The Hard Corps (2006)

Must See Movie...

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Jean Claude Van Damme has long gone the way of Steven Seagal & Wesley Snipes relegated into appearing in Straight to DVD Films after various commercial flops at the box-office in the late 90's - but I am glad to say that the quality of the releases that Van Damme appears in, are FAR higher than most Straight to DVD releases which you find at the bottom shelf of your local Blockbuster Store.But having said that, I was slightly sceptical of 'The Hard Corps' as It's a Film that Steven Seagal turned down, and I'm not at all a fan of Hip-hop so my expectations were very low going into this and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, The Film while wholly predictable with telegraphed plot twists it remains slickly made with a reasonable Budget and had a fair bit of action (though not as much as usual in a JCVD Film) with good performances from all.Slightly overlong, at 110 Minutes and needed a good 15 minutes cut off.It won't go down as one of Van Damme's best, but it's still worth watching, Keep your expectation low enough and you should enjoy.*** out of *****

This is one of Van Damme's most different movies up to date. Why? Because for those who are his crazy fans for "action and adventure" types, it does not fulfill their expectancies. Since my childhood I have been growing up watching his tough and unique action flicks. But still then I will rate this movie above average. Yes, before buying the CD I highly expected of getting entertained. But it did not score as expected. Here Van Damme plays Phillip Sauvage, an American soldier who suffers from stress disorder caused after his operation against Iraq and Afghanistan. But its shown only in the starting time, and later on sometime as sparking off his memory. His role later on turns out as a bodyguard for boxing champion Barclay, whom he even competes in boxing.Anyway The Hard Corps may not be a typical Van Damme movie, but here he proved that the word 'action' can be converted to 'acting skill' by his cool natural and real-like performances. By this he moves one step higher to his acting career. The movie has its maturity, standard and quality. But very disappointing issue is that, the whole focus in the movie mainly goes to Razaaq Adoti (as Wayne Barclay) rather than Van Damme. And this is the minus point of the movie, as it disappoints huge Van Damme fans.Boxing is a common element almost in every Van Damme's flicks and the same is involved here too. He is an ex-American soldier but dares to compete with a world heavyweight boxing champion, Barclay. This is Sheldon Lettich's fifth directorial venture with Van Damme which is another source of attraction. Its so because after watching his previous four hits everyone would certainly pick up the fifth one. And I did it too in my case. Ultimately, its a slow and decelerating movie but still neither a bad nor worthless to watch.

what a disappointment this was. Hardly any action. awful fighting scenes, badly filmed. not entertaining at all. you see three kicks and a couple of punches of Van Damme in this movie nothing more. Shooting scenes are also badly timed and very hard to call realistic (eg pointing the gun to another point than where the people get shot). Guess Van Damme has had his best days, ready for retirement. Do not waist your time on this flick! Better watch Stevan Seagul. Also the whole context is not realistic. Van Damme says: 'i need professional as bodyguards'. And than goes to a boxing gym to select them, next day they are bodyguards. Just doesn't make sense. C-movie.

This film just lets itself down towards the end. From the start I thought maybe this one was going to be different and not the same as Vann Damme has been doing for the last 5 years, which has been in most cases disappointing. But these films seem not have the stamina to finish the race, and the plot seems a little hard to swallow. But I do like Vann Damme's idea of moving away from the action, more for the acting but he needs to find the right material or its just a waste of time. In closing quite a lot of things were bad from the make-up to the acting. Vivica A. Fox who did your make-up girl, they need shooting. Your not missing anything new by missing this one.