Amir Shervan's Samurai Cop (1991) was a miracle of modern megalomania.Shervan's film, the tale of a samurai trained renegade La cop taking down the yakuza in the USA, is the rarest of beasts. A cult film that earned its cult through the blood, sweat, and tears of a cast and crew that appear to have been completely convinced that they were making a good film. These kid of films of course make for the best kinds of cults, those that can appreciate the blind sincerity that can only come from a full heart and a kind of blind ambition to make something great. The Room had it, Birdemic had it, Miami Connection had it, and Samurai Cop, in spite of its completely ridiculous premise, definitely...
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- 2/2/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Holy shit guys! No, seriously. Dreams are coming true with the video above. I heard about Samurai Cop in the mid 2000’s when Media Blasters put out the DVD with the Joe Bob Briggs commentary. Rumors were that the man who played the title character, Joe Marshall (aka. The Samurai Cop), Matt Hannon had shuffled off this mortal coil. Hell, that’s what I was telling people when we showed Samurai Cop at Late Nite Grindhouse. Then, last year, Hannon emerged via a YouTube video stating & proving that he was still alive and in excellent shape.
The ball started rolling from there. Gregory Hatanaka, who is behind Cinema Epoch and was releasing all of the original director’s, Amir Shervan, films, met up with Hannon and others and started an Kickstarter to get the feature some funding. Bai Ling, Lexi Belle and Tommy Wiseau join up with Matt Hannon, Mark Frazer...
The ball started rolling from there. Gregory Hatanaka, who is behind Cinema Epoch and was releasing all of the original director’s, Amir Shervan, films, met up with Hannon and others and started an Kickstarter to get the feature some funding. Bai Ling, Lexi Belle and Tommy Wiseau join up with Matt Hannon, Mark Frazer...
- 1/31/2015
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
Amir Shervan’s 1991 goofy cop thriller Samurai Cop has developed a cult following and has been playing to sell-out crowds all across the country. On Thursday, August 28, 2014, the film will be shown at the Cinefamily Theater in Los Angeles at 10:30 pm. The event will be hosted by actor Douglas Dunning and scheduled to appear in person following the screening are actors Matt Hannon and Jimmy Williams, as well as director of photography Peter Palian.
From the press release:
One of our favorite Everything Is Festival late-night actioners is back — this time, with star Matt Hannon in person for his first L.A. Q&A ever! Even in an era when action sludge was more common than shoulder pads or skinny ties, 1989’s Samurai Cop stood out as a true anomaly. Perhaps living legend Joe Bob Briggs summed it up best: a “recently unearthed, soon-to-be-classic kung-fu action-comedy skin flick with gratuitous gore elements.
From the press release:
One of our favorite Everything Is Festival late-night actioners is back — this time, with star Matt Hannon in person for his first L.A. Q&A ever! Even in an era when action sludge was more common than shoulder pads or skinny ties, 1989’s Samurai Cop stood out as a true anomaly. Perhaps living legend Joe Bob Briggs summed it up best: a “recently unearthed, soon-to-be-classic kung-fu action-comedy skin flick with gratuitous gore elements.
- 8/25/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The fresh supply of spectacularly bad new movies hasn’t been enough to keep the pipeline fed. Previously undiscovered old nuggets had to be found, like 1990 Wtf fantasy-horror “classic” Troll 2. And sometimes, an entirely overlooked career might be excavated. Such is the ongoing case with Amir Shervan, an expatriate Iranian turned American director whose American work had long been forgotten by the time he died in 2006 at age 77. But then it was never really noticed in the first place: Even by the lowbrow, frequently overlooked standards of the later direct-to-vhs action-dreck era, the quintet of grade-z features Shervan made here between 1987 and 1992 vanished without a trace.>> - Dennis Harvey...
- 8/25/2014
- Fandor: Keyframe
The fresh supply of spectacularly bad new movies hasn’t been enough to keep the pipeline fed. Previously undiscovered old nuggets had to be found, like 1990 Wtf fantasy-horror “classic” Troll 2. And sometimes, an entirely overlooked career might be excavated. Such is the ongoing case with Amir Shervan, an expatriate Iranian turned American director whose American work had long been forgotten by the time he died in 2006 at age 77. But then it was never really noticed in the first place: Even by the lowbrow, frequently overlooked standards of the later direct-to-vhs action-dreck era, the quintet of grade-z features Shervan made here between 1987 and 1992 vanished without a trace.>> - Dennis Harvey...
- 8/25/2014
- Keyframe
Nightbeast
At ten o’clock on the evening of Saturday 26 July, as the lights dimmed inside a 159-seat auditorium inside Wrocław’s nine-screen Kino Nowe Horyzonty, the resounding ambience consisted of chatter, cheers, the clatter of glass bottles and that inimitable sea of punchy hisses as the capacity audience cracked open one beer can after another.
They’d come for a triple bill: Amir Shervan’s Samurai Cop (1989), Don Dohler’s Nightbeast (1982) and Arizal’s American Hunter (1990). Numbers had depleted and decibels had doubled by the time the lights came back on at around quarter-to-three the next morning. The marathon formed part of ‘Midnight Madness: VHS’, the late-night retrospective at New Horizons, western Poland’s excellent film festival, whose annual program also boasts some of the most dependable arthouse titles from the previous twelve months.
Had anybody been observing the scene of ordered anarchy that night, they may have...
At ten o’clock on the evening of Saturday 26 July, as the lights dimmed inside a 159-seat auditorium inside Wrocław’s nine-screen Kino Nowe Horyzonty, the resounding ambience consisted of chatter, cheers, the clatter of glass bottles and that inimitable sea of punchy hisses as the capacity audience cracked open one beer can after another.
They’d come for a triple bill: Amir Shervan’s Samurai Cop (1989), Don Dohler’s Nightbeast (1982) and Arizal’s American Hunter (1990). Numbers had depleted and decibels had doubled by the time the lights came back on at around quarter-to-three the next morning. The marathon formed part of ‘Midnight Madness: VHS’, the late-night retrospective at New Horizons, western Poland’s excellent film festival, whose annual program also boasts some of the most dependable arthouse titles from the previous twelve months.
Had anybody been observing the scene of ordered anarchy that night, they may have...
- 8/4/2014
- by Michael Pattison
- MUBI
Cinema Epoch has just released another Amir Shervan title on DVD. Killing American Style (1990), in the campy tradition of the highly entertaining Samurai Cop (1989) and complete with funny dialog and obviously staged action scenes, also stars Robert Z’Dar, Harold Diamond, and Jim Brown(!).
The trailer can be seen here and the DVD can be ordered here from Amazon.com. The movie’s Facebook page can be seen Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
The trailer can be seen here and the DVD can be ordered here from Amazon.com. The movie’s Facebook page can be seen Continue reading →
Horrornews.net...
- 4/5/2014
- by Jonathan Stryker
- Horror News
Cinema Epoch are poised to continue their love affair with director Amir Shervan - best known for cult hit Samurai Cop - with their remastered release of his Killing American Style. Loaded with bikinis, shotguns and Robert Z'dar's intimidating jawline this thing just screams cult hit.A gang of hot headed brutes lead by Tony Stone (Robert Z'Dar, 'Maniac Cop') and sexual sadist John Lynch (Himself) execute a robbery with some inside help. A bloody shoot-out with the Lapd ensues and the criminals are apprehended. After a brief stint in the slammer, the gang escapes a prison-bus with the help of Tony s brother Jesse (Alexander Verdin) who is critically wounded in the process. He needs a doctor, fast. A hospital visit too risky, they seek...
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- 3/15/2014
- Screen Anarchy
By Todd Garbarini
From the first frame of Amir Shervan's 1989 film Samurai Cop, you know that you're in for a treat. Cheesy 1980s artificial pop music that sounds like it was generated by a Casio keyboard, courtesy of Alen Dermarderossian, with white credits set against a black background (a surefire indicator that you're watching a low-budget film) give way to Okamura (Gerald Okamura) complaining that they are not an established gang, and as such, they should be very cautious to make friends with the Chinese and Japanese gangs. He grunts and groans and makes exclamations that aren't always decipherable. Former porn star Krista Lane, who is part of the gang, says things like, “Here comes the boss!” or “The boss is coming.” Robert Z’Dar, best known for the Maniac Cop films, is an imposing figure who does the boss’s dirty work. Needless to say, they get into...
From the first frame of Amir Shervan's 1989 film Samurai Cop, you know that you're in for a treat. Cheesy 1980s artificial pop music that sounds like it was generated by a Casio keyboard, courtesy of Alen Dermarderossian, with white credits set against a black background (a surefire indicator that you're watching a low-budget film) give way to Okamura (Gerald Okamura) complaining that they are not an established gang, and as such, they should be very cautious to make friends with the Chinese and Japanese gangs. He grunts and groans and makes exclamations that aren't always decipherable. Former porn star Krista Lane, who is part of the gang, says things like, “Here comes the boss!” or “The boss is coming.” Robert Z’Dar, best known for the Maniac Cop films, is an imposing figure who does the boss’s dirty work. Needless to say, they get into...
- 7/15/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The full Fantasia 2013 lineup has now been revealed, and we have here the third and final wave of titles to share. Prepare to drool!
From the Press Release:
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Fantasia will engulf the city of Montreal from July 18-August 6, 2013. Be sure to visit the Fantasia Film Festival website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks.
Before we get started on titles... Meet Our 2013 Juries
Main Competition For The Cheval Noir Award For Best Film
Jury President: Laura Kern (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film Comment)
Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)
Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, Programmer at Japan Society)
Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer and Operations Manager,...
From the Press Release:
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Fantasia will engulf the city of Montreal from July 18-August 6, 2013. Be sure to visit the Fantasia Film Festival website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks.
Before we get started on titles... Meet Our 2013 Juries
Main Competition For The Cheval Noir Award For Best Film
Jury President: Laura Kern (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film Comment)
Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)
Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, Programmer at Japan Society)
Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer and Operations Manager,...
- 7/9/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
The Fantasia Film Festival is taking place from July 18th to August 6th in Montreal and will feature over 100 films from around the world. We gave you a look at the initial lineup last month and now have an additional list of Fantasia 2013 films that will be screening, including Curse of Chucky, You’re Next, and Frankenstein’s Army:
Horror Is Child’S Play – Don Mancini’S Curse Of Chucky (World Premiere)
A rarity among genre franchises, the Child’S Play series (begun in 1988) has retained the sure-handed guidance of original screenwriter/creator Don Mancini throughout killer doll Chucky’s decades’-long reign of horror. Mancini, who will be hosting our “scar-studded” world premiere, graduated to the director’s chair with 2004’s Seed Of Chucky, after having co-written or written every entry in the series. His longevity with the project is, of course, matched by the fiendish voiceover work by...
Horror Is Child’S Play – Don Mancini’S Curse Of Chucky (World Premiere)
A rarity among genre franchises, the Child’S Play series (begun in 1988) has retained the sure-handed guidance of original screenwriter/creator Don Mancini throughout killer doll Chucky’s decades’-long reign of horror. Mancini, who will be hosting our “scar-studded” world premiere, graduated to the director’s chair with 2004’s Seed Of Chucky, after having co-written or written every entry in the series. His longevity with the project is, of course, matched by the fiendish voiceover work by...
- 7/9/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
by Todd Garbarini
Samurai Cop, director Amir Shervan's 1989 film starring actors Robert Z'Dar, Matt Hannon and Jannis Farley, has been restored in high definition on DVD by Cinema Epoch and is now available for purchase in a special edition for a limited time on Amazon.com prior to the film's June 4th, 2013 DVD street date. Click here to purchase this new pressing (do not be fooled into purchasing the inferior Media Blasters DVD that was released in 2004). This new version is superior.
While going through boxes last year in a California studio vault, both Cinema Epoch President Greg Hatanaka and Cinema Epoch Producer and Director of Acquisition's Douglas Dunning (he's also a cult actor and voice over artist) discovered the original 35mm camera negative to the late Mr. Shervan's film. It is from this source that the new DVD has been transferred.
Samurai Cop will also be screened at...
Samurai Cop, director Amir Shervan's 1989 film starring actors Robert Z'Dar, Matt Hannon and Jannis Farley, has been restored in high definition on DVD by Cinema Epoch and is now available for purchase in a special edition for a limited time on Amazon.com prior to the film's June 4th, 2013 DVD street date. Click here to purchase this new pressing (do not be fooled into purchasing the inferior Media Blasters DVD that was released in 2004). This new version is superior.
While going through boxes last year in a California studio vault, both Cinema Epoch President Greg Hatanaka and Cinema Epoch Producer and Director of Acquisition's Douglas Dunning (he's also a cult actor and voice over artist) discovered the original 35mm camera negative to the late Mr. Shervan's film. It is from this source that the new DVD has been transferred.
Samurai Cop will also be screened at...
- 5/10/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The mighty Boston Underground Film Festival celebrates their impressive 15th edition this year on March 27-31 at the Brattle Theatre. Here’s some highlights to be on the lookout for:
Opening night film: I Declare War, a childhood parable about war and brutality, directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson.
Closing night film: Big Ass Spider!, a raucous giant arachnid vs. the military flick, directed by Mike Mendez.
Other Feature Films: Both Drew Tobia’s first feature, See You Next Tuesday; and the punk documentary A Band Called Death by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett recently won awards at the 20th Chicago Underground Film Festival and will now kill it at Buff. Sion Sono, a Buff regular, will be screening the last of his “Trilogy of Hate,” Guilty of Romance; while Calvin Lee Reeder has the gross-out feature-length version of his gross-out short The Rambler. And Zach Clark, a Bad Lit favorite,...
Opening night film: I Declare War, a childhood parable about war and brutality, directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson.
Closing night film: Big Ass Spider!, a raucous giant arachnid vs. the military flick, directed by Mike Mendez.
Other Feature Films: Both Drew Tobia’s first feature, See You Next Tuesday; and the punk documentary A Band Called Death by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett recently won awards at the 20th Chicago Underground Film Festival and will now kill it at Buff. Sion Sono, a Buff regular, will be screening the last of his “Trilogy of Hate,” Guilty of Romance; while Calvin Lee Reeder has the gross-out feature-length version of his gross-out short The Rambler. And Zach Clark, a Bad Lit favorite,...
- 3/27/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
What's that? You've got a gang of Japanese criminals invading your city and you need a specially trained crime fighter trained by the authentic martial arts masters of Japan to deal with them? Have no fear! The Samurai Cop is coming!Amir Shervan's 1989 cult hit - very much of the 'so bad it's good' variety - has been newly restored from the original 35mm negative and is headed to DVD from Cinema Epoch. What wonders await? Check the trailer below....
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- 2/2/2013
- Screen Anarchy
When the Yakuza infiltrate the Lapd, it's up to "samurai" Joe Marshall (Matt Hannon) and his wisecracking partner, Frank, to take them down...no matter the cost! But first they'll have to deal with the deadly Katana gang (Gerald Okamura, Robert Z'dar), a bevy of babes (Krista Lane), the worlds angriest police chief, and a whole host of other troubles. Time is running out!
Amir Shervan, who (allegedly) owned every theater in Iran, wrote and directed this film- the second in an apparent trilogy, along with Hollywood Cop (1987) and Killing American Style (1991).
Once lost and now notorious, Samurai Cop packs a punch that few can match, let alone duplicate. "Excessive" barely begins to describe every aspect of this film. Shervan pulls from all fronts of popular American cinema (action, martial arts, gore, buddy cops, beach cops, basic cable softcore, and on and on) to create a perfect combo and then...
Amir Shervan, who (allegedly) owned every theater in Iran, wrote and directed this film- the second in an apparent trilogy, along with Hollywood Cop (1987) and Killing American Style (1991).
Once lost and now notorious, Samurai Cop packs a punch that few can match, let alone duplicate. "Excessive" barely begins to describe every aspect of this film. Shervan pulls from all fronts of popular American cinema (action, martial arts, gore, buddy cops, beach cops, basic cable softcore, and on and on) to create a perfect combo and then...
- 7/8/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Kevin, Mark & Parker)
Episode 14 of North East England's premier movie podcast. This episode the boys review the classic British horror-mockumentary Ghostwatch. Only ever shown once on the BBC on 31 October (Halloween) 1992. Also being reviewed is 1989's "so-bad-it's-good" classic Samurai Cop directed by Amir Shervan and starring Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop, Dragonfight, Tango & Cash) , Matt Hannon and Jannis Farley.
In movie news Steven Seagal Expendable? ... [Rec 2] Trailer, Shia Labeouf's Indiana Jones 5 comment, Blofeld to return to Bond?
... News on the next Revolving Video Podcast special
For full show notes and to comment / leave feedback visit the Revolving Video blog or email them revolvingvideo [at] hotmail.co.uk. Also remember to subscribe to the feed and vote for the guys at Podcast Alley. You can also follow Chris from Revolving Video on Twitter @snoog
Subscribe via iTunes
Download the show or listen to it below:
Via: revolvingvideo.mypodcast.com
Read More
tags: film, horror, movies, podcast,...
In movie news Steven Seagal Expendable? ... [Rec 2] Trailer, Shia Labeouf's Indiana Jones 5 comment, Blofeld to return to Bond?
... News on the next Revolving Video Podcast special
For full show notes and to comment / leave feedback visit the Revolving Video blog or email them revolvingvideo [at] hotmail.co.uk. Also remember to subscribe to the feed and vote for the guys at Podcast Alley. You can also follow Chris from Revolving Video on Twitter @snoog
Subscribe via iTunes
Download the show or listen to it below:
Via: revolvingvideo.mypodcast.com
Read More
tags: film, horror, movies, podcast,...
- 6/21/2009
- by Leigh
- Latemag.com/film
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