Bloodsport

Rating:
Summary: Good for an American martial arts movie
Review: As a fan of martial arts and living in Hong Kong, I've had it pretty good by being in the middle of the action with Jackie Chan and Jet Li and of course, being in Bruce Lee's home ground. So, when I watch movies by guys like Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal, it's so pathetic, it's almost funny. But, at the same time, I must say that this is one entertaining movie (although it doesn't do Hong Kong much justice in terms of forming foreigners' views of what this place is really like). People should know about Frank Dux and even Chong Li (who was played by Bolo Yeung who looks nothing like him) and their contributions to the martial arts.

This is probably JCVD's best movie - he gets to show off his moves (although those jumping spinning split kicks are technically not correct - he leaves his groin entirely open while executing that move), he doesn't have to talk much and for a Western kung-fu movie, those fight scenes were not bad.

If you want a good kung-fu movie, stop here and go to "Who Am I?" by Jackie Chan or "Fist of Legend" by Jet Li. But if you need just one JCVD movie for your kung-fu library, this is the one.

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER VAN DAMME CLASSIC
Review: THIS MOVIE, WHICH IS BASED ON SOME REAL LIFE EVENTS, IS ABOUT FRANK DUX [VAN DAMME], AN AMERICAN MARTIAL ARTIST WHO DECIDES TO ENTER A BRUTAL JAPANESE TOURNAMENT KNOWN AS THE KUMITE. THIS MAY'VE BE ONE OF THE BEST MARTIAL ARTS FILMS FROM THE 80S. CRITICS MAY HAVE CALLED THIS A POOR MAN'S ''ENTER THE DRAGON'', BUT IT IS MORE THAN THAT. IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD, FUN MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE THAT FEATURES SOME VERY WELL CHOREOGRAPHED FIGHT SEQUENCES. THIS WAS VAN DAMME'S BREAKTHROUGH MOVIE. BOLO YEUNG [WHOM YOU MAY REMEMBER AS ONE OF JOHN SAXON'S OPPONENTS IN ''ENTER THE DRAGON] PLAYS A VERY MEMORABLE VILLAIN IN THIS MOVIE. THE FINAL FIGHT IN WHICH VAN DAMME FACES BOLO YEUNG IS A MUST SEE FIGHT. I WISH A LOT OF TODAY'S MARTIAL ARTS FILMS COULD BE LIKE THIS. SCREW THE BORING-A** ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP [WELL, ACTUALLY UFC WAS GOOD IN THEIR EARLIER DAYS, BUT THEY SUCK NOW!], GET THIS MOVIE NOW! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BOLO YEUNG ALSO PLAYED THE VILLAIN FOR ''BLOODFIGHT'', WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH A RIP-OFF OF THIS MOVIE. FOLLOWED BY THREE DIRECT-TO-VIDEO SEQUELS.

Rating:
Summary: A martial arts masterpiece
Review: This is an excellent martial arts movie, even by the standards of a long-time Asian kung fu cinema fan like myself. The premise is simple and hardly new: an international no-holds-barred martial arts invitational featuring the various fighting styles of the world. What makes this movie special is the excellent choreography, such as Van Damme's trademark flying roundhouse face-slap.

A movie like this makes you want to jump up, pump your fist in the air and shout. It is exhilarating.

Rating:
Summary: Van Damme at his best!!!
Review: This is Van Damme's best movie; I have long waited to add this movie to my library. The movie follows the story of Frank Dux, (Played by Van Damme) who fights in the kumite (a secret full contact tournament). The kumite is held only every few years and is by invitation only. The best fighters from all over the world gather to compete for 3 days some times to the death.

This was one of the first western martial arts movies to showcase exotic martial arts. In this movie you will see examples Capoera (Brazilian martial art), Sumo wrestling (The most popular sport in Japan), Monkey style kung fu, (As wells other kung fu styles) and Muy Thai (Kick boxing) to name a few. This film also stars Bolo Yueng (Enter the Dragon), as Chong Li the merciless villain who goes up against Van Damme.

All in all for being a low budget film its not to shabby, it's a nice surprise. Check out Van Damme in his prime.

Rating:
Summary: Bloodsport: Short on Sport-Long on Blood
Review: BLOODSPORT may not have set the precedent for the tournament-centered martial arts film, but over the years it has proven to be the standard by which others of its ilk are judged. Interestingly enough, this movie is loosely based on the achievements of real-life Frank Dux, who is something of a legend in winning the Kumite in Hong Kong. Dux, played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, enters an underground mixed martial arts tournament and wins it despite cheating by his final round opponent, the fearsome Bolo Yeung, who is still remembered as John Saxon's losing opponent in ENTER THE DRAGON. The plot is not what sells the film to each new generation. The key to overlooking the cliches which tumble from a poor script lies in the good looks and high-kicking ability of Van Damme. As in many martial arts pictures, revenge is the driver for the protagonist. Jackson, played externally as crudely yet as one who harbors a noble soul by Don Gibbs, is one of the contestants and is brutally beaten by the villanous Chong Li (Bolo). Naturally, Dux gets to avenge his friend in the finals. But the real charm lies in what precedes this climactic encounter. There are numerous bouts which showcase the fighting talents of the actors. Unfortunately for the realism of this movie, the growing popularity of mixed martial arts tournaments such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship has given the lie to the kinds of fighting made popular by this and similar fight movies. When true martial artists fight in the Octagon, the result is rarely high-spinning reverse kicks or Kwai Chang Caine Tai Chi movements done fluidly amidst a bout. Most true fights wind up on the mat, usually ending in a choke or arm bar. What BLOODSPORT succeeds in doing is giving the audience a wide range of both fighter physiques and fighter styles. The preliminary fighters run the gamut from a monkey-like ground crawler to a mountainous hulk who gives Dux a hard time before succumbing. One of the prelim fighters is actor Michel Quissi, who a few years later Van Damme resurrected to play Tong Po, the Thai villain of KICKBOXER. These battles are interesting and thrilling, and very nearly compensate for truly terrible scripting and amatuerish acting. The final between Dux and Chong Li is memorable for the slow-motion kicks that earlier had been done by the far more literate David Carridine of television's KUNGU FU. Bolo Yeung is the most watchable of Van Damme's opponents. In fact, he reprises a similar role in other and later Van Damme actioners. Bolo, as Chong Li, is a hugely muscular fighter with the traditional sneer and disregard for both life and rules. Repeated viewings of this closing match indicate the high level of choreography that must have been required to avoid harm to the actors. Despite cheating by Bolo, Van Damme wins, and as the closing credits flash, the audience learns that Frank Dux was a true fighter who retired as the undefeated heavyweight karate champion of the world.
Movies like BLOODSPORT bear as much resemblance to mixed martial arts tournaments as military music does to music, but the real charm of their enduring appeal lies in the willingness of the audience to overlook the many flaws of a second rate production to focus on the beauty of the first rate fight scenes. Hollywood first learned that lesson decades ago, and as Stallone proved more times than I can count, that hopefully will never change.

Rating:
Summary: The Frank Dux story is a hoax
Review: That was proven amongst the martial arts community years ago. Being a martial artist myself, I always get a laugh when I read the description of this movie on websites. However, I am giving this movie 4 stars only because of Van Damme and the great fight scenes in this movie. This is Van Damme at a young age and doing all the kicks and moves that he seems to have lost with age. Bloodsport is basically an imitation of "Enter The Dragon" (the greatest martial arts movie ever made) where a lone guy enters a tournament. The theme has been repeated countless times but Bloodsport is one of the better clones. Also be sure to check out Kickboxer, which is even better than Bloodsport!

Rating:
Summary: jean-claude van damme this movie was good
Review: pretty good movie old though, but its alright the acting was kind of cheap ,but what do you expect from an old movie right? its a van damme classic .

Rating:
Summary: An absolute classic!
Review: In an attempt to represent the female population, I'm here to say that this movie is great for both genders. It has some of the best fight scenes out of any van damme movie, with my favorite being (of course) the end. Not to mention, there's a great shot of van damme working out above the hong kong skyline...Girls, don't let boys have all the fun! WATCH THIS MOVIE!

Rating:
Summary: The Chinaman said: "OK USA!"
Review: (Before i review, just want you fellow-Bloodsportians to know that i own Ray Jackson's bloody/sweaty bandana and am selling it on E-bay. or you can convineantly buy it at www.bestheadbandeverworn.bloodsport4Eva.com) ...How do i review such a classic? umm, well van damme DOES do a split in it for one!!! he also challenged Paco to a "lets exchange armpit kicks" competition, and gets so into it that randy savage saw it and it inspired him to record an album slamming Huk Hogan! there's a special feature on the dvd with interviews from the cast. the monkey man said "the only reason i lost is because the kumite had no ropes, therefore i couldnt execute my patented irish-whip maneauver that i have perfected. also, my scene was cut where i hit the fat asian dude in the balls, and his grundle grew a beard and shaved itself because it was in so much harcore barry windham pain! it disappointed me a little, but seeing the small pee pee of Chong Li's in the shower always cheered me up. me and the guys began calling him "Chong Wee". one time, he got so mad that he smiled and gritted his teeth together and shook his head "no" for 11 hours straight!!!(like when he steps on Ray Jackson's head)" wise words from the monkey man if you ask me. oh, you know how "Dark side of the moon" and "the wizard of oz" if played simultaniously go together? well if you play Macho Man Randy Savages album with Bloodsport, then you automatically become cooler than Uncle Jesse and you can actually see Chong Li's nipples blink! and for anyone curious, a few did you know's? in bloodsport...while playing the arcade game "kung fu", Frank Dux's hand-double was actually Patrick Duffy from step-by-step, and Ray Jackson's hand-double was the foreskin of Carl Winslow. also, forest whitaker's lazy-eye was digitally rendered to appear normal like the other eye. Mr. Whitaker took the role under one circumstance: he get to play and defeat Golga in ski-ball at putt-putt. Golga cooperated until he flipped out and totally did a "golga elbow drop" off the virtua fighter-2 arcade game. then, out of nowehere, hardcore barry windham ate re-fried beans and slipped a Rufi to anyone who wasnt hardcore barry windham or Yanni. it was quite a mess nonetheless to be blessed to see yanni undress and find a mustache on his guch as well as his la bouche. listen to the band MACK NORTH!

Rating:
Summary: Again my fav Van Damne movie
Review: This movie was pretty much like Kickboxer,he fights a dude that hurts his friend.This and Kickboxer are me top fav Van Damne movie ever.