Double Impact (1991)

One of my all time favorites.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Yet another slice of Van Damme craziness, this one glossier and more B-movie-ish than the rest. The sheer unintentional humour value offered up by the fact that Van Damme plays twins make this film unmissable - the split screen work, where Van Damme converses with himself, is a must see. Aside from this unusual aspect, it's business as usual with Van Damme taking on a double quota of blonde bimbos and vicious enemies who die by the bucket load in various violent ways.This film achieves due to some very slick action sequences which don't scrimp on the violence. Baddies are kicked, punched, stabbed, smashed in the face with bottles, shot, burnt, just about every death imaginable. On top of this there are some gratuitous sex scenes, plenty of cheesy dialogue and more ham acting than you can shake a stick at. Van Damme is as wooden as ever, but he's actually not that bad in the dual role and creates a believable rapport between the two brothers - aided, of course, by some nifty special effects. Geoffrey Lewis, father of Juliette, who you may remember from countless westerns and thrillers of years past, enjoys himself as Van Damme's ageing sidekick. The other imposing presence comes from the mighty Bolo Yeung (BLOODSPORT), always a formidable opponent, who has a fantastically brutal fight with Van Damme at the end of the film! I loved this B-movie. Every aspect is enjoyable - dumb, yes, but eminently enjoyable. The showdown gives us a chance to watch the chief baddies die some very unpleasant - and fitting - deaths. This has to be one of my favourite Van Damme films because it achieves what it sets out to do - namely providing lots of hard-hitting action, some goofy plot twists, bad acting, and lots of big explosions. And what more could you possibly want?

Compared to the other JCVD Hong Kong classic the "Knock Off" this movie is of lot lower quality although it's still a good movie. But when this movie was made, it was an intrepid attempt to mix Hong Kong and western production into one (although there was China O'Brien that preceded this in this area).JCVD was at the top of his game around this point. But he never succeeded breaking into big budget movies, although he was a bankable star (this movie grossed 80M). It took Jackie Chan 30 years to do it, so maybe we shouldn't be so hard on JC.Interestingly, Ms Olympia Cori Everson makes a guest appearance as the female heavy for the gangs. She was somewhat under utilized, but so were many of the supporting casts. I'm not sure what's not working, but the supporting casts characters lack - well, characters.The movie could also have capitalized more on the (sometimes) beautiful landscape of Hong Kong. But out of all JCVD's movies, this is still one of the better ones made.

Twin baby brothers Alex and Chad (Jean-Claude Van Damme) are separated after their parents are killed by hit men acting on the orders of greedy businessman Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe) and local triad boss Raymond Zhang (Philip Chan). Alex is raised in a local orphanage by French nuns while Chad is taken abroad by loyal friend of the family Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis). 25 years later, Frank—now the owner of an LA dojo where Chad is an instructor (and where pastel coloured gis are mandatory!)—tracks down Alex, reunites the brothers in Hong Kong and helps them to avenge the murder of their parents.Some might argue that Jean Claude Van Damme struggles to play one character convincingly, and that having him play two is not exactly the greatest idea in the world. Those people are wrong. Double the 'Muscles from Brussels' kicking ass, including his own, is actually one of the greatest things to happen in a 90s action movie. That's double the explosive action, double the corny one-liners, double the gun-play (with double the ammo), double the fight scenes and, ultimately, double the fun.Despite its silly set-up, Double Impact is a genuinely tough film, with very little comedy ala Jackie Chan's Twin Dragons; the colourful Hong Kong location not only allows for plenty of authentic flavour, but also enables the use of local stunt-men for whom a hard whack in the head is all part of a day's work. The action comes thick and fast, feet and fists regularly meeting face, making for some really convincing karate smack-downs. On top of all the martial arts mayhem, viewers are also treated to lots of brutal ballistic action, each bullet hit resulting in a delightfully bloody squib eruption.Star Van Damme might not be the greatest thespian to ever grace the silver screen, but he does surprisingly well in his dual roles, convincingly creating two distinctly different characters; he is aided in his task by some well executed special effects and the careful use of body doubles. The rest of the main cast are also very impressive: Lewis is as marvellous as always (the guy is a legend in my eyes just for giving the world Juliette), busty blonde Alonna Shaw gives the film sex appeal as Alex's plucky girlfriend Danielle, Chan and Scarfe ooze malevolence, and Bolo Yeung and female bodybuilder Cory Everson make for superb hench-people (does anyone play an utterly ruthless killing machine as convincingly as Bolo?).

Alex (Van Damme) and Chad (Van Damme) are twins who were separated at six months old when their parents were murdered by gangsters. Alex became a ne'er-do-well in Hong Kong while Chad became a pretty-boy aerobics instructor in L.A. Convinced to go to Hong Kong to find out the truth, Chad meets Alex, and Yin meets Yang. The two men, despite being brothers, couldn't be more different, and conflicts ensue. But it's all in the name of getting revenge for their slain parents. But it's going to take double the power to take down evildoer Moon (Yeung). Will you feel the impact? Probably one of the better movies (of the five total) where Van Damme plays two roles, Double Impact has JCVD as the happy-go-lucky Chad, with his absurd pastel outfits and tiny pink shorts, as well as the gruff, cigar-chomping Alex. If you've ever seen The Patty Duke show in reruns, you know the "show the back of the other character's head" style of portraying the two men. The movie wastes little time in having Van Damme do one of his trademark splits (while wearing a leotard, naturally). Chad is the fish out of water in Hong Kong (and the movie sports some great Hong Kong locations and photography), just one side of the coin that is Jean-Claude Van Damme.This is also one of the many team-ups of Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich. But at almost two hours, the movie overstays its welcome and is just too long. You know what they always say - double the Van Damme, double the running time. Though the movie drags at times, it also has just enough cool moments to make this a roller-coaster of peaks and valleys.The rest of the cast is worthy too, as Bolo is here looking great, Cory Everson plays the bodybuilder who is also in the hard-to-find Ballistic (1995), and Alonna Shaw plays the eye candy - at one point the movie basically stops so it can become like a Playboy video for her. The movie naturally concludes in the time-honored steam factory, and characters even throw barrels at each other, a la Double Dragon. Double Dragon - Double Impact... coincidence? I think not...! After the extensive running time, there is a freeze frame and the C + C Music Factory-like song, "Feel The Impact", by Gen plays. By our estimation, Double Impact is kind of hit-or-miss. It's a decent enough idea, but not enough to support such a lengthy movie.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com