Bloodsport (1988)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

A lot of fun.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Back in the day i always thought JCVD was the best actor ever and that he was oscar worthy actor untill i grew up and saw that well its not true but that doesnt mean he improved especialy if you watch JCVD.Anyway this movie is such a guilty pleasure everything can be so bad but its suprisingly enjoyable and so bad its good material is all here and this movie along some other martial arts flicks from late 80s were reason i started training a litle martial arts. Fight scenes are dated but still enjoyable Recommended as a guilty pleasure and so bad its good movie.

Movie Review: "Bloodsport" (1988)An highly-trained as disciplined actor by the name of Jean-Claude Van Damme, at the age 27, leads this 85-Minute-Cut of an low-budget 1.1 Million-Dollar action-movie released primarily in South Korea on VHS video in January 1988 before "Bloodsport" directed by Newt Arnold (1922-2000), known for being second unit director for Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather: Part 2" (1974) starring Al Pacino and Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982) starring Harrison Ford, gets a chance to be domestically released on the U.S. market to find a niche target audience apart from megastars as Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger high-end Hollywood production splendors.This Martial Arts gem takes his time with precisely-chosen production design from mentor trainings fearturing Roy Chiao (1927-1999) and short-lived first appearance of Academy-Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker; all in favor of main character Frank Dux, an U.S. American stranded in the Hong Kong Underworld of Martial Art arena fighting to the death, when nemesis character portrayed by Bolo Yeung, already world-famous for confronting Bruce Lee (1940-1973) in "Enter The Dragon" (1973), comes an exceptionally-emotional shot 10-minute-showdown fight scene with title-given intensity between Van Damme vs. Yeung that after 30 years on the the video market it is still a must-see of full-frontal martial arts filmmaking exposure.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

Bad acting? Check. Generic plot? Check. "Based on a true story"? Check. Poor character development? Check. Poorly choreographed fight scenes? Check. One dimensional characters? Check. Exaggerated violence that borders on the comical? Check. Good guy always wins and gets the hot chick? Check. The movie takes itself seriously? Check. Disgustingly racial stereotypes? Check. Seriously, does this movie have any redeemable qualities? Okay, it was a box-office hit and Jean-Claude Van Damme made a name for himself with this movie. Anything else? Oh, the involuntary hilarity of the movie because it takes itself seriously and don't have the slightest sense of irony. Okay the movie has some charm I'll give it that; but its "brilliance" is mostly by chance and not because of great directing by Newt Arnold or great acting by Van Damme. I think it has to do with Frank Dux's fantastically, fraudulent fantasy biopic/script. Most people love the story of the underdog who kicks everyone's ass, defies all the odds and gets the hot chick. It also came in in the 80's where Ninjas were the fad and martial arts movies were gaining popularity in the US. Plus Van Damme and Bolo Yeung had big muscles which was also the thing in the 80's.Yes, the movie came in the right time: the 80's. The time of excessive violence, excessive stories and escapist plots where anyone who works hard enough will get all the reward and no silver medal or bronze medal for the rest of the losers. It's the kind of fad where bad actors like Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Austin, John Cena and Jesse Ventura thrive. In this kind of movie the spectacle and not the story, drives the plot forward. But at least Van Damme had skills when it came to pretty kicks and his good looks probably helped a lot getting the ladies to like him. But that's all superficial and superficial in a bad way because of the reasons already mentioned in the first lines of this review. Chinese/Hong Kong action movies from that period are much better for example. Pick any Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung or Yuen Biao movie and you'll get better acting, better choreographed fights, better directing but varying plots and stories. At least with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung they knew they were just making movies and mixed in humor with gritty stunts and fight scenes. So yes, Bloodsport falls short in comparison to other action/martial arts movies in its time. Only, Bloodsport gained a cult following.3/10

Bloodsport is an absolute classic, bare in mind i was only born in 1987 so i didn't see this film probably until the late 90s. yes the camera work and some of the acting isn't fantastic but its what you would expect from an 80s film. I think back to my childhood and i think of only a few films that stick in my head, this is top of the pile. Jean claude van damme sells his role very well, and Chong Li the villain in this film is really "believable" in that role, frightening man with probably the biggest pecks i have ever seen! Based on a true story makes the film even better. Anything with JCVD in from 80s and early 90s are absolute classics!! 10/10!!