Hard Target $9.99
A martial arts expert must stop a sadistic mercenarys evil safari where bored tycoons pay half a million dollars to hunt and kill the most challenging prey of all man. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 06/01/2004 Starring: Jean-claude Van Damme Lance Henriksen Run time: 97 minutes Rating: R Director: John Woo
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Last updated: October 23, 2009, 4:50 pm
Hard Target Cusomter reviews:
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 75
(Libretio, 2009-10-15) HARD TARGET (USA - 1993) Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Theatrical soundtracks: DTS / Dolby Stereo Whilst searching New Orleans for a friend who's fallen on hard times, a brave sailor (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is targeted by wealthy sadists (led by Lance Henriksen) who hunt human prey through the city's underbelly. It's no surprise to find Sam Raimi's name in the credits of this high-profile entry, the US debut of acclaimed action director John Woo; both men earned their dues in the low budget arena before breaking into mainstream features (on opposite sides of the world), and both have become standard-bearers for subsequent generations of commercial filmmakers. Unfortunately, Chuck Pfarrer's shallow script jettisons the heartfelt melodrama of Woo's Hong Kong output (BULLET IN THE HEAD, HARD-BOILED, etc.) and concentrates instead on action for its own sake, demonstrating a singular lack of trust in Woo's ability to court American sensibilities. The director's visual style remains largely intact, however, including his obsessive fascination with weaponry and gunfire, while Van Damme replaces Chow Yun-fat as Woo's stateside hero of choice (the action star is rendered exquisitely beautiful by Russell Carpenter's worshipful camera). Needless to say, the action scenes are choreographed with grace and conviction (Van Damme never punches an opponent when a flying kick will do the job just as well!), and Henriksen makes a formidable villain (performing his own fire stunt in one of the film's most breathtaking sequences). But the scenario rings entirely hollow, despite fine production values and a capable cast, including heroine Yancy Butler, boo-hiss henchman Arnold Vosloo, and Eliott Keener (BORN WILD) as a sleazy porn merchant who suffers for his association with Henriksen. Look out for the witty visual homages to both LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) and OPERA (1987), demonstrating Woo's mastery of the visual medium and his appreciation of movie history.
(Jason, 2009-03-04) The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM) 1. Who is he? Chance Boudreaux, the annual winner of New Orleans' "Worst permullet" contest. 2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? A fellow homeless vet 3. Does he take his shirt off? He stays in the same horrible jean jacket the entire movie 4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? I was crossing my finger for him, but it didn't work out 5. Is there a tournament? No tournament, just a hunt 6. Is training needed for this tournament? He got some military training earlier in life 7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? The only splits are of the flying kick variety 8. Does he punch someone in the balls? Unbelievably, all cojones remain safe 9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? Awesome collection of kicks in this one, it's like JCVD was doing tricks. He knocks out a guy's cigar, makes another guy spit, and takes off some designer glasses with another roundhouse. 10. Is his enemy unbeatable? Like most rich people, they think they are...that is, until they've met JCMFVD! 11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? He gets shot, beat, and burned. 12. Does he win? With the help of his "Cajun" uncle (Brimley), the good guys win yet again. An opening sequence of ominous villains - led by the ever-capable Emil Fouchon (Henrikson) and creepy henchman Pik van Cleef (Vosloo) - with high-powered bows of some kind, hunting a beleaguered, downtrodden man foreshadows the type of awesome premise that JCVD typically nails. In this John Woo production, however, it symbolizes the stylized excess that is the cinema version of sugar cookie, covered in frosting, deep fried inside divinity - it was just a bit much. Gorgeous Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler) is looking for her father, the aforementioned moving archery target, a homeless man with whom she barely conversed. She quickly enlists the help of Chance Boudreaux, a local drifter and combat veteran, to find her father. Together, the twosome discovers a local reenactment of The Most Dangerous Game, where rich men hunt poor ex-military men for sport. Tons of great action ensues, but a few bad scenes are present. One has JCVD surfing on a speeding motorcycle as it approaches an SUV filled to the brim with bad guys firing automatic weapons. A few scenes later there is an incredibly lame scene where he punches a rattle snake; although, the snake later takes a pistol between the fangs in a gloriously explosive death. The final showdown comes in a huge warehouse that is evidently a graveyard for Mardi Gras floats as well as an ordinance depot. Guns, arrows, explosions, kicks, punches, flips...saturation. Nonstop, adrenaline pumping action, it's just a bit too much, even for a JCVDaholic like me.
(Alexander J. Clinger, 2008-10-17) Arrived in perfect condition for a good price. I love VHS because there's no skipping involved.
(Derrick Dunn, 2008-09-14) Hard Target is clealry of the best movies Van Damme ever made. Van Damme movies where he picked up a gun were never that good but here with the cinematography and stylish vison of John Woo, Van Damme gives a good performance still has a chance for a few karate scenes and makes one of the best action movies of the nineties. Lance Henikrsen( whose always good) and Arnold Vosloo make great bad guys. Yancy Butler is sexy as hell (even though a T&A scene would have been good.) If you 've never seen this film check it out it's one of Van Damme best and Woo's first Amercian film.
(fmwaalex, 2008-08-08) HARD TARGET This is absolutely one of my favorite Van Damme films of all time; I mean come on look at the line up. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Sam Raimi, John Woo, Ted Raimi, and Rob Tapert how could you not like this movie. This movie is a great thrill ride filled with all the action you could want, and great villains, Arnold Vosloo in particular as Van Clef. This has got to be one of Van Damme's best movies he has been apart of. The story is basically just about some rich guys hunting bums through out the concrete jungle. It turns out that one of the people they hunted had a daughter that is trying to find him, naturally questions arise and that doesn't sit well with them. This is were Van Damme comes in and is hired by the woman to help find her father, what they find is a group of people in a very bad business. From here fights break out, gunshots are heard, and explosions can be seen for miles, what a great movie. Performance wise this is a great movie as well, Van Damme is excellent in this film and never really gets the credit he deserves as an actor. Of course Yancy Butler as our lead actress is good as well and is very believable in her role. Villain wise is were this film really shines; this movie has two of the best villains ever for a film. First is the brilliant Lance Henriksen playing the lead villain, and as usual he is great and really determined to get what he wants. Which is also the reason why Arnold Vosloo is so extremely good as Van Clef, he is just as cold, vindictive, and evil as Lance but he is the calmer of the two who knows when to walk away. It is the difference between the two that make them such a great on screen team. Also on a side note the ever great Ted Raimi makes a guest appearance on this film, great to see him. Of course on the production side this film is lined up with all time greats, Raimi, Tapert, and Woo. Of course Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert come through as Executive Producers and hired on the legendary John Woo as the director. Naturally John Woo's style shines through on this film and make it an explosive action packed thrill ride. Of course a lot of credit needs to go to writer Chuck Pfarrer who wrote a great action film that delivers. He did an excellent job with an idea that has been done many times through books and films alike. Over all this is a great movie for a day off from work, grab the drinks and kick back.