Review of Bloodsport (1988) by Rob C — 01 Mar 2011

Frank W. Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) enters The Kumite, so he can honor his shidoshi, Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao), for teaching him the ways of Ninjutsu. Considered to be Jean-Claude Van Damme's breakout film, Bloodsport offers magnificent fighting techniques from the many competitors in the tournament. The in-ring soundtrack that accompanies each bout is amazing and provides for a stronger film.

Van Damme shows off his fighting style with grace and gives Bloodsport that dynamic edge, but that's where the film pretty much stops at being talented. All focus is centered around the matches offering no acting skills from any of it's characters when not in the ring. The cast seems robotic and confused when not competeing, which thankfully, is maybe thirty-five percent of the film. Every other scene concentrates on the tournament which is a smart move on the director. Even the emotion comes from the fights, with Van Damme being the moodiest of the bunch. The final match in which his character faces Chong Li (Bolo Yeung) is so annoyingly dramatic, I wouldn't have missed it if the scene was cut from the final product. Why include the scene of Dux kneeling in the center of the ring having a fit, Newt Arnold?

The film also has to show flashbacks of one particular match of his friend Ray (Donald Gibb) getting viciously beaten (more like getting his head crushed like a grapefruit) by Chong Li (who at the time was fifty years-old---Bolo not Chong). The sappy song that rings true while he's envisioning this is the kind of example on how the eighties could sometimes ruin a film by the music alone; well, the poppy stuff anyway. However, the different fighting styles displayed were impressive showcasing: Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, Vale Tudo and Karate among others. Each respected fighter executed their parts with finesse, even though some bouts were over far too quickly. But I guess that's what you get when you're in a full-contact match; anything goes. Bloodsport is the definate Van Damme film for people wanting to see his true martial arts talent.