I'll try to keep this mostly spoiler free. Mostly.
If you like tough-as-nails 80's spy dramas or martial arts films with a plot this might be the film for you.
First of all lets talk about the action. Obviously, with names like Jean-Claude van Damme and Shô Kosugi on the cast list this movie has some action. There's fisticuffs a plenty, diving, daggers, guns, a car chase, stealth and even some 80's-style parkour. For the first 80 minutes I'm pleased with the action. Then, for the last ten minutes it just falls apart. Even the 'final battle' between van Damme and Kosugi is badly choreographed, short and very unsatisfying. Most of the fisticuffs has a taste of the east in it, which depending on what you like is good or bad. Some of it is fluid enough to be 'western styled', but its very obvious that Kosugi is used to thinking in one-move sequences. Kane Kosugi has a small action part as well, which he executes well.
Speaking of the acting, most of the actors do a good enough job. Vladimir Skomarovsky, Bruce French, Doran Clark and William Bassett do good roles. Jean-Claude van Damme does well enough with what little space his role is given. Most of the other main actors have lapses, especially in the beginning, where they seem stiff or uninterested. The background actors do good jobs, all the small parts are executed well. WARNING: There are child actors in this movie. Also worth noting: almost no acting happens after the 80-minute mark, acting ability ending roughly about the same time as the plot falls apart.
At first I liked the plot. The main plot is a good setup for an action movie with heavy spy-elements. It could easily been the setup for a James Bond movie. In an unusual twist for 80's action the main characters family is at risk. Unfortunately this element which could have given rise to much dramatic tension is resolved too soon. It gives the unfortunate effect of giving the main character smaller stakes at the end rather than the middle of the movie. Also there are background details and small side-plots that I think is fun that they made room for. I would like the side plots better if the main plot didn't get so diffuse. I don't think that the small side plots were what made the main story diffuse though. I just think the weakest parts of the exposition were those concerning the main plot.
A nice detail when it comes to the plot is that the Russians aren't baby-eating monsters. In fact, if I was going to root for the 'good guys' I think I'd be rooting for the Russians. Not that they're all nice people, but the Americans in the movie are down right bloodthirsty.
The music score is mostly fitting, although there are lapses with no background where this was missed. It's also not great, falling within the generic "dramatic violin" genre of action music. It's not an OST you'd sit down and listen to afterwords.
All in all it's an OK movie that you could very well see on a Friday evening with your family. (as long as that family is all more than eleven years old) Goes well with a beer and some taco. Just don't let the ending bring you too much down with its suck.
If you like tough-as-nails 80's spy dramas or martial arts films with a plot this might be the film for you.
First of all lets talk about the action. Obviously, with names like Jean-Claude van Damme and Shô Kosugi on the cast list this movie has some action. There's fisticuffs a plenty, diving, daggers, guns, a car chase, stealth and even some 80's-style parkour. For the first 80 minutes I'm pleased with the action. Then, for the last ten minutes it just falls apart. Even the 'final battle' between van Damme and Kosugi is badly choreographed, short and very unsatisfying. Most of the fisticuffs has a taste of the east in it, which depending on what you like is good or bad. Some of it is fluid enough to be 'western styled', but its very obvious that Kosugi is used to thinking in one-move sequences. Kane Kosugi has a small action part as well, which he executes well.
Speaking of the acting, most of the actors do a good enough job. Vladimir Skomarovsky, Bruce French, Doran Clark and William Bassett do good roles. Jean-Claude van Damme does well enough with what little space his role is given. Most of the other main actors have lapses, especially in the beginning, where they seem stiff or uninterested. The background actors do good jobs, all the small parts are executed well. WARNING: There are child actors in this movie. Also worth noting: almost no acting happens after the 80-minute mark, acting ability ending roughly about the same time as the plot falls apart.
At first I liked the plot. The main plot is a good setup for an action movie with heavy spy-elements. It could easily been the setup for a James Bond movie. In an unusual twist for 80's action the main characters family is at risk. Unfortunately this element which could have given rise to much dramatic tension is resolved too soon. It gives the unfortunate effect of giving the main character smaller stakes at the end rather than the middle of the movie. Also there are background details and small side-plots that I think is fun that they made room for. I would like the side plots better if the main plot didn't get so diffuse. I don't think that the small side plots were what made the main story diffuse though. I just think the weakest parts of the exposition were those concerning the main plot.
A nice detail when it comes to the plot is that the Russians aren't baby-eating monsters. In fact, if I was going to root for the 'good guys' I think I'd be rooting for the Russians. Not that they're all nice people, but the Americans in the movie are down right bloodthirsty.
The music score is mostly fitting, although there are lapses with no background where this was missed. It's also not great, falling within the generic "dramatic violin" genre of action music. It's not an OST you'd sit down and listen to afterwords.
All in all it's an OK movie that you could very well see on a Friday evening with your family. (as long as that family is all more than eleven years old) Goes well with a beer and some taco. Just don't let the ending bring you too much down with its suck.