Film - Protecting the King

[Seabrook]

Hi Everyone,

While I missed the show, apparently lastnight on Access Hollywood, David Stanley was to be discussing the film, "Protecting the King", as the movie opened yesterday around the globe.

Mr. Tatum, who plays Ed Parker in the film, just informed me yesterday that it opened in South America, Australia, and various parts of Europe, and will make its way to North America somtime late next month or early October.

For more information about the film, click any of the belowe headlines:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...04641386&EDATE

http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainm...S10_spanc65578

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780530/

[Sentinel]

I remember hearing about this a while back. Thanks for the heads up.

[madeku]

sounds like itd be an interesting movie to watch.. but Larry Tatum is playing Ed Parker.. ummmm nope.. gonna need lots of makeup. lol

[Lifespath]

I just watched the video last night.

Blockbuster had in it stock.

I found the film entertaining and enjoyed watching Mr. Tatum's appearance as SGM Parker.

[Arizona Angel]

Looking forward to that one.

[Celtic_Crippler]

I have to ask....

How did a skinny Scandanavian/European pull off a big-boned Hawaiian? Must've been one hell of a make-up job!! LOL

[Seabrook]

I just watched the video last night.

Blockbuster had in it stock.

I found the film entertaining and enjoyed watching Mr. Tatum's appearance as SGM Parker.

Could you please provide some more feedback.

How long was the movie? How was the acting? Would you recommend the movie to others?

[1point21Jigowatts]

minimal makeup. kept the mustache. looks like they cast Master Tatum for his skills rather than his looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B8AK0v817w

[stone_dragone]

Was EP Jr in this? In the clip at 00:46, it kinda looks like him sitting left of the fellow in the white gi.

I could be wrong, though, I'm new to kenpo circles.

[Celtic_Crippler]

...I wonder why they didn't use Ed Jr. to play his father?

[Devildogmrk]

minimal makeup. kept the mustache. looks like they cast Master Tatum for his skills rather than his looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B8AK0v817w

Interesting but I think even people that have not done American Kempo will know that it is clearly not even close to a likiness of Ed Parker...LOL

Well except for the bushy hair...LOL

[8-up]

I wonder if people will realize that Ed Parker wasn't a 10th black in 1972.
Or that nobody in that YouTube clip was wearing the Parker patch.

[vegasbound]

Is the film about his stepbrothers experiences??......After reading their own books they had bigger drug problems than Elvis at the time.

[RDCParker]

minimal makeup. kept the mustache. looks like they cast Master Tatum for his skills rather than his looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B8AK0v817w

Interesting but I think even people that have not done American Kempo will know that it is clearly not even close to a likiness of Ed Parker...LOL

Well except for the bushy hair...LOL

I wonder if people will realize that Ed Parker wasn't a 10th black in 1972.
Or that nobody in that YouTube clip was wearing the Parker patch.

Is the film about his stepbrothers experiences??......After reading their own books they had bigger drug problems than Elvis at the time.

Yes it's very clear that the filmmakers were focused on the story of Elvis and his brother. This is not a kenpo film, therefore the accuracy of Ed Parker's look, the uniforms, the red bars on Mr. Tatum's belt, the art itself, I'm certain that all of that took a back seat to Elvis' stepbrother's story of his experiences.

Now if someone were to make a movie about the life of Ed Parker... that would be a different story.

[Celtic_Crippler]

I wonder if people will realize that Ed Parker wasn't a 10th black in 1972.
Or that nobody in that YouTube clip was wearing the Parker patch.

Now if someone were to make a movie about the life of Ed Parker... that would be a different story.

We need to get right on that!

[Roach]

I wonder if people will realize that Ed Parker wasn't a 10th black in 1972.
Or that nobody in that YouTube clip was wearing the Parker patch.

You're right. The Kenpo in the movie sucked. But it was never about Kenpo anyway. Just hyped up that way on KN and elsewhere (by certain groups).

If you want to get technical, it wasn't even about Elvis. Didn't even mention the word "Elvis" or "Presley" throughout the entire movie. I guess you had to be aware of who the "King" was prior to watching. I only know of one.

In short, a one perspective POV about the life and times on the road with an "anonymous" musical star in the '70's. Poor acting, deflating storyline, and alot to be imagined.

And for 6 whole seconds, Sean Kelley and Clyde O'Briant sat next to each other without typing vulgarities at each other.

[RexKwonDo]

Sounds like one thumbs up and one thumbs down.

I take it from the youtube clip that this David Stanley guy trained under Ed Parker.

[1point21Jigowatts]

We need to get right on that!

Someone did.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814007/

[Hunter]

I thought the movie was cheesy and a bit ego driven.

I am probably more of a "purist" then others but if you are going to make a "period" type of movie you should represent it in such a way.

The kenpo itself by Mr. Tatum was good in my opinion, but the scene itself was very cheesy. Including the everyone gazing into Mr. Stanley's eyes and nodding like kenpo bobble heads.

Someone pointed this out earlier in the thread...but yes, not one of Mr. Parkers patches could be seen in the whole scene.

If I am going to watch a B-Movie with cheesy acting zombies should be getting their heads blown off at some point.

Hail to the king baby
- Ash

[bama1977]

I thought the movie was cheesy and a bit ego driven.

I am probably more of a "purist" then others but if you are going to make a "period" type of movie you should represent it in such a way.

The kenpo itself by Mr. Tatum was good in my opinion, but the scene itself was very cheesy. Including the everyone gazing into Mr. Stanley's eyes and nodding like kenpo bobble heads.

Someone pointed this out earlier in the thread...but yes, not one of Mr. Parkers patches could be seen in the whole scene.

If I am going to watch a B-Movie with cheesy acting zombies should be getting their heads blown off at some point.

Hail to the king baby
- Ash

That is pretty much my thought too. Stanley made way too much of himself and his relationship with Elvis. From other things I've read, the two were not all that close. The movie came off to me looking like Stanley's ode to Stanley's ego.

As far as Larry Tatum...well, his facial hair, earring, and LT patches ruined it for me. If you are going to play Ed Parker then play Ed Parker. Don't use the role to promote yourself and your school ( and in such a shameless manner). And what was the deal with the Stanley character walking around the movie with an LT shirt on? That all just ruined the kenpo scenes for me. (Ed Parker Jr. was in the movie...for like 3 seconds. Why didn't they use him to play his father?)

I thought the guy who played Stanley did a good job with his acting and Tom Sizemore did a good job too. Other than that, I was disappointed with this film.