I'd been told Jean-Claude Van Damme's directorial debut, The Quest, was way too much like Bloodsport. I see what they mean, but it's also completely different. Like a lot of JCVD films, it's about underground fighting; he plays to his strengths. But it's really more of a prequel to the whole Kumite business (under a different name) and takes place in the pulpy, slightly fantastical 1920s. Unlike Bloodsport, it's looks glossy and expensive, with amazing locations and lustrous cinematography. JC has a team around him, including a roguish post-Bond Roger Moore who's having a lot of fun here. The secret international championship features lots of different fighting styles, and there's an attempt to make the Mongolian fighter as cool and evil a presence as Bolo Yeung was in Bloodsport. I'm sorry, that can't, and doesn't, happen. What the movie DOESN'T have is coherent direction. The frame tale becomes a different frame tale when we get back to it (very very weird), JCVD is much too fond of hacky slow-mo to showcase his fighters' moves, the music is just one note away from Javert's theme in Les Mis, and we're never given a justification for JC's big move in the climax. Watchable and expensive-looking, but extremely flawed.
What did you expect from a Van Damme movie? Of the movies he's been in, this is one of the most enjoyable, and it has an atmosphere you won't find in a lot of other movies.
Nothing incredible, quite mediocre, not really worth watching unless you want some cheap entertainment but it's actually much better than Bloodsport which is just a total stinker. It has a better written story and much better fight choreography.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Siskoid
I'd been told Jean-Claude Van Damme's directorial debut, The Quest, was way too much like Bloodsport. I see what they mean, but it's also completely different. Like a lot of JCVD films, it's about underground fighting; he plays to his strengths. But it's really more of a prequel to the whole Kumite business (under a different name) and takes place in the pulpy, slightly fantastical 1920s. Unlike Bloodsport, it's looks glossy and expensive, with amazing locations and lustrous cinematography. JC has a team around him, including a roguish post-Bond Roger Moore who's having a lot of fun here. The secret international championship features lots of different fighting styles, and there's an attempt to make the Mongolian fighter as cool and evil a presence as Bolo Yeung was in Bloodsport. I'm sorry, that can't, and doesn't, happen. What the movie DOESN'T have is coherent direction. The frame tale becomes a different frame tale when we get back to it (very very weird), JCVD is much too fond of hacky slow-mo to showcase his fighters' moves, the music is just one note away from Javert's theme in Les Mis, and we're never given a justification for JC's big move in the climax. Watchable and expensive-looking, but extremely flawed.A Blue Roar
What did you expect from a Van Damme movie? Of the movies he's been in, this is one of the most enjoyable, and it has an atmosphere you won't find in a lot of other movies.bobh
Nothing incredible, quite mediocre, not really worth watching unless you want some cheap entertainment but it's actually much better than Bloodsport which is just a total stinker. It has a better written story and much better fight choreography.acoltismypassport
I'd say 5.4 is being far too generous here. This film-movie, sorry-was deserving of nothing else higher than a three. Absolutely piss poor.Dieguito
Van Damme stinksMalena
what a lousy movie, how can Roger Moore take part in such a nonsense.........