Artwork by William Stevens on Artstation
This was my attempt at doing something outside of my normal scifi genre. Overall i was pleased with how the environment turned out. The Idea was to design an edo era japanese dojo for training and housing samurai. I wanted the Dojo to be hard to reach making the journey to the dojo a right of passage that officialy began the training for the samurai chosen to learn here.
(variety.com)
Chad McQueen, son of the legendary actor Steve McQueen who played “Dutch” in “The Karate Kid” film series, died Wednesday in Palm Springs. He was 63.
His wife Jeanie and his children Chase and Madison said in a statement to Variety, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication,” reads the statement. “His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him.”
It continues: “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well. As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”
McQueen is best known for his role as “Dutch” in “The Karate Kid” (1984) and its sequel, “The Karate Kid Part II” (1986). His portrayal of one of the Cobra Kai members was iconic in ’80s pop culture. His character, in particular, exhibited a merciless attitude and encouraged Johnny Lawrence (played by William “Billy” Zabka) to brutally beat up Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) during the night of the Halloween dance.
His character also mocks and threatens the New Jersey native before the All-Valley Tournament. During the second season of the TV series “Cobra Kai,” it is revealed that Dutch has been serving time in prison. Though there were talks of McQueen potentially appearing in the show, scheduling issues reportedly prevented it.
Although he would continue to appear in other films, such as “New York Cop” (1993) and “Red Line” (1995), his film career was not as extensive as his father’s. Following in his father’s footsteps, however, McQueen had a successful career in auto racing, his true passion. He competed professionally in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring and founded McQueen Racing, a company that develops high-performance cars and motorcycles, continuing the family legacy of passion for automobiles.
In 2006, McQueen suffered a near-fatal crash while practicing for the Daytona International Speedway’s Rolex 24 event. Though he eventually pulled through, the crash effectively ended his professional racing career, but he has remained involved in motorsports through his company and other ventures.
McQueen was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 28, 1960. He was raised in Malibu.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanie, and his children, Chase, Madison and Steven, a professional actor best known for his role in “The Vampire Diaries.”
(cinemark.com)
Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
https://www.cinemark.com/movies/back-to-1984-cinemark-40th-anniversary-the-karate-kid
For one night only, tomorrow night, you can watch the original Karate Kid on the big screen.
Cinemark is celebrating their 40th anniversary by showing the Karate Kid which is also turns 40 this year. If you have a Cinemark close click the link above and get showtimes. Most theaters look like are only having one showing so look closely.
See you there!
Cobra Kai fans, rejoice! The hit action comedy series is gearing up for its sixth and final season on Netflix, promising an epic conclusion to the saga that began with The Karate Kid. Here’s everything you need to know about Cobra Kai Season 6, from its episode count to release dates and production updates.
Episode Count and Format
Cobra Kai Season 6 will consist of a total of 15 episodes, making it the largest season yet in the series, as mentioned in a report by Decider. These episodes are divided into three parts, each containing five episodes. This structure aims to deliver an immersive experience as the showdown between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai culminates at the prestigious Sekai Taikai karate championship.
Production Update
On June 10, 2024, Jon Hurwitz, co-creator of Cobra Kai, announced via Twitter that production for the final season had wrapped. Currently, the series is undergoing post-production, with the last five episodes slated for release in 2025, as per a report by Decider. This final installment promises to deliver high-energy action and emotional depth as it brings closure to beloved characters and storylines.
Release Schedule
Part 1 (Episodes 1-5): The first part of Cobra Kai Season 6 is set to premiere on Thursday, July 18, 2024, exclusively on Netflix.
Part 2 (Episodes 6-10): Fans can look forward to the next installment on November 28, 2024, continuing the intense narrative arcs and character developments.
Part 3 (Episodes 11-15): While an exact date has not been officially announced, Part 3 is expected to debut in February 2025, according to sources at What’s on Netflix.
This unique release strategy allows viewers to delve into each part of the season independently while building anticipation for the next batch of episodes, as per a report by Decider.
Viewing Advice from Jon Hurwitz
Considering the season’s split into three parts, Jon Hurwitz advised fans against waiting until all episodes are released in 2025. He emphasized that each batch of episodes was crafted with the release plan in mind, offering distinct story arcs and climactic moments meant to be savored in smaller, cohesive segments. This approach enhances the viewing experience and allows for deeper engagement with the evolving plotlines.
With all the talk of Cobra Kai season 6, which is a good thing, it's still nice to see some fan art from the original Karate Kid.
(nbcnews.com 2-12-24)
Wang, who previously starred opposite Michelle Yeoh in the Disney+ series “American Born Chinese,” landed the sought-after role after a worldwide search that saw thousands of young actors from around the globe vie for the title role in Sony’s new “Karate Kid” movie, which unites Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. Per studio insiders, Wang delivered a standout audition performance that demonstrated his deep connection to the character.
The actor, who is also fluent in Mandarin, is skilled across many forms of martial arts, including Karate, Wing Chun/Kung Fu, Gumdo, Kempo and Taekwando.
Chan and Macchio, who announced the casting search via a video in November, will reprise their iconic “Karate Kid” franchise characters in the latest entry to the series from Sony Pictures.
Plot details are still under wraps on the new movie, but Macchio will once again play Daniel LaRusso from the original “Karate Kid” film trilogy and the series “Cobra Kai,” while Chan will return to the role of Mr. Han, a Kung Fu master from the 2010 remake movie starring Jaden Smith.
The film will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the creator and director of Netflix’s “I Am Not Okay With This” and “The End of the * World.” “Peter Rabbit” scribe Rob Lieber will pen the screenplay, and Karen Rosenfelt will produce.
The “Karate Kid” films have earned $618 million globally, and spawned the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Cobra Kai.” The series, created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, takes place decades after the events of the original movies, reigniting a rivalry between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).
(by Eileen Jones jacobin.com)
Do you ever hear about a new movie like the Road House remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, assume it’s terrible, mentally prepare your vicious takedown of it — and then watch it? And it’s actually. . . good?
I’d been so sure of my plan to see it, hate it, and slam it in a review. Another remake in an endless stream of them, for one thing. And the old 1989 Road House has a special place in the action film pantheon, because it’s so delightfully god-awful it takes on a kind of Mystery Science Theater 3000 delirium. It’s a surreal thing to visit that movie again, bringing the generally hideous 1980s mainstream cinematic experience back with a rush.
Some movies that were major releases then were so literally ugly, so incompetently made, so grotesquely stupid, so ideologically heinous, they become things of sordid wonder and hilarity when seen afresh.
Road House is like that.
If by some chance you never saw it, it’s about a “top cooler” played by Patrick Swayze who’s hired to clean up a honky-tonk in Jasper, Missouri, that’s been overrun by the bad element in a corrupt town. In the 1980s, due to the pernicious influence of Tom Cruise’s megahit, Top Gun, every action film protagonist had to be a top something, practically famous the world over.
In this film, a glorified security guard can awe everyone by simply saying his name is “Dalton.” The reaction is some version of “Not the Dalton.” Among his hidden assets when “cooling” tough joints are a degree in philosophy and a mastery of martial arts that allows him literally to rip out the throats of lesser men. I’m already laughing, typing that. That’s the kind of movie it is.
The only straightforwardly good things in Road House ’89 are Sam Elliott, the fan-favorite “Be nice” speech, and maybe the corrupt local gangster played by Ben Gazzara living his best life driving his fancy car in lazy S shapes down the main road singing “Sh-Boom! (Life Could Be a Dream).” Everything else is high camp and beloved trash.
Then this new version comes out, it’s straight-to-Amazon-streaming, and the first thing we see is it has Jake Gyllenhaal in it. That’s a red-flag warning on an action film if ever there was one.
Other than maybe as Donnie Darko, I’ve always found Gyllenhaal annoying — he seems like just what he is, a pure, near-affectless Hollywood product, bred up in the system, never been anything but a slick actor, probably started preparing his audition pieces to be presented to highly placed family friends while in embryo. He’s got the showbiz parents, director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner; the showbiz sister, actor Maggie Gyllenhaal; the showbiz brother-in-law, actor Peter Sarsgaard; the eye-popping celebrity showbiz godparents, Paul Newman and Jamie Lee Curtis; and the showbiz significant others including Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, and Taylor Swift.
Politically, he’s a limp liberal, in typical Hollywood style, and claims to be a Buddhist — but not an obsessive one or anything. He’s always ready for his People magazine close-up.
As a presence in action films especially, he’s maddening. Other than one of those bulked-up gym-created bods any actor can get with enough money, trainers, nutritionists, and leisure time, what does Gyllenhaal bring to the world of feverish American working-class rage that’s animated that genre since the 1970s?
Admittedly, dance-trained romance film heartthrob Swayze of Dirty Dancing fame also cut an odd figure in the action genre, but he was so out of place, it became part of the overall, campy, so-ludicrous-it’s-good effect of Road House ’89.
But that’s the weird thing — Jake Gyllenhaal turns out to be a not-bad substitute at the same game. His high Howdy Doody voice and weird Muppet smile and big, blank-eyed, mild-mannered air conveys well the singular effect of a walking lethal weapon who wants above all not to fight.
When we find Dalton in this version, he’s living his worst life as a kind of scammer on the underground fighting circuit, showing up in an anonymous hoodie as an apparent nobody challenging the current hotshot taking on all comers. As soon as he removes the hood, he’s recognized as the Dalton, slumming, and the hotshot refuses to fight, thus reversing the betting in a way that benefits the house. He skims off a bit of the profits and goes on laying low in a dreary self-hating way, living in his car. That’s where he’s found by Frankie (Jessica Williams), who owns a place in the Florida Keys that’s being overrun by a bad element, and away we go.
The old Road House was obviously evoking the old Western genre plot about the mysterious, taciturn tough guy who comes to clean up Tombstone or Dodge City. The new Road House 2024 has invented a character, a cute local teenager named Charlie (Hannah Love Lanier) who greets Dalton when he gets off the bus by observing that he acts a bit like the laconic loner Western hero coming to the rescue of a town beset by gunslingers. No point being coy about genre borrowing and plot point–repeating here — just announce it up front.
This more straightforward approach applies throughout the new version. Dalton isn’t a security guard who somehow became famous, he’s a former UFC middleweight champ who quit after he killed a competitor in the arena. This plot, involving the tough guy trying to escape his past, who never wants to really unleash his potential for violence because he killed a man in the ring, describes the John Wayne character’s situation in John Ford’s The Quiet Man back in 1952, and I’m sure it was a hoary old plot setup even then. But it’s a very useful one, making it clear to the meanest intelligence that the protagonist will get pushed too far eventually, and there will be the fight to end all fights at the end.
Anyway, that this movie was turning out to be pretty good entertainment continued to bewilder me throughout. Even at the very end, there’s an inventive finale to the last fight scene that I can’t describe because it’s too much of a spoiler, but it’s startlingly well done. Turns out I only got the answer at the end — it’s a movie directed by Doug Liman, an erratic talent who nevertheless has given action fans two genuinely great examples of the genre, The Bourne Identity (2002) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). No idea how I managed to miss that crucial piece of information ahead of viewing.
Crisply edited and gorgeously shot, the new Road House is aided by the setting, with the beautiful Dominican Republic doubling for the Florida Keys. The script is often funny, and the new supporting cast is surprisingly endearing. The obligatory romance is downplayed and handled far more gracefully that in the first film, with the charming Daniela Melchior instead of Kelly Lynch as the doctor who patches up Dalton’s wounds and decides she likes him even if he does jam up the emergency room with his many punched-out victims.
Even though there’s no villain to provide weird menace at the level of Gazzara, Billy Magnussen as Ben Brandt, the rich son of an imprisoned crime lord trying and failing to live up to daddy’s formidable legacy, is humorously vicious and contemptible.
“You look like a pimp on Easter!” shouts Frankie to the pink-suited Brandt, which gives an indication of how much respect he commands even with an army of goons laying waste to the tiny island community of Glass Key. (Glass key, get it? Reference to a Dashiell Hammett book about a guy on a losing streak who turns it around when he uncovers the corrupt power structures of a town riven by rival crime bosses.)
But above all, there’s Conor McGregor, famed former UFC champ, who turns out to be wonderful as the manic enforcer Knox. Eyes agleam, teeth clenched in a perpetual grin, he looks like some creature in a mad fable that emerges from a hollow tree, stumpy and musclebound, to gleefully torment some poor sod who tried to steal his magic gold or something. This Rumpelstiltskin figure has been hired by Brandt Sr from prison, in order to clean up the mess Brandt Jr is making, and Knox carves through lesser humans in his hunt for Dalton with a hyperactive zest that turbocharges the whole narrative.
It’s strange that this action film wound up going directly into online release — which director Liman protested in an open letter to Amazon brass back in January, saying positive test screenings had earned the film a proper theatrical run: “Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting cinemas, and then they turned around and are using Road House to sell plumbing fixtures.”
But if you’re hard up for entertainment — and who isn’t? — it’s a surprise and a pleasure to have the new Road House movie turn out to be good fun after all, and it’s right there in your own home where you can watch it anytime. Perfect Easter viewing!
https://jacobin.com/2024/03/road-house-gyllenhaal-film-review
 |
| Season 2 premiers February 8th on (HBO) Max |
 |
| Premiers February 27th on FX and hulu - (not sure if there will be one season or multiple seasons) |
 |
| Premiers in theaters March 8th - (originally I had heard there are scripts for 8 films) |
 |
| Netflix announced Monday that season 6 has begun filming and most likely will be available Fall 2024 - seasons 1 thru 5 are available on Netflix |
 |
| Series was not renewed by (HBO) Max - Seasons 1 thru 3 are available now on Netflix - waiting to see if Netflix will fund Season 4 |
(comicbook.com 1-22-24)
Skadoosh! That's the sound of Kung Fu Panda 4 character posters hitting the internet, kicking up new looks at the return of Po (voice of Jack Black), the legendary Dragon Warrior, and the sequel's cast of characters. Newcomers include Po's protège, the fox thief Zhen (Awkwafina), and a new threat to the Valley of Peace: the shape-shifting sorceress The Chameleon (Voila Davis), who is out to possess the kung fu of every master villain. Among them? Po's original opponent, Tai Lung (Ian McShane), the challenger defeated by Po and sent to the Spirit Realm in 2008's Kung Fu Panda.
DreamWorks debuted the new posters, below, featuring Po's father Li (Bryan Cranston), Mr. Ping (James Hong), and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Also making their debut is Han (Loki's Ke Huy Quan), the pangolin leader of the Den of Thieves.
In Kung Fu Panda 4, after three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior, is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he's tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.
Even worse, there's been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon, a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po's Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. So, Po's going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen, a corsac fox who really gets under Po's fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon's reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.
Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation's Trolls, Shrek Forever After) directs the fourquel with co-director Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), taking over from trilogy director Jennifer Yuh Nelson. Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who wrote the first three Kung Fu Panda movies as well as Trolls and Trolls World Tour, penned the script.
Kung Fu Panda 4 kicks into theaters March 8.
https://comicbook.com/movies/news/kung-fu-panda-4-character-posters-chameleon-zhen/
Our prints are not just visually appealing but practical too. They are made from waterproof ink, which makes them easy to clean and maintain. Despite their high-quality, they come unframed, giving you the flexibility to display them in a style that suits your home decor.
These posters utilize advanced spray painting techniques, resulting in an abstract style that captures the essence of the Cobra Kai series while adding a modern touch. The prints come in a horizontal rectangle shape, making them an ideal choice for any wall space.
Whether you’re a fan of the show or just love unique artwork, our Cobra Kai Vintage Poster Art Retro TV Show Cartoon Kraft Paper Prints are a must-have. They’re not just prints; they’re a fantastic way to express your personality and liven up any room. So why not bring some retro charm into your home with this fantastic set of Kraft paper prints? You’ll love the difference they make!
Features and Benefits
High-definition Cobra Kai Vintage Poster Art Retro TV Show Cartoon Kraft Paper Prints, perfect for adding a touch of nostalgia and personality to your home decor.
Perfect for children’s rooms, bedrooms, and living rooms, these prints are versatile and can be displayed in any room of your house.
Each print measures 30cm/11.6 inches by 42cm/16.5 inches, just the right size to make an impact without overwhelming your space.
Made from 150g Kraft paper, ensuring durability and long-lasting color.
Printed with waterproof ink, making the prints easy to clean and maintain.
Comes unframed, giving you the flexibility to choose a frame that suits your style and home decor.
Utilizes advanced spray painting techniques, resulting in an abstract style that captures the essence of the Cobra Kai series while adding a modern touch.
Prints are in a horizontal rectangle shape, making them an ideal choice for any wall space.
Not just visually appealing, but also a fantastic way to express your personality and liven up any room.
Original artwork based on the popular TV show Cobra Kai, perfect for fans and those who appreciate unique artwork.
Great for gifting to fans of the show or those who love unique, retro artwork.
Technology used is HD spray painting, ensuring clear and vibrant prints.
(follow link if interested)
