After taking a little break,I began looking for a flick to get back on track with movie viewing. Catching a few awesome 1991 Action flicks this month,I decided to see what the Muscles from Brussels offered up for the year.
View on the film:
One of just two films produced by the Michael Douglas company Stone Group Pictures, (the other being '91's Action trash epic Stone Cold) the screenplay by co-writer/(with Peter Krikes/ Steve Meerson and Sheldon Lettich) co-producer and lead star JCVD (massage that ego!) goes for the trend of the era in having East meet West,via JCVD going to Hong Kong to take on corrupt British businessmen. Offering two for the price of one, the writers actually do well in the set-up with (intentional) comedy playing on JCVD's tough guy image with gym bunny Chad,before it high-kicks into a breezy double serving of revenge.
Being listed in the opening credits,Andy and Vic Armstrong continue to show the masterful skill of staging stunts, with exploding French champagne allowing the Armstrong's to pour out a John Woo-style gunfight, and the final "barrel punch-up" having a wonderfully silly,OTT atmosphere. Teaming up again with JCVD after AWOL, director Sheldon Lettich & cinematographer Richard H. Kline slickly blend the action thrills in with trick shots and doubles to allow the star to fight himself. Filling the movie with bonkers double fighting set-pieces, Lettich hurts the fun mood by showing too much self-awareness, with all winking at the camera and Arthur Kempel's jaunty score being prominently used.Re-teaming with Bloodsport's Bolo Yeung as a cackling baddie, along with the sexy and sassy Alonna Shaw, JCVD clearly enjoys playing with his image, as he delivers his roundhouse kicks with ease,and shows some real comedic charm as Chad,who allows JCVD to make the double impact.
View on the film:
One of just two films produced by the Michael Douglas company Stone Group Pictures, (the other being '91's Action trash epic Stone Cold) the screenplay by co-writer/(with Peter Krikes/ Steve Meerson and Sheldon Lettich) co-producer and lead star JCVD (massage that ego!) goes for the trend of the era in having East meet West,via JCVD going to Hong Kong to take on corrupt British businessmen. Offering two for the price of one, the writers actually do well in the set-up with (intentional) comedy playing on JCVD's tough guy image with gym bunny Chad,before it high-kicks into a breezy double serving of revenge.
Being listed in the opening credits,Andy and Vic Armstrong continue to show the masterful skill of staging stunts, with exploding French champagne allowing the Armstrong's to pour out a John Woo-style gunfight, and the final "barrel punch-up" having a wonderfully silly,OTT atmosphere. Teaming up again with JCVD after AWOL, director Sheldon Lettich & cinematographer Richard H. Kline slickly blend the action thrills in with trick shots and doubles to allow the star to fight himself. Filling the movie with bonkers double fighting set-pieces, Lettich hurts the fun mood by showing too much self-awareness, with all winking at the camera and Arthur Kempel's jaunty score being prominently used.Re-teaming with Bloodsport's Bolo Yeung as a cackling baddie, along with the sexy and sassy Alonna Shaw, JCVD clearly enjoys playing with his image, as he delivers his roundhouse kicks with ease,and shows some real comedic charm as Chad,who allows JCVD to make the double impact.