Legionnaire

Rating:
Summary: definitly van Damme's worst!
Review: this is one of the most boring movies I have ever seen! And definitly van Damme worst ever!The only reason I normally watch his films for is his fighting ability...but there's like no fighting in this one...and the rest of the action is nothing special....and this isn't even the worst part of the movie....the worst is the sotry it has to it......very pathetic altogether...skip this one!

Rating:
Summary: No martial arts, no running in slo-mo from explosions!
Review: This is only the second Van-Damme movie I have really enjoyed, the other being Cyborg. This movie is a real old-fashioned adventure like they used to make, visually striking, with great camera work and spectacular battles. There was no over-used Kung-Fu, no tired technological gadgets, and best of all, no James Cameronesque "tough-guy" talk (Nobody shouts "Let's ROCK N' ROLL!" etc.) In short, Legionnaire is a completely entertaining adventure story with none of the sickening '90s "attitude" that makes so many adventure films today unwatchable. This movie deserved theatrical release! Lets hope Van Damme continues to make great historical adventures. I'd like to see him do one about Camerone, in Mexico, 1863, which was one of the battles that "made" the French Foreign Legion. If you like Legionnaire, watch any of the Beau Geste movies, or try to find March Or Die, (1977) starring Gene Hackman and Terence Hill.

Rating:
Summary: pretty good flick
Review: This movie definately deserves more credit than it has been given in other reviews. I usually cannot stand Van Damme, but my wife told me this was a good movie (she saw it on cable). I rented it, and liked it alot. This movie seemed to be loosely based an out of print 1977 movie called "march or die". This one is better.
Van damme tries to double-cross some french gangster, and blows it horribly. His only alternative to being murdered is to join the Foreign Legion.
He winds up in North Africa, along with a bunch of other undesirables. The Legion is assigned to protecting french interests in that region. If you know your history of the French Foreign Legion, you will know that they always seemed to get the short end of the stick when it came to combat. This movie is pretty historically accurate in this sense. The legionnaires are outnumbered, poorly supplied, and isolated. As you can expect, they get whupped, pretty bad, too (just like real life). No BS here. No cavalry riding in to save the day, or some herculean feat which thwarts the enemy. They fight a losing battle, and are killed to the last man.
The cinematgraphy is excellent. The on-location shooting lends favorable credibilty to this movie. The uniforms, weapons, and settings provide real authenticity. Van Dammes' accent (which usually irritates me) blends in with this movie suprisingly well. Since the Foreign legion is replete with, well, foreigners, his accent goes well with the other german, english, and italian accents one would expect from such an entity. The dialogue is also well written. It can get a little mushy and mopey, but it does not detract from the overall film. I would sum this up as a war/romance movie. this is definately NOT the typical Van Damme flick. Those of you looking for his typical stuff (karate/action), will be sorely dissapointed. Some military enthusiasts will like the authenticity. My wife liked it, and she hates Van Damme, so even the female counterparts will like it. I grudgingly have to admit that Van Damme suprised me with his acting ability. He is still no Cary Grant, but I can look at him in a new light with more respect. He did a pretty good job in this movie. I would have to rate this as one of my favorite movies. It is just plain good overall.
Oh, by the way, to the person who wrote the previous review about him wielding a gatlin gun, and firing it standing up: do your research. He is firing a Lewis machine gun. It was developed by American inventor Sam Lewis prior to the First World War. While adopted in the US in only limited numbers, the Lewis gun was adopted as standard issue in the British, Belgian, and French armies and continued to serve in a limited number in the Second World War. It only weighs 27 pounds, and is quite portable, as depicted in Legionnaire.
Enjoy the movie!

Rating:
Summary: Good Old-Fashioned Adventure
Review: This movie had a limited theatrical release over a week ago out here in South Africa. I had the privilege of seeing this on DVD purchased from Amazon last month. Due to the lack of publicity, marketing, and it's limited release this feature did not do well at the box office out here. It is a great pity, as this is one of Van Damme's better offerings. Fans that wants to see their hero doing his famous splits and martial arts moves will be disappointed, but if you are wanting a good old-fashioned action adventure without any elaborate special effects which seems to have taken over movie making these days, Legionnaire fits the bill. Good battle sequences, foreign legion heroics, some sweeping desert photography, plus a strong supporting cast makes this Van Damme entry a worthwhile one. Special note is the reliable Stephen Berkoff in his performance of the sadistic legion leader.

Rating:
Summary: Legionnaire
Review: This movie is the worst Van Damme movie I have ever seen in my entire life. I found myself drifting in and out of deep sleeps while I was watching this boring film. Please, do not waste your time or money in renting or buying this movie. It has only one "Van Damme" style fight scene throughout the whole movie. Not his best, his worst.

Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, worth watching
Review: This movie was good, because it show's that Van Damme doesn't have to kick the crap out of people to star in a movie. It has a good story to it and some emotional scenes that show Van Damme's true acting abilities. Definitly worth renting.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Adventure
Review: Van Damme has a few movies under his belt, but they are a mixed bunch, that's for sure. Legionnaire, however, is one of Van Damme's better movies. Van Damme plays a Frenchman who joins the Foreign Legion after a tangled love affair goes wrong. We get some action before Van Damme joins the Legion, by way of boxing matches and then we are provided with some quality military action set in the desert. I must confess to enjoying this movie. Van Damme didn't overact and he actually suited the role. His supporting cast also did a nice job. The locations were quite inspiring. The script was very cliche in parts, but was acceptable. The highlight for me was the ambush and climatic battle scene in the latter stages of the movie. They were very well done. Overall, a well done action movie set around an uncommon theme and location. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Adventure
Review: Van Damme has a few movies under his belt, but they are a mixed bunch, that's for sure. Legionnaire, however, is one of Van Damme's better movies. Van Damme plays a Frenchman who joins the Foreign Legion after a tangled love affair goes wrong. We get some action before Van Damme joins the Legion, by way of boxing matches and then we are provided with some quality military action set in the desert. I must confess to enjoying this movie. Van Damme didn't overact and he actually suited the role. His supporting cast also did a nice job. The locations were quite inspiring. The script was very cliche in parts, but was acceptable. The highlight for me was the ambush and climatic battle scene in the latter stages of the movie. They were very well done. Overall, a well done action movie set around an uncommon theme and location. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A moving and touching film, with plenty of action
Review: Van Damme scores big in this movie. Finally he has picked a movie with a decent supporting cast and a good story. Unlike previous films, Van Damme's kickboxing and martial arts skills are blended nicely with real life situations and drama. This movie deserved a theatrical release, the action is tasteful and the movie has a quick but meaningful pace. Some of the characters have some tired dialogue about being presecuted, but that aside the actors fit their roles. Overall the movie ranks among one of Van Dammes better emotional roles. Lionheart has the same tug on the heart strings, as well as the Legionaire angle.

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT MISS LEGIONNAIRE
Review: VAN DAMME shows his another aspects through this movie. it contains humanity, friendship, frustration, and some good fight scenes. It is very worth seeing.