PRISONER OF WAR

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and VOD from director Louis Mandylor and Well Go USA in a story by Scott Adkins is the story of war and those who fight being the PRISONER OF WAR.

Wing Commander James Wright (Scott Adkins) is in the British Airforce during the Battle of Battan in 1942. He is shot down, captured and taken to a prison camp where he is marked for death. Wright is not about to let that happen and makes a daring escape but is recaptured and brought before Lt. Col. Benjiro Ito (Peter Shinkoda). Believing he has plans for Wright, to his surprise, he never anticipated anyone like this soldier.

Wright meets the other prisoners of war along with Beardy (Michael Walton), Jonesy (Gary Cairns), and Sgt. Gabrielle Villanueva (Michael Copon) who introduce their leader Captain Collins (Cowboy Cerrone). They fill him in on what is happening at the camp and how there are other camps much worse. Yet Wright is about to find out how Ito deals with punishments in the camp but, the rules are about to change. Ito sees that this soldier has been heavily trained and puts that training to the test.

Not waiting around to see what Ito has planned for the prisoners; Wright comes up with a plan that needs the help of everyone in the camp. One person he did not expect is Teresa (Gabbi Garcia), a nurse who is kept in the camp by Ito. The problem is the watchful eye of Captain Endo (Masanori Mimoto) who wants desperately to be the one to put Wright down. As the plan gets put into place, they group will only have a short window of time to get away before Ito and his men shoot to kill.

Adkins as Wright is a soldier who is sure of himself and doesn’t let anything rattle him, at least he doesn’t show it. Always watchful, it helps him stay one step ahead of anything coming after him, even Ito. The other prisoners quickly trust him and believe that his plan, although put together quickly, will work because they are doing it together! Adkins gives us a pilot who doesn’t fight to end life but fights to avoid it at all costs. I enjoyed his performance mainly because it was more brains over brawn and the martial arts was a bonus.

Shinkoda as Ito is a ruthless man who has no issue with punishments or pitting man against man. Once he experiences Wright’s abilities, he uses it for two purposes and neither of them are worthy of humanity. Trying to keep his emotions in checks, he slips occasionally and Wright is there to take note. Mimoto as Endo is an angry soldier who sees nothing redeeming about any of the prisoners but especially Wright. Trying to convince Ito to let him handle it, his frustration grows in intensity.

Copon as Villenueva takes to Wright immediately and believes that he can make an escape possible. Cerrone as Collins also sees what the pilot can do and how it has an effect on Ito but believes in an escape is possible. Walton and Cairns will follow strength and that includes newcomer Wright. Garcia as Teresa is a captive as well as Ito uses people for his own purposes. She sees that Wright can be the way out and I love that there is a woman in the mix.

Shout out to Asano as Shunsuke as he brings the past and present together.

Other cast include Shane Kosugi as Corporal Hirano, Fitim Krasiqi as The Greek, Pauline Lopez as Ana, Xin Wuku as The Monster, Andrei Kasushkin as Edgar and Kansuke Asano as Shunsuke Ito.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

Director Mandylor is known on screen for such roles as Marcus in THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT, Ethan Hill in DAYLIGHT’S END, John Caputo in 3 DAYS IN MALAY and as Nick Portokalos in the hit film MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING and the sequels that followed. 

Adkins history in film makes PRISONER OF WAR a perfect fit. Trained in the styles of taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, capoeira, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do and Wushu, it offered roles in actions films such as THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2012), ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012) up to DAY SHIFT (2022) and JOHN WICK: Chapter 4 (2023). His other film in 2025 is SKYLINE: Warpath. About his martial arts beginnings, Adkins says, “I started when I was ten years old. I did judo because my brother and dad took part in it. They eventually stopped but I kept going. I got into taekwondo for many years and was a fan of martial arts films from the start.”, so it only makes sense he would use his skills in film.

PRISONER OF WAR is a war film yes, but there is so much more to it. It is a story of survival and camaraderie in the grip of that survival. Wright comes in not to be a supersized hero who wants to take out everyone, but instead focuses on saving as many as he can with the help of fellow prisoners. Even when coming up against an aggressor like Ito, Wright/Adkins refuses to capitulate. The cast adds a layer of complexity that comes with any story of war and an ending that is unexpected!

In the end - captured in war and unleashed in battle!

 

3 DAYS IN MALAY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from Bluray and DVD from director Louis Mandylor, Saban Films and Well Go USA is the story of past mistakes, coming together and struggling to survive 3 DAYS IN MALAY.

John Caputo (Louis Mandylor) has just been assigned to a remote airstrip in the jungle. Once there, he checks in with nurse Bess (Kelly B. Jones) who goes over his military jacket. Caputo makes a quick rundown of his boxing career, Marine tour and now with the Army. He is checked in and onto the barracks where he sees longtime friend James (Donald Cerrone).

But there is a history between these two men as Japanese forces are slowly surrounding the air field. The past mixes with the death of a friend as James starts feeling it all consume him. Even Reverend Conte (Quinton Jackson) tries to convince James that where they are and what they are doing comes with death.

Caputo is well known by the rest of the platoon with Adams (Ryan Francis), Conroy (Randall Bacon), and Simmons (Randy Wayne) and the accept him readily. On the other end of the compound, Murdock (Eoin O’Brien) is trying to convince General Harmon (Bear Williams) that the Japanese are going to attack and they are not ready.

For three days the men do what they need to do to stop the advancement of the enemy and save as many lives as they can.

Mandylor as Caputo is a man with inner demons that he is controlling. He has a history of mental pain trying to find a place to lay it to rest. Going from the boxing ring to the ring of war, Caputo wants to make the only peace possible and that is with his childhood friend James. On a personal note, I still love the character of Nick from MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING.

Cerrone as James wants to outwardly act like he isn’t shaken by seeing Caputo again. He keeps the conversation casual and light until one peek at his military jacket sends him into a rage. Taking it out on Caputo with boxing gloves, it is clear his friend has no desire for this kind of fight.

Bacon as Conroy takes a liking to Caputo and clearly does not agree with James’ tactics in handling their relationship. Bacon plays his soldier as a straight forward guy who knows what the job is and it’s not fighting each other. Jackson as the Reverand is a calming and strong force for the men and when the time calls for it, he doesn’t mind picking up a rifle and fighting with his comrades in arms.

O’Brien as Murdock is a man who clearly understand what is about to happen and cannot get the higher command to listen. Instead, he fights his way verbally through the ranks and when it all begins to come down, he jumps into fight without hesitation. Jones as Bess is a nurse who doesn’t take any guff from the men but almost instantly has an attraction to Caputo. She takes her job as a nurse seriously and stands up to anyone in her way.

Francis, Wayne and Williams bring the cast full circle and show what friendship, strength and faithfulness to the other men overshadowed the fear that anyone would feel. They bring a sense of camaraderie to the film and that’s important in showing what the men and women went through during with war with Japan.

Other cast include Kelly Reiter as Ellie, Alex Farnham as Jack along with Ron Smoorenburg, Jonathan Samson, John Garrett Mahlmeister, Alexander Winters, Vesse Saastamoinen and Andrey Kasushkin.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

Saban Films was launched in 2014 and has built an impressive slate of high-quality feature films distributed with partner Lionsgate. Focusing on talent-driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production to be released across multiple platforms. Films such as SISTER OF THE GROOM, FATMAN and BREACH are part of the wonderful Saban slate, and more information can be found at www.sabanfilms.com.

3 DAYS IN MALAY is a film not just about World War 2 but of the lives of the men and women during that time. There are stories within stories in the film and much of it is a rift between Caputo and James. Both have past issues and mistakes they are dealing with but James wants to take it out on Caputo whereas Caputo just wants peace with his childhood friend.

Director Mandylor does not sugar coat the horrors of war but instead lets it be known the truth of what war does to human beings. It is a brutal and, at times, shocking act and there is very little time to think about the consequences that come later, James’ inability to deal with his friend Evans death is proof of that.

In the end – it all happens in three days!

3 DAYS IN MALAY

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from director Louis Mandylor and Saban Films is the story of past mistakes, coming together and struggling to survive 3 DAYS IN MALAY.

John Caputo (Louis Mandylor) has just been assigned to a remote airstrip in the jungle ……

Once there, he checks in with nurse Bess (Kelly B. Jones) who goes over his military jacket. Caputo makes a quick run down of his boxing career, Marine tour and now with the Army. He is checked in and onto the barracks where he sees long time friend James (Donald Cerrone).

But, there is a history between these two men as Japanese forces are slowly surrounding the air field. The past mixes with the death of a friend as James starts feeling it all consume him. Even Reverend Conte (Quinton Jackson) tries to convince James that where they are and what they are doing comes with death.

Caputo is well known by the rest of the platoon with Adams (Ryan Francis), Conroy (Randall Bacon), and Simmons (Randy Wayne) and the accept him readily. On the other end of the compound, Murdock (Eoin O’Brien) is trying to convince General Harmon (Bear Williams) that the Japanese are going to attack and they are not ready.

For three days the men do what they need to do to stop the advancement of the enemy and save as many lives as they can.

Mandylor as Caputo is a man with inner demons that he is controlling. He has a history of mental pain trying to find a place to lay it to rest. Going from the boxing ring to the ring of war, Caputo wants to make the only peace possible and that is with his childhood friend James. On a personal note, I still love the character of Nick from MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING.

Cerrone as James wants to outwardly act like he isn’t shaken by seeing Caputo again. He keeps the conversation casual and light until one peek at his military jacket sends him into a rage. Taking it out on Caputo with boxing gloves, it is clear his friend has no desire for this kind of fight.

Bacon as Conroy takes a liking to Caputo and clearly does not agree with James’ tactics in handling their relationship. Bacon plays his soldier as a straight forward guy who knows what the job is and its not fighting each other. Jackson as the Reverand is a calming and strong force for the men and when the time calls for it, he doesn’t mind picking up a rifle and fighting with his comrades in arms.

O’Brien as Murdock is a man who clearly understand what is about to happen and can not get the higher command to listen. Instead, he fights his way verbally through the ranks and when it all begins to come down, he jumps into fight without hesitation. Jones as Bess is a nurse who doesn’t take any guff from the men but almost instantly has an attraction to Caputo. She takes her job as a nurse seriously and stands up to anyone in her way.

Francis, Wayne and Williams bring the cast full circle and show what friendship, strength and faithfulness to the other men overshadowed the fear that anyone would feel. They bring a sense of camaraderie to the film and that’s important in showing what the men and women went through during with war with Japan.

Other cast include Kelly Reiter as Ellie, Alex Farnham as Jack along with Ron Smoorenburg, Jonathan Samson, John Garrett Mahlmeister, Alexander Winters, Vesse Saastamoinen and Andrey Kasushkin.

Saban Films was launched in 2014 and has built an impressive slate of high-quality feature films distributed with partner Lionsgate. Focusing on talent-driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production to be released across multiple platforms. Films such as SISTER OF THE GROOM, FATMAN and BREACH are part of the wonderful Saban slate, and more information can be found at www.sabanfilms.com.

3 DAYS IN MAYLAY is a film not just about World War 2 but of the lives of the men and women during that time. There are stories within stories in the film and much of it is a rift between Caputo and James. Both have past issues and mistakes they are dealing with but James wants to take it out on Caputo where as Caputo just wants peace with his childhood friend.

Director Mandylor does not sugar coat the horrors of war but instead lets it be known the truth of what war does to human beings. It is a brutal and, at times, shocking act and there is very little time to think about the consequences that come later, James’ inability to deal with his friend Evans death is proof of that.

In the end – it all happens in three days!