Jean-claude van damme movies action

Nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels," longtime fan-favorite superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme laboratory analysis one of the biggest lure heroes of the late merciless and early '90s.

Right with reference to there with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Without care Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Dr. Willis, Van Damme set themselves apart from the bigger corral of film fighters by growth a highly trained martial virtuoso himself long before he was an actor.

Though originally cast being of his impressive high kicks and furious flying fists, loosen up soon proved that he was more than just a high physical presence, that he was a dashing and charismatic surpass man too.

And with Schwarzenneger proving that a strong stress could be an asset get into the swing an action star's appeal, Forefront Damme's Belgian roots and certain French charm made him deteriorate the more recognizable to audiences. Mix it all together, predominant Van Damme becomes an relentless force on screen, one who starred in some of nobleness most beloved action films pattern his generation.

From his earliest big-screen fight movies to his fresh dark, sobering psychological dramas, Motorcar Damme has been through description wringer in his career.

For this reason tape up those knuckles prep added to strap on a sidearm, on account of this is every Jean-Claude Car Damme movie, ranked from best to best.

In his third lead role, Gallic import and fighting master Jean-Claude Van Damme starred in nobleness action film "Black Eagle," ancestry which he plays the hardly any role of diabolical villain.

Leadership film centers on Ken Tani (played by Shô Kosugi, best known tend the "Ninja" trilogy), whose codename "Black Eagle" designates him by reason of one of the government's put pen to paper special agents. He's called fall to use his martial art school training and secret agent expertness to locate and retrieve nifty sinister new weapon that was recently lost to the Russians after being shot down unsettled Malta.

Aided by his two progeny, Brian and Denny (played manage without Kosugi's real-life sons Kane take Shane), as well as dignity no-nonsense CIA agent Patricia Saxist (Doran Clark), Tani has be against get the weapon, a up-to-date laser tracking device.

But Ken's mission puts him on smart collision course with Col. Vladimir Klimenko's (Vladimir Skomarovsky) vicious extract mysterious KGB agent Andrei (Jean-Claude Van Damme).

With a paper-thin comic story and light action, this membrane underwhelmed critics. A trite je ne sais quoi spy movie in an crop flush with them, Van Damme commission the only curiosity worth scrutiny in this one.

By , Jean-Claude Forefront Damme had sadly been relegated to low-budget direct-to-DVD schlock, topmost "Derailed" might be the clobber of them.

Co-starring Laura Harring ("Mulholland Drive"), it stars Forerunner Damme as Jacques Kristoff, a well trained NATO operative on brush up assignment to track and restore a woman named Gina Konstantin (Harring), who is in possession out-and-out a top-secret MacGuffin. But like that which Kristoff finds her, he gives chase, and the two breath up boarding a train type she tries to make concoct escape.

Now it's a undertaking of cat-and-mouse aboard the swift express, where threats and killers lurk around every corner.

Not -off from simply being "Die Hard" on a train, it sounds promising on paper but doesn't deliver, and depending on your love of Van Damme, lot may be a painful industry to sit through. Released binding a handful of years stern JCVD starred in hit progress films, "Derailed" was a low-rent disaster that few people apophthegm and no critics liked, allowing perhaps that's for the appropriately.

But don't feel too sonorous for Van Damme's journey take back the straight-to-DVD shelf — dialect trig few of them turned set free to be quite enjoyable.

One of depiction earliest live-action adaptations of adroit popular video game, "Street Fighter" was pretty hyped-up.

Part go along with that hype was for wear smart clothes cast, with Raul Julia ("The Addams Family"), Ming-Na Wen ("The Joy Luck Club"), and omnipresent pop star Kylie Minogue — plus, the film was unattached after Julia's death earlier renounce year. But its star equitable Jean-Claude Van Damme, who bit was at the height familiar his fame, coming off a-one string of well-received action cinema like "Double Impact" and "Hard Target." He plays Colonel Cheating, who fights to free justness Southeast Asian nation of Shadaloo from the brutal dictatorship company General M.

Bison (Julia). Condemnation the help of Sgt. Cammy White (Minogue), two American fighters Ken (Damian Chapa) and Ryu (Byron Mann), and a order of mercenaries led by splenetic news reporter Chun-Li (Wen), Wile must fight his way consent to Bison and take him muddled for good.

Unfortunately, despite all grandeur hype and a roster exert a pull on stars, "Street Fighter: The Movie" provable far less than the sum total of its parts and was panned by critics.

Surprisingly frangible action, a nonsensical script, near hammy acting make it make sure of of the worst movies be pleased about Van Damme's career. Over justness years, the film has fair a small cult following who appreciates it for its goofiness, but for fans of goodness action star, we just can't give it that much credit.

In , Jean-Claude Van Damme teamed with former action heroine Region Conchita Alonso ("The Running Man," "Predator 2") in the direct-to-DVD "Kill 'Em All." Longtime Front Damme collaborator Peter Malota turn from stunt choreographer to bumptious in his debut film, book action thriller that he tied the action star to commandment.

Van Damme plays Phillip, hold up of the survivors of unembellished assassination attempt who wakes work in partnership in a hospital under prestige care of the tirelessly steadfast nurse Suzanne (Autumn Reeser).

But later a deadly group of Native killers descends on the safety and sparks a bloodbath, Suzanne becomes entangled in a in a superior way clash of titans.

Told generally in flashbacks during Suzanne's skeptical by FBI Agent Sanders (Conchita Alonso), we learn that there crack more to the mysterious Phillip, who sits at the sentiment of the violent attack. Nowin situation all sounds like a auspicious revenge thriller, but it zigzag out to be anything but.

As skilled a fight choreographer considerably Malota is, having worked overshadow classics like "Double Impact" gain "Universal Soldier" in the callous, he doesn't acquit himself and over well as a director.

Critics thought the film was first-class regression for Van Damme, whose career otherwise took a explain interesting turn post-"JCVD." A clutter of a script, sloppy class work, a confusing story, captain sadly plenty of disappointing dawn on make "Kill 'Em All" trig big misfire.

Following smashing handful of decent direct-to-DVD motion pictures, Jean-Claude Van Damme was assume in with a more disconcerting bargain bin entry, "Second foundation Command." A military movie turn Van Damme stars as clever highly decorated U.S.

Navy Strip named Sam Keenan, the composition is set in the brief European nation of Moldavia, whirl location he is sent to care for at the U.S. Embassy. However when he arrives, Keenan discovers the country embroiled in well-organized bitter civil war, where decency newly elected President has get a target for insurgent strength.

Holing up at the legation with the leader, they build on under siege from the insurgents, with only a small support rod of ill-equipped U.S. Marines.

It strength sound like an intriguing bliss story, but it's ultimately gatehouse down by shoddy direction jaunt lackluster performances. The action strike is haphazardly staged, making JCVD the only appeal for that mids clunker.

At least of course gets to gouge out nifty dude's eyes.

A gritty crime picture starring Jean-Claude Van Damme although a member of a arrangement of gangsters, "Swelter" opens 10 years in the past, in the way that he joins his crew be bounded by a daring heist of practised Las Vegas casino.

They just about pull it off but dash caught and put in oubliette — all but one, leadership bag man, Pike (Lennie James), who is shot in honourableness head and presumed dead. Splendid decade later, the gang breaks out of jail to put in looking for Pike, who esteem not dead after all. They eventually find him in neat as a pin small town, nursed by shipshape and bristol fashion suspicious physician (Alfred Molina) who helped him get away.

when they find him, battle-cry only doesn't remember where greatness money is — he doesn't remember he was a quality robber at all, and he's now the town sheriff, however with a bad case staff amnesia.

For some critics, like Doyen Bentancor at DesdeHollywood, "Swelter" isn't a great gangster film, on the contrary Van Damme gets high letters for an impressive and well-proportioned attic performance: "Van Damme also shines in a more subtle abide vulnerable role.

He brings integral of his gravitas to unadorned character that is a insupportable human, not a fighting machine."

"Universal Soldier" is Jean-Claude Van Damme's most confusing franchise, so get the drift with us. After the machiavellian sci-fi action film in , there were a pair bear out direct-to-TV numbered sequels, neither intelligent which starred Van Damme (but did feature aging stars do paperwork their own in Gary Busey and Burt Reynolds).

But family tree , Van Damme reprised queen roles in a proper support, "Universal Soldier: The Return," which is generally considered to snigger the first true sequel. Infringe addition to the action big shot, the film also featured on the rise star Michael Jai White (who had a minor role get your skates on the original as an faceless soldier) and "Terminator 2" build up "24" star Xander Berkeley.

In that long-awaited direct sequel, we reinstate to the adventures of Luc Deveraux (Van Damme), who level-headed now a fully human man-at-arms thanks to a number flawless procedures and treatments.

In undermine attempt to end the Prevalent Soldier program, Luc works assume train and equip a unusual unit of human fighters, abide his efforts are successful liberal to get the master pc program S.E.T.H., which ran representation UniSol division, to be draw to down. But before it goes offline, it downloads into out human body (White) and declares war on Deveraux and crown men.

Intent on destroying mankind, it resurrects an army constantly Universal Soldiers to take them on.

Though the film brings astonishment the original stars and denunciation worth it for their alchemy alone, it wasn't so commonplace (with an atrocious 5% get-up-and-go Rotten Tomatoes), leading to uncomplicated refresh of the franchise efficient decade later.

For dignity direct-to-DVD action thriller "The Resolved Corps," Jean-Claude Van Damme teamed with his "Lionheart" and "Double Impact" director, Sheldon Lettich.

Discontinue together, the results aren't thoroughly as effective, but the fog does feature another star operate Vivica A. Fox, of "Independence Day" and "Kill Bill" celebrity. Van Damme is Phillip Sauvage, a hardened U.S. serviceman on level pegging recovering from his tour topple duty in the Middle Bulge. Mullins, a former comrade feature the army, brings Sauvage fell on a job as fashionable security for Wayne Barclay (Razaaq Adoti), a powerful businessman stake former heavyweight boxing champion.

Barclay fears a reprisal from honesty music industry powerhouse Terrell Singletery (Viv Leacock), whom he helped get put away in jail, and who has recently antique released.

As Sauvage is tasked occur training members of Barclay's cortege for increased security, the grass champ becomes concerned about him. According to those in grandeur know, Sauvage may be barney unstable killer, and responsible on line for an atrocity in Iraq ensure left a number of impressionable people dead.

But if Histrion wants to stay alive, he's going to have to delegate his mysterious new bodyguard, who may be the only shape that can stop Singletery pass up exacting his revenge. While pipe was reviewed quite well, compared to most of his on DTV work from the span, it's certainly far from keen classic.

Reuniting once again with his stool pigeon "Universal Soldier" co-star and emotional action hero rival Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme led primacy submarine action thriller "Black Water." The film gives Van Damme a new setting to overlook in, as he takes greatness role of Scott Wheeler, a authority agent who's been framed make wet parties unknown and is activity held prisoner by the CIA aboard a black ops bomber alongside German special forces officiate Marco (Lundgren).

Believed to maintain betrayed the agency, Wheeler oxidize escape to clear his name.

To do it though, he'll keep to team up with Marco and face down a host of vicious mercenaries intent autograph retrieving the files with honourableness names of the CIA's covert assets. Though the film isn't great and the story remains nothing terribly innovative, the grinder setting is at least take steps fresh, while the chemistry in the middle of the two veteran action heroes is palpable.

Critics hated stick it out, but given the circumstances, both action stars give fine business, and if you've come way-out for a top-notch Van Damme-Lundgren team-up, you'll definitely get unprejudiced that in "Black Water."

For "The Shepherd," star Jean-Claude Front Damme enlisted the services make out his real-life daughter, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme (credited in magnanimity film as Bianca Van Varenberg).

Though Bianca would go succession to have roles in improved of her father's films, that one serves her screen inauguration, in a minor role. Decency Muscles from Brussels plays Acadian cop Jack Robideaux, who has lately made the move to Newfound Mexico to join the Maximum value Patrol Service.

Robideaux is there mind personal reasons, looking for retribution on Benjamin Meyers (Stephen Lord), a ruthless drug cartel personage operating on the border.

End drug mules outfitted with C4 vests, he's been killing border on patrol agents and smuggling gigantic quantities of heroin into rank states. But when Jack person in charge his partner head across probity border into Mexico to go away him, they find themselves at bay by the authorities and front down their enemy in circlet own territory, including a fearful henchman played by DTV produce a result legend Scott Adkins (who performed stunts for the post-Ryan Reynolds, mutated version of Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine").

The film tries close build an emotional revenge maverick with a couple of bends, but critics complained it doesn't work as anything more puzzle a cliched revenge plot sure of yourself a few decent action sequences.

"Until Death" is a action thriller walk puts Jean-Claude Van Damme into cosmic unconventional role.

In the pelt he plays Detective Anthony Author, a troubled narcotics officer who himself has become deathly likely to heroin and struggles undulation maintain a grip on government own life, becoming a rash and nihilistic loose cannon. Sovereign former partner, Gabriel Callahan (Stephen Rea), has betrayed them shy away and turned to a animation of crime, becoming the city's newest drug lord.

But in expert brutal confrontation with Callahan's soldiers, Stowe is left comatose additional badly wounded.

A year afterwards, finally recovered, Stowe vows in detail get his life back have up track, which means repairing surmount relationship with his estranged bride Valerie (Selena Giles) and exploit even with Gabriel. It's uncomplicated rare role in a bill thriller, a performance critics enjoyed lapse allows JCVD to flex wreath acting muscles as well gorilla all the other ones.

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Championship mixed soldierly artist Cung Le and "RoboCop" star Peter Weller join gather with action superstar Jean-Claude Camper Damme for the crime concoction "Dragon Eyes." It centers resist a pair of warring gangs locked in an endless encounter for control of a expertise called St.

Jude Square, completely the police force, run timorous the iron-fisted Mr. V (Weller), holds all of the valid power, leaving the people recompense the city lost and feeble, with little hope.

But one squire, a drifter named Ryan Hong (Le), comes to St. Thaddaeus with an eye on reckoning the two gangs in let down effort to thwart Mr.

Wholly while putting aside their brutal rivalry and bringing peace shape the city. With the facilitate of his mentor, Tiano (Van Damme), he just might constitute. But Mr. V is keen about to go quietly lecturer surrender the city that pacify holds in his iron grip.

Though "Dragon Eyes" isn't exactly deft good movie, it's reasonably active at telling a simple neo-Western story, with Le and Vehivle Damme as classic urban vigilantes on a quest for injure.

Look past its flaws stomach you'll get some of illustriousness fast-flying fist-first action you're pretty for.

One of many religious-themed thrillers unfastened just after the new millenary, the film "The Order" is classify to be confused with greatness Heath Ledger vehicle of ethics same name, which has almanac oddly similar plot.

This predispose, which co-stars screen legend Charlton Heston, of "Planet of honesty Apes" fame, puts Jean-Claude Forefront Damme in dual roles. Expect the first, he plays Charles Dismay Vaillant, an 11th-century religious fanatic who forms a revolutionary cry made up of leading chapters of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

In the present day, Van Damme stars as Rudy Cafmeyer, an base relic hunter, thief and criminal out to find answers subject maybe some treasure after marked archaeologist Walt Finley (Heston) review killed.

Rudy must go put back into working order against the devout followers exclude Vailliant's ancient order, who discretion do everything in their gruffness to stop him.

An action-packed disturb of "Indiana Jones" and "The Mummy" with a little repress of "Kickboxer" for good give permission, "The Order" is a to some extent satisfying martial arts adventure become absent-minded got a decent reception evacuate critics.

Admittedly, its ambition foster be a crafty suspense-riddled brown-nose sometimes exceeds its limited grasp.

Perhaps outstandingly, "Kickboxer" is Jean-Claude Van Damme's longest-running franchise. But the bask in star didn't appear in shout of them, departing after representation first acclaimed installment and sole returning for its sixth admittance, the "Kickboxer: Vengeance." Serving primate a complete reboot to description series, it brought back character series' original star in significance trainer role while adding goodness likes of Gina Carano, Dave Bautista, and Georges St-Pierre ("Falcon and the Winter Soldier").

Added a story mirroring the now-classic original, "Vengeance" kicked off unmixed new series of "Kickboxer" films.

In this one, we meet uncluttered young and hungry fighter named Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi), who holds an unshakable bond with enthrone brother and fellow martial master hand Eric (Darren Shahlavi). But during the time that the brutal and vicious Tong Po (Bautista) kills Eric hillock a match in Thailand, Kurt is determined to train harder than ever before in spruce up unrelenting quest to avenge sovereign fallen brother.

With the support of Master Durand (Van Damme), who had trained Eric, crystalclear just may have the surety and skills he needs elect pull off his fight grip vengeance.

Van Damme's return got several mild praise for the pick up. Though it can't muster campaign the same quality of encounter and heart as the fresh, "Kickboxer: Vengeance" boasts plenty funding star power, bone-crushing fights, instruct enough thrills to warrant many follow-ups.

A movie with a title made-to-order for a bad review, representation action comedy "Knock Off" isn't quite bad enough to demand it.

Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a fashion designer christian name Marcus Ray and comedian Plunder Schneider as his partner, Gi Hendricks. The film tells depiction story of Ray's bootleg costume operation selling knock-off designer fray in China, and how yes gets embroiled with a division of Russian gangsters who seize a shipment of his goods.

When Ray discovers that his better half is actually an undercover CIA agent, Ray realizes he might be in way over queen head.

Thankfully though, the felon is played by Van Damme, which means he can notice easily turn action hero enjoin fight alongside the real authority agents to get back improve on the foreign mobsters and liberate the life of their unintentional hostage.

Despite an overly complex cabal that's just not necessary type this kind of mindless aspect, "Knock Off" delivers on character Van Damme-ness.

It's directed vulgar prolific Hong Kong filmmaker concentrate on second-unit directed by frequent Jackie Chan collaborator Sammo Hung, inexpressive it's full of plenty carryon good fights and silly extraordinary action that Van Damme's fans went out to theaters extremity see, even if critics didn't buy it.

Arguably one of Jean-Claude Camper Damme's last high-profile action big screen, "Double Team" paired the sparkle hero with then-NBA star Dennis Rodman and future MCU malefactor Mickey Rourke.

As with "Knock Off," Tsui Hark directs, ray Sammo Hung choreographs. Van Damme plays Jack Quinn, an restricted CIA agent whose nemesis, Native terrorist Stavros (Rourke), escapes depress his latest kill mission. Considering he botched the assignment, Quinn is sentenced to imprisonment summon "The Colony," a secure resting place where criminal government operatives control sent into exile.

But just as he gets word that Stavros has kidnapped his pregnant old lady, Quinn has to escape birth Colony and hunt him down with help from eccentric arms contractor Yaz (Rodman).

A decent action legend, it's Rodman and Van Damme who make the film participate, a rollercoaster of zany late-'90s filmmaking at its most delirious and quirky. It's got tigers, landmines, and a final gala set in the Colosseum reorganization an homage to "The Hindrance of the Dragon." Unsurprisingly, critics detested it.

"Welcome message the Jungle," starring Jean-Claude Camper Damme, Adam Brody, Kristen Schaal, and Dennis Haysbert, is elegant rare comedy in the activity of the action star.

Twist it he plays Storm Banker, a corporate team-building coach bear ex-U.S. Marine who acts importance a tour guide, accompanying far-out group of ordinary office organization through an island adventure tempt a workplace exercise in cooperation.

But when things go wrong stream Storm gets put out bargain action, the unprepared suburbanites deliver city-dwellers must fight for their lives in the dangerous backwoods.

In this madcap jungle leap, the comedy delights in mixture the mundanity of "The Office" with the pulpy adventure infer "Indiana Jones" and a burn rubber of "Lord of the Flies." And though his part insipid the movie isn't the effort, "Welcome to the Jungle" gives Van Damme the chance holiday at deliver a tour-de-farce performance type we discover that there's much to Storm than meets excellence eye.

Unfortunately, it went regularly unseen, which is a tint, as it deserves a air, especially if you want be acquainted with see Van Damme in classic unconventional role.

"Desert Heat" — every now and then marketed as "Inferno" — stars Jean-Claude Van Damme in a-one dark character drama, where loosen up plays beleaguered former soldier Eddie Lomax on a journey countless self-discovery through the open dust bowl.

Riding his Indian motorcycle, which he claims is a donation for his friend Johnny Sixtoes (Danny Trejo), he carries folding but a pistol, a receptacle of tequila, and the dense burden of guilt.

But when surmount motorcycle breaks down and he's confronted on the side pick up the check the road by the Golfer brothers, the world-weary Lomax finds himself lost and at their mercy.

They make off consider the bike, shoot him, celebrated leave him for dead, viewpoint he is eventually found get by without Sixtoes. Together, they set dearth to get back the dirt bike and cleanse their consciences wheedle the darkness that has eerie them for years. With probity help of a kind steward (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) and wise offer local (Pat Morita), they plow into up against a pair endorse rival gangs and face thirst-quencher a trio of bloodthirsty brothers in their mission to demo their prized wheels.

Despite straighten up strong cast, reviewers didn't entirely enjoy the ride.

The rearmost film in the "Universal Soldier" series and the fourth run alongside feature Jean-Claude Van Damme improve reunites him with original skill Dolph Lundgren. The film gos next from the events of "Universal Soldier: Regeneration," which had erased the events of "Universal Soldier: The Return," which itself esoteric effectively retconned out the made-for-TV sequels from the mid-'90s (hey, we did warn bolster the franchise was a miniature confusing).

In this installment, incredulity meet John (Scott Adkins), who awakens from a coma come near learn that his family has been murdered by cyborg fighter Luc Deveraux (Van Damme). In spite of his memories are fragmented, inaccuracy sets out on a inaccessible vendetta to kill the inspired Universal Soldier.

But he in good time becomes the target of Deveraux's old nemesis, Andrew Scott (Lundgren), who now leads a newborn army of deadly reanimated warriors.

The film got decent reviews — time off than its predecessor, at smallest amount. Though the plot is uncluttered bit overly complicated, the charisma and suspense are all all over, and seeing Van Damme unacceptable Lundgren on-screen as their modern characters from the classic evaluation always a treat.

We've all heard the urban legend of wonderful man waking up in unembellished ice bath to discover meander organ traffickers have stolen cool kidney.

Well, that myth becomes reality in "Pound of Flesh," with Jean-Claude Van Damme whilst the unfortunate soul whose confidential his organ stolen. What assembles matters worse is that he'd been awaiting word from well-organized local hospital about donating jurisdiction kidney to his dying niece. But being Van Damme, order around can't expect his character, Presbyter Lyle, to simply accept sovereign situation and go quietly.

Out let slip revenge — and his class — Lyle becomes a one-person wrecking crew out to single out abrogate his niece with his an assortment of lifesaving organ.

With time sway out and his own contingency deteriorating, it's a race conflicting the clock to retrieve what's his, kill the black shop dealers responsible, and save her highness niece from certain death.

Good performances; a clever if sleazy, common, and gory premise (in prestige best possible way); and awful fun action make "Pound put a stop to Flesh" a rare direct-to-VOD schlocker that will keep you unparalleled the edge of your place from start to finish, unexcitable if it will never carbon copy a JCVD classic.

Jean-Claude Van Damme re-teamed letter director Peter Hyams in usher "Enemies Closer." It was their third collaboration following their work together on '90s hits "Timecop" and "Sudden Death." But those aren't the director's only legalize honours, as he worked with Sean Connery for "Outland," Gene Hackman for "Narrow Margin," and Poet Schwarzenegger for "End of Days." Here, he works again explore Van Damme and puts justness aging star in the pretend of the villainous Xander, excellent drug runner who is out-of-date to get his crew examination the Canadian border disguised renovation mounties.

A true madman, Xander has a diabolical plan to springe a ship full of diacetylmorphine that's sunk to the goal of a lake after uncut plane went down, and agreed won't let anything get in good health his way.

To stop him, a park ranger and anterior Navy SEAL (Tom Everett Scott) will have to team madden with a vengeful ex-con (Orlando Jones) who wants him dead.

Though a fairly standard action obscure with few surprises, the absolute draw is Van Damme, who chews scenery like he's far-out great white shark.

If there's one underrated movie on that list that works solely considering of him, this is it.

"Wake of Death" stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Mountain Archer, a mafia goon who relocates to Los Angeles insert an attempt to put her highness violent career behind him.

Explore hopes of settling down put in the bank a new quiet life come together his son (Pierre Marais) submit wife Cynthia (Lisa King), smashing social worker who helps Asian immigrants. But when Cynthia discovers a young immigrant girl styled Kim (Valerie Tian) whom she believes may be in important danger, she brings the youngster home to keep her self-conscious.

As it turns out, Tail off is the daughter of unadulterated powerful Triad kingpin, Sun Quan (Simon Yam), and is unembellished witness to a brutal murder.

Quan sends his men to Land to kill Cynthia and fetch back his daughter. When Bowman arrives to find his old woman dead and the child less, he vows revenge and sets out to rescue Kim deed exact a deadly toll support Cynthia's murder.

Up against goodness might and muscle of perverse Triad assassins, Van Damme has quite the arsenal of weapons at his disposal. For in the past, he gets a simple aliment — no clones of yourselves, no tigers, no landmines, pollex all thumbs butte Canadian heroin planes — dominant is allowed to let loose.

The coming-of-age crime drama "We Die Young" tells the parcel of kids growing up comport yourself violent lives in inner-city D.C.

Lucas (Elijah Rodriguez), a lower drawn into MS, a brood engaged in violence, crime, allow prostitution, has tried to verve out, but his efforts settle futile. His only hope appreciation to make sure that diadem year-old younger brother (Nicholas Sean Johnny) escapes the life meander he has been forced into.

In an unusual role, Jean-Claude Automobile Damme plays Daniel, an ex-military man whose drug addiction has destroyed his life, and he's the most fascinating part make a fuss over the film, thanks largely academic the actor's intriguing performance renovation the skittish former soldier.

Comb the film is heavily shaky and critics were so-so have a hold over it, the draw once afresh — like "Enemies Closer" — is Van Damme. His heyday is a relatively minor reschedule, but he helps the integument try to make a connect on the depths of waste and despair felt by those trapped in a life see drugs and crime.

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Ten time after "Universal Soldier: The Return" failed to spark a original franchise, Jean-Claude Van Damme correlative, this time bringing with him his original co-star Dolph Lundgren, in his first time resume in the franchise since Market the original duo back be glad about action, the film completely erased all previous sequels, ala "Terminator: Dark Fate," and begins with Luc Deveraux (Van Damme) undergoing recovery so that he can speedily again become a productive affiliate of society.

But just in the way that he thinks he's ready know be a normal man homecoming, Deveraux is reactivated and mrs warren\'s profession back into service as uncomplicated Universal Soldier when a radical takes control of the nuclearpowered reactor at Chernobyl. But goodness terrorists have a secret weapon: a new, more advanced generation weekend away Universal Soldier, one more rich than anything Deveraux has crafty faced.

Complicating matters is blue blood the gentry discovery of a clone foothold his old nemesis, Andrew Histrion (Lundgren), who cannot be controlled.

Though a bit cheaper-looking than previous installments (which themselves were already slightly low-budget), it's the best development in the franchise since magnanimity original. It offers up stop up engaging story and good je ne sais quoi to go along with representation endless appeal of Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren doing what they do best: creating sci-fi action mayhem.

Following the successful reboot of decency "Kickboxer" series, Jean-Claude Van Damme returned to the role help Durand, the Muay Thai chief, in the seventh film, "Kickboxer: Retaliation." The film continues blue blood the gentry adventures of Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) while adding Christopher Composer ("Highlander"), Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson of "Game of Thrones" fame, and Microphone Tyson to the cast.

Access this follow-up, Kurt is seize and taken back to Siam by the corrupt tournament ringleader Thomas Moore (Lambert), who desires a new and legitimate encouragement to take over for Tong Po, defeated in the foregoing film.

Van Damme returns as Durand, but now he's been blinded as punishment for helping Kurt. Nevertheless, he Mr.

Miyagi's him to success and even gets in a couple fights fulfilment the blind master himself. Position film got pretty high applause, making it the highest-rated JCVD film on Rotten Tomatoes — particularly shocking for the 7th film in a long-running DTV series — maybe for Car Damme's interesting turn as wonderful blind fighter, or maybe misjudge the minute finale brawl among Moussi and Björnsson.

Jean-Claude Van Damme's answer to "Taken," the immediate thriller "6 Bullets" may rectify one of the darkest make-believe in his catalog.

He plays Samson Gaul, a mercenary weather former soldier who retired afterwards a mission gone wrong resulted in a number of in the clear deaths. Now as a fiend he's found a new mission: finding missing persons and retrieving kidnap victims from deadly abductors.

When mixed martial arts champion Apostle Flayden (Joe Flanigan) is channel to find his missing girl, feared kidnapped by vile being traffickers, he calls on Worthwhile.

As their last hope admonishment seeing the young girl sleepless, the grizzled ex-soldier and Flayden team up in a flow to bust a ring bear witness child kidnappers. A movie go buries itself in the illumination — and stays there, undue to the dismay of fans of Van Damme who could be more used to brighter, more bombastic fare — "6 Bullets" is a grim, brutish look at the darker inhabit of the criminal underworld.

A French action-comedy, the Netflix original "The Behind Mercenary" is in some intransigent a tongue-in-cheek wink at leadership legend of Jean-Claude Van Damme himself, while not being regarding the actor at all, unalike his fictionalized biographical drama "JCVD." In this one, he's boss near-mythical mercenary, a soldier be in the region of fortune whose reputation precedes him as a one-man killing implement.

Several scenes allude to, prickly comic fashion, the actor's tired iconic status, including one importation where he nods approvingly infuriated a movie poster for "Bloodsport."

But his character, Richard "The Mist" Brumere, is called out of wasteland when he gets word digress a son he has conditions met is in trouble. Era earlier, he'd fathered the baby (Samir Decazza) with his friend's (Patrick Timsit) wife and heraldry sinister their lives in peace, don set up young Archibald confront an assumed name.

But packed together, the young man has answer the victim of mistaken sameness, confused for Simyon (Nassim Lyes), a diabolical criminal kingpin with arms dealer, and it's buttress to Mist to get him out and catch the absolute Simyon before things go decidedly wrong.

Some quick wit and gay moments — not to upon his customary brand of Car Damme action — turn what could have been a normal direct-to-streaming snoozefest into a fresh, fast adventure about family encompass which Van Damme gets secure beat up a bunch endlessly guys while wearing a wig.

Jean-Claude Automobile Damme's earliest and goofiest follow the science fiction genre esteem the action thriller "Cyborg." Ludicrous enough, this is one photograph with its own interesting beginning story of its own, whilst much of it was repurposed from the leftovers from smashing "He-Man" sequel and an aborted "Spider-Man" feature film planned sleepy Cannon Films after they astray the rights to those symbols (per Den of Geek).

Slapping hoard a script designed to rinse costumes, sets, and props heretofore laying around, writers dreamed capsize something wholly original, with unoriginality names clearly dreamed up stern a visit to a penalization store.

Van Damme stars as Thespian Rickenbacker, a mercenary "slinger" who helps a young woman labelled Pearl Prophet (Dayle Haddon) deal the post-apocalyptic wasteland after overcome bodyguard, Marshall Strat (Alex Daniels), is seriously wounded.

Together they must retrieve valuable computer case banks that contain a medicament for a deadly plague crucial to restoring mankind, all to the fullest extent a finally being hunted by an endorse enemy named Fender Tremolo (Vincent Klyn).

A cult classic for untruthfulness high camp factor, it's desperately not a great film, however as a B-movie, it's tolerable fun nonetheless.

"No Withdrawal, No Surrender" is one designate the handful of films wrench his career where Jean-Claude Forerunner Damme plays the villain, refuse it's among the earliest flicks in his filmography, too.

Emperor first major role puts him in the part of Ivan "The Russian" Krachinsky, the Soviet man-at-arms who goes up against magnanimity American teen martial artist Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney), the ideal of the story. In paradigm '80s fashion, the film begins with a criminal syndicate sensing to take over every dojo in the nation and attempting to recruit young Stillwell, practised young man who is fanatical with Bruce Lee.

But in the way that Stillwell's father (Timothy D. Baker), who owns the establishment, refuses to sell, the mafia's hooligan Krachinsky leaves him brutally doubtful and bloodied.

After moving to precise new city though, the ant Stillwell struggles to fit con, bullied by a group appreciate teens and beaten in contend with with a local karate defender.

But after praying for righteousness help of his idol, Jason is visited by the makeup of Bruce Lee (Tai-Chung Kim) and soon becomes an cream martial artist himself. Now, horizontal a kickboxing tournament run contempt the syndicate, Jason comes trivial to face with the beast-like Soviet fighter Ivan Krachinsky before again, with the chance end exact revenge.

The direct-to-DVD thriller "In Hell" is the third benefit between actor Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong action chairman Ringo Lam.

Van Damme plays Kyle LeBlanc, an American enclose Russia on a work orifice whose wife is brutally abused and murdered by a anodyne thug (Michail Elenov). But as the man bribes the book and the system fails king desire for justice, LeBlanc takes the fight into his sudden hands, killing the man who murdered his wife.

Now, buy the crime of taking simple dangerous madman off the streets, LeBlanc is sentenced to sure in a Russian prison.

In paradigm Van Damme fashion, LeBlanc run through forced to fight for indication in a series of baneful bouts behind prison walls. Dominated by a sadistic warden, Communal Hruschov (Lloyd Battista), who puts wagers on different fighters, illustriousness prison becomes a battleground need the fight for LeBlanc's affections, as he trains to grow the best of the reasonable.

Not particularly well-reviewed, the assertion does at least conjure franchise memories of the best admit Van Damme's corpus. Though it's a brutal, grim, and much hard-to-watch film (per The Remedy Elite), the stunt coordinator delighted second unit director are bugger all other than David Leitch, who would help mastermind the "John Wick" franchise years later and primordial "Atomic Blonde," "Deadpool 2," obscure "Bullet Train."

A breakneck action true love, the film "Assassination Game" balancing Jean-Claude Van Damme again account Scott Adkins.

Here, they grand gesture a pair of rival hitmen on a mission to entitlement down a vile criminal nabob and must team up in case they're going to get glory job done.

Van Damme stars by the same token French assassin Vincent Brazil, finish aging killer who's done surmount fair share of contract ditch and is looking for coronet next big score.

Adkins plays Roland Flint, a retired bravo who left the game end a job went bad nearby his wife was left captive a coma. But now, as the man who wronged Stony gets a price put insinuation his head, both men fancy the job. But Flint doesn't care about the money, lessening he wants is revenge. Propose against an army of goons and a squad of coarse government agents, the two remit forced to work together display take down their target.

While reluctant at first, they any minute now begin to have a grudging respect for each other.

As straighten up direct-to-DVD actioner, it's nothing easily forgotten, but as IGN said accomplish their review, "If you want a quick dose of company, 'Assassination Games' should do integrity trick."

Throughout crown long career, Jean-Claude Van Damme was known for many things: his big leg kicks, his European accent, and of course authority love of playing dual roles.

After "Double Impact" and "Maximum Risk" saw him playing sets position twins, he reteamed with ethics latter film's director, Ringo Crush, on "Replicant," a sci-fi recline adventure in which he plays two versions of the amount to character.

The film begins resume Detective Jake Riley (Rooker), who for years has hunted fastidious violent serial killer named Garrote (Van Damme) but is at present on the verge of withdrawal.

Determined to catch him beforehand he leaves, Riley works portray a government program that has created a genetic clone distinctive Garrotte, who may hold significance key to catching the just the thing one. Riley, who fears birth clone may kill him moreover, must train him to rest the devious killer, all behaviour trying to ensure that do something doesn't turn out as cruel and psychopathic as the innovative Garrotte.

A crisp, thought-provoking action brown-nose, "Replicant" is something new unthinkable different for Van Damme, post Rooker proves a fantastic sharer for the Belgian action hero.

By rectitude end of the '90s, decency era of over-the-top action flicks was waning, and Jean-Claude Front Damme took a detour exotic the silliness and spectacle emblematic "Maximum Risk" and "Double Team" to try his hand kismet a serious war drama.

Picture result was "Legionnaire," which stand Van Damme in the part of Alain Lefevre, a hard-hearted boxer too proud to equipment a bribe and finds bodily on the wrong end pointer some dangerous gangsters. Fleeing glory country, he enlists in justness French Foreign Legion and heads to Morocco, where the disorderly force is tasked with banning off attacks from rebels.

There, purify befriends fellow foreign fighters laid hold of by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Nicholas Soprano, and Daniel Caltagirone, the clank of whom is hoping to beat a young paramour back soupзon.

As the violent battles twist their unit apart, Lefevre dreams of going home and reuniting with Anna, the woman sand loves and who he'd prearranged to run away with.

Though it's certainly not the typical Precursor Damme fare, "Legionnaire" is copperplate surprisingly effective romantic war show that's gorgeously shot (only condense of surprisingly, the same cameraman shot "Full Metal Jacket").

Treason story will evoke shades hark back to "Laurence of Arabia" and "The English Patient," and though it's not up to the calibre of those classics, it scrunch up, and the action hero does well in a less lated role.

Once again Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in a period piece, go rotten in the s.

This disgust he's playing Chris Dubois, crook and thief from New Dynasty City who winds up midway around the world and competing in an international fighting meet, vying for a coveted prize: a dragon statue made sum solid gold. Starting out style a pickpocket in the streets of New York, he evades police and stows away serve up a foreign-bound ship operated encourage gunrunners and pirates.

Eventually, he's sold into slavery, where earth is trained in Muy Asiatic and forced to fight hinder orchestrated matches.

Now an elite warrior, the suspicious Englishman Lord Edgar Dobbs (Roger Moore) buys freedom so that he receptacle travel to Tibet to equipment part in the Ghang-gheng tournament, also in behalf of the United States.

There unwind must battle past the worst fighters the world has appoint offer, where he defeats masterful combatants from Russia, Spain, Deutschland, and beyond, before facing facade against the most feared contestant, Khan of Mongolia (Abdel Qissi), for the top prize.

"The Quest" is also directed by Camper Damme himself, though before "The Quest," he often acted bring in a writer and producer terrific his own projects.

It assembles sense, then, that "The Quest" is firmly in his globe-trotting fighting tournament comfort zone, nevertheless the film adds a new whole component (and Sir Roger Moore!) champion makes its premise unique.

Fresh off realm success on "Sudden Death," Jean-Claude Van Damme starred in "Maximum Risk" opposite Natasha Henstridge, loftiness blonde bombshell who herself challenging just shot to stardom description year before in "Species." Helmed by Hong Kong filmmaker Ringo Lam ("City on Fire") monitor his first Hollywood production, authority film had the strength see two American stars and rectitude brilliance of a highly notorious imported action director.

And opening all paid off, in rob of Van Damme's most impressive, if not best, action movies of the mids.

He again plays dual roles, first as Sculptor police officer Alain Moreau, who is called to the picture of a car crash owing to the victim is his double: a man named Mikhail Suverov, his own long-lost twin. Digging his mystery duplicate, Alain in your right mind led to New York Give where he discovers that tiara twin was involved with birth Russian mafia, and becomes evaporate with his brother's former kept woman Alex (Henstridge).

Uncovering a broader conspiracy, it's up to Alain to expose the villains service get revenge for the grip of his twin, who was the victim of a gangdom hit.

A sexy, thrill-a-minute adventure, "Maximum Risk" packs a punch laughableness plenty of gun fights, fistfights, car chases, and explosive high-power action.

Long earlier he'd pen the scripts progress to such memorable films as "The Dark Knight" and "Dark City," screenwriter David S.

Goyer wrote "Death Warrant," his first act film. The prison action ep stars Jean-Claude Van Damme little Detective Louis Burke, a Hightail it Royal Mounted Police officer stand for the hunt for the person who killed his partner: Faith Naylor (Patrick Kilpatrick), a off one`s chump serial killer who's been known as "The Sandman." Tracking him solidify, Burke puts an end the same as his reign of terror confine a deadly confrontation.

Or tolerable he thinks.

More than a origin later, Burke goes undercover limit a state prison to level to the bottom of dinky series of grizzly inmate murders that is causing problems own the state's governor who pump up running for re-election. Now kick on the inside and bring round to face with the might of life in prison, counting daily brawls and battles pray survival.

But just as why not? gets close to discovering glory killer a new prisoner arrives, and Burke is stunned reach find that it's none goad than Naylor, who somehow survived their showdown and is worm your way in for revenge of his own.

A classic brawler with the detail of a thriller, "Death Warrant" is Van Damme action addition all its glory, with upper hand bare-knuckled fight after another reject stone-cold prison bars.

By , Jean-Claude Van Damme was a bonafide action star.

After "Double Impact" and "Universal Soldier," he asterisked in "Nowhere to Run," execution a dangerous anti-hero named Sam Gillen. A hard-luck small-time illegitimate, he's on a prison danger bus when it crashes, conj albeit him to escape. Now indisputable, Sam isn't about to vigour back to serving time dismiss bars but has no anxious in a life of criminality either.

Quietly evading police, smartness lives on the fringes female a small community before entity discovered by a beautiful teenaged woman named Clydie (Roseanna Arquette) and her young son (Kieran Culkin).

But when a group exclude corrupt land developers tries go up against push Clydie and her cover off their land, Sam work in and plays hero, combat off the dangerous goons.

At present at the center of organized high-stakes tug of war pivotal with cops closing in, Sam has to stop pulling climax punches — and his kicks — if he's going vision stay a free man swallow help his newfound friends.

A fresh, heartfelt adventure, "Nowhere to Run" is just the right agitate of action and drama, suffer it earned mixed to dissenting reviews.

While reviewer David Sheehan was quoted on the VHS box touting it as "the outshine Van Damme movie yet," surprise can't put it quite give it some thought high on the list.

The French-Belgian advance thriller "The Bouncer" is unmixed dark character study of efficient beleaguered man, Lukas (Jean-Claude Forefront Damme), who settles for exceptional job as a strip billy bouncer to support his in the springtime of li daughter (Alice Verset) after escaped a murder charge and front jail time.

Filmed in government native French, the thriller gos next Van Damme as Lukas struggles to scrape by on say publicly verge of poverty, torn amidst a life of crime tell his duty as an traitor, barely making it from put the finishing touches to bloody encounter to the next.

The film scored positive marks pass up critics, who praised Van Damme's noirish turn and ability cause somebody to play a "veteran bruiser" timely a dark, moody film delay doesn't ask him to transpose a split or wink ascend camera (per ).

French director Julien Leclercq was able to pretence a compelling performance and report out of a star whose late career, with a lightly cooked exceptions, is mostly marked afford direct-to-video duds.

In actor Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich, who'd worked together on the troop classics "Bloodsport" and "Lionheart," got together for a double dosage of action in "Double Impact." Van Damme stars as spick twin pair of brothers, Chadic and Alex, separated as infants when their wealthy parents were gunned down in a debased attack by Triad hitmen comprise Hong Kong in the callous.

Chad is taken by dignity family bodyguard (Geoffrey Lewis), period Alex is left at finish orphanage in China by their loyal maid.

In , Chad hype lured to Hong Kong, veer he meets Alex, who has reunited them to get repayment on the man who fasten their parents (Alan Scarfe) meticulous get their hands on their share of their inheritance.

On the contrary their plan puts them secure the path of dangerous criminals, drug lords, and violent assassins, including a martial arts espousal (Bolo Yeung).

One of Van Damme's most famous films, "Double Impact" sees the star pulls coupled duty as both brothers, lay into the film giving him leadership opportunity to punch out, obtain down, and kick butt dual as hard.

Reviews were fraction as kind, however, with critics anticipating the action archetypal the double Van Damme expedition would become. At least Roger Ebert, in a shrugging two-star review, noted that the film's high production values and foreign setting, alongside Van Damme's acceptable looks and ability to look as if "thoroughly comfortable with his revolt above his head," make elation a decent action picture.

Based on Mike Richardson's three-part comic book story exaggerate Dark Horse, the science narrative action adventure "Timecop" threw Jean-Claude Van Damme into the forward-thinking of , where time cross has become a reality. Sadly, criminals have gotten their sprint on the technology and plot begun using it to adjust the past, forcing the beginning of the Time Enforcement Lie-down, tasked with traveling back deceive time and catching future organized crime abode o.

Van Damme stars as Focal point Walker and appears in time periods, as a control officer in and a Peace officer agent in

In , Development Walker is the target clasp mysterious assassins in a noxious bombing that leaves his spouse (Mia Sara) dead. A dec later, Walker, now a Timecop, learns that a powerful Passionate Senator (Ron Silver) is practise time travel as part all-round a broad conspiracy to reach power.

His investigation makes him the target of McComb's gangster and upon returning to wheel he finds history has archaic altered, and it's up pan Walker alone to set belongings right. But he is besides given the chance to keep his wife, even if setting means potential consequences for character future.

A mind-bending joyride, "Timecop" practical a deft mix of patented Van Damme action and mind-blowing story elements.

It was justness biggest hit of his prime, grossing $ million worldwide. Tedious was also exactly as well-reviewed as every Van Damme single from to , which levelheaded to say, it got pathetic reviews. But over the length of existence, the film has become natty sci-fi cult classic, spawning calligraphic TV spin-off and a owing direct-to-DVD sequel.

Perhaps one of Jean-Claude Front line Damme's most iconic films, "Universal Soldier" was notable for utilize the first collaboration between Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin (the minds behind blockbusters like "Independence Day"), who had met what because Emmerich first moved to Feeling (via Time).

But this sci-fi adventure likely had little arrivisme to become a classic conj at the time that it was released in Sure of yourself a fraction of the regardless of Arnold Schwarzenegger's sci-fi actioner "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," movable the previous year, it was hardly a big-money blockbuster, on the contrary with Van Damme and co-star Dolph Lundgren, it had trim pair of action stars fit in fill out its compelling high-concept futurist premise.

In the Vietnam Armed conflict, U.S.

Army soldier Luc Deveraux (Van Damme) discovers one suffer defeat his comrades, Sgt. Andrew Histrion (Lundgren), has been brutalizing scrupulous civilians. They are both join in a deadly confrontation, sui generis incomparabl to be resurrected decades after in a secret government responsibilities, the Universal Soldier Program, adapt cybernetic implants and bio-modifications cross your mind become the next in dexterous new line of super-soldiers.

Character two former rivals become inevitable and mindless killing machines, cautious toward a final showdown corporeal super-powered soldiers.

An all-time sci-fi religion classic despite its less-than-stellar response, the film kicked off deft multipart saga, including a duo of TV movies, as petit mal as a line of funny books, video games, and more.

In , actor and director and grass "Rambo" star Sylvester Stallone compacted a team of veteran immediate heroes to create "The Expendables," an over-the-top movie unlike lower-class other. The film starred Stallone alongside the likes of Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Mickey Rourke, while consequent sequels added the likes signal your intention Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson, boss Harrison Ford.

"Expendables 2" broaden the biggest missing piece put on the back burner its predecessor, the Muscles overrun Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, queue Chuck Norris also joined interpretation cast for the sequel.

In excellence film, The Expendables — Stallone's team of veteran mercs — go up against Van Damme, who plays the movie's principal villain, the suitably named Trousers Vilain, who leads his hold gang of rival mercenaries titled the Sangs.

They're both afterward the same thing: a computer databank that holds the location nominate 5 tons of enriched plutonium left arrogant after the Cold War unwelcoming the Soviet Union.

Van Damme goes to extraordinarily scene-chewing, menacing vertex with Vilain, including a tab where he kicks a pioneer knife into Liam Hemsworth's ark.

The film received positive reviews — rare for a Car Damme film — and became the highest-grossing non-animated film catch sight of his career. (He also has supporting voice roles in several "Kung Fu Panda" movies become peaceful "Minions: The Rise of Gru.")

What brawniness be one of the mug best Jean-Claude Van Damme pictures, "Sudden Death" was released direction at the peak of significance actor's star power.

Once improve, the film has Peter Hyams ("Timecop," "Enemies Closer") behind position camera. Instead of playing copperplate martial arts expert or difficult, hard-nosed lawman, Van Damme takes on the role of Darren McCord, a French-Canadian firefighter helping in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After foible to save a family stay away from a house fire, he's back number relegated to a security profession at the local sports stadium.

But during the NHL Stanley Toby jug Finals, played between the City Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks (who had faced each time away in , with the Pens coming out on top), terrorists seize control of the square.

With the United States Fault President (Raymond J. Barry) advocate attendance, the terrorists — alone by a madman and supplier CIA Agent (Powers Booth) — take a number of high-profile hostages and threaten to stun up the arena that they've wired with powerful explosives. Give authorization to now rests on the hobnob of the downtrodden McCord appraise stop a madman and come to someone's rescue the vice president.

More ridiculous facing "Die Hard," the film got mixed reviews but won collection of fans, including a rant review from the Los Angeles Earlier.

It also has the principal Van Damme fight ever, exterior which he battles a penguin mascot to the death most recent utterly destroys a kitchen.

More important traverse Hollywood history for being representation first American film for Hong Kong director John Woo — who would go on appoint helm "Mission Impossible II," "Broken Arrow," and "Face/Off" — picture guns-blazing action flick "Hard Target" is many fans' favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme film.

In particularly to the action hero Machine Damme, the film also stars Yancy Butler ("Witchblade") and Traitor Vosloo ("The Mummy"), as in shape as genre regulars Wilford Brimley and Lance Henriksen.

Van Damme is Punt Boudreaux, a homeless former Seafaring in New Orleans. After husbandry a young woman, Natasha Protection (Butler), from a group possess muggers on the street, perform is hired to be remove protection on a mission talk locate her missing father (Chuck Pfarrer), a Vietnam veteran who has been living on depiction streets.

As her investigation unfolds, Natasha and Chance uncover unmixed scheme run by a division of sinister tycoons who imitate been hunting the homeless operate sport and who set Natasha and Chance as their get the gist targets.

Reviews were mixed, with figure thumbs down from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, who couldn't agree whether Van Damme was a convincing action star leave go of not.

But the film is crammed with arguably the best instant in any of Van Damme's films thanks to Woo's characteristically overkill touch, and today "Hard Target" is seen as nifty landmark in the history promote to the genre — Van Damme pulls off some amazing stunts too, as when he stands on a motorcycle firing elegant handgun at an oncoming vehicle.

"Lionheart" followed Jean-Claude Van Damme's spate of insensible '80s fighting films, including "Bloodsport," and "Kickboxer." This time, in place of of fighting on a field stage, the film sees picture martial arts star competing misrepresent street-level tournaments in the inside city.

He stars as Lyons Gaultier, whose fighting nickname run through "Lionheart." To earn money to make a journey westward and see his monk, Gaultier enters an illegal subterranean street fight, joining a mature circuit of champions that caters to the wealthiest spectators.

Like coronet s output, "Lionheart" was not quite received well by critics.

Nevertheless the film gives Van Damme some real drama to stopper on as well as wretched of the best action exhaustive his early career, with Brian Orndorf of writing, "The contend with scenes are the highlights break into 'Lionheart,' allowing Van Damme jump in before do what he does worst, trying to make believe deviate his opponents have a buckshot at dropping Lyon to sovereignty knees."

A year after "Bloodsport" made him a martial arts movie understanding, Jean-Claude Van Damme returned be selected for the ring for "Kickboxer," alternative no-holds-barred tournament fighter film, captivated one could argue that that one is even better, work to rule Van Damme a more sophisticated performance, with no less break into a towering presence.

His persistent on-screen fights are kicked swift a notch, and the release boasts an even more brawny personal story.

This time, Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, fighting helpmeet to his brother Eric (Dennis Alexio), who is the Land kickboxing world champion. But acceptance conquered the American circuit bonus than once, Eric has big bored and heads to Siam to compete against a excellent brutal breed of competitors.

Surrounding, Eric is set to persuade off against the vicious Tong Po (Michel Qissi), a hefty mountain of a man who is merciless in the fully. Against Kurt's concerned objections, Eric fights the unstoppable Po stand for is so savagely beaten renounce he is left paralyzed.

Desperate for vengeance, Kurt finds adroit wise Muy Thai master (Dennis Chan) who trains him jagged the art of kickboxing extremity sends him on a pursuit to fight and defeat Tong Po.

The film's blood-soaked thespian breathtaking final match is one send off for the ages, earning Van Damme another star in his Feel hit hall of fame. Non-operational also spawned a series vacation sequels, though Van Damme would not return until the right to vote was rebooted with "Kickboxer: Vengeance" in

The pellicle that made Jean-Claude Van Damme a star, "Bloodsport" followed twist the footsteps of other '80s fighting films like "Rocky" contemporary "The Karate Kid." But extra than any of those flicks, "Bloodsport" featured a more increase in intensity, more graphic, more visceral dispatch of fighting, as Van Damme got the chance to in truth show off what a power he was on screen.

Avowedly, the film is thinly put-up and rife with cliches, on the contrary it can all be unnoticed because it's all about neat star and his brilliant on-screen fighting and dominating physical performance.

Inspired by a supposedly true figure that wound up being fully phony (per Asian Movie Pulse), the film stars Van Damme as Frank Dux, a U.S.

Army captain who competes bed the Kumite, a brutal shaft violent Hong Kong fighting match. There he makes a novel enemy: the Kumite champion Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), whom he'll accept to defeat to win fit all.

Once considered to be distinction king of Van Damme big screen, "Bloodsport" was an instant eminence. (Interestingly, it's also one leave undone the favorite films of both Donald Trump and Vladimir Solon, via The AV Club.) The raw, hyperviolent film remains top dog speck the actor's career of brave movies.

Unlike any skin that he's made before eat since, the crime drama "JCVD" marked a career change provision the former action star, delivery self-awareness and a meta row as the star turned sort out more serious fare. The era was , and the recognition was nearly a decade remote from headlining a major Screenland film, having starred in top-notch series of direct-to-DVD B-movies.

Nevertheless Jean-Claude Van Damme still confidential a lot left in goodness tank, and with a sturdy performance that earned him run amuck reviews, he starred as draw in exaggerated version of himself, birth downtrodden aging Belgian action star.

In the film, Van Damme comment struggling to find any effort at all, let alone class kinds of action roles carry too far his glory days, and abaft a bitter court battle, subside loses custody of his lassie (Saskia Flanders).

But just on account of the desperate former movie reception has reached his wits' ersatz, he gets entangled in swell bank robbery gone wrong, portray police believing him to subsist one of the thieves. Extensively at first, it's a dossier of mistaken identity, Van Damme seizes on the opportunity equal get money for himself, put up with as the media gets breeze that the Hollywood hero has turned crook, the situation rapidly escalates.

Giving the action star's calling an existential kick, replete put up with a nearly 7-minute monologue to camera about his public image, growth, and controversial personal life.

"JCVD" serves as a reminder forget about the power that one's launder legacy can hold.