Van Damme is back. The Muscles from Brussels is hitting our screens again with the release of post-modern thriller JCVD, and to mark the occasion we're celebrating his life and work, taking in his most awesome moves, fights and hairstyles along the way. From his humble cinematic beginnings as 'Gay Karate Man' in 1985's Monaco Forever, Van Damme carved a Hollywood niche for himself, using only raw determination, martial artistry and a ready supply of Spandex. Whether JCVD will do for Jean-Claude what The Wrestler did for Mickey Rourke remains to be seen. One thing is certain though: forget Istanbul, karate-and-kickboxing-hero Van Damme is where East really meets West. Here's out tribute to one of the last action heroes...
THE BOLO BEAT-DOWN!
As Franck Dux in Bloodsport, Van Damme successfully negotiates a host of heavy-hitting opponents, as well as the US military and Leah Ayres' big-hearted, big-haired reporter to reach the final of the Kumite, an underground Hong Kong martial arts tournament. Van Damme, a one-time karate world championship finalist, knew his way around the dojo as he proves bringing the pain to Bolo Yeung with a display of his trademark roundhouse kicks - shrugging off a face-full of quicklime and a seriously terrible '80s synth soundtrack in the process.
THE ASS-KICKING!
In A.W.O.L., Van Damme's legionnaire-on-the-lam Lyon Gaultier is wheeled out as after-dinner entertainment for bloodthirsty yuppies and forced to go mano-a-mano with the aptly-named Attila. Seven-and-a-bit feet of mutton-chomped monstrousness, Attila proceeds to pulverise him for five uninterrupted minutes. Just as we're reaching for the Seagal DVD, a bloodied and battered JCVD rouses himself to turn the tables with a blur of stonewashed high-kicking. With the crowd baying for a brutal coup de grace, JCVD walks away, proving that genuine humanity rests beneath that rippled torso. Or that he's gone a bit soft.
THE DOMESTIC!
The opening fight sequence in Timecop may not quite see Van Damme at his ass-kicking best, but then he's just been woken up in the middle of a lie-down. Bleary-eyed it may be, but this scrap ticks all the key JCVD boxes, as he fights off three Tazar-wielding intruders using knives, high-kicks and, er, tea towels. All while clad only in pants. Once again, the ability to do the splits proves the difference. As 50,000 volts worth of Tasar-based incineration course across the kitchen floor, JCVD somehow balances himself lithely between dishwasher and sideboard, saving his life and treating the world to another glimpse of his bum.
THE PENGUIN PUNCH-UP!
The villain-in-disguise scene is a staple of the '80s action blockbuster, as Under Siege's musicians or Die Hard 2's handymen proved. None, though, has been executed with as much surreal panache as Van Damme's unmasking of Icey, Sudden Death's mascot-cum-lady terrorist. Locked in kitchen combat deep in the bowels of the Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, Van Damme's beleaguered fireman puts every available appliance and condiment (note the use of chilli flakes) to good use, in a scene that plays like an ultra-violent edition of Saturday Kitchen.
THE STREETFIGHT!
John Woo's Hollywood debut Hard Target sees JCVD cast as Chance Boudreaux, a lank-haired loner on the streets of New Orleans. When Chance finds distressed damsel Yancy Butler being mugged by four henchmen, he is forced to administer massive doses of Cajun-style justice. Within minutes, arch-villain Lance Henriksen is advertising for new henchmen. Returning Yancy's stolen handbag to her, JCVD wanders off into the sunset to an axe Blues guitar solo. The haircut may be rubbish, but the nonchalant toughness is remarkable.
my favorite Van Damme film is Bloodsport, the film is full of ass kicking fight scenes, the final fight between Bolo yeung and Van damme was pukka. jean claude van dammes done other good films, some of my mates don't like 'the replicant' but i thought it was really good.
another of my favourite is 'kickboxer' because i do thai boxing my self, mind you i was disapointed with JVCD for the reason being is that most of it is in french, you'd think that because it is released in britain they would h... Read More
Oh yeah, and no mention of Cyborg, with the stiff kick, that just stays up? And no mention of Double Impact, (Hello? 2 Van Dammes in 1 movie! Plus a red and blue lit imagined sex scene! and Geoffrey Lewis!
Or Knock Off, which was awesome and directed by Tsui Hark, Hong Kong legend.
Or how bout when he fights a fuckin tiger in Double Team? PLUS Dennis Rodman is in it!
Also, Monaco Forever came out in 1984, not 1985.
You guys pretty much slapped this together over night didnt you?
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For piece titled "Tribute" you guys sure do mock him quite a bit. Kinda takes away any type of respect you're trying to pay him. Also, the picture for "THE UPPERCUT BALL PUNCH!" is the wrong one. The one you have there is for a fight where he's punching a different guy.. in the stomach.
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I love Time Cop myself, but I could watch all his films no problem... the man is a legend in my eyes.
Sod the story, lets just kick some arse! ... Read More
Would love to see Van Damme star in another John Woo film. Hard Target was great when it came out. Big fan out Kickboxer, Bloodsport and AWOL. Street Fighter was unfortunately his worse film in my opinion. Was so disappointed when I was a kid. He still rocks though! ... Read More
I think Bolo’s reply about bricks not hitting back is a hommage to Enter the dragon.
In this film another fighter shows off his skills to Bruce Lee by splitting a piece of wood with his fist. Lee replies: “Boards don’t hit back!” Bolo is also in that scene!
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