5 comments about The Hard Corps.

1. Okay, firstly I'd rate this movie better if it had shown on BET and not been released as a dvd. The movie started off really great (except the low budget lighting or inconsistencies with). The plot is about an ex boxer who's not safe against a guy that wanted him to lose/win (i forgot isn't that bad!) so Vivica is the sister of the black retired boxer turned business owner needing protection from Van damme (who's crazy b/c he was in Iraq/Afghanistan). That back story should have been cut out. Of course the brother is hard headed so he's always getting close calls (which helps move the story even though that's dumb) Van damme doesn't do a split in this one.!!!
   
   Negatives
   the cover is kind of misleading to the storyline. I thought Vivica would be on the run and he needed to protect her (like that movie with William Baldwin and Cindy Crawford).
   
   Not enough storyline to warrant why Vivica would date Van Dammme. but it's typical van damme so you have to just go with it. I would have included something else maybe a scene where they're after her, and then they hold each other. that would warrant the kiss at the end!!!
   
   Okay movie! though definitely for BET channel. The first 40 minutes were great (except the lighting)



2. Don't let the other reviews of this movie fool you. Some JCVD fans may be dissapointed due to the minimal martial arts scenes in this film.However, this is not a martial arts movie, it is a suspense drama movie that contains more acting and less fighting. With that in mind, I see this film as a transition for Van Damme who appears to be stepping away from martial arts films and stepping toward suspense movies.
   
   Van Damme delivers an emotional yet highly entertaining
   performance as a military veteran who is haunted by an accidental bombing of innocent civilians and many children by terrorists. There are some flash back scenes which vividly show Van Damme's inner struggle to cope with the painful memory of war.
   Vivica Fox manages her famous brother who is an ex-athlete turned business man. The bad guys want to "eliminate" Vivica's brother by any means neccessary. Basically, Van Damme is hired as a bodyguard to protect her brother from the bad guys. That is where the movie takes a turn from action to drama. The supporting cast (including the bad guys) are believable. Also, there is a very shocking torture scene involving pitbulls!
   Van Damme has truly "stepped up to the acting plate", so to speak.
   
   I rate this movie 5 stars because of the gripping plot and as always, Van Damme shows that he is more than just an athlete & martial artist. He is a highly skilled actor who I see making several more entertaining suspense dramas.



3. I dont like to compare movies instead i would rather judge each on its own merits and quite frankly this Vann Damme movie im glad to have watched! Theres plenty of good action sequences and pretty believeble bad guys all helped make this a Vanny movie to see.
   Know one should expect J.C.V.D to be the absolute high kicker he was in premier heydays and should rather expect to see a more matured actor cum action star as in these newer offerings from Vanny are more story biased than balls-out action but with The Hard Corps action fiends will not be dissapointed!!A super effort from the best Martial Arts action /movie star ever to be silver screened..Worth every penny..



4. I'm a big Van Damme fan, I own all his movies, even this one, but you don't have to do that!!!
   
   Avoid this movie, it's the worse of the worse ( I repeat I'm a big fan of JCVD ).
   Bad acting, bad directing, bad story.
   Don't make the same mistake I did, you have to avoid this movie and Derailed at all costs.



5. The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)
   
   1. Who is he? He's a hallucination-prone, recovering alcoholic, troubled former U.S. soldier Phillippe Sauvage who served in Afghanistan and a few times in Iraq.
   2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? His former Sergeant Major, with whom he served multiple tours, was killed in a shootout.
   3. Does he take his shirt off? Unbelievably, it doesn't happen.
   4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? It was probably a deleted scene (or will be in the sequel), but JCVD hit the jackpot in this one and he hooked up with Tamara Barclay (Vivica A. Fox). C-List? Pshaw!!
   5. Is there a tournament? He trains several novice bodyguards like there is going to be a tournament, but it's just to protect the champ.
   6. Is training needed for this tournament? In a surprise twist, JCVD trains others!
   7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? The actual splits aren't done, but in the penultimate battle, he does a kick that exposes "Big Jim and the Twins" to the enemy - close enough.
   8. Does he punch someone in the balls? No, but one of Wayne's booty-call girls field-goals a thug's balls somewhere near his esophagus.
   9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? Good ol' JCVD, he had me going for a while. He saved the 360-goodness for the very end.
   10. Is his enemy unbeatable? Hardly. A group of ignorant thugs who hold their pistols sideways do not a formidable enemy make.
   11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? Aside from being fragile and suffering from PTSD, there are no real injuries of which to speak.
   12. Does he win? He basically assassinates everyone; so, I'd call that a win.
   
   A former boxer, Wayne Barclay, needs protection from a cliché-ridden Suge Knight wannabe. Eventually, a battle-hardened Sauvage (JCVD sporting a huge, baseball-sized knot on his head throughout the movie) is hired and tasked to build his own security team. The people he plans on hiring are the "hardest of the hard corp," but that basically ends up being one former soldier buddy and a few people from Barclay's gym.
   
   To summarize this movie, I'd borrow a line from Wayne: it's like "pouring water on $*&# and calling it gravy". The convoluted plot, the stereotypical black characters, and the paint-by-numbers approach shouldn't work. It should be ridiculous. Adding JCVD's over-complicated character is brilliant. It's never enough for JCVD to have a drinking problem in a movie; the character has to be riddled with problems and responsible for the My Lai Massacre in order for JCVD to bite. Somehow, however, all of it together simply works.
   
   As far as production value goes, it's slightly better than average for JCVD. It steals bits from several other movies (The Bodyguard, Major League, Four Brothers, Rocky II, Romeo Must Die,New Jack City, Jungle Fever) but ends up providing a relatively new, enjoyable experience. Watch this movie. That's an order, soldier.

5 comments about Missionary Man.

1. After watching this movie, I realized that I had just watched Dolph Lundgren's remake of Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter," but in a modern setting and with motorcycles instead of horses! All the elements are there: lone, unamed drifter rides into town held hostage by ruthless bad guy; drifter takes on bad guys and befriends a young girl and her family; bad guys call in more bad guys who ride into town to kill mysterious drifter; drifter picks off bad guys one by one until they are all dead; viewer learns that the bad guys had "killed" the drifter before and is apparently the spirit of the husband/father of the family that the drifter befriends; mysterious drifter rides out of town alone and vanishes before our eyses, as if he were never there, just like Clint Eastwood does at the end of "High Plains Drifter." Intentional or not, it does pay a nice homage to a western classic. It's so cheesy it's actually kind of good! The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was filmed in muted colors, which gave everything a washed-out, grainy look. However, I guess this was the intention of the director (Dolph himself!) as he must've wanted a gritty look to this modern western. Worth a look!



2. In short, this movie contains native american images and philosophies.
   Lungren manages to evoke deep thought by using mystery to allow tension and anticipation to build. I rate this movie with 5 stars



3. There is a long tradition of the dead guy who ( should/ could/ would)
   come back and reap revenge on the bad guys. In this case
   a gang of drug running bikers who support the local villain and his
   gang. On tall blond and middle aged biker cleans the streets
   of the murdering bikers and leaves down the road.
   It is western hero on a hog time again...



4. It's finally fun to be a Dolph Lundgren fan again: after a time of proverbial stinkers like "Storm Catcher" and "Agent Red", "Missionary Man" comes off the heels of the better-than-average "The Defender" and "The Mechanik" to continue the trend of upward mobility for the towering Swedish black belt...but, like any film that our hero has done, it's not perfect.
   
   The plot revolves around an Indian reservation under the oppressive control of a powerful businessman (Matthew Tompkins, "Killing Down"). Upon the suspicious death of a young activist, a soft-spoken biker with an affinity for the Bible (Lundgren) rides into town to investigate his friend's demise, and ends up going head-to-head with the tyrannical forces that have enslaved the reservation.
   
   Immediately, I am reminded of Steven Seagal's "On Deadly Ground" - another action movie that dealt with Native American plight. In comparison, Lundgren's film is superior and more realistic in expressing problems facing Indian communities in the modern world: though dramatized, the oppression of the reservation isn't sensationalized or melodramatic, and the Indians are portrayed as intrinsically modern and aware of the politics surrounding their situations.
   
   Lundgren, however, is less notable: though his character is cloistered and soft-spoken to begin with, this plays down Dolph's acting ability and makes him appear less likeable as a hero of the downtrodden. Also, the premise of him being a man of God is moot: he reads passages from the Bible a couple of times, but in none of his actions does he mention a biblical influence or elaborate on his faith, which makes me wonder why the movie is called what it is.
   
   "Missionary Man" is film driven by story rather than action, so the latter is presented in spare amounts: the final 12-againt-1 stalk is the best scene when it comes to shooting and kicking butt, but generally all of the encounters are quick and one-sided. The fact that the acting is of decent quality helps shoulder this lack of explosions, but it's still disappointing.
   
   In the end, you can chalk up one for Lundgren: though not typical action fare, "Missionary Man" is distinguishable from other DTV releases, and gives hope to the thought that Dolph will be ready if a big-budget offer comes calling.



5. This was so bad it could almost be listed as a comedy. Dolph Lundgren's career peaked at Rocky IV and he should have retired then. His directing is as "good" as his acting. Overused cliches are abundant, wooden acting, predictable plot, "artsy" video quality, and more melodrama than you can stomach make even bad B movies look good by comparison.

5 comments about Universal Soldier - The Return.

1. Universal Soldier DVD
   
   It all began in the jungles of Vietnam. Two dead soldiers were rescued from death in a secret governmental program. Unfortunately some memories still linger. This movie pits Jean-Claude Van Dame against Dolph Lundgren. Who do you think will win?
   
   Recommended for fans of Jean-Claude Van Dame and Dolph Lundgren.
   
   Gunner April, 2008



2. Looking at it now, the film was pretty corny but it still is a scary thought! Not to get political but don't think someone in Washington, DC hasn't thought about doing what they did in this film!
   
   Back to the movie, it stars Jean Claude Van Damne and Dolph Lungren. For me, Dolph made this movie more than Van Damne! I actually found his character funny as well as sinister. Van Damne's character was definitely a straight shooter here.
   
   Overall, it has good action, a few cheesy moments but also a few memorable catch phrases (some of which I can't repeat here). It isn't the best movie for either action actor but its okay overall.



3. I said it then and I say it now, boys just want to have fun. Okay since when are guys not allowed to enjoy macho soldier movies? And ladies keep in mind when our toys are taken away yours will follow shortly thereafter. Sure this movie may not have any great acting, but actually the directing, costumes, sets, effects, and music aren't bad. Van Damme and Lundgren play soldiers that died in Viet Nam while fighting each other over killing a prisoner. The next thing you know it is thirty years later and they wake up in a special refrigeration truck with the latest in war toys and they are part of special unit designed to go in and perform miraculous fetes of physical endurance and prowess. You know, run down dams and things so they can rescue hostages. Probably why most guys enjoy this still. This is actually probably at the top of the heap of movies made by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. Although I must admit I love "Timecop" and "I Come in Peace". I actually cracked up when they commented on Van Damme's accent in the movie and asked if he was French. So it goes to show they even had a sense of humor. If you like action packed without alot of redeeming societal morality and political correctness then welcome to fun time with macho men fighting, shooting lots of bullets, and blowing things up. Great quality DVD with some special extras, decent replayability.



4. My husband loves this movie so for his birthday I got it for him. The DVD arrived quickly and was in great condition!



5. The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)
   
   1. Who is he? Luc Deveraux, former US soldier in Vietnam who, when killed by friendly fire, becomes part of a military medical equivalent to Frankenstein, the Universal Soldier (UniSol).
   2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? As a humanitarian soldier, Deveraux considered friendly Vietnamese his friends. It's just too bad his Sergeant didn't.
   3. Does he take his shirt off? It's probably because he's dead, but JCVD is shirtless in a faux cryogenic, stasis in bubbling water scenes stolen straight from comic books, as well as whenever the UniSols are back in the mobile lab or in a vat of ice. I'm sure the ice thing was written in specifically so he could take his shirt off.
   4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? Thankfully he didn't...otherwise this movie would have involved necrophilia.
   5. Is there a tournament? There is no sanctioned tournament, just UniSols going about their mission.
   6. Is training needed for this tournament? Quoting the awesomeness of Stripes, "Aaaaarmy training, sir!" (Which is odd considering both movies are about ridiculous military situations)
   7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? Even though it's not explicitly part of the plot, he nonetheless manages to form an upside-down "T" during a fight scene.
   8. Does he punch someone in the balls? Although it's slightly off camera, it appears JCVD delivers three solid punches to the jewels of Sergeant Scott (Lundgren). Given JCVD's propensity for nut-shots, it's safe to assume knuckle met scrotum.
   9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? Not only does he fulfill his normal helping of spin kicks, but he adds a few new versions into the mix.
   10. Is his enemy unbeatable? It sure seems that his enemy is unbeatable. In the final battle, Deveraux kicks Scott in the face five times in a row, and the only thing Scott does is laugh.
   11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? Well, technically he's dead, and there's some sort of combination of UniSol injection and ice water bath requirement for keeping a soldier recharged, but otherwise he's good to go.
   12. Does he win? With the help of a wood chipper - and a final line of, "You're discharged, Sarge" - Deveraux literally tears Scott apart.
   
   With some great wire work in some fight scenes, and tons of head shot gun play, the action is top notch for this JCVD iteration. The plot is interesting enough to have spawned more than one sequel. And Dolph Lundren makes a solid appearance in the meeting B-action superstars. What's great is that both main characters are supposed to be resurrected cyborgs, and each of their respective robotic acting ability just happens to be perfect for the role. Nothing new here; just JCVD being awesome yet again.

5 comments about Replicant.

1. REPLICANT as indicated in the Amazon review is a surprisingly good movie. Jean Claude van Damme gives one of his most convincing performances in two roles: a slimy serial killer called the Torch who has been murdering mothers and their babies, and as his genetic double, a kind of childlike replicant. The clone was done in order to try and retrace the movements of the real Torch, but also as a governmental experiment to initiate further plans for the future. Van Damme is repulsive as the Torch and quite convincing as the new Torch, who is put under the care of former cop, now secret service agent Michael Rooker. Rooker gives a compelling performance and the relationship that develops between he and the genetic double is well developed. Ringo Lam directs with a sure eye and the action scenes are well executed. A very surprising entry for van Damme and a good actioner overall.



2. Absolutely amazing. I mean, the guy had been written off for so long, I really didn't have many expectations for this movie, but it was a surprise and a half. The GOOD kind, too.
   
   Ringo Lam also directed the tepid Van Damme film "Maximum Risk", but at least the fight scenes showed panache. You'll find this film mirrors "The Sixth Day" (if for no other reason but that Michael Rooker stars in both), and actually beats it for sheer watchability.
   
   It's a lot of fun to see Van Damme brutalize any innocent bystander that gets in his way; he must have had a ball with that role. On the other hand, watching him perfect his 'Rain Man' side added a touch of pathos and humour as well--I think this movie represents his best acting yet, and believe me, that is saying a lot.
   
   Some of the deleted scenes should have been left in for further character development, but overall, it's a tight, well-paced thriller/action film that really deserved a theatre release. Absolutely recommended.



3. Replicant is probably the most complete Van Damme movie made. It has everything from an enjoyable and well paced plot, solid characters with pretty good acting, and wonderful action scenes.
   
   This is not the first movie to have 2 Van Damme main characters. Double Impact was actually the first, but unlike that film, the two in Replicant are actually much more different and are pretty much enemies for the most part. The first Van Damme character we are introudced to is the villain, and Van Damme actually does a really good job fullfilling this role. The villain is not your typical bad guy - this guy is just dirty and has issues. He is obsessed with not only killing, but burning all the "bad" mothers he comes in contact with, in return for his own mistreated youth. It seems like nothing can stop this guy in the film, and he rarely gives a care about who gets in the way. He has no trouble killing others and putting plenty in harms way.
   
   The other Van Damme character is a clone created in a government program, that hopes clones can successfully sense their real life counterparts, and lead the cops to the villain. At first, the clone goes through some training and has a difficult time adjusting to life, but eventually learns. He finally comes in contact with his villain counterpart, in a series of either rough fights or attempts to join sides with his real life self.
   
   The other notable character in the film is Jake (Michael Rooker) who has been hunting down the suspect for a long time, and with still no success, decides to retire. The villain still wants him dead, and thats when Jake is asked to work with the clone in the new program to help find the murderer once and for all. There are definetly some emotional moments between himself and the clone - moments of frustration, humor, carelessness, and eventually some bonding.
   
   As for action, the scenes are well placed throughout the plot of the movie. All the action never dissapoints, and the fights are very hardcore - from bodies flying, to objects breaking in every scene, each fight is a brutal one. The finale of the movie has the greatest action of all, and mainly involves an intense ambulance driving scene in a parking garage, where Jake is trying to stop the murderer from escaping. There is also plenty of fight action too.
   
   This is one of Van Damme's better movies, and best performances, playing two very different roles well. The movie works well altogther, and is enjoyable in more areas that just the action department. Perhaps one of the last of the great Van Damme movies made is this one. You won't be dissapointed.



4. JC Van Damme was my favorite action star when I was younger. Before Crouching Tiger and Rumble in the Bronx started the neo-Chinese martial arts movie invasion, Van Damme was king. I watched him get sidelined, disappear for a while, then release movies right to DVD.
   
   Replicant should change all that. JC has remained in top form physically, and even improved as an actor. I am not joking when I say he should have gotten an Oscar nod for his dual role in this film.
   
   If you can look past the horrible science, namely that a clone has the mind and memories of the original, then we have our story. A just-retired cop, Jake, cannot rest as a serial killer targets mothers and savagely murders them. Grim scenes, here. Jake gets a chance to test a secret NSA science project, a replicant of the killer, to see if it will work to catch the killer. If it works, they would clone terrorists and such to track them. The script really gets five stars because there are no holes in it, the viewer is not saying "what about . . . they forgot . . "
   
   The science project is Van Damme as a nameless clone. It is hard to watch the scenes as Jake abuses him like a dog, how the clone is so baby-like and cowers before the only person he knows. The killer is so evil, I really forgot I was watching the same person play both roles. And you will too.
   
   I cannot wait to purchase this film for my collection, and I will be telling everyone about it.



5. The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)
   
   1. Who is he? Edward Garrotte, murder victims he burns. Nicknamed is "The Torch", his alias well earned. His hair has been used, for the DNA. A Replicant is made, to save the day.
   2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? His mother? Himself? This part is hazy. Suffice to say, the setup is crazy.
   3. Does he take his shirt off? When born as "Replicant", it's all for show. Think Keanu, Matrix, without the "Whoa".
   4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? He meets a hooker, alone on the street. In less than one second, it's ugh, skeet skeet.
   5. Is there a tournament? Replicant has no tournament at all. Following the matrix, it's the sole fault.
   6. Is training needed for this tournament? Training is always essential to plot. Gymnastics, however? Probably not.
   7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? When learning to use a body brand new, it's: crawl, walk, run, and practice the splits, too.
   8. Does he punch someone in the balls? With JCVD, balls should always be scared. Two Van Dammes, two roles, balls better beware. Samaritan not to swift on his feet? Gerrotte takes umbrage, and his heel meets meat. The police decide to pull out a Glock? Gerrotte fights back, and he hammers a c#@*.
   9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? Hey kitchen employees! What do you see? Roundhouse for each - 1800 degrees. When two Van Dammes meet, one can feel mana. This is, quite simply, roundhouse nirvana.
   10. Is his enemy unbeatable? Never before has Van Damme faced this threat, even in Bloodsport when he faced Bolo. It's his exact clone, not a silhouette; it's truly his first unbeatable foe.
   11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? With two JCVDs, there are two problems. The Replicant seems slightly retarded. Garrotte, however, has some great drama. He burns because his childhood trauma.
   12. Does he win? It's the same as all; the end's transparent. But you'll love this movie, it's a sure bet.
   
   With Replicant JCVD brings back the double entendre title (Knock Off), as well as the dual role responsibility from a previous movie (Double Impact). One has to admire a guy who shamelessly makes the same movie throughout his career without acquiescing to an increasingly resistant fan-base. When that same guy makes a movie with a tongue-in-cheek title about his career's repetitiousness, then even more credit is deserved. When that same actor does it again within a three year span, make way, because he's clearly dragging his massive cojones a foot behind him. The production values, cast, action (especially a thrilling ambulance scene), and fights are great, making this not only an impressive return to JCVD's roots, but also proof of his growth as an actor (very convincing as the Replicant).
   
   All things considered, I felt that this review required special attention - my tribute to quintessential JCVD.

5 comments about Until Death.

1. Van Damme gets better with each movie he does. During the first half of the film he looks like death warmed over and is very convincing as a hopeless addict. When he comes out of his coma he looks so much better. It's almost as if he lost weight to make his face look gaunt and stressed. The before and after is striking and he plays his character to the fullest. Nothing to complain here about Van Damme, he's definitely the star of the movie and outshines all of the other actors. Speaking of the other actors, many of them forced their lines out. You can just tell when people can't act. The only other complaint I have is the gun scenes. Most of the thugs looked like they had never held a gun before. Timing on some of the people getting shot was off, the stuntmen fell a fraction of a secont too late, or too early. The gun fight scenes showed how low budget this film really is. Shoddiness aside, Van Damme fans will find much to like about this film. The mere fact that he's grown so much as an actor warrants five stars in my opinion.



2. First, Until Death is not a martial arts film. It is a suspense-thriller.
   Second, the focus is on Van-Damn's acting ablilities, not his looks, physique, or martial arts talents. Having said that, this film is a very nice alternative to Van Damn's usual martial arts films which focus on image (good looks) and not much on the substance (acting ability) of Van Damme and his fellow actors. What I especially enjoyed about Until Death is that Van Damn actually changed his appearance multiple times throughout the film, which added a true sense of realism to the movie. When he was using Heroine, I believed him. When he (Van Damme) was learning to speak again after being shot in the face, I believed him. Unlike Steven Seagal whose characters are alweays "born perfect", Van Damn shows human flaws and weaknesses that many people have in real life. His hair was messy. His face was not clean shaven or even entirely clean for the first hour of the movie.
   Van Damme did an amazing job with his character in this video. I must disagree with a few of the other reviewers who stated that Van Damme's acting still wasn't good enough to win an academy award. I actually feel that he is much better of an actor than half of the A list Hollywood stars who play in boring movies and over-act their roles, yet, they win awards.
   With Van Damme, we have a true acting genius that simply needs the right director and producer to develop not only his already very entertaining acting skills, but to also develop a film where all of the cast is believable. The story line for Until Death is well developed and important details are included to make it easy for the movie's audience to understand the plot.
   Amazing acting, powerful screen prescence, and very believable character development on the part of Van Damme. His real life ordeal with drug addiction in the 90's definetely translates in an emotional way to the screen. One of my favorites from Van Damme-a five star film (based on Van Damme's acting and screen prescence).



3. The movie itself was an average crime drama, somewhat formulaic, and yet fairly entertaining. What was suprising was Van Damme's performance to give this average film a cut above the rest. I've seen several Van Damme movies, and while I'm an action junkie, I could never say any previous Van Damme movies were ever exceptionally good. This time around he plays the part of a person we can all relate to, a hero with his own flaws, and though there is plenty of action, there is a lot of drama and suspense to build up to the action. My wife and I first saw some of this on television, and since we missed most of it decided we had to go and rent this. What was suprising was that parts that were on the DVD were left off from the bit we saw on television (not suprisingly, since some of these parts were too graphic for television), but there were some parts that were included on television that were never included on the DVD. Had the airing on television used some of the deleted scenes to accomodate for removing other parts? Not sure, since the DVD really didn't have much in the way of features, which was somewhat of a disappointment. Still, the movie itself was worth the watch.



4. What makes this film comes down to one thing - Jean Claude Van Damme, both the actor, and the character he plays. Gone are the days of Van Damme old school kick butt action. The aging actor has substitued martial arts for improved acting. In Until Death, thats exactly what you get - very little action, limited to a couple of shootouts in exchange for a guy who can now finally act quite well and create a sturdy character.
   
   Van Damme doesn't play your everyday good guy cop. He is messed up pretty much from the start. A drug heist goes bad in the beginning of the movie, and everyone wants to blame him for the mess. With consistent anger and depression, alcohol, drugs, and a wife pregnant by someone else, you have to wonder where this is all gonna turn around - if it even does. It finally does, on the deathbed. He gets a second chance, and begins to turn things back around. Though I will admit, I thought the first half of this movie was more interesting when his charcater was going downhill.
   
   This is basically a thriller with some small character twists throughout the story, but nothing more. The bad guy in the film did not impress me at all, and as mentioned earlier, forget any hopes of fights - just guns in this film. Most of the characters can act well, but no one surprised me with more than required. Again, its all Van Damme who steals the show.
   
   If you are a fan of the old school Van Damme, you may just hate this. If you want to see how much this guy has changed, this is worth checking out. Van Damme looks to be in a transitional period here, and if he continues to perform as well as he has here, he may still have plenty of years ahead of him in the industry.
   
   Acting - 4
   Action - 2
   Characters - 3.5
   Story - 4
   Overall - 4



5. Though an action icon for twenty-odd years now, it may be that the best is yet to come for Van Damme, whose acting skills have markedly improved in recent years even if the quality of his movies hasn't always kept up with him. But UNTIL DEATH is a very good all-round picture that showcases both Van Damme's acting and action skills, built on a sound script with good direction and production values as well. There's a seedy, noir-ish feel to UNTIL DEATH that is similar, but superior, to what the filmmaker's went for in Van Damme's previous effort WAKE OF DEATH, but this is a much better overall film. Van Damme stars as a crooked cop named Anthony Lowe, addicted to heroin and indiscriminately unfaithful to his wife, whose life is suddently changed by a near-assassination which leaves him in a coma. When he comes to, Lowe gradually realizes how far out of control his life had spun and he begins to put the pieces back together one by one. Unfortunately, his bloodthirsty underworld enemies don't like the reborn Lowe any better than the old one, and a final showdown is inevitable. Van Damme deserves a lot of credit for his performance in this picture, capturing both the unsympathetic hopelessness of the pre-coma Lowe and the uncertain but determined hero that comes out of that coma with equal dexterity. His supporting cast is also very good, and the story consistently involving. Things do get a little slow now and then, but the quality of the drama usually holds interest anyway and the final shootout is great catharsis for what really is a spellbinding character-driven tale of a fallen hero's vindication.

5 comments about Death Warrant.

1. I want to go with 3 stars on this film, but some part of me says there is enough fun in Death Warrant to go with 4 stars. You can't expect more than a typical prison movie with this one - the crazy inmates, the corrupt guards, the big prison villain, and the undercover cop - played by Van Damme. Unlike the movies that Van Damme continues to make today, this is one of his older titles, which means a younger and more skilled Van Damme. Although there are not an abundance of fights in this film, Death Warrant displays the powerful moves of the great Van Damme we once knew.
   
   Fun is the name of the game, although it weird to say the word "fun" when referring to a prison movie. Well, its the kind of fun entertainment that pits an undercover cop named Louis Burke into a prison, simply to investigate the numerous deaths that have been occuring there. We get to see hundreds of weird, insane, and crazy inmates - many of whom get a bit too close to Van Damme's face, thus creating your typical prison fights and what not. There are the usual corrupt guards as well, once again stirring up some havoc on the side. And then there's the one guy that forms an allegiance to help out our investigator, who is played by Robert Guillaume.
   
   As usual, its all about the action. As mentioned, I had hoped for more fight scenes, but when there is one, boy they are tough and hard hitting. The best obviously is going to be the last fight of the movie, against a really weird guy named "The Sandman". He appears in the beginning of the film, and we assume he is killed by Burke. Closer to the end of the film, he is alive and well, and enters the prison, with his eyes set on Burke for revenge. Their fight is at least 5 minutes, and is accompanied by an audience of screaming inmates watching from all corners. Its an evenly matched fight, as both guys get to do some serious damage.
   
   Death Warrant is probably one of my lesser favorites from the early Van Damme movies which include Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Lionheart, Double Impact and Hard Target. But compared to his more recent films, you won't find this kind of action in them. Pick it up to complete the classic Van Damme collection. Though the movie might be a bit cliche, its a chance to add some more great Van Damme action to the pot.



2. This movie is great! I rememeber seeing it when it first came out and its just vintage Van Damme with his fancy kicks! The story is ok. An undercover cop goes to jail to find out who is murdering the inmates! This is definitely a must for any fan of martial arts and action!



3. You know what this movie is about, a bunch of asskicking and one shirtless Van Damme. These are the type of movies you shouldn't take to serious.



4. The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)
   
   1. Who is he? He's Detective Louis Burke, who goes undercover as a prisoner in a penitentiary with a lot of unexplained deaths.
   2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? His partner was murdered by a maniac named Sandman.
   3. Does he take his shirt off? Not only does the Sandman homoerotically remove Louis' shirt in the shower, but in the climactic final battle, Louis is pressed up against an iron furnace door. Naturally, this singes the shirt to smithereens, and Sandman kindly removes the rest. Sandman has clearly been in prison too long.
   4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? Unless there was a deleted scene with his cellmate, I don't think so.
   5. Is there a tournament? As far as I'm concerned, being in general pop. at a penitentiary IS a tournament.
   6. Is training needed for this tournament? The only training needed was in regards to a firm grip on the soap when showering.
   7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? Only in the shower room.
   8. Does he punch someone in the balls? No. I don't think he wants to insinuate anything to the larger prisoners.
   9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? There are approximately 78 spin kicks in this movie; Louis only receives about 3 of them.
   10. Is his enemy unbeatable? He may be the most unstoppable force JCVD has ever met. Let's put it this way: Louis shoots the Sandman five times early in the movie, and the Sandman survives. Later, the Sandman gets kicked into a 1500 degree Celsius blast furnace, gets out, does a little stop-drop-and-roll, and is ready to fight some more.
   11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? Early in his fight with Sandman, Louis gets hit in the face with a two foot wrench. So, I guess that counts.
   12. Does he win? After impaling the Sandman on a bolt sticking out of some piping, and getting taunted, Louis calmly walks over scrambles the Sandman's brains - just picture the process by which McFlurries are made at McDonald's and you have a good idea.
   
   With grunting and mono-syllabic lines galore, the true genius of everyone's favorite Belgian homunculus is in full force with Death Warrant. Not only that, but the sound effects are incredibly trumped up for this one, with every kick and punch accompanying a swoosh through the air and finishing with a thud into raw meat. The "organ harvesting with the help of corrupt police"-angle is also an oddly interesting one for a JCVD movie. Overall, this isn't the best of his oeuvre, but it's got a few hardcore battles that will have you air-punching to get in on the action. This is solid JCVD gold.



5. Jean-Claude Van Damme's martial arts extravaganza is bolstered by some fine editing, a dark, scary soundtrack, and some mighty fine camera work. Despite some B-level acting (except for Robert Guillaume as a supply doling inmate) director, Deran Sarafian, keeps the whole affair rolling along well enough to provide some key suspenseful moments. The plot involves police investigator, Louis Burke (Van Damme), who becomes a mole in prison while investigating a deadly crime ring while the elusive "Sandman" lurks in the background with nine-lives more reminiscent of Michael Myers than a super criminal. Although this element breaks up the film's credibility somewhat, it ups the tension as well. In the end 'Death Warrant' is a lively hour and a half movie that has enough going for it to make you forget it's weaknesses.
   
   A J.P.'s Pick 3's = Good

5 comments about Timecop [HD DVD].

1. A time cop races through time to right the meddlings of a corrupt politician in the past. Van Damme is a cop whose wife has died and becomes a time cop. A corrupt politician is messing with the past to get enough money for his political campaign. The movie has pretty good fight scenes which are basically showing off Van Damme and his body. It has an interesting premise for the time it was done (1994) although the special effects were not that good, even for the time. The acting is better than other Van Damme movies though.



2. All in all, Timecop held up pretty good. There are a few FX shots that don't look as good as they should but for the most part the film looks real good on HD-DVD. The only real bad part is that, like the first dvd's that came out, there are no extras. Also, it was delivered to Canada in about 4 days(with 2 of those being the week-end) and I am not in a major city!!! Gotta love that.



3. If you were a Van Damme buff like me when you were younger, then you swear by and worship films such as Bloodsport, Kickboxer, and Lionheart. Timeless late 80's early 90's films that were immensely popular at the time and quite enjoyable as action movies during that era. However, Van Damme's reputation quickly faded because he was type-cast as the brute karate guy who was hell-bent on just kicking you in the face at an 120 degree angle.
   
   Timecop is Van Damme's glory film in his acting career. A wonderful and entirely believable futuristic story of time travel that with a little better directing and production could have been a darn good action flick. Van Damme plays a futuristic cop who witnesses his wife's murder and is determined to do something about it. Coincidentally, he's the top time travel cop for the time travel program that the government currently has implemented for national security reasons. Of course he's going to use that to his advantage. What ensues is a mixture of other time travel movies all brought into one but with that Van Damme flair. While the overlying message is that the past is a terrible thing to alter, Van Damme's life has never been the same since the loss of his wife. The only way to survive his mundane existence and to save the country in the process is to go back in time, alter it, and kill a few bad guys in the process. Van Damme is not over the top here, however. He plays a darker character who displays believable emotion as a result of his surroundings. If you're a fan of time travel movies ala Back to the Future, The Butterfly Effect, The Time Machine, then Timecop should be right up your alley.
   
   Time travel will always be an interesting topic of conversation or subject of a major motion picture.



4. I'm not going to bore you with a plot synopsis you can get off the back of a box. If you like Van Damme you'll like this movie. It's not filled with mindless action, and the plot is strong enough to carry the the film. It comes off slightly goofy, but only because of the 1990's take on what the future would be like.
   
   If you are looking for some decent/classic Van Damme action check it out. For under $10 how disappointed could you really be?



5. In my opinion, this is Jean Claude Van Damme's best movie that he ever made. The plot is good and his acting is actually very good and somewhat believable. He also looks really great in this movie.

5 comments about Hard Target.

1. If you have cable, you've seen "Hard Target"!
   
   Another predictable, but action packed VanDamme film!
   
   Good stuff!



2. This movie is so bad it's good. Well, it's a mix of good and bad, but I couldn't take it too seriously, and it just made me laugh. I saw it in the theatre when it came out..and I was cracking up the whole time.... The slow-mo actions sequences are great, and Wilford Brimley playing a Cajun guy is the icing on the cake. Gotta love it.



3. This is a very good action movie, however, I don't like the plot (killing the homeless as a game for the rich). I would recommend this for Van Damme fans as well as those that like good action flicks.



4. HARD TARGET
   
   This is absolutely one of my favorite Van Damme films of all time; I mean come on look at the line up. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Sam Raimi, John Woo, Ted Raimi, and Rob Tapert how could you not like this movie. This movie is a great thrill ride filled with all the action you could want, and great villains, Arnold Vosloo in particular as Van Clef. This has got to be one of Van Damme's best movies he has been apart of.
   
   The story is basically just about some rich guys hunting bums through out the concrete jungle. It turns out that one of the people they hunted had a daughter that is trying to find him, naturally questions arise and that doesn't sit well with them. This is were Van Damme comes in and is hired by the woman to help find her father, what they find is a group of people in a very bad business. From here fights break out, gunshots are heard, and explosions can be seen for miles, what a great movie.
   
   Performance wise this is a great movie as well, Van Damme is excellent in this film and never really gets the credit he deserves as an actor. Of course Yancy Butler as our lead actress is good as well and is very believable in her role. Villain wise is were this film really shines; this movie has two of the best villains ever for a film. First is the brilliant Lance Henriksen playing the lead villain, and as usual he is great and really determined to get what he wants. Which is also the reason why Arnold Vosloo is so extremely good as Van Clef, he is just as cold, vindictive, and evil as Lance but he is the calmer of the two who knows when to walk away. It is the difference between the two that make them such a great on screen team. Also on a side note the ever great Ted Raimi makes a guest appearance on this film, great to see him.
   
   Of course on the production side this film is lined up with all time greats, Raimi, Tapert, and Woo. Of course Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert come through as Executive Producers and hired on the legendary John Woo as the director. Naturally John Woo's style shines through on this film and make it an explosive action packed thrill ride. Of course a lot of credit needs to go to writer Chuck Pfarrer who wrote a great action film that delivers. He did an excellent job with an idea that has been done many times through books and films alike.
   
   Over all this is a great movie for a day off from work, grab the drinks and kick back.



5. Hard Target is clealry of the best movies Van Damme ever made. Van Damme movies where he picked up a gun were never that good but here with the cinematography and stylish vison of John Woo, Van Damme gives a good performance still has a chance for a few karate scenes and makes one of the best action movies of the nineties. Lance Henikrsen( whose always good) and Arnold Vosloo make great bad guys. Yancy Butler is sexy as hell (even though a T&A scene would have been good.) If you 've never seen this film check it out it's one of Van Damme best and Woo's first Amercian film.

5 comments about Wake Of Death.

1. Wake of Death is one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest attempts at dramatic acting. I have to admit, I grew up watching Van Damme and I like the guy. I would love to see him do a great serious film and revive his action film career. I think he could make a great action film if the right script and imaginative director came along.
   
   Sadly, Jean-Claude is not as flexible as he was back in '89 (I'd love to see a gratuitous split shot now!) so the Wake of Death relies heavily on shootouts, car chases and dialogue. Dialogue has never been Jean-Claude's strong point. The film is a bit boring, overdramatic, far-fetched and lacks a satisfying conclusion. The direction by Philippe Martinez is stylish in places but ultimately comes up short in the really important parts: the action scenes.
   I lucked out by getting the DVD for under $6. The film has possibilities and it got my expectations up but unfortunately it falls short.
   
   Recommended for huge Van Damme fans only. Check out these films first: Hard Target/Sudden Death
   Bloodsport
   Timecop



2. His look fits the character. His reactions to family deaths are very realistic. Amazing stage presence with an underlying dark yet courageous feel to Van Damme's character.
   Once again, Van Damme delivers a powerful tear jerking performance without over-acting his role. His costars arent too shabby either.
   I have reviewed some of Van Damme's more recent films including " In Hell"
   and one of my all time favorites from Van Damn "Until Death". The difference maker in his latest films is a creative director and producer who focus on believable characters that show vulnerability and human weakness that we all have to some extend in real life. In turn, the audience can relate to Van Damme's character in these movies because they are not "super human" and "far fetched" like the boring and repetitive Steven Seagal characters.
   Let me say that I think Steven Seagal is a wonderful person in real life who participates in various charities. On the other hand, he needs to show more weaknesses and not be afraid to change his looks in his movies, IE: grow a beard or even wear some glasses for at least an hour of the movie.
   Now, Van Damme isn't afraid to be "un-attractive" or even "un-likable" in his movies. That is the hallmark of a great actor.
   I notice that many of the A list Hollywood actors "overact" their roles and yet, they manage to get nominated for starring in boring movies.
   Van Damme delivers another excellent performance in this dark thriller without over acting.
   I rate this movie 5 stars-



3. Now you know action/adventure actors are never highly regarded among the hollywood who's who. Yet after seeing this movie I've witnessed the growth of a superstar from one who just kicked butts to one who truly conveyed the screenwriter's and director's thoughts from the script to the screen. In other words he ROCKED and so did Yam. Loved the stunts too.



4. It's another action movie with a story of revenge, but Wake of Death takes itself more seriously than one would expect of the typical Van Damme film. Realism has taken over (in most of Van Damme's recent films) resulting in better acting and plot details, and some bloodier action but less of it.
   
   The directing and music set a tone that places Wake of Death in an action/revenge category a bit more sophisticated than the rest. However, if we wanted to see a beautiful epic drama there are plenty of other films out there with superb acting and stories, this is not that, but to see how far Van Damme is maturing in this sense is a bit of a treat, as is the bonus of some action that won't always be found in the other hollywood films. Wake of Death focuses more on story, though it is just a matter of revenge, it pays attention to some details keeping it interesting between action scenes, which there are not very many of until the last 30 minutes of the film.
   
   I personally prefer watching Van Damme films for the action, and in the case of Wake of Death the action element is not completely satisfied. The good news is the action is contained in a certain reality, making things flow better with the story. However, the car chase scenes were a bit distracting to enjoy, as the scenes were not smooth but appeared choppy with fequent editing and directing. The hand to hand combat scenes were almost always over before they began, so do not expect any martial arts like in the good ole days (no Kickboxer of Bloodsport here).
   
   The story focuses around a Chinese Triad member (Simon Yam) , and father, who's young 14 year old girl has fled to the U.S. after witnessing the death of her mother by her father's knife. Ben Archer's (Van Damme) wife takes her in out of kindess, but good deeds seem to go unrewarded as the father and his gang come to the U.S., very ticked off and will have nothing stand in their way. The worst occus (though predictable) and Ben Archer's son is also kidnapped. He thus sets out for revenge and to get his son back. Simon Yam (KillZone) does an ok job as appearing villainous but never overwhelmed me as a great opponent for Van Damme.
   
   Wake of Death should be viewed by Van Damme fans. Action is there, though not as much as one would hope, but it's a neat watch to see how Van Damme has changed his film style around over the years, where the action has gone away, improved acting and well-created story (though unoriginal) have emerged.
   
   Acting - 4
   Action - 3
   Characters - 3.5
   Story - 3.5
   Overall - 3.5



5. The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)
   
   1. Who is he? Ben Archer, a worn down bouncer with weatherbeaten features who's ready to quit his rugged life at high-profile clubs (think Swayze from Road House, but with an accent)
   2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? His wife Cynthia (Lisa King) gets her throat slit (gruesome close-up afterwards), his father-in-law gets blasted, and his mother-in-law gets an explosive head-shot from close range (like popping a water balloon with a pin).
   3. Does he take his shirt off? Because it's such an essential plot device, there is an early shower scene, a sex scene, and a bath scene in which JCVD is shirtless.
   4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? He gets to "say goodbye" to Cynthia very early in Cinemax-quality bawdy tryst.
   5. Is there a tournament? This is a grisly, evil, realistic battle to the death. It's JCVD at his skull-crushing darkest. There is no time for a stupid tournament with rules.
   6. Is training needed for this tournament? Didn't you hear me!? JCVD has people to maim, kill, and torture!
   7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? This is serious! Borderline psychotic executioners do not do the splits.
   8. Does he punch someone in the balls? No, but his brother punches someone in the balls, and performs a free castration later.
   9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? He's fighting the Chinese Triad. What do you think?
   10. Is his enemy unbeatable? No. In fact, JCVD kills about 50 guys who previously thought they were unbeatable.
   11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? No hindrance, this is all about the revenge killing.
   12. Does he win? JCVD does everything but cure cancer in this one. You're damn right he wins.
   
   I think the message in this one is that JCVD is against human trafficking, drugs, and the Chinese Triad. Basically, a Chinese girl named Kim runs away after her mother is murdered, becomes an import into America, gets pseudo-adopted by an INS agent, Cynthia Archer, and is tracked down by her Chinese Triad father named Sun Quan - the same guy who killed Kim's mother. During the hunt for his daughter, Sun Quan's people kill everyone Archer knows, and in doing so, they unleash the Charles Bronson within JCVD.
   
   The action rivals the blockbuster movies spewed forth by the biggest budget of Hollywood movies. Awesome fights and action, a motorcycle chase that could be in the X-Games, a few graphic, gruesome deaths, superb acting (JCVD's best acting to date), great cinematography, and one of the top five car chases in cinema history, there really isn't anything missing. A few of the deaths are stunning, and along with the ominous music, are almost Tarantinoesque. One particularly gory moment involves some angry associates of JCVD, a power-drill, and an unfortunate enemy with information.
   
   I can't give this movie enough credit. It should have made it to theatres. It's better than the majority of action movies that have been produced in the last ten years. In my opinion, this could easily be considered the best of all JCVD movies. Wake of Death is highly recommended for not just JCVD-aholics, but action fans as well.

5 comments about Maximum Risk.

1. This was a great flick that had action from start to finsh! If you like a lot of shootouts, car crashes, and SUPER HOT women like Natasha Henstridge then you will love this movie. The director Ringo Lam (from Replicant) does a great job with all the camera angles. The best angles were when JCVD does his shooting and the stunts were amazing. This is plain and simply a great movie.



2. Pour ceux qui serait intéresser par ce film, veuillez prendre note qu'on indique à l'endos du boîtier dans le menu language que le film est en anglais, espagnol et français.

   Il y une erreur car le film est en anglais et espagnol seulement. Le français n'est pas disponible seulement en sous-titres.




3. Unfortunately, when ordering this item you will receive only a full-sreen version (aspect ratio 1.33:1)! There is no widesreen version on the disk as promised in the product details. Also, the Disc has not the black-and-white cover shown above but the dark orange-brown cover shown in the customer images.



4. This is a very good van damme action film. Too bad its only out in a full frame version now. Maybe the widescreen version will appear again in the future.



5. This movie didn't get enough credit in my opinion. Lots of action and a good story.