Kickboxer: Retaliation

I nearly loved the original KICKBOXER with Jean Claude Van Damme in his prime, and mildly liked the 2016 reboot (with Van Damme as the master), so it's not a surprise that I had to watch this sequel of a reboot. Well, it was good nearly on the same level of the 1989 original.

When it begins Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) wins another MMA fight but victory is short-lived because he's kidnapped by some thugs and held prisoner in a jail in Thailandia for the murder of Tong Po that happened at the end of the predecessor. Soon we are introduced to promoter Thomas Moore (Christopher Lambert) that wants Sloane to fight against a mountain of a man that can easily crush him. So Sloane returns to his master Durand (Van Damme) who is partially blind and trains very hard for the big fight and you might have guessed how it will unfold.

I was really amazed that when I saw it I couldn't understand why it has a score of 4,9 and so many negative reviews. Well, the secret is: suspend disbelief and enjoy. The acting by Van Damme and Lambert was up to their decent standards, and the fight scenes very cool and kept me excited.

So, if you are into the KICKBOXER franchise don't miss it, and also if you are action fans, it's a very enjoyable time-passer.

First off, why in the world do people still think acting and story are relevant in these movies? These kinds of movies aren't released in theaters. They don't have a 100-200 million dollar budget. They simply are made for the fighting and action. Know what kind of movie you are about to watch. If you don't like these kinds of movies, what are you doing? Go watch a lifetime movie if you want story. This movie is like stepping back into the 80s and 90s of action. Mindless fun, and thrilling fight scenes. Those who enjoy these types of movies will have fun.

One of the most sacred rules in Hollywood is never involve the viewer in your business. Yet, off the top, unless you are from another planet, it is crystal clear that JCVD, instead of retiring and opening a restaurant, decided to invest his money in a franchise that one of his own early films unintentionally launched. So, by joining the audience, you are supporting his enterprise, just like dining at his restaurant. The second rule broken is that the cast and crew are having more fun than the viewer. Chris Lambert is not only chewing up the furniture on set, but if you watch this at home, you will find teeth marks on the sofa. So many tricky camera angles, so many twisty story arcs, all to disguise the fact that this is just a glorified Rocky knock-off. This could all be forgiven of course if the result was solid entertainment. It isn't. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

A Mui Thai film of the bad kind. Unfortunately, the senseless beating has nothing to do with the actual martial art.

I don't know jack squat about real martial arts and I hate, hate, hate MMA aka ghey fight club.

But man this is a fun movie.

Apparently there's a story in there somewhere but who cares. Hardly a minute goes by without some kind of fight breaking out. Moussi has some pretty cool moves and the fights are choreographed in an interesting way. Even the soundtrack is big league

And is it just me or is Van Damme the coolest guy in movies? I don't mean obnoxious smarm like Bruce Willis. Or self-parody like Seagal. Or even the self-serious. Jason Statham. I mean, simply, cool.

Enjoyed this movie immensely.