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This 92-minute martial arts drama film from director Newt Arnold performed well domestically,
taking home eleven times its modest one million dollar budget. Released in February of 1988,
the story is partially inspired by the real-life fighter Frank Dux, who participates in an
illegal, and sometimes deadly martial arts tournament in Hong Kong known as the Kumite.
In this, his first substantial starring role, Jean-Claude Van Damme showcases his impressive
athletic abilities, including his trademark helicopter-style spinning heel-kicks, even
utilizing the real Dux as his off-screen coordinator. Despite the 28-year-old's strong French accent,
he does a decent job carrying the film - portraying the rookie fighter with an endearing sense
of eagerness and humility. Like all sports-movies, this one includes its fair share of montages,
including an early sequence where Van Damme learns to fight blindfolded, and endure physical
pain - both of which, unsurprisingly, come into play later on. The R-rated picture also
begins Jean-Claude's longstanding obsession with himself, and as a co-editor on the project,
he made sure to include ample footage of his half-naked, ripped body. Alongside him as
the big mannish brute he befriends, is Donald Gibb, fresh off the success of his first two
"Revenge Of The Nerds" appearances - who contributes an amusing and warm performance, especially
given his violent surroundings. The primary villain, portrayed by a scenery-chewing Bolo
Yeung is so ridiculously evil, it makes rooting against him almost seem to easy, taunting
JCVD by saying, "You break my record, now I break you". With the exception of an early
role from Forest Whitaker, the rest of the below-average supporting cast will be largely
unfamiliar to western audiences, well - at least they were to me. While all of the fighting
is totally entertaining, it's also very exaggerated with extreme facial expressions, and gratuitous
amounts of slow-motion. And since its ending a forgone conclusion from the outset, it honestly
tends to drag on a bit too long. The techno-inspired score from Paul Hertzog keeps things tense
and loud during the film's most dramatic moments, aided by some quintessentially 80's soft-rock
songs from Stan Bush. A somewhat unconventional story presented with traditional cinematography
and a mostly believable script progresses along just quick enough to keep audiences
from getting bored: but there's never anything new here. The film's success launched three
direct-to-video sequels in the 1990's - none of which featured Van Damme - and a future
reboot is rumored to be in the works. Playing out like a low-rent, Asian version of the
"Rocky" films, this can definitely be a great movie for all fans of martial arts, and large
pectoral muscles. For everyone else, it's a decent sports movie about underdog spirit
and competition only worth watching once or twice. "Bloodsport", "Graphic fights propel
average story." Here's some of your thoughts from the YouTube comments.
"Bloodsport" on the rate-o-matic... a SEVEN and a SIX. Plenty of well-done fights and
action resulted in you rating this a COOL. A film that succeeds because of its simplistic
approach, but also suffers a bit due to its familiarity. I thought it was GOOD.