Tag Archives: Jean-Claude Van Damme

Swelter (2014) Review

"Swelter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Keith Parmer Writer: Keith Parmer Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Josh Henderson, Brad Carter, Alfred Molina, Lennie James Running Time: 120 min. By Kyle Warner Okay, this one’s kind of silly, but I’m not gonna lie, I enjoyed it. The film begins with a Vegas casino robbery. Four members of a five man crew are captured before they can make off with the loot. The fifth man takes a bullet … Continue reading

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Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux (2010) Review

"Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux Documentary" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The True Story of JCVD Bloodsport Director: Jesse Barrett-Mills Co-director: Daniel Gallai Cast: Frank Dux, Joe Fiorentino, Jeff Langton, Sheldon Lettich, Brian Thompson, Vic Moore Running Time: 70 min. By Jeff Bona If you’re a fan of 1988’s Bloodsport, then you might be familiar with the name Frank Dux. If not – or if you’ve forgotten – here’s a refresher: In Bloodsport, the name of the character Jean-Claude Van … Continue reading

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Enemies Closer (2013) Review

"Enemies Closer" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Maximum Soldier Director: Peter Hyams Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones, Kristopher Van Varenberg Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona It’s been nearly 20 years since Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Peter Hyams (2010: The Year We Make Contact) made a film together. Hyams first directed Van Damme during the action star’s career-peak in 1994’s Timecop, then again in 1995’s Sudden Death. The duo’s collaboration … Continue reading

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Welcome to the Jungle (2013) Review

"Welcome to the Jungle" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Rob Meltzer Writer: Jeff Kauffman Cast: Adam Brody, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Huebel, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone, Dennis Haysbert, Aaron Takahashi, Dennis Haysbert, Juan C. Defendini, Kristopher Varenberg, Bianca Bree Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona There are two facts you should know about Welcome to the Jungle before you dive in: 1) It’s not a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. If you’re expecting something like Kickboxer, you’re in for … Continue reading

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Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012) Review

"Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Andrei Arlovski, Roy Jones, Jr., Mariah Bonner Running Time: 114 min. By HKFanatic Free will is overrated. Just ask the Universal Soldiers – they’re a group of reanimated corpses brainwashed into becoming government killers. After being released from their programming by revolutionary leader Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), these muscle-bound warriors can finally act of their own violation. … Continue reading

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6 Bullets | aka The Butcher (2012) Review

"6 Bullets" German DVD Cover

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman, Bianca Bree, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Terese Cilluffo, Charlotte Beaumont, Andrei Runcanu Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic 2011’s “Assassination Games” was anticipated as the beginning of a possible comeback for Jean-Claude Van Damme: it paired the aging action star with hot newcomer Scott Adkins and managed to secure decent theatrical distribution in the United States, a first for Van … Continue reading

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Wake of Death (2004) Review

"Wake of Death" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Philippe Martinez Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Simon Yam, Valerie Tan, Philip Tan, Tony Schiena, Claude Hernandez Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Archer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is an ex-mobster who has discovered that his wife has been brutally murdered by a psychotic triad leader named Sun Quan (played by Hong Kong star Simon Yam). With the help of his old school gangster connections, Archer sets out for … Continue reading

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Dragon Eyes (2012) Review

"Dragon Eyes" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Cung Le, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Peter Weller, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Luis Da Silva, Dan Henderson, Rich Clementi, Trevor Prangley Running Time: 91 min. By HKFanatic I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the impact “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” had on the action genre back in 2009. Here was a sequel that no one really asked for, to a franchise that had become mired in … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Keith W. Strandberg

Keith W. Strandberg Interview

In 1985, Hong Kong’s Seasonal Film Corporation, a company that was responsible for making Jackie Chan a star with 1978′s Drunken Master, started producing American productions that blew viewers away; particularly, those who wanted the flavor of world-famous Hong Kong action. Ng See Yuen, Seasonal Film’s founder, handpicked an aspiring writer named Keith W. Strandberg to produce a screenplay to No Retreat, No Surrender, a film that went on to become … Continue reading

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Nowhere to Run (1993) Review

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray (Image)

Director: Robert Harmon Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette, Kieran Culkin, Tiffany Taubman, Ted Levine, Edward Blatchford, Anthony Starke, Joss Ackland, Tony Brubaker Running Time: 94 min. By HKFanatic Jean Claude Van Damme released two films in 1993: “Nowhere to Run” in January and “Hard Target” in August. Although Van Damme got to show off his muscles in both movies, the two couldn’t be more different from each other. Say … Continue reading

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Hard Target (1993) Review

"Hard Target" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, Yancy Butler, Kasi Lemmons, Chuck Pfarrer, Wilford Brimley, Robert Pavlovich Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic Considering how much time has passed since its theatrical run and the fact that John Woo has gone on to become a Hollywood superstar, it’s easy to forget that “Hard Target” was a contentious film upon its release. Several factors were working against … Continue reading

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Assassination Games | aka Weapon (2011) Review

"Assassination Games" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Kevin Chapman, Ivan Kaye, Valentin Teodosiu, Alin Panc, Serban Celea, Michael Higgs, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Marija Karan, Bianca Van Varenberg, Andrew French, Marioara Sterian Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic For many Jean Claude Van Damme fans in the United States, the limited release of “Assassination Games” this summer means the first chance to see their hero on the big screen … Continue reading

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JCVD (2008) Review

AKA: J.C.V.D. Director: Mabrouk El Mechri Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, François Damiens, Zinedine Soualem, Karim Belkhadra, Jean-François Wolff, Anne Paulicevich, Saskia Flanders Running Time: 96 min. By Mighty Peking Man Back in 1988, I remember walking into a video rental store and taking a chance with an unknown, newly-released movie called Bloodsport. Not only did the catchy title of the movie interest me, but so did the odd image of … Continue reading

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Maximum Risk | aka Bloodstone (1996) Review

"Maximum Risk" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: The Exchange Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natasha Henstridge, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Zach Grenier, Paul Ben-Victor, Frank Senger, Stefanos Miltsakakis, Frank Van Keeken, David Hemblen, Stéphane Audran Running Time: 100 min. By James H. I swear, Van Damme must have a curse on him. This curse gives bad luck to all involved with his movies. This curse has struck acclaimed Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam. It happened … Continue reading

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Knock-Off (1998) Review

"Knock-Off" American Theatrical Poster

AKA: Knock Off Director: Tsui Hark Writer: Steven E. De Souza Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, Lela Rochon, Paul Sorvino, Carman Lee Yeuk-tung, Wyman Wong, Glen Chin, Michael Wong, Moses Chan Running Time: 90 min. By Alexander Usually when I answer the phone in the other room I quickly press pause on the remote fearful I’ll miss a vital piece of dialogue or important plot twist in whatever movie … Continue reading

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