The Hard Corps (2006)
Action heroes were a dime a dozen in the 80's. Around the mid-90's, the careers of the newer guys kind of fizzled out. Steven Seagal,of course and Jean Claude Van-Damme. I enjoyed Seagal's antics up until FIRE DOWN BELOW, but honestly was never a fan of Van-Damme.
The recent Straight To Video output of these once exalted ass kickers has sped up recently. Seagal, though, is by far just out for a fucking paycheck. His shit ain't even fun. He really doesn't do anything except point a gun at people and look fat while neophyte actors and actresses run around pretending they're in a real movie that might jumpstart a career as an extra.
Van Damme (this is his second film to be released in a few months) actually seems to be trying to act, bless his heart.
They actually seem to be spending money on his movies as well. Not a lot, mind you, but some.
THE HARD CORPS stars Van Damme as Phillipe Savauge, a Desert Storm vet in a VA hospital nursing some psychological wounds. He's handpicked by his military buddy to help bodyguard a "hard-headed" boxer named Wayne Barclay (Raz Adoti). Apparently, Barclay has pissed off a Suge Knight caricature named Terrell (Viv Leacock)who wants Barclay dead. That's pretty much the plot of THE HARD CORPS (title's even better now, isn't it?) and I won't ruin any other plot points in case you want to watch it.
The movie is cheap jack. The same war scene that Van Damme flashbacks to is repeated numerous times. He really doesn't even fight. There's some gun play but nothing spectacular. The supporting cast is halfway decent, with Vivica A. Fox (as Barclay's sister and Van Damme's love interest) second billed, but it doesn't add up too much. At an hour and fifty minutes, this shit is waaaaay too long. There is one good scene and, fuck it, I said I wouldn't say anything else about the movie, but I'm gonna ruin the one good scene for you. Here I go...
The Suge Knight's caricature's right hand man stabs a guy to death then rips out his liver and feeds it to some dogs. That's the best part. Because they actually show the liver.
The director, Sheldon Lettich, has had a working relationship with Van Damme for many years now (he was also second unit director on Josh Becker's THOU SHALL NOT KILL EXCEPT and directed the cable cult classic ONLY THE STRONG). He's a competent director which is why this is way better than most STV action films. But it ain't good. It ain't BLOODSPORT good, which I watched last night to combat the lameness of THE HARD CORPS.
The recent Straight To Video output of these once exalted ass kickers has sped up recently. Seagal, though, is by far just out for a fucking paycheck. His shit ain't even fun. He really doesn't do anything except point a gun at people and look fat while neophyte actors and actresses run around pretending they're in a real movie that might jumpstart a career as an extra.
Van Damme (this is his second film to be released in a few months) actually seems to be trying to act, bless his heart.
They actually seem to be spending money on his movies as well. Not a lot, mind you, but some.
THE HARD CORPS stars Van Damme as Phillipe Savauge, a Desert Storm vet in a VA hospital nursing some psychological wounds. He's handpicked by his military buddy to help bodyguard a "hard-headed" boxer named Wayne Barclay (Raz Adoti). Apparently, Barclay has pissed off a Suge Knight caricature named Terrell (Viv Leacock)who wants Barclay dead. That's pretty much the plot of THE HARD CORPS (title's even better now, isn't it?) and I won't ruin any other plot points in case you want to watch it.
The movie is cheap jack. The same war scene that Van Damme flashbacks to is repeated numerous times. He really doesn't even fight. There's some gun play but nothing spectacular. The supporting cast is halfway decent, with Vivica A. Fox (as Barclay's sister and Van Damme's love interest) second billed, but it doesn't add up too much. At an hour and fifty minutes, this shit is waaaaay too long. There is one good scene and, fuck it, I said I wouldn't say anything else about the movie, but I'm gonna ruin the one good scene for you. Here I go...
The Suge Knight's caricature's right hand man stabs a guy to death then rips out his liver and feeds it to some dogs. That's the best part. Because they actually show the liver.
The director, Sheldon Lettich, has had a working relationship with Van Damme for many years now (he was also second unit director on Josh Becker's THOU SHALL NOT KILL EXCEPT and directed the cable cult classic ONLY THE STRONG). He's a competent director which is why this is way better than most STV action films. But it ain't good. It ain't BLOODSPORT good, which I watched last night to combat the lameness of THE HARD CORPS.
posted by Harvey at
7:42 PM
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