Kickboxer: A Vingança do Dragão

... and unfortunately a hard film to review.

The paradox is that the film succeeds where it doesn't want to -- and doesn't succeed where it wants to.

For example, as an out-of-the-box version or re-imagining of KICKBOXER, it does not quite make it.

The problem is not the direction, or cinematography (gorgeous), or even the script.

The problem is the casting of the main character.

At no point in this movie does Alain Moussi ever actually give the impression that he is strong enough or fast enough or skilled enough to take out the bad guy.

Think about it. Imagine the Rocky films if Stallone has been unable to "sell" his potential to be a winner???

That was the bad news. The good news is that it was a delight to see JCVD back in front of the camera, playing a super-cool "trainer" and showing off perhaps the world's most dangerous 55 year old.

The difference between a true star and a wannabee is that JCVD not only steals his scenes, but actually gives the impression that HE could win a fight with the dreaded Tong Po, age or no age.

Other than that, the film is fun but forgettable.

Gina Carano is also oddly cast as a promoter who throws tantrums but never a punch.

George St. Pierre sort of haunts the film as an odd character we never really get to know. (If nothing else, these sorts of excursions give GSP a reason to learn English, and get paid for it.)

The love interest is played by an actress named T.J Storm who (I am guessing here) took the part for less money on the condition that the name of her on-screen character is also .... "Storm." A strange kind of advertising for future roles? Also very easy on the eyes, I hasten to add.

This film is no Warrior or Forbidden Kingdom. It is not going into the annals of MMA film history.

But overall not too bad.

Its Kickboxer what did you come into this movie thinking? The first one was cheesy what did you expect from this one? This movie is all you remember the original being, pure awesomeness entertainment with some great action who cares about dialogue plot twist and all that other crap people write in reviews to sound like they know something.

Though I think Van Damme is all right (and he can definitely kick some serious ass), and I think he was cool in this movie, I watched the original, and I found it boring. It had better and more drama, plot, and maybe acting than this new one, but it had little actual fighting, and what was there was really lame. This one has real, great action and fighting, and lots of it. I loved it. All these people who say this movie is so bad, yet like the old one...I can only assume they're either completely blind when it comes to martial arts (this one guy saying the choreography looks like something kids made on YouTube, lol, are you serious? Get your eyes checked dude), or they're not watching this movie for the fighting or action at all, in which case...I have to ask why they're even watching the movie to begin with...You watch a movie like this for the fighting, why else would you watch it?

Anyway, the story is simple, which is fine, but the directing is a little erratic, and there is little character development, which the old one did better. Had those been better, and the acting a bit more on point, I would have given a higher score. I can do without all the drama from the old one though, which wasn't really a thing here. But the fights and the action direction in any case is great, and provides lots of entertainment. Having people like Batista who are real fighters in real life doesn't hurt. The beautiful cinematography is also worth a note. Thailand is a beautiful place, and some of the shots show that well. The music was fine. If like me you like martial arts movies, go watch this, I think you will enjoy it a lot. If you're not in it for the action, then don't watch it, as there is honestly nothing here for you.

This movie was full of action. I was very emersed in the film, and before I knew it it was over. 90 minutes passed in a flash. As an avid JCVD fan, I have been looking forward to the release of this movie for months now. It was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Although JCVD has a smaller role in this film, I thought it was a cool idea to make him master Durand. His fight scenes put me in a place of nostalgia, as I flashed back to the original film. Werdum, Valasquez, St. Pierre and Bautista also had some great scenes. Their acting was average, but let's be real, they are world class athletes, not actors. It was nice to see a new face with Alain Moussi playing Kurt Sloan. He is very fit, and extremely Athletic. This film is your typical 2015 martial arts action film, and a must see! You can thank me later.

It was funnier, more commercial, but not necessarily more interesting, I imagined that this would be a Kickboxer sequel, but it's a remake ... nor Van Dame (always beautiful) saves... I liked the little dance at the end in honor of Van Dame... But very weak...