Not even a month after we got the final trailer for the long awaited Chinese Hercules documentary all the enthusiasm has seemingly evaporated. Bolo Yeung’s son David Yeung has decided to block the release of the documentary- supposedly acting on his father’s behalf.
“I am incredibly grateful to have such a loyal and supportive fanbase. However, I want to make it clear that I did not give permission to Hussar Entertainment Productions-or any other party-to create or release any documentary about me, including the recent trailer for Chinese Hercules…”
Why would he randomly decide to stop the release of the movie now when he seemingly did nothing for 5+ years of production is a mystery to me (and I doubt he was not aware of the work in progress for all these years). Now, all the hours of interviews of Bolo Yeung’s various co- stars including some who are no longer with us will be lost. And being a passion project of dedicated Bolo fans Chinese Hercules was to be released for free on their youtube channel, so there was no money to be gained either way.
Bolo & David Yeung
So, what exactly happened behind the scenes (don’t forget that one of the producers actually worked with Bolo on Diamond Cartel) and what really prompted this decision- we might never know.
Only, you don’t really need a permission to make a documentary about a public figure…
It’s been a long time coming (5 years!) but it seems that the fabled Bolo Yeung documentary is finallyready to go. And I must say I’m duly impressed.Filmmakers managed to interview practically every relevant co- star Bolo had through his 100+ movie career, from his Enter The Dragon (1973) co- star Bob Wall (R.I.P) to his Bloodsport (1988) and Double Impact (1991) nemesis Jean Claude Van Damme, Cynthia Rothrock (Tiger Claws 1, Tiger Claws 2 ), Matthias Hues (TC2000) and even Richard Norton(Ironheart). And that’s not even a half of it.
Weightlifter, Bodybuilder, Martial Artist and Actor
We also get a candid look at the man behind the on- screen villain persona with the mix of rare interviews, old photos and recording spanning all the way to his earliest days in the post- WWII China. Man’s got quite a story to tell and his journey takes him from China to Hong Kong to Hollywood, California and everywhere in between- I for one, can’t wait to follow along.
From the gritty streets of post-war China to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, Bolo Yeung’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and unrelenting determination. Known to millions as the iconic villain of Enter the Dragon and Bloodsport, his journey is far more profound than the characters he played.
Produced by Hussar Entertainment,Chinese Hercules: The Bolo Yeung Story is directed by Pavel Nyziak and is expected to debut in 2025.
After what seems like years of waiting the continuation of the Circuit MMA franchise– featuring the 90s action mainstay Olivier Gruner (Nemesis, Alien Interceptor ) as Dirk Longstreet. Originally conceived as a TV series by the producer/ director Jalal Merhi retrofitted The Circuit as a new trilogy of films, and the first one starring the Tae Bo legend Billy Blanks ( King of Kickboxers, Balance of Power) is out today on Amazon Prime Video!
This will be the third time Merhi has worked with Blanks after movies like Talons of the Eagle (1992) and incredibly entertaining SF/Action- TC 2000 (1993) and the first time working with David Yeung after spearheading number ofhis father’s BoloYeung‘s North American movies like Black Pearls, Tiger Claws and the aforementioned TC 2000. Yeung was of course also in another tournament movie with Blanks this year, 90s action homage– The Last Kumite (2024) and will next be seen in two-parts of Bond of Justice: Kizuna starring the late, great Sonny Chiba.
Samson a retired fighter has to get back to the Circuit fighting ring in order to save a young student, Samson needs to face the skeptics, re-affirms his faith and combine with his hard work
Earlier this year we reported about David “Bolo Jr.” Yeung‘s casting in the 80’s and 90’sMartial Arts tribute The Last Kumite but now we have something even better, the first trailer for the movie.
Released today via ComingSoon.net The Last Kumitetrailer promises everything from the deadly duels to the classic training montages with (almost) all the actors you remember from the old VHS rental days, actors like: Cynthia Rothrock (No Retreat, No Surrender 2), Billy Blanks (The Kings of Kickboxers), Matthias Hues (Dark Angel), Michel Qissi (Kickboxer) and Kurt McKinney (No Retreat, No Surrender).
And the hero Rivers is played by the German action star Mathis Landwehr (Lasko – Die Faust Gottes).
So, without further ado, let’s take a trip back down the memory lane and enjoy one Last Kumite:
The Last Kumite will be an action packed old school fighting movie in the style of Bloodsport, Kickboxer and No Retreat, No Surrender.
Directed by Ross W. Clarkson (Undisputed 2 & 3) movie will be starting a bevy of 80s and 90s Action Movie luminaries like Michel Qissi (Kickboxer), Abdel Qissi (The Quest), Cynthia Rothrock (No Retreat, No Surrender 2), Billy Blanks (The Kings of Kickboxers), Matthias Hues (Dark Angel) and even Kurt McKinney (No Retreat, No Surrender) making his action movie return.
The movie will be about Michael Rivers (Mathis Landwehr), who is a skilled martial artist and is forced to fight in an illegal fighting tournament in order to save his daughter.
Stunt coordinator is the German Martial Arts sensation Mike Moller(One Million K(l)icks).
And in the latest news they will be joined by none other than David Yeung aka Bolo Jr.– son of the original Bloodsport villain Tang Po (Bolo Yeung). Like his father before him David is a former bodybuilder and an excellentMartial Artist to boot! This casting couldn’t be more perfect for this movie and I really hope they use David‘s talents to the fullest extent.
Legendary Hong Kong action movie bad guy Bolo Yeung is back from his temporary retirement, and officially a part of the Jonas Filho‘s The Karate Weirdo– now inproduction.
This film will be Bolo‘s first since his previous return for the Kazahstani’sDiamond Cartel (2017) where he was surrounded by other veteran actors and Martial Arts practitioners such as Peter O’Toole, Michael Madsen, Cary Tagawa, Armand Assante andOlivier Gruner & Don “The Dragon” Wilson. Decade before that he returned in another Kazahstani production- Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007), featuring professional fighter Cung Le in the lead role, but unfortunately that movie never got a proper distribution.
Movie will also feature a Karate Legend Fumio Demura (Karate Kid, Ninja) so it will surely be a treat for us old school Martial Arts movie fans. Producer/ Director is Jonas Filho, himself a Karate instructor at the Traditional Karate of Newark– so I’m sure we’ll see some authentic Martial Arts displayed in what looks to be a Karate Kid for the new generation:
Sofia Correia with the original Miyagi, Sensei Fumio Demura
Beside The Karate Weirdo (2023) this year we should finally see the long gestating documentary on his life Chinese Hercules: The Bolo Yeung story and hopefully there’s still chance for that third collaboration with Jean Claude Van Damme that we heard whispers about last year. All in all- it’s a good time to be a fan.
According to the Ultimate BOLO YEUNG page the long- awaiteddocumentaryChinese Hercules- The Bolo Yeung Story will be finished in time for the Enter The Dragon50th anniversary on July, 2023!
After a long delay caused by COVID we are overjoyed to finally get confirmation that the documentary is back on track and on it’s way. You can check the page here for more updates as they come in.
In the other Bolo related newsJean-ClaudeVan Damme is preparing for his big Martial Arts movie swan songWhat’s My Name? and if the sources are to believed he is supposed to re-enact some of the biggest fights from his career like the ones with Bolo, Qissi and Lundgren (Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Universal Soldier).
Will this be enough to entice Mr. Yeung from his retirement for one last dance? I don’t know but I sure hope so. After all they say third time is the charm, and we already had them go at it in Bloodsport and Double Impact before. That would be a really great way to cap off both of their careers.
We already talked to some length of our love of Kazahstani cinema. From the long lost action of Blizhniy Boy with Kickboxer/ MMA fighter Cung Le and the veterans like David Caradine, Carry- Hiroyuki Tagawa and Garry Busey to Beyond the Game with everyone from Olivier Grunner and Mark Dacascos to Eric Roberts and Michael Madsen.
Well, now we finally have a new trailer (and the release date) for the long gestating Diamond Cartel (formerly know as The Whole World at Our Feet). Featuring (as always) all- star cast of Armand Assante , Michael Madsen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Don “Dragon” Willson, Olivier Gruner, final performance of acting legend Peter O’Toole and my personal favorite old school Kung Fu ass-kicker Bolo Yeung!
Enjoy the trailer and we’ll talk about the movie after it comes out March 31.
Hong Kong cinematography is without a doubt most famous for one thing and that’s action flicks- be it their period peaces or their contemporary action thrillers. On the other hand there is a whole genre that generally gets glossed over by a Western audience and that’s their Horror movies.
This movie was made by an major HK production (Shaw Brothers) but there is nothing commercial or ordinary about it. And you might find yourself mistaken by the name- ’cause this movie does have it’s share of Kickboxing but that is secondary to the bat-shit crazy and psychedelic sequences of mystical battles between Buddhist disciples and an Evil Shaman(s).
The movie starts right out the gate with a fierce kickboxing fight between the Thai champion Ba Bo (Bolo Yeung) and Chinese Chan Wai. Bolo loses the fight but proceeds to punch after the bell and with his inhuman power menages to send the Chinese fighter to the E.R (with a broken neck).
+ for having Bolo show some Martial Arts instead of just being just a strongman as he is regularly cast
Hung Chen’s brother promises to get revenge and arranges a trip to Thailand. But not before some brutal sex with his girlfriend! I guess we all have different ways of coping with stress. Then all of the sudden a mystical symbol appears in the air and this all takes a serious left turn.
Thai people (being really mean by nature) welcome Bolo with great pride and give him championship belt for ignoring the rules and crippling his opponent. They sure don’t like Chinese people over there.Hung Chen find the meaning of the symbol in the local (Thai) Buddhist temple. It turns out the Abbot of the temple expected him.The twist- Abbot is already dead, he was killed by an evil black magician Mai Gussu just when he was about to achieve immortality (man that’s a bummer!)
But it tuns out Abbot’s spiritual powers are so strong he can communicate beyond the grave so Hung Chen finally learns why he is was summoned to the temple. Strangely it turns out he and Abbot are spiritually linked because they were twins in the past life. Also Chen Hung cannon live without him so as soon as Abbot’s body decomposes Chen will also die.
He gets angry and refuses to except his fate but eventually comes to terms with the situation. The only solution for his predicament is to become a monk and use his spiritual powers to defeat Mai Gussu.
Magical battle that ensues puts to shame Gandalf vs Saruman from Lord of the Rings. I mean, just look at this madness!
After seemingly defeating the evil Abbot Qung Zhao is now free to seek immortality and Chen is free to return to Hong Kong. Even though he “saw thru vanity of this world” first thing he does is have sex in the shower with his girl who doesn’t seem too pleased that he disappeared for Thailand for apparently two months. She even threatens to castrate him at one point- man, those Chinese girls really don’t mess around.
Unfortunately back in Thailand other evil wizards gather and a demon woman gets born from the belly of the giant crocodile. I’m sure this has some cultural significance that I just can’t get.
Chen finally fights Bolo and menages to win in a back and forth match. Then he goes blind. He goes back to the temple in Thailand to seek help and they promise to organize another duel (strange how little do they actually help here). Chen unfortunately doesn’t tell Monks that he broke the vow of chastity and that cost him the victory and potentially dooms both him and his spiritual brother (man, why is it so hard achieving immortality over there). Though telling the truth they do give him the mystical essence that can be only acquired from the 1000 year old fungus found in the giant stone head of Buddha (we are not making this up).
After fucking things up his only hope is to find a sacred relic in Nepal. Unfortunately the witch shows up to spoil his plan and also summons a bunch of evil stop motion alligators to help her. Fortunately when all seems lost the Chinese Santa shows up and the witch blows up and Chen can finally have his life back.
Beware of Chinese Santa!!!
Verdict: This movie consists of Buddhism and Witchcraft presented via kaleidoscopic, psychedelic FX and cheesy but weird practical effect mixed with a dose of kickboxing and also nudity- and the result is in equal parts captivating and bizarre. All in all this is a movie everyone should watch at least once ’cause there’s just nothing quite like it.
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