Double Impact - La vendetta finale

OK, face it, Jean-Claude cannot act his way out of a wet paper bag. That is not why we watch him. We watch for the action, and this film has plenty of that.

No viewing of Jean-Claude's films would be complete without this one where he plays both himself and his brother. Separated by 25 years, one (Alex) stays in Hong Kong as a smugger, and the other (Chad) is a fitness instructor in California. That's ladies fitness instructor in pretty blue tights. Hmm, is there something to his role as "Gay Karate Man" in his first film? California Jean-Claude returns to Hong Kong to join Honk Kond Jean Claude to regain what is rightfully theirs. Luscious scenery provided by Alex's girlfriend Danielle (Alonna Shaw). Hot breathing brought on by action between Danielle and Kara (Corinna Everson). The return of Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport) as Moon is a big big plus for the film.

Lots of action, lots of laughs, and a good time for all.

The Muscles from Brussels takes a co-producer and co-writer credit on this routinely plotted but agreeable action picture. Van Damme plays twin boys, who were orphaned in the 1960s by thugs representing some greedy white collar criminals. One of them, Chad, ended up in L. A. where he got to live a fairly soft life. Alex, on the other hand, remained in Hong Kong where he became a street smart smuggler. 25 years later, their "uncle" Frank (Geoffrey Lewis) locates Alex and reunites the boys so they can have a classic bit of revenge - and reclaim what's theirs in the bargain.

All of the action is watchable if never truly inspired. There's a good deal of hard hitting violence (the naive Chad takes his lumps before the story is over), and plenty of effective squib action - not to mention a hearty helping of explosions. The exotic Hong Kong setting certainly helps a lot, as well. One sequence is particularly striking, and you can see bits of that in the trailer. And there's a fairly satisfying confrontation between Van Damme and martial arts icon Bolo Yeung, who plays Moon, a goon who ends up with a fake eye and a nasty scar due to Franks' intervention back in the 60s.

There's a certain degree of entertainment in watching Van Damme play two distinctly different characters. Thanks to some reasonably effective movie trickery - body doubles, special effects, and the like - we get to see the twins interacting regularly. Philip Chan, as crime kingpin Raymond Zhang, and Alan Scarfe, as the nefarious Nigel Griffith, are decent action movie baddies in the classic tradition. Both the blonde Alonna Shaw (as Alex's girlfriend Danielle) and the athletic brunette Corinna Everson (as henchwoman Kara) add much sex appeal. The eternally solid and reliable Lewis is a tremendous asset to the story, lending it an appropriate amount of respectability.

"Double Impact" may not be memorable in the end, but it sure provides a nice diversion for the better part of two hours.

Seven out of 10.

This is joyously over the top and inane. This is classic Van Damme at his absolute best. In yet another (well in fact the first) of his duel role films, Jean Claude plays two twins separated at birth. They were separated when both their parents were killed by vicious gangsters, including the legend Bolo Yeung (Enter the Dragon).

What makes this film is the always-enjoyable combination of Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich. Lettich knows how to get the best out of Claude in the fights sequences, with a liberal and entertainingly cheesy use of slo-mo while Van Damme grunts and poses and jumps kicks his way through countless foes. The fights are so entertaining, and they more than make up for the wooden or ham-fisted acting of the cast, not to mention the brainless plot and cheesy dialogue.

This was written by Van Damme and really seems at times like an ego trip, with some of the lines and actions that characters have. It is entertaining in that sense. What is also funny about this film is the constant posing and muscle flexing from Van Damme. This is one of his most enjoyable films, because it is so fun, it brings back the fun feeling from his earlier film Kickboxer.

Overall this is one to watch and the fight between Van Damme and Bolo is the stuff of legend. ***

Agreeable thriller with tongue-in-cheek, containing suspense, thrills, noisy action-packed, gun-play, loads of violence and it will appeal the true devotee of main actor. Sheldon directs this film that mixes for umpteenth time: action, a lot of violence and humor in the way that would later characterize the films of the genre from the eighties and especially those starring Van Damme or Arnold Schwarzenegger. This violent film contains thriller, suspense , action , tension and spectacular/well choreographed fights. Jean-Claude displays his usual likable acting and the mayhem is largely wrought by mighty Van Damme, who never delivers one blow or bullet where three will do. Van Damme plays two twins go to a relentless vendetta against Hong Kong mobsters. It begins with businessman Paul Wagner and his wife are brutally murdered in Hong Kong. Their two six-month-old twin children will follow different paths. Little Chad is adopted by a close friend of his parents, Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis) . While Alex is left in the care of his nanny, who puts him in an orphanage in Hong Kong. Years later, Chad (Jean-Claude Van Damme) discovers Alex (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is his twin brother he never knew and was given up for adoption. Chad and Alex meet again and decide to look for the murderers of their parents. One packs a punch One packs a Piece together they deliver !. Feel The Impact !. Double Van Damme !. Twin brothers torn apart by violence !. On a mission of revenge !. One packs a punch. One packs a piece. Together they deliver...!. Two brothers separated by the violence. Now together in a mission of revenge. The Other Side of Safety !. The other side of safe !. The nearer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to the edge !.

Fine flick with more than a semblance of an enjoyable and entertaining story without being excessively cerebral, including thrills, spectacular fighting , mayhem and breathtaking chases. Sheldon Lettich is in charge of directing this martial arts film where Van Damme plays Chad and Alex Wagner twins against ruthless Asian mafias. Bulk fights, karate and a lot of action is the general tone of this blockbuster film that follows in the footsteps of Bruce Lee's cinema. Leading the cast is our endearing Jean-Claude Van Damme as one army man, he did not want to use doubles for the stunts and ended the filming with some wounds and bruises. Van Damme in a deja vu, similar to 'Ringo Lam's Maximum Risk', plays a double role, two identical twins and they go into action when the bad guys chase them. But this lunkhead kick-em-up doesnt take advantage of that gimmick. Entertaining movie , thanks to tight pace, skillful edition and well mounted combats . It's tense and exciting , at time glossy enough action movie and the overwhelming struggles are well done. The basic story would have been the same with just one Jean-Claude. Risk, noisy action and danger aside is not all that bad, what with gorgeous Alonna Shaw as his sib's squeeze benefits much the film. Has all the action you'd expect from a pic with 'The Muscles of Brussels' and more fists, guns, and chases is, of course, the major reason to invest your entertainment here.

The motion picture was average but professionally directed by Sheldon Lettich. Sheldon ensures that fast-paced pursuits and full-throttle combat is well done and visually appealing. He is a craftsman who has written/produced/directed some nice films, most of them starred by Jean-Claude Van Damme as "The Order, Double impact , Hard Corps, and Lionheart" , or performed by other hunk men as Daniel Bernhart : "Perfect Day" , Dolph Lundgren : "List Patrol" , or , Mark Dacascos : "Only the Strong". Rating 5/10. Mediocre but acceptable action picture. The flick will appeal to Jean Claude Van Damme fans. It's a must see for Van Damme fans.

Egos run wild as Van Dammage is given the double dosage in this rampant, enjoyable thriller; hampered somewhat by the now two dreadful acting displays instead of the one. Yet credit where its due, this is one of his better outings, broadening his thespian ranges as well as stylishly kicking people in the head a lot. Revenge is on the cards again, playing both twin brothers separated at birth and reunited 25 years later (one's a US aerobics instructor who wears the silk underwear, the other a tough cigar-chomping gangster-type raised in the Hong Kong). Their parents, you see, were hopelessly slaughtered when they were babies, and summarily they vow vengeance. It's all laughable enough, as it should be: violent as hell with a Bolo villain and two Jean-Claude's causing complete bloody chaos - who could ask for more?