UFC fighters in direct to DVD action films! It looks like a trend is shaping up for exploitation across the bargain bins of the world! We get the following news regarding the release date thanks to our friends at the movieweb:
Ultimate Fighting Championship fans know all about Rich Franklin’s tenacity inside the octagon and now they can see it in a whole new way. Franklin makes his feature acting debut in the action film Cyborg Soldier, which comes to DVD on October 7.
Apparently some of this film is being shot on the rugged, rusty streets of Hamilton, Ontario. The industrial area in Hamilton looks like the beginning of Blade Runner and is a perfect location for Cyborg combat set in a dystopian future.
I don’t expect the acting to be awesome in this, but if the action is quality and the story is passable – it may make for a fun watch. Direct to DVD films are a risky lotto, but sometimes you end up winning big with peculiar surprises!
I, for one, like the idea of using fighters for supporting roles in action flicks which require some degree of fighting skill. The fighter physique is also closer to what I would imagine a cyborg looks like, than say a bodybuilder/wrestler.
On the topic of Kimbo Slice: what a way to go. Had he only been knocked out by a top level HW such as Arlovski, he might have come away with some shred of dignity, but to be KO’d by a LHW, UFC-reject with a backpedaling jab, in 14 seconds…. man, that’s just brutal. To bad for EliteXC, they might not be the best around, but they have a few redeeming factors, such as their women’s division.
Notable fighters that I think could pull of supporting action roles includes Frank Shamrock, Cung Le, Roger Huerta, Rampage, Don Frye (Magnum P.I. :D) and Andrei Arlovski to name a few. But please, no speaking parts! ;)
He’s not exactly set to star in it since it’s already been made and been released.
I guess UFC and MMA fighters are taking over from martial art stars of the 80’s and 90’s like Van Damme, Lundgren and Snipes. Seems logical.
I could see Ken Shamrock, Frank Trigg or Tito Ortiz in a action role or minor supporting role. In fact, I would have liked Shamrock or Ortiz in Scoropee-on King 2 rather than Randy Coultre. They could really get an intimidation factor going…
I also agree not *every* DTV film sucks. That’s a myth. I actually thought there were some nice bits in Starship Troopers 3 for example, , and I liked Tremors 2.
I’m also curious to see Blood and Bone where MMA Gina Carano has a part along Spawn’s Michael Jai White. Since you bring up Kimbo Slice, Josh, it seems EliteXC is on the edge of destruction, since Gina’s running out of women to fight (I suspect a tapping into the WCL pool before long) and poster child Slice got put on his ass.
And, speaking of which, my good deed for this evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ejAY1iV_Ow
There’s some question of if the fight was fixed. If it was, it proves Kimbo Slice is a phony. If the fight wasn’t fixed, he’s not only a phony but also a buffoon.
Maybe Kimbo should go direct to video. Nah, even the Sci-Fi channel is too good for him…
Oh, and I never really watched much MMA but after reading the blog and then actually checking some of the fights out, I love it. They show older UFC’s on SpikeTV, and it’s really fun to watch. I must thank you John.
Also, did anyone see Kimbo get his ass handed to him a few nights ago???
Please, before everyone bashes direct to dvd films, there is at least ONE example of a solid one, and that is Batman: Gotham Knight. It’s a direct to DVD anime film featuring six shorts from six well respected animators. Also, it links the stories of The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, and is a really solid film. It features the voice of Batman from the animated series, Kevin Conroy, and is one of the better anime films I’ve seen since Paprika.
Oh, and this year’s film Recount, which was a straight to TV movie about the 2000 election, is one of the best films I’ve seen all year…
In my experience, direct to dvd films are usually not that good. I’m not surprised they’re getting fighters into these movies, they are good for these action/sci-fi type films that require them to do some fighting and say a few lines of dialogue. It’s just too bad mainstream stars like Morgan Freeman, John Cusack, J-Lo etc. have their films premiering on DVD.