tiff50 Official Selection Midnight Madness THE FURIOUS Directed by Kenji Tanigaki

Kenji Tanigaki has set out to "make the ultimate martial arts film." Audiences will find out soon enough as the picture bows at it;s World Premiere Saturday September 6th at the Royal Alexandria Theatre. Kenji was the action choreographer of SPL, Flash Point, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In to name just a few. 

In a small Southeast Asian country, skilled martial artist Wang Wei’s daughter Rainy is abducted by a child trafficking ring. Wang Wei sets out on a rampage, confronting both the corrupt police and the criminals. Determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter, he encounters Navin, a journalist tirelessly trying to solve his wife’s recent disappearance. Together, the two unleash their formidable combat skills, fighting their way through determined opponents and dangerous obstacles to unravel crucial clues. Just in time, they successfully rescue Rainy and a group of innocent children, dismantling the notorious human trafficking syndicate and bringing justice to the exploited and vulnerable.

Kenji Tanigaki has this to say about The Furious. "The Furious began with that one simple phrase from producer Bill Kong. I’ve always loved action. I’ve always wanted to try new things, surprise people, and push what’s possible on screen. I’ve carried that spirit through many projects—but this film became something truly special. Working with world-class talents like Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Brian Le, Yayan Ruhian, Joey Iwanaga, Jija Yanin, and our stunt team, every shoot day felt like walking a razor’s edge—pushing the physical limits of what was possible. It was intense, creative, and deeply fulfilling. Through this process, I was reminded of something timeless: In the age of advanced technology, the most powerful action is still the most primal— when bodies collide, run, leap, and crash with raw emotion. In 2025, that feels more honest, more precious, and more alive than ever. This isn’t just a motion picture. It’s an emotion picture—where action and soul collide. Enjoy!"

I for one am very much anticipating this movie! We have an exclusive clip! Check it out!

TIFF 2021 VENGEANCE IS MINE, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH by Carol Borden

 

Hey everyone! I am so happy that Carol Borden, editor and one of the writers (The Cultural Gutter) is joining me on this the 2021 Toronto International Film Journey this year. We were able to work together in the days of the TIFF Midnight Madness blog. Without further ado her first piece of the festival! - Robert Mitchell

I’m pretty excited to be back on the TIFF beat and to be unleashed here at Soldier of Cinema after years of writing for and editing the official Midnight Madness and much missed Vanguard program blogs. I loved that job and loved those film programs. But at Soldier of Cinema I’m writing about films from a variety of TIFF programs so thanks, Rob, for this opportunity! - Carol Borden

The first film of the festival for me this year was, Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash (Indonesia, 2021) directed by Edwin and adapted from an eponymous novel that is available in English if you don’t read Indonesian. Director Edwin co-wrote the screenplay with author Eka Kurniawan. Part of the reason I mention this is not just to help promote Indonesian literature, but because the film has a unique feel. I think some people might walk into Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash expecting something different than they are getting with the film. You might be prepared for an exploitation film or b-movie fights and gore. And you do get fights, gore and sex. But behind all the fighting and humor is painful history and a look at toxic masculinity. As Edwin says in his introduction to the digital screening of the film, Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash is grounded in Hong Kong cinema and b-movies popular in Indonesia in the 1980s, but it’s not a nostalgic movie and it’s not a movie that is neutral about its violence or uses rape as an opportunity for the viewer to see breasts while a female character retains her virtue. No, the violence is effective but the characters’ motivations for engaging in violence range from understandable but likely a mistake to idiotic to wrathful to cold-blooded and calculating disappearance of other people. Even the most understandable killing in the film doesn’t really heal anything. It’s the telling of stories--the telling of the truth of what happened--that helps the most making Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash a potentially a better double feature with The Act of Killing (2012), a documentary in which Indonesian men who participated in mass killings in 1965-66, than with, say, The Raid (2011) or the more recent Geran / Silat Fighters: The Deed of Death (2019).

 

 

After Edwin’s introduction I couldn’t help but watch for the tell-tale signs of nostalgia. After all the film is set in the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The fashions and music are accurate. But there is always the background of what was happening in Indonesia at the time. And even if you don’t know about Suharto’s dictatorship, the “dark days” that Edwin hopes won’t come again as he says in his introduction, I don’t think you can help notice the general feel of anxiety about the military, about the police, about the men’s rage, about why this violence is happening and what has happened to everyone in the film. 

 

 

Anyway, I should provide a synopsis. In Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash, Marthino Lio plays Ajo, a guy who can’t maintain an erection and, as an ad informs us, “Only a man who can’t get it up can face death without fear.” Ajo likes fighting. It’s all he wants to do. Until he gets into a fight with Itueng (Ladya Cheryl) when she’s paid to be a bodyguard to a sleaze construction company owner. After their tussle, Itueng quits and goes on to work in a carnival, which can only be described as rad. Ajo and Itueng fall in love, but there is a rival (Reza Rahadian) and there is Uncle Gembul (Piet Pagau), who prefers not to have his past as a general mentioned and who wants to hire Ajo to erase a man named Macan as if Macan burned up in Krakatoa. And for Ajo love seems impossible when he can’t get it up.

I have to say I enjoyed the phallic imagery--the spitting clams, the leeches. It was very entertaining.

Oh, yeah, and martial arts master Cecep Arif Rahman has a small role, but he does some nice fighting in it.

HEADSHOT: World Premiere Interviews Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Sunny Pang, Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto

Headshot the martial arts extravaganza directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto aka "The Mo Brothers" is now streaming on Netflix. The film stars Iko Uwais (The Raid, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Julie Estelle aka "Hammer Girl" from (The Raid 2) and Sunny Pang (The Collector). Here my interviews from the Headshot world premiere at Midnight Madness 2016.

And here is an amazing moment during the post-screening Q&A when Iko Uwais and Sunny Pang fight on stage!

HEADSHOT: World Premiere Interviews with Directors Kimo Stamboel & Timo Tjahjanto

                          Timo Tjahjanto, Kimo Stamboel interviewed by Robert A. Mitchell

Headshot the new film from Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto aka The "Mo" Brothers premiered Setember 9th, 2016 at the midnight madness programme at the Toronto International Film Festival. Robert was at the premiere and spoke with Kimo and Timo about their latest film.

R.I.P. Master Panna Rittikrai

                                                                Panna Rittikrai
                                                                   1961-2014

Martial Arts Master and Action Choreography guru Panna Rittikrai has passed away. He was instrumental in reviving Thai action cinema. Most notably his work with Prachya Pinkaew and action superstar Tony Jaa on the Ong-bak films. He was also Tony Jaa's mentor. Panna formed his own stunt team the Seng Stunt Team in his twenties. His first film Gerd Ma Lui aka Born To Fight was made in 1978. He would go on to remake Born To Fight in 2004. He would co-direct Ong-bak 2 and Ong-bak 3 with Tony Jaa.

ActionFest - The Festival With A Body Count

One of my favorite genres in film is the action film. Nothing beats a high speed chase through city streets, a gun battle, the odd explosion, perhaps a fight in which one dude fights five other dudes. In short, nothing gets the heart rate up and you on the edge of your seat faster then an amazing jaw-dropping action sequence.

If you have not heard there is a new festival that more then appreciates a good action film, ActionFest - The festival with a body count. ActionFest marked it's inaugural year last year. The festival takes place in beautiful Asheville, NC and this year falls on April 7-10, 2011.

What is also amazing about ActionFest is that this years profits, all 100% of them will be going to the Chuck Norris' Foundation Kickstart Kids. ActionFest will donate 100% of this year’s profits to the charity and attendees will have the opportunity to make individual donations as well. Giving a child hope is one thing, but teaching them to find the strength inside themselves to overcome adversity is the greatest adventure of all.

I am also quite honored to announce that I am one of a great team of contributors to the recently launched ActionFest Blog. The blog with a body count. You can check out the blog here. I hope to see you in Asheville this upcoming April.