Look for big stars, great effects, and lots of action in upcoming independent releases from Lionsgate.
A ruthless killer turns soft. Nicolas Cage stars in this action-thriller as a remorseless hitman on assignment in Thailand. Directed by the Pang Brothers (The Eye) and based on their popular Hong Kong action film of the same name, Bangkok Dangerous explores the violent Bangkok underworld into which he must venture to find his four victims. Along the way, he begins a romance with a local shop girl and takes on a protégé (Shahkrit Yamnarm), both of whom disturb his usual solitary method of operation.
- Directors: The Pang Brothers (Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang)
- Additional Cast: Charlie Young, Panward Hemmanee, Nirattisai Kaljaruek, Dom Hetrakul, Namngen Jaruvijit, Napasaranh Mittiraroch
- Release Date: September 5, 2008
Transporter 3
Frank Martin (Jason Statham) returns for more transporting duties. In a story by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, this action-thriller is the third in a series about heroic antics from the former Special Forces operative who specializes in high-risk deliveries. This time, Frank has relocated to Paris and will transport another dangerous “package” without asking any questions.
- Director: Oliver Megaton
- Additional Cast: Natalya Rudakova, François Berleand, Robert Knepper
- Release Date: November 26, 2008
In this action-drama-thriller, a ruthless vigilante hero named Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) wages a one-man war against organized crime, specifically the mob boss who manages to escape punishment for his crimes. When this attack leaves the mobster horribly disfigured, he assumes the new alias “Jigsaw” in order to seek vengeance against Frank. The FBI can’t apprehend Jigsaw, which leaves Frank alone against the mob boss and his army of assembled bad guys.
- Director: Lexi Alexander
- Additional Cast: Dominic West, Julie Benz, Colin Salmon, Doug Hutchison, Dash Mihok, Wayne Knight
- Release Date: December 5, 2008
The Spirit
Starring Gabriel Macht as a former rookie cop who returns from the dead as “The Spirit” to fight crime, this action-adventure film is adapted from a comic strip by Frank Miller (300, Sin City). The Spirit’s arch enemy, “The Octopus” (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to destroy the city while pursuing his own version of immortality. Along his crime-fighting path to The Octopus, The Spirit encounters beautiful women with various agendas who may or may not represent romantic interests for the reborn crime-fighter.
- Director: Frank Miller
- Based on the Comic Book Series Created by: Will Eisner
- Additional Cast: Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Dan Lauria, Scarlett Johansson
- Release Date: December 25, 2008
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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