Kickboxer: Retaliation

“If you aren’t watching the new Kickboxermovies, you’re doing it wrong. As action reboots go, the Kickboxer remake films–Vengeance, and now Retaliation–nail the action vibe better than The Expendables movies ever did, and without necessarily pandering to nostalgia, either. I have no idea, but make one they did. And it’s great. This is a movie that not only justifies action sequels better than most, but also amps up the fun factor in every way. If you like movies where the ultimate goal is to watch two shirtless dudes beating each other to death–and in the right frame of mind, I do–Retaliation is an absolute must-see.”
–Forbes on “Kickboxer: Retaliation”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/01/22/review-kickboxer-retaliation-80s-action-new-era/#557ba05c5fd5

“Some people just won’t take “no” for an answer when they’ve invited you to participate in an old-fashioned fight to the death. In Dimitri Logothetis’ Kickboxer: Retaliation, the sequel to 2016’s reboot of the franchise that cemented Jean-Claude Van Damme’s stardom, Christopher Lambert’s villain wants our hero to fight so badly he’ll imprison him, kidnap his girlfriend and even offer up a spare bedroom in his vast palace.”
–The Hollywood Reporter on “Kickboxer: Retaliation”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/kickboxer-retaliation-1078791

“Mixed martial arts fans awaiting another chapter in the “Kickboxer” movie series can rest easy: “Kickboxer: Retaliation” has arrived in all its brutal, lunkheaded glory to scratch that particular itch.
Director Dimitri Logothetis, again scripting with his “Kickboxer: Vengeance” co-writer James McGrath, barrels through the chockablock action with requisite energy.”
–Los Angeles Times on “Kickboxer: Retaliation”
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-kickboxer-retaliation-review-20180125-story.html

“Retaliation doesn’t try to play head games with the audience. It’s fist-flying, roundhouse-kicking meathead action fueled by personal vendettas. Moussi is at his best when he closes his mouth and lets his fists and feet talk. Plus, when your call sheet also includes Mike Tyson and Icelandic strongman Hafthor Julis Bjornsson from Game of Thrones, who needs dialogue? Dimitri Logothetis ditches any pretense of narrative structure or logic.”
–Birth. Movies. Death. on “Kickboxer: Retaliation”
https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/02/12/kickboxer-retaliation-review-kurt-sloane-must-scale-the-mountain

“Dimitri Logothetis’ Kickboxer: Retaliation knows, quite wisely, exactly what any fight film ought to contain. That is to say: A good deal of awesome fighting, a capable martial artist in the lead role, additional roles for other notable fighters/celebrities, a good deal more fighting, a mountainous super-villain, high energy, and a story that remains politely in the wings, only occasionally making itself visible in order to hastily assist the film to its next kick-centric conflict. Kickboxer: Retaliation is an enjoyable fight epic with some awesome fighting, great cameos, and hugely impressive stunts.”
–IGN on “Kickboxer: Retaliation”
https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/22/kickboxer-retaliation-review

Kickboxer: Vengeance

“Thankfully Kickboxer: Vengeance is the nostalgic treat I’d hoped for, the cinematic equivalent of an old, warm, blood stained blanket, that you wrap yourself up in and then hope more people will want to join you under, but most likely won’t. There is a strange comfort to watching familiar events unfold from a new perspective, but it’s the respectful way it treats the original that makes it such good entertainment for long time Kickboxer fans.”
–Den of Geek on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/kickboxer-vengeance/44107/kickboxer-vengeance-review

“Kickboxer: Vengeance is a pleasant surprise with a fun twist on the 80s action film but set in modern day Thailand, and a knowing self-reflexive quality that actually makes it a really enjoyable twist. If you enjoy martial arts, action, a bit of tongue-in-cheek comedy or if you just enjoyed the original Kickboxer, then check out Kickboxer: Vengeance.”
–Screen Jabber on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
https://screenjabber.com/reviews/kickboxer-vengeance-2016-movie-review/

“Kickboxer: Vengeance has it where it counts: the kickboxing. The final act plays like a video game with the action itself is thrilling stuff, with a cast that includes former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and weapons that include glass, swords and good old bare knuckles. Will you cry with manly male emotion as blood is spilt and wrongs are made right? Not a chance. But the efficient storytelling means that Kickboxer: Vengeance does everything its title promises. Kickboxing. Vengeance. What more could you want?”
–Netflix UK on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
https://vodzilla.co/reviews/vod-film-review-kickboxer-vengeance/

“This remake proves smarter than was strictly necessary, shots to oversee boyish Alain Moussi’s progress through Thailand to avenge his brother’s death at the extensively tatted hands of former WWE heel Dave Bautista. The performers bring more physical heft than thespian clout, but genre nostalgists should appreciate the refreshingly uncomplicated manner in their dust-ups, displaying a sure editorial feel for the landing of foot or fist on face or torso.”
–The Guardian on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/29/kickboxer-vengeance-review-jean-claude-van-damme

“After a summer notable for many expensive action-movie disappointments in which even concepts traditionally associated with hands-on stuntwork (i.e. “The Legend of Tarzan”) were overwhelmed by CGI, there’s something refreshing about the admittedly good-natured, straightforward mano a mano of “Kickboxer: Vengeance.”
–Variety on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/kickboxer-vengeance-review-1201840556/

“This non-stop action film is packed with world champion fighters exhibiting not only their skills from the ring but acting as well. Dave Bautista, Guardian of the Galaxy, James Bond, Georges St-Pierre (GSP), 9 time UFC world champion, Cane Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum, UFC heavy weight world champions, are just a few of the celebrity fighters in the film , whose stunt coordinator is Supoj Khoowong (Jim), Thai stunt trainer to many great stars including Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raiders.
Dimitri Logothetis, the writer/producer said…. “I’m very excited about the film because our fight sequences are real. All the stunts you’ll see are without trick photography, wires, etc. In most action films the actor is doubled by an expert stuntman, but in this film the world champion fighters play the actors…and our action is the real deal..”
–LA Splash on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Film_106/movie-review.php

“Producer-writer-director Dimitri Logothetis makes excellent use of the Thai setting, capturing the beauty and ancient majesty of both Thailand and the art of Muay Thai, as well as the hard-core grit of urban Bangkok and the dark world of underground fight clubs. The action, music, and pulsating pace of Kickboxer-Vengeance never leave you alone. I counted as many as nine fights in which I could not believe what I was seeing. The fighting in this film is both real and fast, and the onscreen performers (Dave Bautista, Georges St. Pierre) are world champions for real. Alain Moussi as Kurt Sloan is athletic and acrobatic, and beautifully displays a young man’s dark journey from innocent athlete to world-class destroyer.”
–24 Life Magazine on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
http://24lifemagazine.com/thailand-and-muay-thai-have-never-looked-better/

“If you long for gravity-defying martial arts fighting but disdain stunt doubles and CGI effects, this is your movie and Alain Moussi is your guy. According to a cast member that wants to remain anonymous, credited director John Stockwell never even came to Thailand. Producer/writer Dimitri Logothetis was forced to step in and lucky for Kickboxer he did.”
–Travel Thai Culture on “Kickboxer: Vengeance”
http://www.travelthaiculture.com/muay-thai-action-kickboxer/

All of Me

“I hear the NBC adaptation would be an anthology series, with a different person jumping into the protagonist’s body every week as he tries to help solve the problems that are holding them back. Thomas is executive producing with Dimitri Logothetis as well as Todd Garner and Jeremy Stein of Broken Road Productions.”
–Deadline on “All of Me”
https://deadline.com/2015/10/all-of-me-tv-series-remake-nbc-1201591750/

“DreamWorks is quietly developing a remake of All of Me, the 1980s body-switching comedy that starred Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin.”
–The Hollywood Reporter on “All of Me”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/all-me-remake-dreamworks-369488