Bloodsport

Bloodsport is Van Damme`s first American film and it is a great B-movie. The plot and acting isn`t this movie`s strongest point but the movie delivers many great and some spectacular fight-scenes. This movie introduced the American audience to Van Damme from Belgium, and was the first of Van Damme`s entertaining action-flicks. 8/10

The military Frank Dux (Jean Claude Van Damme) abandons his base to participate in the Kumite, a dangerous secret competition in Hong Kong. Before embarking in the airplane, Frank visits his martial arts trainer Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao), who is terminal, and promises to win the tournament to honor him. Frank travels to Hong Kong and befriends the fighter Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) that is lodged in the same hotel and has a love affair with the journalist Janice Kent (Leah Ayres). However the American officers Helmer (Norman Burton) and Rawlins (Forest Whitaker) chase him to bring home back to the base without injuries. Meanwhile Frank and the dirty Japanese fighter Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), who won the last Kumite, are winning their fights and coming to the ultimate fight.

"Bloodsport" is an early Van Damme´s film and also one of his best films ever, disclosing the refuted story of the American martial artist Frank Dux. The screenplay is funny and engaging with excellent fight choreography. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Grande Dragão Branco" ("The Great White Dragon")

An underrated and inspiring film for all martial arts fans.

Van Damme shines here because this role is perfect for him. He doesn't need a stuntman, because he performs all the scenes himself. The choreography is good, as is the directing itself.

The characters are fun, and that's what makes this movie so good. Bolo Yeung is absolutely brilliant and intimidating as the villain Chong Li. The film definitely has charm and possesses some timeless quality.

The film is interesting for several reasons, not only as a film about martial arts, but also as a drama that speaks in its simple way about human emotions. It is easy to identify with the characters, because they are portrayed humanly, emotionally and above all through the prism of the friendship. Jean Claude Van Damme is first and foremost an athlete, not an actor, and this film is perfect for him and maybe that's why everything here works as it should.

This film impressed me because of its charm and simplicity and because it reflects the spirit of another time. The film has truly fulfilled its primary task, it is entertaining and easy to watch. What matters is that this movie can be watched many times and is always just as fun.

Courage, loyalty, friendship and honor are the values that this film celebrates and that in itself is commendable.

A cinematic work that definitely deserves its place in the history of martial arts films.

In his film starring debut, Jean-Claude Van Damme portrays a martial arts expert who decides to compete in the Kumite, a no holds barred martial arts competition in Hong Kong. This film has plenty of the well staged fight scenes and martial arts sequences that would be evident in Van Damme's later films. A fair entry in the genre.

Bloodsport is, and always will be, Van Damme's greatest display of his martial talent. While it seems to have a similar storyline to other martial arts films, this one differs in that it is based on the true events of Frank Dux, who also assisted the fighters for this movie.

Anyone at all that doubts Van Damme's talent as a fighter, should see this film.

Bolo Yeung also makes a spectacular appearance as the evil one in the tournament. He acts about as cruel and heartless as one can get, and he makes the perfect climax for the film.

If you are after a good quality martial arts film, and you haven't seen Bloodsport, then this is the one for you. If you have seen it, then you will know why it deserves the title of 'best martial arts film of the century'.