The Continueing Decline Of Mr Jean-Claude Van Damme.....

[MMCK2]

Has anyone been reading the tabloids for the last couple of days? Well, aparrently times are hard for "The Muscles From Brussells" - Jean-Claude Van Damme, as he has been in talks with the producers of the French version of reality T.V show "Big Brother" to enter the house as a celebrity housemate. The French version of the show has had celebrity guests on it before but even so this is a massive departure for a once fairly big box office puller.

The guy is bound to be desperate as I think I am right in saying that the last film of his to get a theatical release was "Universal Soldier: The Return" in 1999 which most people will tell you was truly awful. Since then he has been STV-bound, starring in low budget crap like "Desert Heat" and "The Order" which lack the appeal and charm of his early low budget films from the late eighties/early nineties.

I don't want people on here to think I am bashing Van Damme as I was a big fan of his and own a startling number of his films on VHS (more than Seagal!) but come on Sir, retain a bit of dignity - wallow in the delights of some of your decent films like "Lionheart", "Timecop", "Hard Target" etc, pride yourself in the fact that you once drew fairly large numbers of people (if mostly adolescent boys) to the box office and don't appear so desperate to have your name associated with tacky crap like "Big Brother". Get a grip man!

If its any consolation, one of his upcoming films entitled "Hell" sounds like it could be good. I read that its is about a prison on an island surrounded with croc-infested waters where the sadistic wardens stage fights with the prisoners in the name of entertainment. If directed properly with some good martial arts fights this could have cult classic stamped all over it. Then again it could have "£2 to clear" stamped all over it instead in the local bargain bin at HMV! Hope not though

What do other members think?

 

[Amos Stevens]

I don't really think that he's done making movies-they're publicizing his old movies much to much & he like Seagal(boy I hate to say the two names in the same sentence) are still currently lining up movies

 

[Waki Ya Cante]

:mad4: :mad2: :mad3: :ironchief

 

[Administrator]

I too own the majority of JCVD's films, with the exception of Street Fighter!

Most of his movies have been pretty good in my opinion, but then again i seem to like most action movies.

I find it sad that the likes of Seagal, Van Damme, Stallone and some of the other stars of the 80's and 90's are not getting the sales they deserve.

Craig

 

[Rodrigo]

Van Shamme does not deserve my respect, once he immitated Seagal and Stallone, as he is entering the BB (if that's true) it shows the type of man he is...
Boy !!! Big Brother ?? I hate it !!!:mad2: But I would like to see Van Shamme in it, getting so embarased...

 

[MMCK2]

Originally posted by Craig Robertson
I too own the majority of JCVD's films, with the exception of Street Fighter!

Most of his movies have been pretty good in my opinion, but then again i seem to like most action movies.

I find it sad that the likes of Seagal, Van Damme, Stallone and some of the other stars of the 80's and 90's are not getting the sales they deserve.

Craig

Hi Craig.


I am ashamed to admitt that I actually have "Streetfighter" on video. I bought it for around £4.99 under the Cinema Club label about 5 years ago and have watched it about twice inside those five years! What I really hate about that film is the way it totally throws out the window the original concept of the SNES game and play the whole thing out like an expensive panto with clanging, cringe worthy dialogue and atrocious acting (Miss Minogue please take a bow). There are rumours going around that Raul Julia (who's last film this was) died from acute embarrassment after having seen a rough cut of the film! No, that film is real arse fluid in my opinion.

Here are the videos of Van Damme which I own.

VHS

* Bloodsport/Cyborg/Death Warrent (3 on 2 video)
* Kickboxer
* A.W.O.L
* Nowhere To Run/Double Impact (2 on 1 video)
* Universal Soldier
* Hard Target/Timecop (Double Video)
* Sudden Death
* Maximum Risk/Double Team (2 on 1 video)
* Streetfighter

DVD

* Hard Target

Out of those films I've mentioned the only ones I did'nt really like were "Cyborg" and "Nowhere To Run". I thought "Cyborg" had the potential to be a good film but was stomped by its seemingly non-existent budget. Though, to be fair, it did contain a decent fight at the end between Van Damme and that weird looking gravelly voiced bloke. "Nowhere To Run" I did'nt like because of its touchy feely premise which just did'nt suit Van Damme and required too much of him as an actor. I thought it also was a bit self-indulgent script wise, especially when Rossana Arquette's daughter comments that Jean-Claude has a mightly impressive wang. The girl in the film is around seven years old for hell's sake!

I also agree that it is sad that these big action stars don't seem to be getting the sales they deserve. I suppose that is called action genre evolution and it seems to be claiming a lot of careers! As long as these stars are doing something - even if it is STV films I'll still probably watch them. Its still hard to believe that the likes of Stallone and Seagal are now reduced to making the types of films which are normally offered for the likes of Michael Dudikoff or Don 'The Dragon' Wilson!!

Sad times.

Peace

MMCK

 

[MMCK2]

Another film from that Van Damme list which I did'nt like and forgot to comment on was "Maximum Risk". I remember renting that film when it first cames out in the U.K and switched it off half-way through watching it. I thought it was really dull especially the ending which was as low-key and uninspired as you could possibly get. To be fair, it did contain a few good action scenes like the one where Van Damme fights that big Russian guy in the lift, the chase through the subway and the fight in the Turkish bathroom. Also the car chases were very well done through the side streets of a French town, though I have to say that the denouement of one of them were Van Damme Twin#1 gets killed by being forced of his motor cycle, illicited laughs from me rather than the feeling of sadness/pathos which the director probably intended.

The only reason I own that one on video is because "Double Team" is also on the tape and is a far more enjoyable affair in my opinion.

MMCK.

 

[Amos Stevens]

Speaking of movies of JCVD that I didn't like...No Retreat NO Surrender...no matter how much you get paid it wasn't worth the embarrassment!

 

[MMCK2]

Hi Amos.

Yeah, I've saw that one too, starring alongside Van Damme was
that box office powerhouse Kurt McKinney. That was the one where McKinney was inspired to fight properly by the ghost of Bruce Lee. Van Damme played a Russian kickboxing equivelant to Ivan Drago from "Rocky IV".

Sh*te!

Peace.

MMCK

 

[Administrator]

I watched part of No Retreat No Surrender, but turned it off as it was awful.

I actually enjoyed Maximum Risk i thought it was one of his best. I liked Natasha Henstridge in it too.

I too did not like Cyborg, i got it on the double box with the other two films - Bloodsport and Death Warrant. I have to list Cyborg as one of the worst films i've ever seen. I've watched it once since i got it about 5 years ago.

I thought Nowhere To Run was not too bad, it was JCVD's attempt to break into the A-list, but it did not do too well.

AWOL is on channel 5 tonight here in the UK.

Craig

 

[MMCK2]

Originally posted by Craig Robertson
I watched part of No Retreat No Surrender, but turned it off as it was awful.

I actually enjoyed Maximum Risk i thought it was one of his best. I liked Natasha Henstridge in it too.

I too did not like Cyborg, i got it on the double box with the other two films - Bloodsport and Death Warrant. I have to list Cyborg as one of the worst films i've ever seen. I've watched it once since i got it about 5 years ago.

I thought Nowhere To Run was not too bad, it was JCVD's attempt to break into the A-list, but it did not do too well.

AWOL is on channel 5 tonight here in the UK.

Craig

"Maximum Risk" seems to split a lot of Van Damme fans as I remember there were a few on the official message board who liked it also. One thing in its favour is the higher production values than in some of is other lesser films but I personally found it too slow paced and low key for one of his action vehicles. Though to be fair it was'nt quite as bad the second time I watched it but I still would'nt class it in among his best films. Just my opinion.

His very best films in my opinion would be the following-:

* Bloodsport
* A.W.O.L
* Universel Soldier
* Hard Target
* Timecop

I still find most of his films entertaining, even unpopular ones like "Knock Off", "The Quest" and "Sudden Death".

Also, here's a little trivia about "Cyborg". Did you know that it was originally written as a sequel to the Dolph Lundgren actioner "Masters Of The Universe" made for the Cannon film company? After that particular movie bombed at the Box Office, the script was hastily reworked as a seperate story to star Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Maybe a lot of board members knew that already.

Peace.

MMCK

 

[Waki Ya Cante]

okay what was AWOL?
And remind me what as maximum risk? I think I saw it,

but what about Knock Off....I think that wasthe name of it, the one with ROb Schnider

 

[MMCK2]

Originally posted by Waki Ya Cante
okay what was AWOL?
And remind me what as maximum risk? I think I saw it,

but what about Knock Off....I think that wasthe name of it, the one with ROb Schnider

Hi Waki Ya Cante.

A.W.O.L is actually what "Lionheart" is alternativly titled here in the UK. I think it is also known as "Wrong Bet"(in Australia?).

Maximum Risk saw Van Damme play twins. One is a hood, the other is a French cop. When the hood twin gets killed by the Russian mafia, his brother goes undercover to find out what he got himself entangled with.

Knock Off did indeed star Rob Schneider and also a rather tasty looking Lele Rochon..... I think also Paul Sorvino played the villain and the overall feel of that movie is that it had a Jackie Chan element to it where humour and a little slapstick played as much a part as straight-forward action. Overall, I quite liked this one.

Peace.

MMCK

 

[Waki Ya Cante]

OH yea I remember that, didn't need to see his schlong in that one Dammit!!!!!
Oh lion heart! is that were he fights for money isn't it? stupid arse movie.

 

[Amos Stevens]

Double Team is also played twins

 

[Waki Ya Cante]

I know, more T and A inthat too, bloody bimbo....
itwas cheesey too.

 

[MMCK2]

Originally posted by Amos Stevens
Double Team is also played twins

I don't think he does actually play twins in "Double Team". He plays a spy (Jack Quinn?) who teams up with NBA nutcase Dennis Rodman to take out terrorist Mickey Rourke in that particular film.

You may have meant "Double Impact"(1991), as he plays twins in that movie.

Peace.

MMCK

 

[Amos Stevens]

Yep I meant DOuble Impact-thanks for the correction