A Brilliant Martial Arts Flick

Rating: 8/10 (20 June 2007)

This may not be as non-stop fighting as most of his other theatrical releases are, but this film is truly about honor and revenge. His brother, a world champ that looks like A.C. Slater on 'roids, gets paralyzed by the vicious kickboxer Tong Po, the champion of Thailand. Van Damage then takes it upon himself to train by the great master Xian to take kickboxing revenge on Tong Po for his brother's sake, and it's done well. there's about 2 to 3 fights in between the extensive training, which leave something to be slightly desired (except for the brilliant scene where he gets drunk then dances with two chicks and fights, like, 7 or 8 guys. really nice).
Tong Po molests Xian's niece and Van Damme doesn't know this. He finds out at the final fight that it happens and he fights bare-knuckle. Really neat slow-motion kicks follow, as well as punches where he stares at his greasy fist afterwards and has this endless ".....eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............."
The direction of the film is really something special and well done, as well as dialogue and character development. And yes, people, Van Damme shows his butt once again. I recommend this film for people who just want to sit back and watch either an action flick or a martial arts film about valor and honor. And, of course, he has a make-out scene with Xian's niece by the woods in the dark while it thunders outside. Nice romance. Buy this film, but don't make the same mistake I did by getting the whole box set with sequels. Ugh. Have fun--8/10.