Rating: 
Summary: His Prison Drama in Russia: Not Typical Van Damme Film
Review: The third Ringo Lam/Van Damme collaboration is not your typical martial arts film. It is more like a prison drama, and if you want to see Van Damme kicking the bad guys, you should see "Maximum Risk" or "Replicant."Van Damme is Kyle, an American working at a steel factory in Russia. But when his wife got killed by a Russian mobster, Kyle himself ends up in a corrupt Russian prison, where any human dignity is deprived by the harsh rules of the place. Surprisingly, in the film which means change of pace for him, Van Damme shows that he can act pretty well. Kyle's pains of being humiliated by the prison wards are convincingly shown on the screen, and though the prison formula is nothing new, it still works to some extent, thanks to the credible production designs. But still we miss his actions. And in this film, there are lots of fighting scenes (mainly between the prisoners), but not the kind of the ones you see in his previous films like "Quest" or "Timecop." They are bone-crunching type, like real bloody street fighting. Ringo Lam obviously means realism here, perhaps going back to his roots in Hong Kong era. But if you want escapism, like over-the-top actions Van Damme once showed in "Maximum Risk" or "Timecop," you should avoid this one. The supporting cast is just a typical list of stock characters, but among them, as laconic and philosophical 'No. 451,' Lawrence Taylor (ex-NFL footballer) shows good amount of presence. "In Hell" is not bad as a film, but not a thing you expect from the name of Van Damme. Let's wait for another Lam/Van Damme film now announced as "After Death."
Rating: 
Summary: Worth Buying 4 1/2 Stars
Review: Well I guess I'll do a review too. Reading the plot outline to IN HELL, it would be easy to assume that it's just another typical Jean-Claude Van Damme fancy kicks, buttock shots, big guns festival. But much to my surprise, it wound up being a deep, gritty, poignant, intense and mature picture instead. Who knew? After the abysmal DERAILED (his worst film along with STREETFIGHTER), the Muscles from Brussels returns to top form in what is his best movie since REPLICANT and probably his strongest performance ever. This bitter pill punched hard with its unrestrained display of human ugliness, gripping symbolism and brutal violence which itself was dipped in philosophy and a sadness stricken aura. The films "ace" though was that it played it mainly as an engaging character-driven piece about one mans loss of his soul and his tortuous journey in prison to regain it. Thankfully, J-C was up to the task. I felt his characters pain, gulped a few times and was rooting for the main man the whole way. Visually, the movie also came out a big winner with its strong showing of exquisite photography, stylish/creative shots and an intoxicating morbid atmosphere. Think David Fincher (SEVEN) like. And the fight sequences, you may ask? Well, we're treated to a different flavor than the usual Van Damme here. Gone are the "show off" aerial kicks that wouldn't hold up in a real fight and present is a more grounded style of fighting that reinforced the films realism and emotional impact. Sadly, parts of the script weren't up to par. Without the minor plot holes, the various prison movie cliches, the obvious devices to communicate substance and the tacky "ghost" appearance, the flick would've reached a higher level of quality. But in the end, I was still genuinely moved, impressed and highly entertained by IN HELL. It transcended its faults and affected me on many levels. Way to go, Jean-Claude
Rating:
Summary: Van Dammage
Review: I've read some critical reviews of this movie, and I realize the frustration. People who pick up a Van Damme movie expect high-kicking martial arts, and 'In Hell' is not 'Bloodsport'. Naive viewers are inclined to downgrade the effectiveness of this film as a result, but let's try something different. Imagine for a moment that Van Damme is just a regular guy who suffers the agony of hearing his wife being murdered over a telephone line. He snaps--justly so. Now he's in prison. We're not talking an American prison with cable television and internet access. This is a Russian prison where Russians don't take kindly to Americans. The ensuing hour is a bloodbath of man vs. man in animal vs. animal display. Van Damme is not a martial artist, but he is a man pushed over the edge of sanity, and he snaps only to become more bloodthirsty than he ever was in Cyborg. Ringo Lam is a brilliant director who's lost in the translation of B-movie Hell, but his vision is startlingly clear. 'In Hell' is his best film yet (and Maximum Risk was pretty impressive). Lawrence Taylor co-stars and shines as an insanely sane prisoner on a quest for justice. If you're a Jean-Claude fan, DO NOT pass this film up. 'The Order' sucked as did 'Derailed', 'Knock Off' and 'US2'. On a serious note, Ringo Lam brings you 'Maximum Risk', 'Replicant' and now 'In Hell'.
Rating: 
Summary: Every time when I think it can't get any worse, it does.
Review: I used to be a big Van Damme's fan, and still love Blood Sport, Cyborg, and other "old" movies. His new movies are getting worse and worse with each new release though. First he dropped down to the level of Jackie Chan's movies, the Chinese-produced ones. Now he went even one lower, to a B-/C+, third-rate production. The plot is completely cliche, the acting is very amature, and on top of that - once again - Van Damme does No martial arts type fighting whatsoever. I never thought Van Damme was a good actor, but I admire his form, speed, and style in martial arts. Now he is trying to be a "real actor" I guess, which he is not and will never be. All in all, my recommendation is - don't waste your time. Even being a hardcore Van Damme fan I just can't recommend this to anyone at all. Although it seems like a great number of people disagree with me.
Rating:
Summary: Call it a quits Claudia
Review: Im a big fan of his movies but this shows thats his time is up. he needs to retire. the whole movie, there was no karate moves and it was basically all street fighting.plus this movie made him look like a wimp as well.
Rating:
Summary: The return of the Silence of the Lam
Review: Van Dammage depicted in a bloodfest, raw with carnage and insanity. If you want a synopsis for this film, you can read any number of reviews below for they all pretty much tell the same story. However, for you doubters, rest-assured, this is NOT a martial arts flick. Van Damme never pretends to be a former world-champ. He's average Joe stuck in purgatory. What separates this film from his others is the uncustomary violence and grotesque display of inhumanity taking place In Hell. He's your friendly neighbor turned savage after the last of his sanity is stolen through careful diligence of the black world around him. His retribution is taken out upon those around him, and be warned that every player in this film eventually winds up a beast, laden with blood. Ringo Lam does another phenomenal job--out-doing Replicant with imagery and action. No, this is not Bloodsport or Kickboxer. This is humanity dragged to its lowest limits--the bowels of Hell. Van Damme might never win an oscar for acting, but he is forever entrenched within the memory of Hollywood. If you are a Jean-Claude fan or a fan of dark drama, don't pass over this flick.
Rating:
Summary: His Prison Drama in Russia: Not Typical Van Damme Film
Review: The third Ringo Lam/Van Damme collaboration is not your typical martial arts film. It is more like a prison drama, and if you want to see Van Damme kicking the bad guys, you should see "Maximum Risk" or "Replicant." Van Damme is Kyle, an American working at a steel factory in Russia. But when his wife got killed by a Russian mobster, Kyle himself ends up in a corrupt Russian prison, where any human dignity is deprived by the harsh rules of the place. Surprisingly, in the film which means change of pace for him, Van Damme shows that he can act pretty well. Kyle's pains of being humiliated by the prison wards are convincingly shown on the screen, and though the prison formula is nothing new, it still works to some extent, thanks to the credible production designs. But still we miss his actions. And in this film, there are lots of fighting scenes (mainly between the prisoners), but not the kind of the ones you see in his previous films like "Quest" or "Timecop." They are bone-crunching type, like real bloody street fighting. Ringo Lam obviously means realism here, perhaps going back to his roots in Hong Kong era. But if you want escapism, like over-the-top actions Van Damme once showed in "Maximum Risk" or "Timecop," you should avoid this one. The supporting cast is just a typical list of stock characters, but among them, as laconic and philosophical 'No. 451,' Lawrence Taylor (ex-NFL footballer) shows good amount of presence. "In Hell" is not bad as a film, but not a thing you expect from the name of Van Damme. Let's wait for another Lam/Van Damme film now announced as "After Death."
Rating:
Summary: Every time when I think it can't get any worse, it does.
Review: I used to be a big Van Damme's fan, and still love Blood Sport, Cyborg, and other "old" movies. His new movies are getting worse and worse with each new release though. First he dropped down to the level of Jackie Chan's movies, the Chinese-produced ones. Now he went even one lower, to a B-/C+, third-rate production. The plot is completely cliche, the acting is very amature, and on top of that - once again - Van Damme does No martial arts type fighting whatsoever. I never thought Van Damme was a good actor, but I admire his form, speed, and style in martial arts. Now he is trying to be a "real actor" I guess, which he is not and will never be. All in all, my recommendation is - don't waste your time. Even being a hardcore Van Damme fan I just can't recommend this to anyone at all. Although it seems like a great number of people disagree with me.
Rating:
Summary: Van Damme is washed up.
Review: All of Van Damme's latest movies seem to be weak, and this is just another one with weak storyline and fights. I used to be a big fan of this guy back in the early 90's cause of movies like Blood Sport, Kickboxer, Lion Heart, and Double Impact. Those were some good flicks by him at the time. I was a little kid and I used to watch Kickboxer, and Bloodsport all the time, and I thought he was the coolest. Now he's just all washed up. His fighting scenes are boring, and he doesn't have the intensity anymore like he used to. His career seems like it's about to be over or something. His movies are just played out to me, cause I've been more of a Hong Kong action fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Animal Regret
Review: Jean Claude Van Damme's Kyle LeBlanc character is interesting. He's apparently passionate enough to execute his wife's killer after the courts let the killer free. Yet he comes across as a very controlled, tightly wound person. One might wonder why he didn't try to follow the killer to a less obvious venue before pulling the trigger, but apparently Kyle is overcome with loss. As a result he gets sent to an Eastern Block prison where corruption and violence are the ways of the world. In this environment, Van Damme becomes a savage. In deed, the international release is called "The Savage." Van Damme is put in a cell with a violent prisoner known for killing his cellmates. As played by ex-football star Lawrence Taylor, this guy is huge, speaking little but constantly writing in his journals. He establishes a strange friendship with Kyle. Kyle meantime fights for sport in prison-sponsored to-the-death matches. Particularly brutal is the neck bite attack where Kyle is transformed into a crazed killer. Van Damme is convincing as borderline insane. During his lockdowns, a butterfly that seems to be the spiritual embodiment of his dead wife comes to comfort him as he sits next to the raw sewage streaming through his cell. The film is filled with the usual prison rape and countless manners of brutality. It leads to Kyle's final escape to freedom. I found the action to be gripping, although this is not really an action film as such. Marnie Alton is particularly creepy as Grey Lord. There is enough here to please most Van Damme fans. Enjoy!
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