Bloodsport (1988)

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

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

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Follows Frank Dux, an American martial artist serving in the military, who decides to leave the army to compete in a martial arts tournament in Hong Kong where fights to the death can occur. Bloodsport is perhaps Van Damme's 2nd best film after Kickboxer and in my opinion one of his many underrated ones. The film is packed with 80's nostalgia and an amazing soundtrack, the cinematography is truly brilliant and as far as acting goes? everyone did a great job plus Bolo Yeung was a freaking monster of nature. Totally a recommendation from me guys. (A+)

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.

This title holds the dubious distinction of being the first film that really showcased Jean Claude Van Damme's martial arts. Throughout the film, we are constantly invited to watch Van Damme kick people in the face, spin around and generally do other athletic things, so this can be considered as the first film that broke him into Hollywood. As a film itself, the premise is rather basic and descends into a series of staged fight scenes…the familiarity of the situation comes from the many other films that Van Damme made which were basically just remakes of this one (I'm talking stuff like A.W.O.L., THE QUEST, KICKBOXER, etc.). The low budget is apparent, in that we don't get much in the way of special effects, but the fight scenes are all pretty good. All of these fights looked authentic (apart from the first, I think, where the thrown punches and kicks were too obvious) and kept the attention.The acting isn't really important in a film like this, but still…the female lead is, as to be expected, an airhead, adding nothing to the film whatsoever. Van Damme was still struggling with his accent at this point in time and he lacks some of the natural charisma which he later conveyed. Yes, his acting wasn't as good here, but he makes an adequate leading man and he's never been in better physical shape. Bolo Yeung thoroughly enjoys himself in the sneering role of the lead villain, and he obviously enjoyed working with Van Damme as he later turned up in 1991's DOUBLE IMPACT, playing yet another villain. It's surprising to see a young Forest Whitaker in the cast (this was obviously before he went "legit"), in the pointless role of a government agent whose job is to get Van Damme back to America. These scenes are added in as mere padding, to add something to the film other than the fight sequences, and consequently fall flat.The violence level is high, with lots of kicking and punching. We get some broken arms and legs, and plenty of nosebleeds, but I was surprised that the film didn't add more in the way of gratuitous violence…the only actual violence which hit home were the bits involving Yeung. On an simple level, this film is enjoyable, but it lacks the polished veneer and style of Van Damme's later offerings and therefore can't be considered one of his best.

First, background on Frank Dux, JCVD, and their Bloodsport relationshipLets clear up facts from ignorant fans since I"m an authority - not merely a fan who researched a tiny bit about Frank Dux who JCVD plays. Dux claimed -and still claims- to have been taught Ninjitsu as a CIA operative during service in a Top-Secret Full-Contact tournament somewhere on a island in Asia; -nobody can confirm because, again it's top secret; case & point- back when Asian fighters only knew straight-path linear fight techniques but were unfamiliar of Western Boxing-circular techniques and especially the "Death Touch" (Dim Mak) as with coveted Japanese Ninjitsu Clan's (Not tribes). -they would fall for those moves. So it's no surprise Dux unexpectedly won the tournament in real life..."you can't get away with that now...everybody has seen those moves since the 80's martial Arts movement" - Frank Dux - Howard Stern Radio InterviewTalking to people who know Frank Dux personally, claim he's not a amazing fighter, and that Dux impossibly, prematurely, and suspiciously had risen through the Black Belt ranking system during "Bloodsport" with bowing devotees -one even living in Frank's house also quickly and suspiciously risen in many ranks; Is it true?.After Bloodsport JCVD and Dux battled in court, and nearly got in a fist fight after Dux shouted "That's a lie!". Dux argues JCVD cheated him based on the oral agreements of money due; Is it true?After Bruce Lee JCVD is the only REAL Martial Arts actor to launch his own career above any other and nobody since. Bolo said in the JCVD Documentary..."After Bruce Lee no one...look around where someone?...no one....why?...think"-(pointing to his head)...meaning JCVD is very clever. Also, JVCD was "Ivan" in "No Retreat, No Surrender" -a Bruce Lee themed impressive film- and that was a Lead role NOT "a small role" as one ignorant commenter mentioned and there was maybe just as much if not more to appreciated in "Karate Tiger"-(International title) than in "Bloodsport" because of the Jeet Kune Do training factor; that's a story line which, is why movies succeed or fail. Hollywoods steals and revamps instead of creating now days as with "Family Guy" non-sense instead of being original like the Simpsons although in the last several years the Simpsons have a family Guy writer infestation so....On to BloodSport itself: ******SPOILER ALERT****** There is no Vengeance for Mr. Tanaka's dead son as others have mistakenly commented . Bloodsport is about honoring Tanaka's son who was supposed to enter the tournament representing the Tanaka Clan (Masters Son -car accident) and your Shidoshi/Teachers family Clan BECAUSE the TANAKA Clan's ART "is past down from father to son...father to...son". "Father to SON" key word here. Although FRANK DUX was NOT Mr. Tanaka's lineage ,merely his son's training partner/"punching bag", as Dux argues "You always taught to always have a opened-mind!" So Mr. Tanaka NOT CONTRADICTING his own teachings- trains Frank for the "Kumite" tournament for the prized sword from the iconic sword makers clan. JCVD is the BEST martial artist to come along in Hollywood -especially in the 80's- after Bruce Lee- with only JCVD's "Lion Heart" coming in 2nd being very similar but having a family story line for general audiences to emotionally appeal to. -That's the thing about JCVD being smart. For all JCVD's quickness in delivering kicks, he moves just slow enough for average peoples minds to grasp, which was probably learned BTS from Bruce Lee's initial film making mistakes. Lastely, if you think BloodSport's SUPERB (Credit to the times) acting and sound track were merely bad or okay, you probably didn't catch that Bruce Lee slowed down his kicks because they were real, and should probably keep watching "Family Guy","Friends",and "BirdMan" and other shows intended for average slow-minded handicapped audiences.