rohanm546 This is a nice movie.Saw this first on HBO. In my childhood, That was the time when jean-Claude's career was at the top. Nice action, superb stunts, as specially the bike one on the bridge. Nice star cast. Every one did a great job and justice to their role. A treat for van damn fan's and also a 90's action flick. Good direction by John Woo. In all good movie to watch for its action.

Scott LeBrun Hong Kong action specialist John Woo made his U.S. debut with this hard charging thrill ride, a solid vehicle for genre superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels plays "Chance" Boudreaux (so named because his momma took one), an unemployed longshoreman who's hired by comely young woman Natasha Binder (sexy Yancy Butler). Natasha is looking for her estranged father (played in the opening sequence by screenwriter Chuck Pfarrer, himself a former Navy SEAL commander), a combat veteran who fell into the exploitative clutches of evil entrepreneur Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen). Fouchon and his minions snatch people like Mr. Binder and force them to participate in "The Most Dangerous Game" type exercises. Naturally, Fouchon and company make the classic movie mistake of not taking their opponent quite seriously enough.Although some fans may charge that this is still not on the level of Woos' homegrown product, "Hard Target" is quite a good film of its type. He brings as much over the top flair as he can to these intense proceedings, pretty much demanding that the viewer suspend their disbelief just as much as they can. There is tons of violence to enjoy, with a very many squibs going off and a grand amount of explosions. The bad guys are unrepentant scum - and also pretty stupid, for the most part - so it's great fun to see so many of them easily fall victim to the intrepid hero. Woo maintains a very efficient forward pace, as "Hard Target" rockets toward a large scale showdown inside a warehouse. Among the amusing OTT touches are seeing Henriksen yell at his minions while trying to shrug off his burning jacket.Yet, for all the mayhem on display, some poignancy is generated, as the bad guys' actions create several victims. And there is heavy subtext about the tragic fate suffered by far too many American Veterans who fall on hard times. (While Fouchon and company were careful to try to select victims without family and/or close friends, they select Veterans because they will have a stronger survival instinct and give the hunters more of a challenge.) The New Orleans setting also adds a lot of flavor to the story.Van Damme is fine in a role that doesn't require too much actual acting. Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo of the later "Mummy" thrillers are superb villains. You just can't wait for these guys to die. Butler manages to be more than eye candy, giving the story some heart. Kasi Lemmons, Willie Carpenter, Eliott Keener, and Marco St. John are fine in support. Wilford Brimley appears late in the game to add some more spice as Chances' colorful uncle Douvee. Look for Ted Raimi in a cameo and Sven-Ole Thorsen as one of many hunters.This viewer is a big fan of the CCR classic "Born on the Bayou", so any movie that uses it (in this case, over the closing credits) automatically earns some points.Eight out of 10.

SnoopyStyle Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler) comes to New Orleans in search for her missing father Douglas. He was a homeless vet killed in a secret game to hunt humans. Natasha is rescued from a group of thugs by drifter Cajun vet Chance Boudreaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). She hires him to help. Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen) organizes the hunts and is angry at his recruiter Randal for supplying Douglas who has family that comes looking for him. The overstretched police is reluctant to investigate Douglas' death except for detective Mitchell. They are pursued into the Bayou by Fouchon and his men. Boudreaux uses his local knowledge, super-kicks and his uncle Douvee (Wilford Brimley) to fight off Fouchon.Director John Woo brings his HK action style to America. I love his real stunt action but I've always been ambivalent to his slow motion film style. To me, it slows the pacing and reduces the tension. If done too much, it gives an artificial feel to the action. I often admire the stunt work without admiring the film work. Van Damme is playing a Cajun which excuses his accent somewhat. There is nothing great about the story or the acting. I love some of the stunts but even they start to wear thin.

powermandan After making a name for himself in Asia as an action director, John Woo makes his American debut film, Hard Target. Although not his best, (it is one of his best) it was certainly a solid start. No better way make a great action film by having one of the hottest action stars in the world, Jean-Claude Van Damme. This was around the time that Van Damme's acting level was at par with other action stars such as Steven Seagal, but Van Damme was more versatile than him. Van Damme's role is a stereotypical tough-guy, drifter; greasy mullet, unshaven face, earring, long dark coat, ripped jeans. It is similar to Chuck Norris in The Hit-man a few years prior. Everybody praised the action and bashed nearly everything else. I'll admit, the story is weak: a young woman (Butler) hires a homeless merchant (Van Damme) to help find her father, who was murdered by a group of thugs (lead by Henriksen and Vosloo) who hunt and kill drifters for sport. It is after they discover what happened to her father that the plot becomes stale. But that is just when the violence really starts to take off. And the violence presented in such an artful way that only John Woo can do. Because believe it or not, action can be done in an artful way. There is tons and tons of violence (actually one of the most violent movies I have ever seen) done in a fun and exciting fashion. With a 90's look and music incorporated, it is only natural that this would be one of the best action flicks of the decade.