cityonfire.com | Bloodsport

	Bloodsport "This is the standard Cannon Films shit, or is it? " - Alvin George Bloodsport (1987) Director: Newt Arnold Producer: Mark di Salle Writer: Christopher Crosby, Mel Friedman, Sheldon Lettich Action Director: Frank Dux Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, Norman Burton, Forrest Whitaker, Roy Chiao, Philip Chan, Bolo Yeung Running Time: 92 min. Plot: A U.S. soldier travels to Hong Kong to compete in the Kumite, an illegal and deadly martial-arts competition. Based on a true story. Reviews ALVIN GEORGE'S REVIEW: This is the standard Cannon Films shit, or is it? Sure, it has Jean-Claude Van Damme, the now-infamous Muscles from Brussels who has notoriety for executing 360-degree kicks, not to mention doing things like beating up his wife, snorting cocaine, and driving drunk. Sure, it has the usual Cannon Films cliches: martial-arts fights, perfunctory melodrama to fill in the gaps between those fights, wrong-headed superiors, a bare-bones plot, an '80s-style electronic music score, a friend of the hero's who gets seriously fucked up, and a beautiful damsel in distress (though the distress in this case doesn't extend to being kidnapped and held captive by the bad guys, as in other Cannon flicks like "American Ninja" and "Revenge of the Ninja"). But those fight scenes are so damn good, not to mention bloody as hell. The scenes involve matches between other martial artists, not just Van Damme and the reigning champion (played by Bolo Yeung of "Enter the Dragon"). The aformentioned friend kinda reminds me of the big, bearded guy Jackie Chan killed in the bathroom toward the beginning of "The Protector." There are also some Hong Kong actors in the movie, including the aforementioned Bolo Yeung, Roy Chiao ("Game of Death," "The Protector"), and Philip Chan ("Twin Dragons," "Supercop"). Does the standard action-movie formula really get to you? Stay away from this film. But if all you want is some bloody good fight scenes, "Bloodsport" is a must-see. ALVIN GEORGE'S RATING: 6.5/10 RYAN LUNDGREN'S REVIEW: An above average kick 'em up. I have seen a lot of martial arts movies in my day but I must say none have had the depth Bloodsport has. It's like you're in the crowd cheering for Van Damme, who is appalling here. Among the cast include Bolo Yueng, Forrest Whittiker and Donald Gibb who provide good back up for Van Damme. This is good martial arts film that will, no doubt, be remembered along with Enter The Dragon. Bloodsport ties Universal Soldier for Van Damme's Best. RYAN LUNDGREN'S RATING: 7/10

Bloodsport

"This is the standard Cannon Films shit, or is it? "

- Alvin George

Bloodsport (1987)

Director: Newt Arnold

Producer: Mark di Salle

Writer: Christopher Crosby, Mel Friedman, Sheldon Lettich

Action Director: Frank Dux

Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, Norman Burton, Forrest Whitaker, Roy Chiao, Philip Chan, Bolo Yeung

Running Time: 92 min.

Plot: A U.S. soldier travels to Hong Kong to compete in the Kumite, an illegal and deadly martial-arts competition. Based on a true story.

Reviews

ALVIN GEORGE'S REVIEW: This is the standard Cannon Films shit, or is it? Sure, it has Jean-Claude Van Damme, the now-infamous Muscles from Brussels who has notoriety for executing 360-degree kicks, not to mention doing things like beating up his wife, snorting cocaine, and driving drunk. Sure, it has the usual Cannon Films cliches: martial-arts fights, perfunctory melodrama to fill in the gaps between those fights, wrong-headed superiors, a bare-bones plot, an '80s-style electronic music score, a friend of the hero's who gets seriously fucked up, and a beautiful damsel in distress (though the distress in this case doesn't extend to being kidnapped and held captive by the bad guys, as in other Cannon flicks like "American Ninja" and "Revenge of the Ninja"). But those fight scenes are so damn good, not to mention bloody as hell. The scenes involve matches between other martial artists, not just Van Damme and the reigning champion (played by Bolo Yeung of "Enter the Dragon"). The aformentioned friend kinda reminds me of the big, bearded guy Jackie Chan killed in the bathroom toward the beginning of "The Protector." There are also some Hong Kong actors in the movie, including the aforementioned Bolo Yeung, Roy Chiao ("Game of Death," "The Protector"), and Philip Chan ("Twin Dragons," "Supercop"). Does the standard action-movie formula really get to you? Stay away from this film. But if all you want is some bloody good fight scenes, "Bloodsport" is a must-see.

ALVIN GEORGE'S RATING: 6.5/10

RYAN LUNDGREN'S REVIEW: An above average kick 'em up. I have seen a lot of martial arts movies in my day but I must say none have had the depth Bloodsport has. It's like you're in the crowd cheering for Van Damme, who is appalling here. Among the cast include Bolo Yueng, Forrest Whittiker and Donald Gibb who provide good back up for Van Damme. This is good martial arts film that will, no doubt, be remembered along with Enter The Dragon. Bloodsport ties Universal Soldier for Van Damme's Best.

RYAN LUNDGREN'S RATING: 7/10