Hard Target

Rating:
Summary: East meets West for one of the Best
Review: AWESOME! It don't pay to be the villain in this kind of film - it "hurts" too much!

Rating:
Summary: Censorship & Hard Target - The American Version sucks!
Review: As a big Van Damme fan and DVD collector, I was very eager to get hold of Hard Target on DVD. It is only available on video here in the UK so I ordered the DVD from the USA. I was shocked to find that the US version is much shorter with a lot of action cut out.

This seems unusual to me as in all other instances in my experience, the opposite is true. For instance, the American version of Cyborg is ten minutes longer than the heavily censored British release. I think I will stick with my UK VHS version of Hard Target. I hope it comes out on DVD here in England. Any true Van Damme fan must get hold of this full version! Feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in this topic.

Rating:
Summary: Bad Men Rising
Review: I rented this film because I am a fan of director Woo. I enjoyed this film because of its heavies; Fouchon and Van Cleaf (Lance Henrickson and Arnold Vosloo). Van Damme seemed to bog down an otherwise stylish Woo picture. I am sure the script called for a Cajun hero with character and charm, yet Van Damme fails to deliver. Woo manages to create a decent action flick, even though the hero seems bored and void of cognitive thought. My God, John McClain(diehard/bruce willis)would have been more believable in this bayou hunting scenerio than Chance-what-ever-his-name-is. If I can make a suggestion - - a movie about Fouchon and Van Cleaf, that would be interesting, and certainly worth watching. Kudos to Woo, Henricksen, and Vosloo, for rising above what seems like another studio execs bad intrusion (casting a flavor of the month action star like Van Damme in the lead). Trust me, the bad guys and their director manage to salvage what they can of this Damme mess.

Rating:
Summary: Cool!
Review: Even though I fast forwarded my way through many parts of this DVD during my first viewing (because of the violence), I have to say, this is one entertaining film. You've got Jean-Claude Van Damme's beautiful eyes, long eyelashes, and deadly intensity, and then you've got great chemistry between two alluringly ruthless bad guys-- Arnold Vosloo and Lance Henriksen. These two men deliver perfect, "dead on" performances as human hunters on the prowl. These men kill for adventure and money, and they will give you the creeps! But they meet their match in "hard target" Van Damme, who gives back as good as he gets.

This was my first John Woo movie, and I really liked the token dove scene. This director does have a special touch in the way he artistically blends sound and action. The music keeps things light and fun, even when chaos, mayhem, and violence splatter across the screen. Well, not totally "light"-- you still have mega explosives, multiple body counts, and a few emotional jabs that keep you involved.

This film is supposed to be the hacked-up, rated "R" version of the film that only made it to theaters after seven or so edits. I can't imagine the original-- this film is pretty violent, even after the cuts. The theme is of the unrealistic "underdog revenge fantasy" genre. Still, it's an action film with style, one that you might sit all the way through the closing credits for.

Rating:
Summary: Pure Woo
Review: I saw this movie on the T.v) BBC1 (it's an English channel) and I taped it because I read John Woo directed it. And I was not dissapointed. It has a the poetic shoot-outs you'd expect from a Woo movie. I can't wait to see the director's cut. I heard it was out but I can't find. The end it brilliant, loads of shooting and explosions. The only bad thing is Van Damme's terrible one-liners. Lance Heriksen is excellant as ever. And Van Damme kicks a few more heads than averagly.

great action movie go but it and the directors cut.

Rating:
Summary: Van-Damme and Woo who could ask for more?
Review: Lets get this over with this film was never intended to be or ever going to be the most thought provoking film of the decade. That sort of thing is best left to the Truman Show or Saving Private Ryan. However if you don't fell like engaging your brain then you could do a lot worse than pick this film. Granted without Woo on board this would flounder however with him this hits a high standard. Woo's moody shots and slow motion shots save the film from becoming just another mindless action film. Van-Damme is always used best when he is high kicking in firelight or flipping over cars and when the camera pans over him in the firelight you'll be totaly enthralled. The end sequence is particualy good with the charecteristic magazine dropping shot and the high kicks flying thick and fast. Like I said at the beging if you want social comment and thought provoking hire Private Ryan if you want breath taking action directed by a true master of the genre hire this.

Rating:
Summary: Hacked to pieces!
Review: This could have been a much better film. John Woo is an excellent film-maker and you always know what kind of film you'll get with Van Damme. No-one expects Shakespeare! The problem with this movie is the editing - it has been hacked to pieces. I understand there is a Director's cut - 22 minutes longer - perhaps this should be the one to see. Does anyone out there know if it has actually been released?

Rating:
Summary: John Woo Rules, Jean-Claude Van Damme sucks
Review: Dont buy this movie because Jean-Claude Van Damme is in it. Buy it because John Woo directed it. As his first American effort, its a fine movie. A lot of action movies do not compare this one. Hard Target has a decent plot, decent acting and over the top violence, which saves the film. I recommend getting the Directors cut also. When i first saw this film, i was at the edge of my seat throughout. You will not see other action movies this good (i am talking strictly about the action). This film deserves more attention.

Rating:
Summary: Arnold Vosloo is the best in this movie!
Review: Arnold Vosloo is the best acotor in the world. This is one of the best movies he was in. If you are a fan of Arnold Vosloo then buy this movie! He is the best in this movie.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent action shoot-em-up film from director John Woo
Review: I would consider this movie as on of the best action films that I have ever seen. Excellent gun fights and special effects explosions, decent story and plot, lots of violence, and good camera angles and screen shots, dispite the one scene when Van Damme rode the motorbike toward the SUV and did a sommersault over the roof, I think that that was a little fake because of the timing of it. In conclusion, a must see for actioners!!