Bloodsport (1988)

Director:

Newt Arnold

Writers:

Christopher Cosby (screenplay)
Mel Friedman (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 helmikuu 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Sport

Tagline:

The secret contest where the world's greatest warriors fight in a battle to the death.

Plot:

Frank Dux has spent most his life being trained by Tanaka to participate in the Kumite, the ultimate martial arts tournament...

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Tournament | Martial Arts Tournament | Death | Fight

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Frank Dux (as Jean Claude Van Damme)
Donald Gibb	...	Ray Jackson
Leah Ayres	...	Janice Kent
Norman Burton	...	Helmer
Forest Whitaker	...	Rawlins
Roy Chiao	...	Tanaka
Philip Chan	...	Inspector Chen
Pierre Rafini	...	Young Frank
Bolo Yeung	...	Chong Li
Ken Siu	...	Victor Lin (as Kenneth Siu)
Kimo Lai Kwok Ki	...	Hiro
Bernard Mariano	...	Sadiq Hossein
Bill Yuen Ping Kuen	...	Oshima
Lily Leung	...	Mrs. Tanaka
Joshua Schroder	...	Chuck / Older Boy

Runtime:

92 min | Finland:71 min (video release) (1991) | Finland:89 min (DVD release) (2006)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1991) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2006) | Canada:14A | South Korea:12 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Poland:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1989) | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Cannon International

Trivia:

Jean-Claude Van Damme does his trade mark splits a total of seven times during the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final fight, Dux's hair goes from very sweaty to dry back to sweaty again after he is blinded and knocked down the ramp.

Quotes:

Victor: What's the hold-up?
Official: He says Senzo Tanaka is his shidoshi.
Victor: What's the difference if Bruce Springsteen is his shidoshi?
Official: If Senzo Tanaks is his shidoshi, then show us the Dim Mak.
Ray Jackson: [turns to Frank] What the hell is a Dim Mack?
Official: Death touch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Tale of Two Titans (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

TRIUMPH

Look at it like this!!!

Being a film watcher that looks for great acting, i surprised myself when i enjoyed this film.

Being more a film fan than a martial arts fan i was expecting to be writing a bad review for this flick. No one can deny that van damme is a great martial artist, but his acting is so so the opposite.

You have to look at it as a martial arts film (which it is) and accept the stunning fight sequences (especially the final fight scene which was very well choreographed) the film offers.

Yes, people will talk about how bad his acting may be, but what people forget is that he is a martial artist more than an actor. Movies are just the way he can express his great skills to an audience.

I recommend this film to any martial arts fan but not so much to anyone looking for a compelling dramatic, mystical thriller because you will be disappointed.

On all it's a basic, pure, martial arts film that i feel is underrated.