Double Impact - La vendetta finale

I remember seeing this movie on the premiere night that Saturday evening on HBO. It was indeed one of the best damn martial arts movies I've seen around that time because at that time range there were nothing but action flicks being released to theaters here and there. Double Impact is one of my most favorite Van Damme flicks not only because he plays twin brothers in the film but because there's plenty of action to look for. Most movies that were made with an actor playing twins it would usually be a disappointment since they could never get the other person to like the same actor.....O.K. I admit, I was a little disappointed when I spotted the fake Van Damme trying to kick at Alex but missed by kicking the wall. My 3 favorite scenes in the film are #1.When Alex gives Chad a good evening greeting from a head-butt. #2.The final showdown between Chad and Moon(Bolo Yeung)-a great villan. #3.The brawl-for-all between Chad and Alex. Double Impact will always be in my video/dvd collection. But anytime there's a Van Damme film hitting either the big screen or the little screen, you know what to expect, nothing but dodging fire balls, doing 360 degree spinning heel kicks, etc. you get the picture. But hey at least you didn't see one of the Van Dammes smearing/or trying to fade away from the image like it was cheaply done on a computer such as the 2 Jackie Chans did in "Twin Dragons".

One of Van Damme's best films before he started losing it. This film sees Van Damme play twin brothers Alex and Chad, both very different in personality. Chad the pretty boy who if you look closely only uses kicks to fight his opponents and Alex who is the opposite are re united 25 years after they were separated when their parents were killed aim to get revenge on Nigel Griffith and Raimond Zang and reclaim the victoria harbour tunnel which is rightfully theirs. Together with family friend uncle Frank they kick arse in this most excellent action film.

This could be argued to be one of Van Damme's best film. Not only for his amazing fight scenes, but also for his acting ability along side himself. Not writing here as biased fan, but seeing this film, I shockingly had to admit that Van Damme was far better actor then what people gave him credit for.

Story of the film is very cliché of most 90's films. twins get separated at birth and one becomes a criminal while the other one becomes a goody boy. They both have to team up together to protect their family money and name. Which one or both didn't really care for before.

Acting in the film, was fairly good, with few exceptions. But people going to see this film, knew that this wasn't going to be the competition for Dances with a wolf or Jeremy Irons performance in Reversal of Fortune. The expectations was that this was going to be enjoyable film with tons of action and the possibility of having Van Damme fight Van Damme in an amazing fight scene. Which the film succeeded in. Van Damme was very clear as two different brothers, who are completely different in all traits. Van Damme managed to create and contain certain ticks, tricks and mannerisms for each one, clear sign of a good actor. Not to mention all of the really cool fight scenes we got to see was a benefit too!!

so if you are bored at home and have nothing to do, feel free to give this film a go, if you like 80's and 90's action type of movies, you will love this.

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.

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.