Review of Bloodsport (1988) by Keith P — 14 Nov 2009
When this film came out, what JCVD was doing with his legs was like a special effect. It had never been seen before -- a pro-bodybuilder leaping skywards and doing the splits.
What's more, it's sort of a given these days that that kind of physique isn't complete without a blackbelt in some sort of martial art.
The film launched JCVD and presented him as the 1st arguement that a guy could bench press 300ibs, and do martial arts well enough to hold some respect amongst their peers. Nobody was doing both pursuits back then without sacrificing aspects from the other. A lot of 'lifters performed martial arts with slow fashion.
Terry O'Neill is another Karate blackbelt who blazed this trail, but JC got the message out on film that martial artists could be superfit, and that the alchemy of doing such hadn't died with Bruce Lee.
For sheer sub-cultural impact this film has it's place in film history.
Martial arts were cool again even if the Ninja had died a video rentals death.
This review of Bloodsport (1988) was written by Keith P on 14 Nov 2009.
Bloodsport has generally received positive reviews.
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