Jean-Claude Van Damme on Blu-ray

[deltatauhobbit]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

I'm trying to think which ticks me off most, 1 or 2. 1 billion for rights? You got to be kidding me. People have already got so much good LOTR material after six long movies. We already have a glut of awesome tv series that you just can't keep up with as it is, how could they ever recoup that from anything they make to their relatively limited market when that doesn't even cover production.

It says they've "committed" 1 billion, doesn't mean they've spent that or will spend that much in the end. To put it in perspective, an episode of Game of Thrones costs around 6 million an episode. So if they made 5 seasons at 20 episodes, that would bring it to 600 million and I doubt they'll have 20 episode seasons.

Of course, it's rumored that they spent 200-250 million on the rights alone which is quite crazy considering they haven't worked on any scripts or hired actors yet so I guess we'll just see if they do end up breaking their bank accounts on this project.

It is a shame that JCVJ got cancelled, I found it amusing. I wish they didn't go as sci-fi as they did and kept it more grounded like the pilot but anytime they would bring up Timecop references or any of his other films I couldn't help but chuckle.

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by VanDammage80

Not Blu-ray news but hot damn, his new movie, Lukas aka The Bouncer, looks great. Thrilled he’s doing another French flick. The teaser alone makes it look like it could be his best since JCVD.

Lukas looks awesome. I can't wait to see it.

Originally Posted by Lionel Horsepackage

Evidently Jeff Bezos pulled the plug on not only JCVJ, but all of Amazon's slate of original shows then in production up through the fall of 2017 (except for the multiple-Emmy-winning critical darling Transparent) for two reasons:

1. Former Amazon Studios executive Roy Price (who greenlit Jean-Claude Van Johnson and the other shows) got fired in the wake of the #MeToo scandal, and the mass-cancellations were seen as a way of the company "cleaning house" of Price's rancid stench, and:

2. Bezos also committed nearly $1 billion (literally) of Amazon's money to the IP-rights and development/production of their newly-acquired Lord of the Rings television series, which is gonna soak up a huge chunk of their resources for the foreseeable future, here.

So it was actually several different, converging factors which lead to the cancellation of JCVJ, sadly, according to industry reporting.

This bums me out. LOTR does not need a TV show. I'm sure no matter what they produce it will be better than the slog that was The Hobbit's. But it's a shame that Amazon is pushing so much money into it as it will not be the hit GOT was no matter what they think and I would rather see the money going to original programming. Amazon has such a unique and diverse pallet of shows. I'd hate to see that diminish.

[BladeRunner2007]

Just seen Black Water. I thought it was very entertaining from start to finish. High production values, good cinematography, very good action scenes with real blood squibs, good editing and no annoying shaky cam. Dolph was a riot. The few fight scenes felt realistic. Van Damme rocked it big time imo. Also liked the humorous bits. Definitely one of Van Damme's best DTV work. In fact I am surprised this didn't get at least a limited theatrical release.

[VanDammage80]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Just seen Black Water. I thought it was very entertaining from start to finish. High production values, good cinematography, very good action scenes with real blood squibs, good editing and no annoying shaky cam. Dolph was a riot. The few fight scenes felt realistic. Van Damme rocked it big time imo. Also liked the humorous bits. Definitely one of Van Damme's best DTV work. In fact I am surprised this didn't get at least a limited theatrical release.

Good to hear. Been reading extremely mixed reviews. Can’t be worse than Pound of Flesh or Kill em All.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by VanDammage80

Good to hear. Been reading extremely mixed reviews. Can’t be worse than Pound of Flesh or Kill em All.

POF had terrible effects and green screen work, KEA had a terrible script, because of its structure and even worse editing. BW has none of that. In fact, its story is very minimalistic and the structure is pretty straight forward with good editing all around. Even the action scenes are well shot, choreographed and edited. It also looks way better and not as cheap.

[VanDammage80]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

POF had terrible effects and green screen work, KEA had a terrible script, because of its structure and even worse editing. BW has none of that. In fact, its story is very minimalistic and the structure is pretty straight forward with good editing all around. Even the action scenes are well shot, choreographed and edited. It also looks way better and not as cheap.

I actually felt embarrassed for him while watching POF. Just awful. And the doubling, oh boy,the doubling. I’m still looking forward to Black Water though. Have to wait another month though. It was only released on Dish Network in the US so far.

[Markgway]

Funnily enough, Pound of Flesh and Kill 'em All are the only two Van Damme films I haven't seen (except Full Love - did that ever get released?).

Oh, and Kickboxer: Retaliation, but he's really just a guest star in that, right?

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Funnily enough, Pound of Flesh and Kill 'em All are the only two Van Damme films I haven't seen (except Full Love - did that ever get released?).

Oh, and Kickboxer: Retaliation, but he's really just a guest star in that, right?

10-15 minutes and he hasn't got much to do

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Funnily enough, Pound of Flesh and Kill 'em All are the only two Van Damme films I haven't seen (except Full Love - did that ever get released?).

Oh, and Kickboxer: Retaliation, but he's really just a guest star in that, right?

What did you think of Swelter?

My review from the Big Lots thread (so it also mentions snacks and misc. things about that store):

I watched Swelter last night and wolfed down half a bag of Guac chips. My thoughts:

Swelter: First, here's what this is not...

- It's not filled with wall-to-wall action and constant fight scenes. There are only a few, despite what the explosive trailer might lead you to believe.

- It's not a JCVD movie. He's not the star or even the main villain, so don't buy it just for him.

- It's not fast-paced at all. This is kind of a slow-burner that takes its sweet time to get going.

With all of that said, there are positives too: I liked the story. I liked the acting from Lennie James (who plays the main character, Bishop) and Alfred Molina (Doc). Catalina Sandino Moreno (Carmen) is as beautiful as ever. Those characters are developed surprisingly well.

However, the movie really could have cut out several other characters and scenes - and would've been better off for it. Of the villains, only Grant Bowler (Cole) is even remotely essential - and even then, only barely. The rest of his crew feel like filler with very thin or nonexistent character development - including *gulp* JCVD.

I know JCVD has an accent, but I don't remember it being this thick or him being this marble-mouthed before. I seriously had to turn on subtitles for a couple of his scenes. Maybe it's the Blu or maybe it's me?

Overall, Swelter is not a bad movie, by any means, but it's not quite what I would call great either. For JCVD completists only (but not necessarily for JCVD fans, as his role is pretty marginalized and inconsequential).

Guac Chips: Better than the movie, but these chips are so good that they're probably better than 99% of the Blus stocked at Big Lots. They have a definite Dorito vibe with a bit of a guac flavor. In a blind taste test, I would swear these are a new (or maybe even existing) flavor of Doritos.

Big Lots - where you go for the Blus and come back for the chips.

[DenOfEarth]

I'd love to see Scream Factory do a Timecop CE blu-ray with 2K restoration and extras galore.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Random Timecop production question, was Walker's 2004 sort of mullet hair a wig that Van Damme wore? I always found it funny that Mia Sara's character finds it so jarring that she can't even believe it's him.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

What did you think of Swelter?

Jean-Claude Van Damme takes a supporting role (no idea why?) in this modern western pastiche. At times threatens to become a decent movie, but the filmmakers just aren't up to the task.

[BladeRunner2007]

Latest update on my JCVD collection




In case you can't make them all out, here's the full list:

1. Woman Between Wolf and Dog (uncredited/cameo) - DVD
2. Rue Barbare (uncredited/cameo/unconfirmed) - DVD
3. Breakin' (cameo) - DVD
4. Missing in Action (cameo/stuntman) - DVD
5. Monaco Forever (cameo) (included as a bonus feature on the Until Death DVD)
6. No Retreat, No Surrender (International Version) (supporting)
7. No Retreat, No Surrender (U.S. Version) (supporting)
8. Bloodsport - DVD
9. Black Eagle (supporting)
10. Cyborg
11. Slinger (Cyborg Director's Cut)
12. Kickboxer
13. Lionheart (U.S. Version & 25th Anniversary Director's Cut)
14. Death Warrant
15. Double Impact
16. Universal Soldier
17. Nowhere to Run
18. Last Action Hero (cameo)
19. Hard Target
20. Timecop
21. Street Fighter
22. Sudden Death
23. The Quest
24. Maximum Risk - DVD
25. Double Team
26. Knock Off
27. Legionnaire
28. Universal Soldier: The Return
29. Inferno aka Desert Heat
30. Replicant - DVD
31. The Order - DVD
32. Derailed
33. In Hell - DVD
34. Narco (extended cameo) - DVD
35. Wake of Death
36. Second in Command - DVD
37. The Hard Corps - DVD
38. Sinav (extended cameo) - DVD
39. Until Death (European Version)
40. Until Death (U.S. Version) - DVD
41. The Shepherd aka The Shepherd: Border Patrol - DVD
42. JCVD
43. Universal Soldier: Regeneration (supporting)
44. Assassination Games
45. Beur sur la ville (cameo)
46. Rzhevskiy protiv Napoleona aka Corporal vs. Napoleon (cameo)
47. Dragon Eyes (supporting)
48. The Expendables 2 (supporting)
49. Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (supporting)
50. 6 Bullets aka Six Bullets
51. U.F.O. aka Alien Uprising (extended cameo/supporting)
52. Welcome to the Jungle (supporting)
53. Enemies Closer
54. Swelter (supporting)
55. Pound of Flesh
56. Kickboxer: Vengeance (supporting)
57. Kill 'Em All
58. Kickboxer: Retaliation (supporting)
59. Black Water

Bummer "Jian Bing Man" aka "The Pancake Man" hasn't been released anywhere yet officially on Blu-ray or DVD.

[Mobe1969]

I really want Knock Off, but hear the transfer is woeful

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

I really want Knock Off, but hear the transfer is woeful

Could be better, but also much worse. Still way better than the DVD, though. And it's cheap.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

I really want Knock Off, but hear the transfer is woeful

It's serviceable, there's deinterlacing artifacts which indicate a 1080i source.

[VanDammage80]

How do Wake of Death and Legionnaire look? I was thinking about importing those since I have a Region free player. I was going to get Until Death but all the reviews I've read say it looks like a poorly upscaled dvd.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by VanDammage80

How do Wake of Death and Legionnaire look? I was thinking about importing those since I have a Region free player. I was going to get Until Death but all the reviews I've read say it looks like a poorly upscaled dvd.

They both look just fine. Especially Legionnaire for its age. Very filmic transfer.

[VanDammage80]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

They both look just fine. Especially Legionnaire for its age. Very filmic transfer.

Cool, thanks. I may have to pull the trigger. Legionnaire was probably the second or third DVD i bought, back in the late 90's, and I remember being blown away by it. I thought the special features and motion chapters were the coolest thing! Any thoughts on Until Death? The German blu worth getting?

[andra-j]

Has anyone heard anything about a blu-ray release of The Shepherd Boarder Patrol, it's the only one I need to complete my Van Damme blu-ray set?