Hard Target

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with a man being chased by a gang of armed men near New Orleans. One armed man in particular, carrying a hi-tech crossbow, seems intent on killing the man himself. The man being chased reaches the river and runs across a wooden boat dock but is shot twice by the man with the crossbow. One of the bolts hits him in the chest, piercing his military dog tags and he falls between the slats and into the water. His body is pulled from the river and one of the gang chasing him, Pik Van Cleaf, cuts a money belt from around his waist. The gang's leader, Emile Fouchon, asks the man hunting the victim if the experience lived up to his expectations and the man says it has.A young woman, Natascha "Nat" Binder, arrives in town from Detroit looking for her father, the man who was killed by the hunters. She searches for him at local missions and soup kitchens; her father was an unemployed manual laborer who was also a US Army veteran. Nat is unable to find out anything and goes to the French Quarter. At a seedy diner, she pays for her breakfast and is careless about concealing the money she has in her wallet, which is seen by several rough-looking goons. When she goes outside to her car, they attack her with the intention of robbing and raping her on the street. A man named Chance Boudreaux, who was also in the diner, beats them all severely, demonstrating high skill in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. He tells Nat that she needs to be more careful in New Orleans. Nat asks him to be her escort while she searches for her father. Chance turns her down, saying he's a stevedore and will have to leave on a ship soon.On the New Orleans docks, Chance is being told he can't work unless he pays his back union dues. Natascha arrives, looking for him and tells him she'll pay him to help her find her father. Chance accepts.Chance suggests they talk to the police, however Nat is reluctant since she already reported her father's disappearance and the police seemed unwilling to do very much. Chance and Nat talk to a homicide detective, Marie Mitchell, who only has scattered evidence to work with, however, Nat's father's remains have been discovered in a burnt out warehouse. Because he was homeless, it is assumed that he'd been squatting and was the victim of an unfortunate accident when the place burned down. Chance goes there and finds one of her father's dog tags; curiously, there is a hole in it which could only have been made by a sharp weapon. Chance takes them back to Mitchell and Nat and tells them that Binder's death was not accidental and he was definitely shot by a sharp, edged weapon.One of the men who knew Nat's father as a veteran and from the homeless missions, Elijah Roper, reveals that Binder had been passing out fliers for a sleazy local brothel owner, Randal Poe. Poe had also been working secretly with Fouchon and Pik, recruiting destitute men for their business: the two give rich men the chance to hunt human beings in various locations around the world for a price tag of $500,000. New Orleans has been their most recent base. Because the police have found Binder's body and are investigating his death as homicide, Emile and Pik go to Poe's office and torture him in order to find out how much Poe told the police. Pik uses a pair of scissors to cut off one of Poe's earlobes and threatens to kill him if he's forced to come back. Chance later drops in on Poe while he's getting a massage and works him over for information about Nat's father. Chance finds out that the city coroner, Morton, is covering up the murders committed by Fouchon and his men.Fouchon and Pik drop in on Morton at his home, where he's burning medical records. He'd previously informed Fouchon that Mitchell had ordered Binder's body to be re-examined. The doctor looks through the spyhole in his front door and is immediately shot by Pik. Fouchon tells Pik that, due to the increased police attention, they'll conduct one last hunt in New Orleans and leave for Eastern Europe where they can work for years under a lower profile.Poe, having employed Roper for some time, asks him if he wants to work for a $10,000 salary. Roper accepts. Meanwhile, Fouchon and Pik meet with another client, demanding payment for the game up front and arranging for a human quarry. Roper meets with Fouchon and Pik at an abandoned train yard, is given the $10,000 in cash in a money belt and is given a head start, just like Nat's father was. He is hunted through a cemetery, bullied in every direction by Fouchon, his crew and the client. Roper is able to hide briefly and attacks his would-be killer, seizing the man's automatic rifle and shooting him. He shoots briefly at Fouchon's crew and runs when the rifle is empty. Fouchon approaches his client, and kills him, knowing he already has the man's fee in the bank. His goons continue the chase, finally cornering Roper on a busy street in the city. Roper tries to get someone to help him but most people avoid him because he's homeless. Roper is finally gunned down by Fouchon's crew. Pik retrieves the belt containing the money.Chance and Nat meet again with Det. Mitchell. They are informed of Roper's disappearance and go to the French Quarter to talk to Poe. Poe, while packing to leave town, is met by Pik who kills him with a shotgun. While on the street, they are attacked by Pik and several of Fouchon's thugs. Mitchell is hit and killed by gunfire. Chance commandeers a motorcycle from one of the thugs he incapacitates and he and Nat take off with Pik in pursuit. They make it to a highway overpass where Chance unloads Nat. He races back towards one of the pursuing SUVs, jumping off the bike, over the roof of the truck and landing safely behind it. He opens fire with a pistol, igniting the gas tank and the truck explodes. Still being chased by Fouchon's crew, Chance and Nat leap over the side of the overpass and land in a cargo car of a moving train. Fouchon tells Pik they'll hunt Chance through the bayou and that he should get more men to join them.Chance and Nat make their way through the bayou. At one point, Chance catches a rattlesnake that was going to bite Nat. He bites the rattles off the snake's tail and plants it in a tree, creating a booby trap. Not long after, one of Fouchon's henchmen triggers the trap and the snake bites him on the face. Fouchon and Pik realize that Boudreaux will be a formidable quarry.Chance and Nat evade Fouchon's crew and retreat to Chance's Uncle Douvee's farm in the bayou. Chance gets the shotgun he'd been keeping at Douvee's and tells his uncle about his plan to lead them to the Mardi Gras Graveyard, an abandoned factory where the floats used in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans are stored. Chance rides out on horseback while Nat stays with Douvee. When Fouchon and his men arrive at Douvee's, they trigger another booby trap that blows up Douvee's cabin and kills several of them. Douvee sends Nat to contact the sheriff, while he rides after Chance.Chance leads Pik to the Mardi Gras Graveyard. Chance uses the factory to hide and attack Fouchon's men. In the large warehouse used to store the floats, Chance takes out several more of Fouchon's men. Chance and Pik find themselves in a standoff that Chance wins when he shoots Pik dead. Nat and Douvee catch up and help Chance take out several more of Fouchon's party. Douvee is wounded, non-fatally, and Fouchon finds Nat and holds her hostage, forcing Chance to drop his shotgun. The two fight hand-to-hand for several minutes until Chance, using a grenade, beats Fouchon down. He drops the live grenade in Fouchon's pants and headbutts him back. Fouchon fumbles for the grenade, even managing to remove the fuse, however it goes off before he can render it completely inert and he's killed. Chance reunites with Nat and Douvee and the three leave.

Tags: comedy, murder, violence, cult, action, revenge, sadist

Review:
Hard Target (1993) is one of the greatest and the best action packed movie in a John Woo-Van-Damme Style!
International superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme teams up with world-famous action director John Woo for this electrifying thriller Van Damme is the target of an evil mercenary (Lance Henriksen) who recruits homeless combat veterans for the "amusement" of his clients - bored tycoons who will pay a half a million dollars to stalk and kill the most challenging prey of them all: Man. Laced with dark humor and slam-packed with electrifying action Hard Target is a must see for action fans.
Hard Target is not only my John Woo favorite film, it is also my Jean-Claude Van Damme favorite best action film from my favorite action star.
Hard Target is a 1993 action film that marked the US directorial debut of acclaimed Hong Kong director John Woo, who brought out his Asian style of action to Western cinema.10/10 for me I love this movie to death, It is my number 1 favorite action film..
Jean Claude Van Damme has many, many and many action films all in all...but none of them comes close to the art, fast-pace, intensity and entertainment of Hard Target.
John Woo's action scenes are very defined here, and thanks to those slow-mo scenes, you get to see Van Damme REALLY HIT HIS ENEMIES...as opposed to seeing him move too fast in other films, which made you wonder if his kicks were real or not.
It centres around a women searching for  her father in New Orleans who enlists the help of tough cajun chance boudreux i don't wanna say any more about the plot cos i don't wanna give to much away.this is the part of Van Damme's career when his acting wasn't too bad, the rest of the cast are mostly a solid bunch of unknowns who prove they've got what it takes to make this a tight well made thriller.
Even though in my opinion this is Woo's best u.s film it took him 2 more attempts to breakthrough into the Hollywood mainstream in which he finally struck gold with Face/Off. Hard Target comes out a dark action thriller packed with a superb blend of martial arts shootouts and explosions.
Maybe frustrated at the censorship, Woo has later on stayed on the safe R-rated waters in Hollywood, not even trying to top himself (And again, STILL remaining the best bet when it comes to directing some serious action!)"Hard Target" puts Jean-Claude Van 'Damage' against one of the always trustworthy screen villains, Lance Henriksen, and his pack of urban-commando (all black outfits, combat vests and MP5's) goons, and that's all you need to know!
He may not be able to act, but Woo has made him look as cool as ever, seing Van Damme run around with two hand guns is cool, This movie runs on Van Dammes precence.Give this film a chance, get the UK version for a better time.I give this 5 outta 5.John Woo rules the earth..
HARD TARGET is a stylish, B-grade action/thriller directed by Hong Kong director John Woo (his first U.S. film).Hard Target stars Jean Claude Van Damme as an ex-military loner named 'Chance' whose ordinary life as a merchant sailor is interrupted by 'Natasha' an attractive innocent (Yancy Butler) who's come to New Orleans to look for her father.Unbeknownst to Natasha, her father (played by Hard Target's scriptwriter) became homeless and was enlisted by a group of ruthless entrepreneurs that organise human 'hunts' for the pleasure of privileged individuals.Hard Target's first half has a certain amount of depth and social conscience (for an action film).For instance, a homeless man 'Roper' (Willie C.
Carpenter) is gunned down in public after no one will help him.But Hard Target's second half (where it moves from the city to the swamps) degenerates, at times into downright silliness and has a rushed feel.The finale in the abandoned warehouse filled with old Mardi Gras paraphernalia was meant to be somehow meaningful, but it's not; it's just a finale in an abandoned warehouse filled with old Mardi Gras paraphernalia.Hard Target is a reworking of a much earlier film 'The Most Dangerous Game' (1932) about humans who kill humans for sport.However, I believe Hard Target got ideas from the James Bond film 'Moonraker' (1979); check out the scene where Jaws chases Bond's contact through the streets of Rio de Janeiro.Hard Target's scriptwriter (Chuck Pfarrer) probably thought no one would notice.Although it doesn't excuse Hard Target's failings, Woo was reportedly forced to edit Hard Target because of the violence (and it was edited again by Universal Studios).Hard Target was later released on DVD with most of the action and violence restored.Hard Target's still not as violent as some of Woo's earlier Hong Kong efforts e.g.
'The Killer' (1989), 'Bullet in the Head' (1990) and 'Hardboiled' (1992).And since Woo's action films rely on shoot'em ups which would be too violent for a mainstream U.S. film, Hard Target suffers accordingly.Although Woo's vision may have been compromised and even with most of the action and violence restored, Hard Target's still at times pretty silly e.g. Chance swinging from ropes in the finale and Chance's hillbilly 'Uncle Douvey' (Wilford Brimley) doesn't help the situation either.And the way some of the less important baddies wear black baseball hats as if they're there just there to be shot, beaten or blown up.Also, there's this flimsy plot device about the New Orleans police department going on strike which head baddie 'Mr Fouchon' (Lance Henriksen) and his team use as their opportunity to conduct a hunt in New Orleans.In Robocop (1987) the police strike was plausible because in that film the police had been taken over by a private corporation.But in Hard Target, the police strike doesn't ring true.Hard Target makes attempts at being topical e.g. Mr Fouchon refers to the war in Bosnia as an opportunity that allowed him and his men to conduct some previous hunts; therefore it would've been better if Hard Target had been more even toned and not allowed itself to mix violence with attempted humour.Woo's next U.S. cinema release was the disappointing 'Broken Arrow' (1996) and then the overrated 'Face Off' (1997) followed by the box office flop 'Windtalkers' (2002) and the forgettable 'Paycheck' (2003) then back to China to make the epic 'Red Cliff' (2008).Woo also continued his U.S. career directing a made for TV action flick 'Blackjack' (1998) starring Dolph Lundgren and a two hour pilot movie for the Canadian TV series 'Once a Thief' (1996) which was a reworking and Woo's same titled 1991 Hong Kong movie as well as producing 'The Replacement Killers' (1998) and 'The Big Hit' (1998).Although Hard Target is marred by silliness and implausibility, it's first half has a certain depth.That, coupled with it's polished look; it's style and some of it's action scenes, could lead you to believe you're watching something more than a B-grade action film.If Hard Target had more thought put in and stayed within the confines of the city, it could have stood out as a solid memorable and hard-hitting action film..
This is a ¨Sui generis¨ version from ¨The most dangerous game¨,it's a vivid recounting of Richard Connell's famed novel ,adapted previously in the 1932 classic(Joel McCrea,Fay Wray) by Ernest B Schoedsack and by Robert Wise titled¨Game of death¨ and by Boulting titled ¨Run for the sun¨with Richard Widmark and Jane Greer.This theme has been filmed many times since and utilized as a plot for countless television and cinema argument.The picture displays suspense,tension,thriller and non-stop action for 94 minutes .Breathtaking set pieces action well staged by John Woo with bound and leaps while are shooting.The film is set in New Orleans streets,marsh,bogs of Louisian and into abandoned factory, where is developed an overlong and incredible final duel.Special mention to pair sadist baddies,Henriksen and Vosloo,they're an excessive maniacal, exaggerated villains,they're the best of the film.John Woo direction is good ,he moves well the camera with spectacular scenes ,but doesn't match with his Hong Kong vehicles(Bullet in the head,The Killer,A better tomorrow I and II),John Woo followed with a successful American career(Broken arrow,Face off,Mission impossible II,Windtalkers).The motion picture will like to Jean Claude Van Damme fans and cinema John Woo-enthusiastic.
This is probably John Woo's best American film to date, possibly being surpassed only by Face/Off (1997).The story follows Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler, who would go on to star in Drop Zone (1994) with Wesley Snipes), who is travelling to Louisiana, New Orleans to find her father who went missing.
The leader of the men, Fouchon (portrayed spectacularly by Lance Henriksen) and his deadly assailant Van Cleaf (Arnold Vosloo) soon target Boudreaux and Binder as their next victims, unless they can escape, save themselves, and eliminate their predators.Hard Target definitely has it's share of action stunts, including incredible martial arts sequences, and one dis-believable, yet highly entertaining scene involving a motorbike, a car and a train, but as long as it's entertaining, who cares, right?This film is a rare occasion where Jean-Claude Van Damme's shocking acting doesn't ruin the movie, maybe because there is much more to focus on then him, or maybe just that his acting isn't too bad.Hard Target definitely has some memorable scenes that will stick out in your mind long after viewing it.
"Hard Target" stars Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a merchant sailer named Chance Boudreaux who comes across Natasha Binder, played by Yancy Butler.
After these group of mercenaries, led by sadistic Emil Fouchan,(Lance Henriksen) make it personal by killing a close friend of his, Van Damme goes on a rampage of revenge on Fouchan and his group of hunters, displaying some of his best fighting sequences, and an action packed finale, making Hard Target truly a movie any action fan should shoot for.Van Damme peaked with this film, showing improved acting skills, and proving he hasn't missed a step in his martial arts ability.
Van Damme's performance is as wooden as it always is and he only really does well in the action scenes, Henriksen is good as the bad guy and hams it up accordingly and Vosloo is good as his side-kick, however the majority of performances are only so-so (but then this is an action movie after all!).Overall the film is a solid action flick but lacks the full stylistic touch of Woo..
Let me start by saying that this is one of my favorite films, of Van Damme I consider this a true action classic.Director John Woo was the right choice for the film, he's style of film-making is cool and unique and for his first American feature he did a hell of a good job.I'm just going to go into what I liked on the film.Where do I begin, well just about every action sequence in the picture I liked, but most notably is the warehouse at the end.Overall a cool action film that I consider a classic.I give it an 8/10.
It very much makes the film worth seeing for action buffs, even though I'm reluctant to give a really high rating based on this alone.The plot is not too extraordinary: a homeless veteran gets murdered by a team of mercenaries led by Emil Fouchoud (Henriksen) and Van Cleaf (Vosloo), after which his daughter Nat (Butler) comes looking for him and commissions Boudreaux, a homeless Cajun merchant marine (!) to help her out after he rescues her from marauding thugs, raising the ire of the mercenary team.
While a lot of people claims that "Face/off" is the best American movie of John Woo, i mostly think that Hard Target is BETTER than Face/Off, i don't know why, maybe i hated how the "Gun Fu" was "Emulated" in Hollywood and the "sci-fi" elements.The cast was great, i liked Jean Cluade Van-Damme as the main action hero and Yancy Butler as the main female character, also Lance Henrisken and Arnold Vosloo did a good job as villains.Maybe the action scenes are not like a Hong Kong movie by John Woo, but i liked the action scenes, they where exciting and never boring.Oh, i watched the European version, it adds 3 minutes and it contains more violence in the first scene and in the final action scene.
Now Chance find himself in danger along with Natasha's daughter, who's along with the wild ride.Directed by John Woo (Broken Arrow, The Killers, Windtalkers) made an enjoyable if flawed action flick that was his first American film before he made better American movies like "Face/Off".
Hard Target is my favourite Van Damme movie and along with Face/Off, is John Woo's best Hollywood movie to date (none though come close to his earlier Hong Kong efforts).
I liked this movie a lot, and thought Van Damme the best person they could have used in this role, this film also had a bit of a westerny feel about it, with the music and camera work, which is good.
"Hard Target" is Van Damme's best movie by far, the main reason being, John Woo, what this man brings to action films is amazing.
John Woo's knack for violence combined with Van Damme's martial arts make for some cool action scenes, This film isn't as good ass Woo's Face/Off or Hard Boiled but it is worth a look..
In one corner you have Esteemed Hong Kong director John Woo making his US debut.In the Other,Jean-Claude Van Damme coming off a string of International hits.What could happen?Action movie Nirvana!
Leading up to a slam-bang finale that truly delivers.We get Woo's trademark two-fisted gun-work.Bullets fly everywhere in this movie.Some really great pryro work to boot.A lot of that trademark imagery Woo is known for like very moody shots.Smokey atmosphere.And close-ups galore.He is like a painter here.Did I forget to say he stages the action very well.Van Damme is good also.With a mullet and long hair,his demeanor and look here gives him a harder edge than his earlier flicks.More mature.He is also in peak form physically.The supporting cast is excellent.First Henricksen is simply amazing.He is on par with Tommy Lee Jones here in the Villain Department.He scowls.Rages.And is a bigger Physical threat than he looks.I almost feel sorry for his Henchmen who are always on the receiving end of his verbal abuse.He gets some great lines like "hunting drunks in alleys made you weak",and "don't make me look bad in front of my dogs".Yancy is passable here.Her expression comes from her eyes.Kasi Lemmons is good as the sassy cop investigating the sudden homeless disappearances.Arnold Vosloo is Henricksen's right-hand man.He is pretty menacing.With an Icy stare.The real hoot is Wilford Brimley as Van Damme's moonshine loving Uncle.His Cajun accent is on the money,and is mostly used for comic relief that is never undignified.The blues-like soundtrack is excellent as well done by Graeme Revell of The Crow.Great stuff.Remenicent of Ry Cooder from a Walter Hill movie.Yhe best score ever for a Van Damme flick.Hard Target is not perfect though.There is not much back story to the characters.Some of the one-liners JC throws out are kind of stale.At times Van Damme cannot decide to kick someone in the chops or shoot them in the Head and seems confused at times when he sounds like Ah-nold.When he should be channeling Chow Yun-Fat.A couple of goofy stunts threaten to undermine the credibility at times.But in the end a strong entry in the US film market for Woo.And a Very solid action credit for Van Damme.8/10.
Its the best movie I've seen Van Damme in and The Woo puts his mark on the film with well done action and pyrotechnics.
The action is over the top, The acting of Lance Henriksen is really good, Van Damme does what he is best at and this movie doesn't get boring at all.
One of the great action movies of Van Damme.Hard Target was the first contact of the Chinese director John Woo with the American machinery.
And for that debut he had nothing less than the muscles of Brussels, Jean Claude Van Damme.With a script that emphasizes the perverse fantasy that involves converting man, theoretically a predator, due mostly to their firearms, in the dam, the film shows us a dangerous criminal, Emil Fouchon, embodied by the fantastic Lance Henriksen, aided by a group of henchmen, including his lieutenant and right-hand man, Pik Van Cleef, a particularly violent and sadistic hunter and murderer, who is dedicated to organizing human hunts all over the world, in a kind of Private sport for the rich and wealthy, who pay to know how it feels to take life from another being of their own kind.This time Fouchon and his men, have taken their activities to the southern city of the United States, New Orleans, where they select beggars who have preferably had experience in the army and have notions of survival, so that hunting is more stimulating.
An Excellent,Explosive,Underrated Action-Thriller, John Woo And Jean-Claude Van Damme At Their Best..
All of those elements make Hard Target one of the better Action Films of the 1990s that is John Woo and Jean-Claude Van Damme at their best.Set in New Orleans,Louisana,Hard Target tells the story of Chance Doudreaux(Jean Claude Van Damme),who is asked by Natalie Binder(Yancy Butler)to track down her War Veteran Father who is homeless.
Now,it's up to Chance to take down Emil once and for all.Released in 1993,Hard Target is a terrific slam bang Action-Thriller that was a Box Office success for Jean Claude Van Damme and was John Woo's first Action film in America after making brilliant and unforgettable Action classics such as The Killer(1989),Hard Boiled(1992),A Better Tomorrow(1986)and A Better Tomorrow II(1987)in Hong Kong,China with actor Chow Yun Fat. And while Hard Target isn't as good as those films it's an outstanding and memorable movie and is one of the better Action films of the 1990s.
Great score,Revell.In final word,if you love Jean Claude Van Damme,John Woo or Action Films,I highly suggest you see Hard Target,an excellent,underrated Action-Thriller that you can watch again and again.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is "Hard Target" one of my personal number 1 action favorite films of all time.