Hard Corps: Unité d'élite

JC seems to be mellowing these days. His film roles are those which play up to his age, his experience, and have JC as more grounded individuals. In Wake Of Death he impressed with a performance that stretched him. In Second In Command, the film wasn't very good, but Van Damme gave a solid performance, albeit in a role without much depth. Now we all kind of realise that in the direct to video world, it's very unlikely you'll find a really decent film, so first and foremost a DTV viewer strives for competence. Wake Of Death had that, as had VD's previous film, In Hell. Second In Command came close, but the crap fairy waved his magic wand and terdinated the film slightly. The Hard Corps regains a level of competence again for Van Damme.

Here JC teams up with long time friend and collaborator, Sheldon Lettich. Together they have made Double Impact (great fun when you're in the right mood) and Lionheart as well. Lettich knows how to get the best from Van Damme, and on the most part does. He also gives the film an assured touch that was lacking in SIC. The plot centres on world heavyweight boxer, and entrepreneur, Wayne Barclay (Raz Adoti), and his sister Tamara (Vivica Fox). As it happens Barclay is far from popular with Rap mogul, and gangsta, Terrell Singleton, as Barclay had him sent to prison years earlier. Upon Terrell's release, the first order of business is to wipe out Barclay. Tamara insists that Wayne hires a security team and contacts a Vietnam Vet who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who in turn contacts his old, war scarred buddy, Van Damme. Van Damme is in a veterans psychiatric hospital, tormented by an incident in Iraq that left a school of children destroyed, with dozens of dead kid's inside. So Van Damme hops aboard the Barclay security. On the first night an attempt on Barclays life leaves Van Dammes pal dead, and from there he takes over and then he begins to develop a relationship with Tamara, much to Wayne's disgust. The plot outline seems simple enough, the trouble is the film seems segmented into three stories, and can't divide the screen time (a lengthy 110 minutes) right. As such the film lags in moments and there just ain't enough JC in it. His war torn character is not given enough depth. When we begin to delve into the character, the film takes us away to one of the subplots. In truth the film would have been better at 90 minutes, and with more focus on Van Damme. Still there's good support from Raz Adoti, and also the Foxxy, Vivica Fox.

Anyway, those who see this puppy at their local Blockbusters (probably on a lower to middle shelf, but at least not bottom) will not be too interested in how the plot is. It's the Van Damage they crave. The action here, is okay, with the biggest problem being that not enough time and money is spent on them. Gunfights for example lack impact because of a lack of practical effects. Also because the film isn't all that violent, despite it's R rating, people don't get shot, have their chest burst open with a gallon of blood and fall to the ground in a mangled bloodied heap. Being from the UK, this film is what I'd call standard 15 certificate, which equates to a soft R. Whereas for these movies I prefer a hard R, which over here means an 18 cert. What I mean is that when there's not that much punch in the action, when someone gets shot, there really needs to be a POW. We need to see the blood flying. As an example take Dolph Lundgren's The Mechanik (The Russian Specialist as it's also known). It's a low budget piece which actually did spend its money well on the action, but obviously can't compete with bigger movies that can double the explosion outlay. However the film was very violent, people got shot and you really knew it. Harry Knowles (AICN) himself in fact gave the film a brief mention in a Second In Command review, stating he dug the bloodletting that Dolph let loose upon us. I wouldn't imagine he'd say the same of this. Also the fight scenes although nice and rough, a too few and far between in all honesty. However Van Damme does get to deliver some trademark kicks, but he's still holding back the Helicopter kick for B-2 (a sequel to Bloodsport none the less).

Overall though THC, is a fair piece of entertainment, that surpasses anything Steven Seagal is doing at the moment. Really it's a film that won't blow your socks off, or stick its hand in your underwear and pleasure you, but it's a lot better than watching paint dry. As a point of interest though, Van Damme's next film, Til Death could be great. It's a dark film, that seems to be going for a 70's styled, Death Wish, Get Carter vibe, that sees Van Damme donning a leather jacket and sideburns. It promises to hit hard with the action and get a level of nastiness we saw in VD's Wake Of Death. And if that doesn't get you excited how bout this: Stephen Rea, the Oscar nominated actor recently seen in V for Vendetta, co-stars. AND if that isn't enough, it's also written by Dan Harris, one of the guys responsible for Superman Returns, and X Men 2. But who knows we may even see JC face off against Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3! I hope so. **1/2

The movie is not that bad. It's probably one of the best Van Damme did since (the Van Damme mania time). But it doesn't beat the time when he was everywhere. The money is one reason for sure. They are all B-Movies so the money's not in it that much so. But VD does play well and most of the cast too. I do miss the AMAZING VAN DAMME but who knows, maybe he lost it a bit. He's not that young so...I don't know I'm just saying he doesn't fight like BLOODSPORT,KICKBOXER or DOUBLE IMPACT time. The action is more like street fighting,shooting or boxing. There isn't any VD karate extra moves in it so...Don't look for that. He fight but...Streetfighting kinda moves.

Give it a try it's still worth watching. I've see a lot worst. Still..I give a 7/10.

(2006) The Hard Corps ACTION

After my second viewing after some years, this one is quite a downer even though the plot consists something never-seen before co-written and directed by Sheldon Lettich about former soldier, Philippe Sauvage (Jean Claude Van Damme) coming out of from a psyche ward, employed to be part of a group called "The Hard Corps" as he plays one of few bodyguards for ex-boxer turn wealthy mogul, Wayne Barclay ( Raz Adoti). The situation and premise of this story is not bad 'but' the action is miniscule and unmemorable with some very bad acting from most of the cast including Van Damme for the exception of Vivica A Fox! Watch this for the curiosity at best to thought up your "own" way on how to remake this.

Better plots make all the difference, especially for films that are of the arcade game action and thrill type. Sony Pictures had a better plot for this Jean-Claude Van Damme film. It's not original, but it is more down to earth and interesting. The hero is Philippe Sauvage, an American veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After some VA hospital recovery from the psychological effects of the war, Philippe joins a former sergeant for a private job of guarding a celebrity. He is the reigning heavyweight champion and a philanthropist. But Wayne Barclay, played by Razaaq Adoti, has one particular enemy who would like to see him dead. And when Terrell Singletery gets out of prison early, the fireworks start.

"The Hard Corps" isn't a good film, but it is fair. Philippe's buddy gets killed early on, and he is hired to run the protection. So, he brings in some more veterans with experience. But Barclay wants some of his buddies from his gym as bodyguards as well. The two forces mix and the vets train the others.

This has some good scenes and is refreshing in that it isn't constant machine gun firing back and forth. There are some lulls when the cast get chances to try to act. It's an improvement over some of his last films, but the violence and flashes of partial nudity make these films not suitable, or enjoyable for many.

This film just lets itself down towards the end. From the start I thought maybe this one was going to be different and not the same as Vann Damme has been doing for the last 5 years, which has been in most cases disappointing. But these films seem not have the stamina to finish the race, and the plot seems a little hard to swallow. But I do like Vann Damme's idea of moving away from the action, more for the acting but he needs to find the right material or its just a waste of time. In closing quite a lot of things were bad from the make-up to the acting. Vivica A. Fox who did your make-up girl, they need shooting. Your not missing anything new by missing this one.