John Woo is, in my opinion, the absolute master of putting a gunfight on film.  There is no other director who make a gunfight with such poetic beauty as Woo, and he proves it once again in his first American film, Hard Target.  

This is an interesting film.  It's one part Woo's first American movie, one part Van Damme flick, and one part dark-humored thriller a la executive producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert of Evil Dead fame (that's by far the smallest part...though fans can look for Ted Raimi in a cameo).

Van Damme is good in the film, displaying an array of impressive stunts and delivering lines with his usual audacity (I use this word because I'm not entirely sure that Van Damme has any idea what's he saying half the time).  Those that like him will, those that don't won't; he's no fabulously different than in any other movie.  The real strength in the acting department (the female lead is awful) comes from the supporting cast, including action veteran Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, and, in a surprise role, Brian Dennehy (as some French guy who makes moonshine and uses a bow and arrows during gunfights).

The story concerns rich millionaires paying for the privilege to hunt and kill people...mostly ex-war vets, now bums, picked off the streets.  Of course, they go after Van Damme, who turns out to be a bit of a Hard Target.  Blah blah.  

But of course, it's Woo's action that we're really here for...and there's a hell of a lot of it.  After a relatively slow start (which does include some Raimi-like "arrow-cams"), the excessive gunfire, ridiculous slow motion stunts, and large explosions begin...and don't really stop.  This is an actioner pure and simple, from a time when action movies were rated R and most left CGI to James Cameron.  Lance Henriksen clearly has fun as an over-the-top bad guy, while second-in-command Arnold Vosloo is pretty damn cool himself...speaking of which, John Woo has the uncanny ability to make pretty much anyone badass (short of Ben Affleck and that other guy).  

Now I understand and I'm not surprised to hear that Woo's original version was ripped to pieces by the MPAA and his production company re-shot scenes to bring the violence level down.  I'd love to find the original workprint, because I'm sure that it's brilliant.  This film, however, is as fun as films get this side of Indiana Jones, and has more destruction than you can shake a fist at.  I strongly recommend that everyone rents it.  

DVD's lame.  Anamorphic widescreen.  Nothing else.      

Van Damme is an over actor, you have to make up for your weaknesses and his is dialogue... He makes up for it with great kick ass stuff.

he's since been edged out of my fave martial artist actor group as Jet Li, Tony Jaa and Stephen Chow has put everything he's done to shame.

Still Jean can sell a film even if the American audience doesn't care... The Canadians will always find them in the bargain bin years later. (That's how I got Double Team and Wake of Death) I actually special ordered Lionheart because I love that film so much.

You reminded me that I need to buy this film, I seen it in the local Zellers for like 7 bucks but never picked it up. (Another film Time Cop, you should review it next ha-ha)

Lionheart was pretty damn good.  I had to order it from Amazon. The only thing that bothered me about it is that mine is Pan and Scan.

I'm am also Canadian. As soon as I read the name "Zellers" I smirked.

I have to admit though, I like to make fun of Van Damme alot. Me and friends often like to mimic lines from his movies for fun.

He's also a subject of sarcastic humour in one of the sections on my site (The Nikkanic Letters)

http://www.fartistic.com/nikkanic.htm

Though I ridicule him, I do actually enjoy his films.