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Lightning Entertainment has acquired international rights to five feature films and will present the slate of new titles, including the star-studded comedy Struck By Lightning written by and starring Glee.s Chris Colfer, to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market, it was announced today by Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning Entertainment.

Struck By Lightning will make its market premiere at the Marché du Film following its Tribeca Film Festival world debut where it received an overwhelmingly positive response. Servitude will also make its market premiere with promotional footage being shown for family film Heaven.S Door and South African thriller One Last Look. Black South-easter is currently in production.

.We are thrilled to present this eclectic slate of new titles featuring films from across the globe to our buyers at Cannes and we are incredibly excited that both Struck By Lightning and Servitude will be making their market premieres next month,...

HollywoodNews.com: My issue with “The Fighter” is that it looks like the kind of low-end Mma fight melodrama that Tapout puts out a few times a year. Take away the big stars and director David O.Russell, and it’s just another movie from the people who brought you “Circle of Pain,” “Unrivaled,” or “Beatdown” (I have to watch this stuff for work related reasons). For that matter, Mark Wahlberg isn’t that much better of an actor than the likes of Hector Echavarria or Tony Schiena. I’ve long believed that Donnie Wahlberg is the far superior, far more natural and credible performer of the two.

To read more go to Mendelson’s Memos.

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Director Warren P. Sonoda's film about an amateur cage fighter who gets a shot at the big time is stylishly filmed and has plenty of action in the form of impressively staged brutal fight scenes. The first half of the screenplay, however, too often favors naked pole dancers over meaty drama and has scenes that feel like they have been drawn out to fit the music. The result is a film that, clichéd plot notwithstanding, feels like it could have been much better.

As it is, Unrivaled keeps your attention without triggering much of an emotional response. Hector Echavarria creates a sympathetic loser-turned-hero in Ringo Duran, while Nicholas Campbell (the Da Vinci in Da Vinci's Inquest and Da Vinci's City Hall) gives his usual standout performance, this time as a grizzled trainer, a.la. Burgess Meredith in Rocky.

As for the rest of the cast, the acting is of variable quality,...

I am admittedly predisposed to moaning with remorse whenever a new film sponsored by a fighting organization makes its way to JustPressPlay's doorstep. Whether it's on DVD or Blu-ray rarely ever makes a difference, as they're often little more than circle jerks made to capitalize on the built-in audience of fighting fans who will consume anything as long as the scenes of controlled violence are brutal and offer up a few “did you see that?!” moments. For that reason, I rue these films. Unrivaled makes me reconsider that notion or, at the very least, amend it. This film, presented quite well in high-definition, spends as much time building on plot and character as it does in the ring with fists flying.

Ringo Duran (Hector Echavarria) has become known as a perennial loser, a fighter far past his prime. However, it's an undeserved title as the film's opening fight shows that...

Take a look behind the scenes of Unrivaled to hear what Producer Sean Buckley has to say about making the fighters comfortable, the reasons for Mma’s popularity as a sport, working with the fighters/actors and crew of the film including Director Warren Sonoda, and getting excited about the production while Keith Jardine, Hector Echavarria, Forrest ... Related Posts Rashad “Sugar” Evans talks Mma movies in ‘Unrivaled’ Directing ‘Unrivaled’ – Warren Sonoda speaks from set of Mma movie Ufc Fighter Forrest Griffin on set of new Mma Movie ‘Unrivaled’...

Plenty of Mma-themed movies coming through MovieSet recently with fresh content from Unrivaled, the Death Warrior Mma Movie Star video contest, and interviews with well-known fighters/actors including Kimbo Slice, Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and Georges St-Pierre. Next up from the set of ‘Circle of Pain,’ Director Daniel Zirilli sits down with Mma fighters Roger ... Related Posts ‘Circle of Pain’ – Working with Mma fighters – Parts 1, 2 + 3 Kimbo Slice in a MovieSet First Look: ‘Circle of Pain’ – New Mma-powered Movie Stunts on the Set of Mma movie ‘Circle of Pain’...

Go behind the scenes of Unrivaled to talk with Ufc fighter Forrest Griffin (wikipedia) about his experiences on the set if this action movie. Griffin talks about the effects of a hard day of shooting, his character Landon (or Gregor) Popoff and why he enjoys working with director Warren P. Sonoda. Forrest also discusses his acting ... Related Posts ‘Unrivaled’ Producer Sean Buckley’s interview from the set Directing ‘Unrivaled’ – Warren Sonoda speaks from set of Mma movie Rashad “Sugar” Evans talks Mma movies in ‘Unrivaled’...

Join mixed martial arts fighter and coach of a team of aspiring fighters in Ultimate Fighter, Rashad “Sugar” Evans (wikipedia) behind the scenes of Unrivaled to hear what he has to say about working on the film. He speaks about his creative process, his character Christopher Holland and the experience of acting with other fighters. Synopsis: ... Related Posts ‘Unrivaled’ Producer Sean Buckley’s interview from the set Directing ‘Unrivaled’ – Warren Sonoda speaks from set of Mma movie Ufc Fighter Forrest Griffin on set of new Mma Movie ‘Unrivaled’...

Another video direct from the set of Mma-powered action movie featuring Keith Jardine and other top fighters. This time, Director Warren P. Sonoda takes you behind the scenes of Unrivaled to watch movie magic being made! Listen as Sonoda runs you through the film, hear what Unrivaled star Hector Echavarria has to say about the project and find out how stunt coordinator Eric Bryson puts together a fight.

Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest Mma world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

More ‘Unrivaled’ Videos

Al Sapienza talks ‘Unrivaled’ Actor Al Sapienza (Saw V) sits down to talk about his character Sergio, and what his inspiration is while playing a gangster.

Unrivaled - Directing A Chase Scene Follow director...

Another exclusive video fresh from the set of Mma-powered movie ‘Unrivaled‘ shooting Toronto. This clip features the big, bald (& occasionally mean) Keith Jardine in a variety of scenes and on-set banter.

First off, Jardine messes with his stunt double Julian Lewis, then acts in a choreographed fight against Hector Echavarria, and also chats about his character and real-life friendship with Rashad Evans. Director Warren P. Sonoda shares some comments about working with Jardine pointing out his hard work and effort on set. Finally Jardine mentions his enthusiasm for indie film and the art of film and points out flaws in his stunt double’s hair-do.

Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest Mma world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

The Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off in earnest tonight after a few days of panels Vancouver Film and Television Forums. The fest certainly doesn’t have the high profile of Toronto International Film Festival or Festival Du Cannes to be sure but its a growing fest in a beautiful city so who’s complaining.

Whether you are in Vancouver or following along at home, here is a menu of resources to peruse and enjoy (unless of course you are instead watching the Canucks hockey season kick-off tonight instead with the rest of Vancouver except for the people at the Whitecaps vs. Timbers soccer playoffs).

Westender’s Precious Spector

Vancouver’s WestEnder arts and culture magazine provides Movies: Top picks for this year’s Viff.

We tag ‘The Agony and The Ecstasy of Phil Spector‘ saying, “He is, of course, a convicted murderer and the proud owner of many ridiculous wigs.

MovieSet continues the coverage of ‘Unrivaled‘ with this interview with Al Sapienza who plays Sergio. In this interview he explains that he learned to act in prison of all places - which gets some laughs. He says he likes to plays gangster “light and fun,” and “charming and funny” “because that’s what they are really like.”

He comments that Director Warren Sonoda is passionate and a very good filmmaker and that Hector’s character Ringo “is likeable” and the story reminds him of modern day Rocky.

A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest Mma world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

Check out our other ‘Unrivaled’ Videos right here Unrivaled - Directing A Chase Scene Follow director Warren P. Sonoda...

Double dose of stunt action from the set of ‘Unrivaled‘ - the Mma-fueled action movie in production with Warren P. Sonoda at the directing helm and Hector Echavarria, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine contributing the fighting skills with help of stunt performers who make it look real and easy.

In this first clip “Hit and Run” - go behind the scenes of Unrivaled with actor Steven Yaffee to watch stunt performer Neil Davison and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson prepare for a hit and run scene.

In this second clip “Directing A Chase Scene” - follow director Warren P. Sonoda as he directs an on foot chase scene within a “live” street. See the people’s reaction as the actor’s race down the street. Then the stunt coordiantor has to move the group when a real-life bank in robbed in the neighborhood “I don’t want my boys to get shot” he says.

Nicholas Campbell in 'Unrivaled'

Next up from Insight and Grindstone is ‘Unrivaled‘ - currently shooting in Toronto, and MovieSet is again sharing exclusive, behind-the-scenes coverage from the set.

A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest Mma world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

Movieset takes you behind the scenes of Unrivaled to hear what actor Nicholas Campbell has to say about the film. Over the span of making a cappuccino, Campbell talks about the inspiration for his character Raphael and his experiences on the set of Unrivaled.

‘Unrivaled’ News

Movieset takes you behind the scenes of ‘Unrivaled’, By Shannon Nystedt movieset.com

Movieset will be working once again with Grindstone Entertainment Group and Lionsgate to help build early awareness...

More Mma MovieSet Action You’ve likely seen the extensive MovieSet coverage of ‘Death Warrior‘ with Mma stars Georges St-Pierre, Keith Jardine and Rashad Evans and ‘Never Surrender‘ with Anderson Silva, (a voice-dubbed) Gsp, plus rival Bj Penn.

Next up from Insight and Grindstone is ‘Unrivaled‘ - currently shooting in Toronto, and MovieSet is again sharing exclusive, behind-the-scenes coverage from the set.

Hector Echavarria and Rashad Evans in 'Death Warrior' together again in 'Unrivaled'

This new action film is executive produced, co-written (along with Brad Bode) and stars Hector Echavaria who carried similar responsibilities in the preceding films in the milieu. This time, Hector plays as Ringo Duran, a down on his luck cage fighter who is given a exciting, but dangerous, chance to beat the top fighters in the world.

He’s joined on-screen with familiar fists including Keith Jardine as “Stone” and Rashad Evans...