Since Van Damme and Seagal hit big in the late 80s and early 90s, martial artists started to come out of the woodwork with their own unique brand. As we’ve covered recently on Reel Action, Van Damme collaborator Sheldon Lettich attempted to introduce audiences to both the style of Capoeira and the star power of Mark Dacascos in Only the Strong. Another martial artist that tried his hand at the action title and came away with a cult following was Jeff Speakman as he demonstrated his Kenpo skills in the 1991 film The Perfect Weapon.
Blu-ray.com has the details on a new special edition Blu-ray of The Perfect Weapon. The release will come from Kino Lorber, who will also release Cannon’s Revenge of the Ninja. This upcoming Blu-ray will have an all-new 4K remaster of the film and is set to hit the market on May 21.
The plot description reads,...
Blu-ray.com has the details on a new special edition Blu-ray of The Perfect Weapon. The release will come from Kino Lorber, who will also release Cannon’s Revenge of the Ninja. This upcoming Blu-ray will have an all-new 4K remaster of the film and is set to hit the market on May 21.
The plot description reads,...
- 3/22/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Elvis Presley frequently entertained guests with his karate demonstrations. He became passionate about karate while he was in the Army, and continued to study it for the rest of his life. He often bragged about his skills and concocted stories about how he heroically used them. According to one of his bodyguards, though, Elvis was nowhere near as knowledgeable about karate as he made it seem.
Elvis was not as skilled in karate as he thought
Dave Hebler became one of Elvis’ bodyguards, but he initially met the singer because of his knowledge of karate. When Hebler met Elvis, he was a fifth-degree black belt who was training at Ed Parker’s studio in Las Angeles. Per Hebler’s website, he became a tenth-degree black belt. One day, Parker paired Hebler with Elvis to spar.
“Now I have been in these situations a million times,” Hebler said in the book Elvis: What Happened?...
Elvis was not as skilled in karate as he thought
Dave Hebler became one of Elvis’ bodyguards, but he initially met the singer because of his knowledge of karate. When Hebler met Elvis, he was a fifth-degree black belt who was training at Ed Parker’s studio in Las Angeles. Per Hebler’s website, he became a tenth-degree black belt. One day, Parker paired Hebler with Elvis to spar.
“Now I have been in these situations a million times,” Hebler said in the book Elvis: What Happened?...
- 1/24/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In a rare interview, Mike Stone says that he believed Priscilla Presley felt “stuck, trapped, and not able to breathe” in her marriage to Elvis Presley. By the time of their affair, Priscilla was “trying to find herself” outside of her marriage to the King of Rock and Roll. Stone believes that Priscilla was looking for something new when their relationship began and believes that others shouldn’t judge a person’s actions unless you truly understand their circumstances.
Mike Stone claims Priscilla Presley was about ‘trying to find herself’ during their union
Fifty years after his affair with Priscilla Presley became public, legendary Karate instructor Mike Stone broke his silence on their relationship. He shared his thoughts on why Priscilla and Elvis’ relationship stagnated and how their union played a small part in her personal evolution.
In 2021, Stone spoke to the outlet Elvis Information Network, recalling his part in...
Mike Stone claims Priscilla Presley was about ‘trying to find herself’ during their union
Fifty years after his affair with Priscilla Presley became public, legendary Karate instructor Mike Stone broke his silence on their relationship. He shared his thoughts on why Priscilla and Elvis’ relationship stagnated and how their union played a small part in her personal evolution.
In 2021, Stone spoke to the outlet Elvis Information Network, recalling his part in...
- 1/11/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley’s bodyguards knew he took a number of different medications, but they became concerned when they learned he was using cocaine. On a tour in which Elvis seemed unwell, they realized that a shipment of cocaine had arrived. When bodyguard Red West learned about it, he attacked the man who had given Elvis the drug.
Elvis’ bodyguards violently attached a musician
On a tour in the early 1970s, Elvis did not seem like himself. He stumbled while exiting a car and seemed unsteady onstage one day. The next day, he threatened to take the “kidney away from” his record producer. His friends were concerned about him and became even more so when they realized the musician had received a shipment of cocaine.
Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, his bodyguards Red West and Ed Parker learned the drug came from “a...
Elvis’ bodyguards violently attached a musician
On a tour in the early 1970s, Elvis did not seem like himself. He stumbled while exiting a car and seemed unsteady onstage one day. The next day, he threatened to take the “kidney away from” his record producer. His friends were concerned about him and became even more so when they realized the musician had received a shipment of cocaine.
Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, his bodyguards Red West and Ed Parker learned the drug came from “a...
- 12/31/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Quentin Tarantino is an expert on what’s cool, and he thought one of Elvis Presley’s movies was incredibly cool. Notably, two iconic movie stars appeared onscreen with Elvis in the film. The tune also features the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s cover of a hit song.
Quentin Tarantino felt 1 Elvis Presley movie inspired the ’68 Comeback Special’
In his 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed his love of films about carnivals. “While movies have had no problem depicting life with a traveling circus, carnival stories have been further and farther between,” he said.
“Growing up, my favorite carnival film was Elvis’ superior vehicle, Roustabout,” Tarantino continued. “In that era of ‘Elvis Presley movies’ it was a pretty entertaining little picture chock-full of cool elements, Elvis entering the movie on a motorcycle — dressed head to toe in black leather (in what looks like the same outfit he’ll later make...
Quentin Tarantino felt 1 Elvis Presley movie inspired the ’68 Comeback Special’
In his 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed his love of films about carnivals. “While movies have had no problem depicting life with a traveling circus, carnival stories have been further and farther between,” he said.
“Growing up, my favorite carnival film was Elvis’ superior vehicle, Roustabout,” Tarantino continued. “In that era of ‘Elvis Presley movies’ it was a pretty entertaining little picture chock-full of cool elements, Elvis entering the movie on a motorcycle — dressed head to toe in black leather (in what looks like the same outfit he’ll later make...
- 12/16/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Cobra Kai Never Dies!
After Netflix acquired Cobra Kai from YouTube Red, it quickly became the #1 streaming show in America. The renewed interest has fans wondering what styles of Karate are portrayed in the series, just like they did back in the 80s when The Karate Kid first came out. Cobra Kai takes plenty of artistic liberties with its portrayals of martial arts training.
Nevertheless, as shocking as it sounds, there really was a Cobra Kai. And it didn’t preach “Strike Hard. Strike Fast. No Mercy.” In fact, it didn’t teach Karate at all.
The writer of The Karate Kid, Robert Mark Kamen, stated that the original film is loosely based upon his own experiences. Kamen claims he was jumped by some bullies at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and the beating inspired him to take up the martial arts. His first sensei was a violent...
After Netflix acquired Cobra Kai from YouTube Red, it quickly became the #1 streaming show in America. The renewed interest has fans wondering what styles of Karate are portrayed in the series, just like they did back in the 80s when The Karate Kid first came out. Cobra Kai takes plenty of artistic liberties with its portrayals of martial arts training.
Nevertheless, as shocking as it sounds, there really was a Cobra Kai. And it didn’t preach “Strike Hard. Strike Fast. No Mercy.” In fact, it didn’t teach Karate at all.
The writer of The Karate Kid, Robert Mark Kamen, stated that the original film is loosely based upon his own experiences. Kamen claims he was jumped by some bullies at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and the beating inspired him to take up the martial arts. His first sensei was a violent...
- 9/30/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
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