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'POUND OF FLESH': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this martial arts action flick; about a man trying to get back his stolen kidney, in order to save his dying niece. It was directed by Ernie Barbarash (who also directed Van Damme in the B-action films '6 BULLETS' and 'ASSASSINATION GAMES') and it was written by Joshua James. The movie costars Darren Shahlavi (another martial arts B-action film star), John Ralston, Charlotte Peters and Akie Aleong. It does have some decent fight scenes but it tries to be a little too emotional, and overly dramatic, as well (which it doesn't quite have the resources for).

Van Damme plays Deacon; a man who just arrived in China, in order to donate a kidney to his deathly ill niece (Adele Baughan). He rescues a woman (Peters) from her attacker (Shahlavi), nearby the hotel he's staying at. She asks to buy him a drink, as thanks, and he wakes up the next morning with a kidney missing. With the help of his extremely religious brother (Ralston), the father of the dying little girl, Deacon decides to track down the criminals that robbed him, and get his kidney back. It helps that Deacon is an expert martial artist and former black-ops agent, of course.

I used to be a huge Van Damme fan (he was my favorite actor, briefly, as a kid) and I still enjoy watching his movies. He doesn't deliver a very good performance here though, because it seems like he really didn't want to be there (he can be a pretty good actor, when he's passionate about a role). Shahlavi, Ralston, Aleong, and a few others, do give decent performances though (on the other hand). The fight scenes are entertaining as well; and there's a decent story hidden in there too. The melodrama, and cheesy production values, do make the film a little hard to bear though, at times. It's not one of the best Van Damme films, but it's not one of his worst either.

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Deacon (Van Damme) helps Anna (Charlotte Peters) from being mugged in an alley, they have drinks, go to his room and later he wakes up in icy water. Still later he realizes he was drugged and he is missing a kidney. Whaaaat? Oh, and he wants his kidney back. Wouldn't you?

The fight scenes are good, but lasted way too long. By Hollywood's thinking, the fight scenes need to go on forever to make sure you understand and appreciate the talents and skills used by the players. See?

I know you are wondering if Van Damme does a split across a hallway or some-such. Well, he does something, not that but you won't be disappointed. Hey, he's not a spring chicken any more.

Along with Van Damme, the real winners in here are the supporting cast and even the bad guys led by Darren Shahlvavei as Drake were spot on. We enjoyed this cast as they contributed quite a bit in dialogues and facial expressions. Good guys Ana (Charlotte Peters), Deacon's brother George (John Ralston), and Kung (Aki Aleong) Deacon's contact in Singapore made this more enjoyable as they believed in what they were doing helping Deacon.

Here's the thing: there are quite a few twists in here and some may surprise you and they don't stop until the very end. When you think you know something up comes something else to consider. So basically, it's surprise, surprise, surprise.

Once you get past most of the twists you may know how this is going to end. Hey, if I can figure it out, so can you. (7/10)

Violence: Yes. Sex: Yes, briefly, one time in the beginning. Nothing is seen. Nudity: No. Language: Brief soft stuff.

The premise of "Pound of Flesh" is interesting to say the least. It's difficult to describe the plot without any spoilers. It unfolds in every scene. It's not a "mystery" per se, but if you think you have the usual revenge type b-seagal-movie you are mistaken.

Overall it is good for what it is. I liked the pace (not too hasty or abrupt), I liked the direction and editing, and the plot/script is good enough.

Van Damme got old, as it was expected. We see his trademark feet open 180 degrees as in many of his movies, but the stuntman was obvious in a few scenes. The green screen used in many scenes, including many scenes inside a van are distracting but I wouldn't insist on that as a serious flaw.

The newcomer (her 1st movie) Charlotte Peters has an interesting look that maybe give her some good roles in the near future but she need lots of training in her acting (despite the fact that she went to Drama Studio London, a prestigious drama school based in England).

The conclusion, that I won't spoil you, is satisfying, something that lack many movies nowadays.

My recommendation: Check it out. Is better than the 5 average you see here. I gave it a 8 to boost it a little. Might not worth such a high score but I think is better than other recent movies of Jean-Claude.

"Would you kill to save her, even if it meant your soul?" Deacon (Van Damme) is relaxing when he sees a woman being harassed. He helps her and ends up staying the night with her. When he wakes up in a bathtub he is tying to piece together the night. When he realizes his kidney has been taken out of him he isn't sure what to do. Now him and two of his friends must not only try and save Deacon, but get the kidney in time to save his friend's daughter's life. These are the hardest movies for me to review. One reason is because I have just not a big fan of Van Damme. Another reason is is that these movies are so generic it's hard to really enjoy them. All of these straight to video movies starring Van Damme and Segal have to do with a tough guy trying to save someone he cares about the only way he knows how…violence. There is always a different catalyst but for the most part the start and end the same way. This one is no different. If you like Van Damme you will like this, otherwise you have probably already seen a movie like this and it's nothing to rush and see. Overall, generic and not all that exciting, typical Van Damme. I give it a C.

This Van Damme action picture displays lots of violence , action filled , thrills and fierce combats . It is entertaining , well paced and including interesting characters . It's thrilling and tense , at time suspenseful movie and the firepower , explosion , struggles , shootouts are pretty well done , including an exciting finale . It deals with a man's (Jean Claude Van Damme) heroic attempt to help a gorgeous woman (Charlotte Peters) in distress ends up with him waking up the next day without a kidney and plotting his vengeance . As Van Damme and his brother (John Ralston) attempt to retrieve his kidney and exacts a revenge , but the events go wrong .

This is one of Van Damme's better films . It packs violent action , suspense , shoot-outs, and martial arts fighting and results to be quite entertaining . Agreeable movie , thanks to tight pace , skillful edition and well mounted combats . It's tense and exciting , at time lackluster action movie , but the struggles and fighting are well done . Suffering Van Damme plays finely an expert fighter and ex-special forces contractor who undertakes a race against time to recover his missing kidney , acting similarly to 'Hard cops' or ''Assessination Games' . Enjoyable relationship among two separated brothers , finely played by Van Damme and John Ralston ; both of whom form an uneasy alliance to take down a deadly target . Van Damme is good as action hero in this middling budget filmed on various locations in Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada, Nanhai and Guangdong , Guangzhou, China . Here Jean Claude plays an ex- special forces operative , confronting nasties and using his martial-arts skills . Long time ago he played big budget movies (¨Time cop¨, ¨Universal soldier¨ ,¨Double team¨, ¨Hard target¨) , nowadays he makes low-medium budget and directly to video (¨Derailed¨ , ¨Wake of death¨ , ¨In hell¨) like in his first films (¨Black eagle¨, ¨Cyborg¨, ¨Bloodsport¨). Remaining cast give nice acting as veteran Aki Aleong , John Ralston, the early deceased Darren Shahlavi , whom is dedicated the movie and special mention for the unknown newcomer Charlotte Peters as a beautiful prostitute mistreated by her pimp . This film results to be a standard actioner , but packs interesting main roles , atmospheric action set pieces and fast movement . It's produced with middling budget by Van Damme , Aki Aleong , John Ralston and Michael Lurie ; being professionally directed by Ernie Barbarash (¨Ticking clock¨ , ¨Hardwired¨ and ¨Six bullets¨ , again with Van Damme) . Barnabash has made other Van Damme's notorious vehicles as ¨Assassination games¨and ¨6 bullets¨ . The picture is extremely energetic and to be liked for real devotees of main actor . It's a must see for Van Damme fans.