drove fast cars around Bullit style. Anyways, Cruise is primed to return to the character and hopefully deliver another excellent round of great character and action. While McQuarrie's absence will be felt, Tom will hopefully help Zwick steer the series in the right direction.
7) Deadpool (Tim Miller) - It's an honest to goodness miracle that a Deadpool movie is finally coming out, and from a big studio nonetheless. While the character's sense of humor may be too obnoxious for my taste, every comic book and action fan is going to be checking this one out because it's almost too good to be true. Plus, I'll support an R rated superhero film in order to send a message to the studios that we are tired of PG-13 affair.
6) Hard Target 2 (Roel Reine) - It's very possible that this direct to video sequel to John Woo's amazing Hard Target could be another bland low budget film from direct to video maestro Roel Reine (see The Marine 2). However, the Hard Target name, as well as Scott Adkins' inclusion, make this one shoot to the top of the must see list for me. We'll see how this one turns out. Expect some shootouts and martial arts fights when this one drops, Most Dangerous Game style.
5) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2 (Yuen Woo Ping) - I am almost a little disappointed that this film is being released straight to Netflix. While I should shut up and enjoy that the movie will be in my living room on the day of its release, I wish that a sequel to the most successful foreign film of all time had a more prestige release with anticipation and such surrounding it. Anyways, this sequel will bring back Michelle Yeoh, but also throw in two of martial arts greatest artists, Donnie Yen and Yuen Woo Ping. It doesn't get any better than those two.
4) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Gareth Evans) - The first Star Wars Anthology film lands on the list because of one reason alone: Donnie Yen playing a blind character inspired by Zatoichi. Hell freakin' yeah. However, the film also lands on the list because its plot, that of stealing the plans to the Death Star, lends itself to the action genre very well. Toss in Jiang Wen of Let the Bullets Fly fame, and you have one of next year's biggest blockbuster hits for action fans.
3) John Wick 2 (Chad Stahelski) - John Wick came on to the scene in 2014 and dropped a bombshell on the action community with its amazing gun fu sequences, Keanu Reeves' triumphant return to the action genre, and its awesome world building. While Wick easily could have been a one-off action classic, the action Gods have graced us with a sequel where Reeves will once again rack up a 70 plus kill count probably. Regardless of what it is about, John Wick 2 is an instant watch based purely upon its predecessor.
2) Untitled Fifth Bourne Film (Paul Greengrass) - I cannot wait for a fifth Bourne film because it will reunite Damon with Greengrass for their third time around with the character. As long as Greengrass maybe pulls back a little bit on the shaky cam, and delivers a great story with a new villain to boot, than Bourne 5 should kick major ass.
1) Ip Man 3 (Wilson Yip) - It's clear that Donnie Yen is going to be the action MVP of 2016 with roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and now Ip Man 3, the final and highly anticipated Ip Man film. In a sense, Ip Man 3 looks to be the end of an era of sorts for Yen because it marks his final turn as the character. Action fans won't have to wait long for this one as it comes out in January. It also features fight choreography by Ping and a highly advertised fight between Yen and sports icon Mike Tyson. This one can't come fast enough.
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