It’s a smart move. While VOX is showing “The Expendables” and then “The Expendables 2” (from 10 p.m.) on October 13 at 8:15 p.m., TELE 5 counters with “Triple Threat” at 10:25 p.m. After all, this is an “Expendables” clone, but it doesn’t show old warriors at the end of their careers, but some of the currently most exciting martial arts experts and B-movie spectacle guarantors.
Unfortunately, there is a catch: The “Triple Threat”, which is approved for over 18s, is cut at 10:25 p.m. on the free TV premiere (like both “Expendables” films on VOX, by the way). But TELE 5 can remedy this itself. An uncut repeat of “Triple Threat” will be shown at 2:20 a.m. on Friday, October 14th. So simply program TV recordings instead of watching them live. Or you can conveniently stream the action hit. With the superfresh channel on Amazon Prime Video, “Triple Threat” is even available as a streaming subscription at no additional cost:
» “Triple Threat” on Amazon Prime Video*
A team led by ruthless mercenary Collins (Scott Adkins) plans to kidnap billionaire heiress Xian (Celina Jade). She manages to flee at the last second and find refuge with Long Fei (Tiger Hu Chen) and Payu (Tony Jaa), who actually worked for Collins but were deceived by Collins about the real job and therefore turned against him. Soon Jaka (Iko Uwais) completes the protector trio, who has a score to settle with Collins…
But anyone who now thinks that it’s a bit unfair that Scott Adkins has to compete with three martial arts legends at the same time underestimates the tough Brit. But on the other hand also has the support. Among others, Michael Jai White (“Spawn”) and “Chocolate – sweet and deadly” kick-ass fighter JeeJa Yanin are part of his fighting force.
In the end, of course, the whole story is pretty much secondary and, above all, a means to an end. It’s about staging all these action stars as effectively as possible. That’s the responsibility of Jesse V. Johnson, who with “Avengement – Blutiger Freigang” has staged one of the B-movie highlights of recent years (currently uncut on Netflix). You notice in “Triple Threat” that he regularly has his buddy Scott Adkins in front of the camera. Because he gets the most opportunities to profile himself, so that one or the other should keep their fingers crossed for the villain.
In addition, Johnson unfortunately relies a little too much on firefights, in which the talent of the stars in close combat naturally does not come into its own. But often enough Jaa, Adkins, Uwais and Co. are let off the leash. The fights are well choreographed, clearly filmed and time and time again really brutal. And the final fight alone is worth watching the film.
“Triple Threat‘ still has some room for improvement overall, of course it’s clearly a B-movie in terms of budget (CGI not convincing), but a very funny affair that literally makes all ‘The Expendables’ films look old. There’s a lot more momentum here, so it’s a clear recommendation for fans of B-movie action fare.
*The link to the Amazon offer is a so-called affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, we will receive a commission.
