Jean-Claude Van Damme on Blu-ray

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by splintersan

Is Legionnaire any good? I know I saw it when it came out but can't remember anything about it.

Yes, but it's an battle action/drama, not a martial arts/fight film.

[BladeRunner2007]

I like Legionnaire a lot but I think every Van Damme movie is worth seeing...

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Yes, but it's an battle action/drama, not a martial arts/fight film.

I like how that sounds.

I've seen most of Van Dammes output from his heyday. I was a pretty big fan of his from Bloodsport up to The Quest, the only films I don't remember seeing or renting from that period are Black Eagle (which I already have pre-ordered from MVD Rewind) and Nowhere to Run (plot sounds vaugely familiar so I might have caught it on cable at some point).

[dallywhitty]

About to pop Double Team in. Last time I tried watching it, I thought it was kinda awful, so here's hoping I look upon it more kindly this time.

Wish me luck.

[deltatauhobbit]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

About to pop Double Team in. Last time I tried watching it, I thought it was kinda awful, so here's hoping I look upon it more kindly this time.

Wish me luck.

To be honest, I thought it was horrible when I first watched it back in the 90’s. I watched it about a year ago though and found it to be a lot of fun after knowing not to expect something good like Timecop or Sudden Death.

[BladeRunner2007]

Finally watched Kickboxer: Retaliation. Whoa, what a strange movie. No plot, confusing editing, lame fight scenes and a bit boring. It's just random fight scene after fight scene. The final fight is way too long. Van Damme hasn't got much screen time and he doesn't really do anything in this movie. He is just there, really. He doesn't even have a real fight scene Still, I have to own it, just to complete my JCVD collection. Can't wait to watch Black Water later his month! Hopefully that one will be better.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

I like Legionnaire a lot but I think every Van Damme movie is worth seeing...

I basically quit following JCVD after Double Team. I think the only film I've seen of his after that was "In Hell". Which wasn't too bad, but I really soured on him after The Quest.

[GasmaskAvenger]

IMO the best Universal Soldier movies are the original and Day of Reckoning.

The former is pure unadulterated fun that keeps you on your toes and the latter is a blood drenched walking nightmare that leaves a huge nihilistic impression from start to finish. Both great in their own right.

After that...i'd say The Return because its dumb cheesy fun (despite it clearly missing 20-30 minutes of important plot development)...and then Regeneration in dead last due to how painfully generic and sterile it is.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Finally watched Kickboxer: Retaliation. Whoa, what a strange movie. No plot, confusing editing, lame fight scenes and a bit boring. It's just random fight scene after fight scene. The final fight is way too long. Van Damme hasn't got much screen time and he doesn't really do anything in this movie. He is just there, really. He doesn't even have a real fight scene Still, I have to own it, just to complete my JCVD collection.

Well, I didn't even like the last one, so I'll skip this.

Can't wait to watch Black Water later his month! Hopefully that one will be better.

For a DTV movie it's pretty decent, almost theatrical quality.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by Markgway

For a DTV movie it's pretty decent, almost theatrical quality.

That's good to hear

[drush9999]

I've still to get the two Kickboxer reboots, will buy them cheap, just to keep my Van Damme collection semi complete.

Also looking forward to Black Water.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I basically quit following JCVD after Double Team. I think the only film I've seen of his after that was "In Hell". Which wasn't too bad, but I really soured on him after The Quest.

Try Wake of Death. That film is great, IMHO. In Hell was pretty good though.

[VanDammage80]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

IMO the best Universal Soldier movies are the original and Day of Reckoning.

The former is pure unadulterated fun that keeps you on your toes and the latter is a blood drenched walking nightmare that leaves a huge nihilistic impression from start to finish. Both great in their own right.

After that...i'd say The Return because its dumb cheesy fun (despite it clearly missing 20-30 minutes of important plot development)...and then Regeneration in dead last due to how painfully generic and sterile it is.

Day of Reckoning is great. Have to say though, I actually really enjoyed Regeneration as well. Hyams needs to get more work. I'd love to see what he could do with a $20-30 mill budget. He was supposed to helm the Maniac Cop reboot but I'm not sure if that's even happening anymore.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Try Wake of Death. That film is great, IMHO. In Hell was pretty good though.

Second Wake of Death, I've also enjoyed Until Death (Director's Cut), the last two Universal Soldiers, Six Bullets and Kill 'em All, but your mileage may vary

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Finally watched Kickboxer: Retaliation. Whoa, what a strange movie. No plot, confusing editing, lame fight scenes and a bit boring. It's just random fight scene after fight scene. The final fight is way too long. Van Damme hasn't got much screen time and he doesn't really do anything in this movie. He is just there, really. He doesn't even have a real fight scene Still, I have to own it, just to complete my JCVD collection. Can't wait to watch Black Water later his month! Hopefully that one will be better.

He's there to wear the fedora, that is all.

[Alan Clarke]

Originally Posted by VanDammage80

Day of Reckoning is great. Have to say though, I actually really enjoyed Regeneration as well. Hyams needs to get more work. I'd love to see what he could do with a $20-30 mill budget. He was supposed to helm the Maniac Cop reboot but I'm not sure if that's even happening anymore.

Hyams is a good director, but he takes on too much (he's often DPing his own films) to really make a huge impact. I still think that the hottest JCVD is Universal Soldier, though. The original. What a great film.

[Alan Clarke]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

I like Legionnaire a lot but I think every Van Damme movie is worth seeing...

Yes, I agree. Although I don't like much of what he has done post 2000. But before that, everything film he has done needs to be seen at least once. What a gorgeous, charismatic man. And a physical actor too who can portray pain in a realistic way.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Alan Clarke

Yes, I agree. Although I don't like much of what he has done post 2000. But before that, everything film he has done needs to be seen at least once. What a gorgeous, charismatic man. And a physical actor too who can portray pain in a realistic way.

He allowed himself to be vulnerable sometimes in his movies. Which Steven Seagal would not do. Watching a guy tear through all of the henchmen from start to finish with a smirk on his face doesn't provide a rewarding experience.

[Markgway]

Naturally, JCVD's DTV output is more uneven than his theatrical output, but you generally get the feeling that he's trying to do good work -- unlike Seagal.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Naturally, JCVD's DTV output is more uneven than his theatrical output, but you generally get the feeling that he's trying to do good work -- unlike Seagal.

That's a great way of putting it. He never phones it in. He stays active and in good shape.