Hard Target (1993)

Simply A Masterpiece

Great Film overall

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

A woman hires a drifter as her guide through New Orleans in search of her father, who has gone missing. They discover a deadly game of cat and mouse behind his disappearance in the process. Hard Target is definitely on the list with Jean Claude Van Damme's best movies such as Kickboxer, Universal Soldier and other movies of that time that truly worked cause they came out on the right time. The film packs easily one of Lance Henrisken's best performances since Aliens but also a very badass JCVD the fight scenes have been handled in a very good way just like in Mission Impossible II another John Woo film but also the acting is very good especially when you have an old 90's flick starring Van Damme. Hard Target is definitely a Classic!!!

Hong Kong action specialist John Woo made his U.S. debut with this hard charging thrill ride, a solid vehicle for genre superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels plays "Chance" Boudreaux (so named because his momma took one), an unemployed longshoreman who's hired by comely young woman Natasha Binder (sexy Yancy Butler). Natasha is looking for her estranged father (played in the opening sequence by screenwriter Chuck Pfarrer, himself a former Navy SEAL commander), a combat veteran who fell into the exploitative clutches of evil entrepreneur Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen). Fouchon and his minions snatch people like Mr. Binder and force them to participate in "The Most Dangerous Game" type exercises. Naturally, Fouchon and company make the classic movie mistake of not taking their opponent quite seriously enough.Although some fans may charge that this is still not on the level of Woos' homegrown product, "Hard Target" is quite a good film of its type. He brings as much over the top flair as he can to these intense proceedings, pretty much demanding that the viewer suspend their disbelief just as much as they can. There is tons of violence to enjoy, with a very many squibs going off and a grand amount of explosions. The bad guys are unrepentant scum - and also pretty stupid, for the most part - so it's great fun to see so many of them easily fall victim to the intrepid hero. Woo maintains a very efficient forward pace, as "Hard Target" rockets toward a large scale showdown inside a warehouse. Among the amusing OTT touches are seeing Henriksen yell at his minions while trying to shrug off his burning jacket.Yet, for all the mayhem on display, some poignancy is generated, as the bad guys' actions create several victims. And there is heavy subtext about the tragic fate suffered by far too many American Veterans who fall on hard times. (While Fouchon and company were careful to try to select victims without family and/or close friends, they select Veterans because they will have a stronger survival instinct and give the hunters more of a challenge.) The New Orleans setting also adds a lot of flavor to the story.Van Damme is fine in a role that doesn't require too much actual acting. Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo of the later "Mummy" thrillers are superb villains. You just can't wait for these guys to die. Butler manages to be more than eye candy, giving the story some heart. Kasi Lemmons, Willie Carpenter, Eliott Keener, and Marco St. John are fine in support. Wilford Brimley appears late in the game to add some more spice as Chances' colorful uncle Douvee. Look for Ted Raimi in a cameo and Sven-Ole Thorsen as one of many hunters.This viewer is a big fan of the CCR classic "Born on the Bayou", so any movie that uses it (in this case, over the closing credits) automatically earns some points.Eight out of 10.

Fantastic movie. I drifted off a bit towards the end, but the whole thing was just superb. If you looked at that script on paper you would just go "yeah, and...?" but John Woo completely takes it and turns it into something made of fire and music. OK, a lot of it is cheesy, but in an enjoyable 90s way, with probably the most amount of slow-motion I've ever seen in a film, more camera movement than if you attached a GoPro to a excitable puppy for two hours, an incredible number of explosions and some great dialogue (in particular I liked "Wakey, Wakey... you fat f***!" and "You are a f****** buffalo!") Van Damm is excellent. He is really able to handle the emotional side of the story well. Sure, he's not Marlon Brando, but he is WAY better than what passes for an action star these days. I mean he is pretty good at times to be honest, despite having little to work with. Anyway, the main thing is that he kicks a few people really hard and ends up in a vest doing back-flips through fire. I mean that's all that really matters in life, isn't it? Notable castings include Lance Henriksen (an absolute pro), Arnold Vosloo (menacing and really creates a wonderful secondary bad guy), Yancy Butler (gorgeous and exciting) and character actor Wilford Brimley who is doing a French accent so terrible that you would think his prep for the role involved watching the German dubs of the Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies.

Hey all , I'm somewhat action films fan and so on .. Van Damme fan sure. ( Timecop , Street fighter, Desert heat ,Universal soldier , Sudden death..) But, EWEN IF You're NOT , you should see this movie. Director John Woo influence in American action films ( Face/off ,M:I 2 , the killer , Hard boiled..and so on) ..all around hes work what i've seen this is the best. Also i think here is one of the most original ideas ,considering criminal concept in movies, and it works famously trough out the film. Nothing more about story lines ( plot spoilers ), is not necessary give. I wanted to tell more about the movie, but ultimately its better this way. Hmmm , in any case absolute best Van Damme and very intense set of bad guys.. Enjoy :D