Product: Replicant (2001)
Rating: 4.0
my favorite of the more recenet van damme films
Replicant is probably the most complete Van Damme movie made. It has everything from an enjoyable and well paced plot, solid characters with pretty good acting, and wonderful action scenes.This is not the first movie to have 2 Van Damme main characters. Double Impact was actually the first, but unlike that film, the two in Replicant are actually much more different and are pretty much enemies for the most part. The first Van Damme character we are introudced to is the villain, and Van Damme actually does a really good job fullfilling this role. The villain is not your typical bad guy - this guy is just dirty and has issues. He is obsessed with not only killing, but burning all the "bad" mothers he comes in contact with, in return for his own mistreated youth. It seems like nothing can stop this guy in the film, and he rarely gives a care about who gets in the way. He has no trouble killing others and putting plenty in harms way.The other Van Damme character is a clone created in a government program, that hopes clones can successfully sense their real life counterparts, and lead the cops to the villain. At first, the clone goes through some training and has a difficult time adjusting to life, but eventually learns. He finally comes in contact with his villain counterpart, in a series of either rough fights or attempts to join sides with his real life self.The other notable character in the film is Jake (Michael Rooker) who has been hunting down the suspect for a long time, and with still no success, decides to retire. The villain still wants him dead, and thats when Jake is asked to work with the clone in the new program to help find the murderer once and for all. There are definetly some emotional moments between himself and the clone - moments of frustration, humor, carelessness, and eventually some bonding.As for action, the scenes are well placed throughout the plot of the movie. All the action never dissapoints, and the fights are very hardcore - from bodies flying, to objects breaking in every scene, each fight is a brutal one. The finale of the movie has the greatest action of all, and mainly involves an intense ambulance driving scene in a parking garage, where Jake is trying to stop the murderer from escaping. There is also plenty of fight action too.This is one of Van Damme's better movies, and best performances, playing two very different roles well. The movie works well altogther, and is enjoyable in more areas that just the action department. Perhaps one of the last of the great Van Damme movies made is this one. You won't be dissapointed.