Bloodsport

Rating:
Summary: Age has not been kind, Jean-Claude...
Review: All right, I admit it. This is a pretty useless film as far as film buffs go. But place yourself back in grade 7 when we first saw this film and you'll realize exactly what we liked about it.

It had to have been the well-choreographed (for a low-budget flick), well-glossed production of what's basically a b-level action film, but even then you couldn't deny Jean-Claude Van Damme had a certain charisma to him. And I couldn't tell you how many times we re-enacted the fights in our backyard.

Obviously enough people agreed at the time, because it wasn't long before he started making bigger-budgeted movies like Hard Target and Timecop; but this is where he struck paydirt first. It has my favourite old school villain Yeung Tze (Bolo Yeung--underused in this film, with regard to technical ability), some unbelieveably bad acting all around, and a superb score by Mark DiSalle, who's early-techno beats really help make the fight scenes work.

Years later, we all know this film has aged badly, even when you throw it to the designation of 'camp-classic.' But where Van Damme films are concerned (especially his later films), you could do much, much worse.

Rating:
Summary: JCVD = Mucho Muscle
Review: Okay, let's get something straight right off the bat: the acting in this movie is pretty much appalling, the story is non-existent, and the fight scenes aren't even that well designed (they are very slow, all technique and no realistic moves). But this movie is a pure rush, and is loads of fun. Frank Dux, as many know, is a real person. He holds several strong titles, and was the founder of his own personal blend of ninjitsu and karate-do. Van Damme is not Dux. Van Damme is not a fighter. But if you can look at this without thinking about the real events it is based on, then you will enjoy this film. JCVD does a great job looking like the dedicated student, with some impressive splits, kicks, leaps, and muscle build (as usual). Like the also great 'Kickboxer', this is a fantastic workout film. If you are a practitioner of the martial arts, just pop this baby in, stretch, train, and enjoy yourself. This is truly that kind of film. It is just a pure slam-bang action film. nothing more, nothing less. Great fun

Rating:
Summary: not just another martial arts movie
Review: Although the martial arts scenes are spectacular, this movie is really about what a man learned from his martial arts training. It's the true story of a man who, at a critical juncture in time (when most people would have given up in despair), looked within and found the necessary strength of spirit to face a deadly adversary. It's really a story about the power of integrity and character. Well worth watching many times over!

Rating:
Summary: Why four stars you ask?
Review: The writing is bad. The acting is bad. Why four stars? The fight scenes are excellent. The fight choreography and action is what makes this a classic marital arts movie. Jean Claude Van Damme's acting is completely awful and his acting skills don't improve until he films TimeCop. However, this is his first major martial arts movie that put him on the martial arts movie scene... if one so exists.

Rating:
Summary: An Exciting Movie!
Review: A very exciting movie. It is action packed from start to finish. This movie is based on a competitive tournament held in the Orient. Van Damme decides to compete. It is certainly competitive in the tournament. Van Damme makes it to the finals against the reigning champion. The champion is the ultimate in a villain.He kills one of the competitors during the competition. Van Damme battles the champion very skillfully. The champion blinds the American challenger with a white powder. Van Damme calls upon his training to overcome this act of cheating. Van Damme finally wins the competition becoming the first American to do so. This was really a movie that you could get into. Be sure to watch it.

Rating:
Summary: good movie
Review: I had this movie for a long time and i still like it so i say it's a good movie and i think that if you like jean claude van damme then i think you should get this film

Rating:
Summary: Weak and disappointing
Review: I have quite a few van Damme films and this is by far the worst. Even though the story is based on real-life, it is predictable right from the start. There is nothing new in the action which comprises most of the film and some of the sequences have been badly shot - e.g. one backwards roundhouse kick clearly misses by a good inch, the victim's reaction is clearly delayed by a fraction of a second and, despite the obvious miss, the blood still flows. The Federal agents on van Damme's trail are pathetic and the female reporter, who looks as out of place as a bucket of manure at a wedding, is not believable and the FBI/press part of the story is boring in the extreme. I have seen van Damme confront his final opponent in 'Double Impact' (also played in Hong Kong!) and that was a much, much better example of the skills involved and there was at least some credibility in the story. I admit that van Damme's physical prowess is hard to follow, but he should not have downgraded himself by performing in this film.

Rating:
Summary: Bettest Karate movie ever !
Review: This story is about Frank Dux, Frank Dux works for the government, but he leaves to fight "The Kumite". He's going to fight the Kumite to honour his shodushi, who's a good friend off him, Frank is like a son for sensei Tanaka. While he's followed by the Government he's going to fight the Kumite, the first day he brakes the time record which was usually done by Chong Li(Bolo Yeung).The second day he fights very good and while he did that he becamed very populair by the croud. In this story he also gets a girlfriend, Janice, she's a reporter, he also gots a friend, Ray Jackson, also a kumite fighter that was knocked down by Chong Li. The last day he fights against Chong Li, which is a very beautiful fight, the kicks are great, his splits are great and he's also very muscled which is good for a great karate movie, Finally he wins and Chong Li was knocked down by Frank! Frank receives his katana and leaves Hong-Kong to go back to his Shodushi. This movie is the best Karatemovie ever, because off the great fights, the athletic splits, the greatest and coolest fighters(Bolo and Jean-Claude), the very cool turning splitkicks and because there's a really good story in it, so Jean-Claude, YOU DID IT! , Thanx, a big fan off yours.........

Rating:
Summary: See Jean Claude Van Dan in his Undies
Review: No this wasn't the highlight of the movie. Instead the highlight might be on Frank Dux. Founder of Dux Ryu. Dux Ryu focuses on fighting in abnormal conditions.

This movie is a great builder of self-esteem. I think this is his finest work. Bolo Young (Chung Li) also plays a very emotional, funny, and cocky actor. I recommend this movie to anybody who appreciates fine movies.

Rating:
Summary: Kumite! Kumite! Kumite!
Review: I'll be the first to admit that America is not exactly a breeding ground for top quality martial arts stars and/or movies...

I mean, we are the country that gave birth to Steven Segal for God's sake.

However, Bloodsport is just, well, fun. It has this sort of quirky charm that can only come from the 1980s; right down to the synthpop soundtrack and Ray Jackson's torn blue jeans.

I grew up with movies like this, so it's really nostalgic. I guess that doesn't count in a review, though. But, the choreography isn't half bad!

Some impressive fight scenes, cheesy (albeit true) dialogue, and the charm of the '80s make this an enjoyable movie; and I don't care what anyone says!