I'm gonna have to rewatch the movie cause I didn't like it same thing with the legionarie his a great actor but he has some bad movies too. Wake of death is awesome
@MarSar Fishin' You can definitely go wrong with slow-mo when it's overused (like in this film). Most of Van Damme's movies have slow action. Sudden Death is Van Damme's best film.
Lance Henriksen was perfect in that role, just like in Excessive Force. He is great at playing villains: Stone Cold, Near Dark, Johnny Handsome... Have you ever watched The Hit List from 1989? He was very cool in it.
He was also good in Mans Best Friend, it’s said that Lance Henriksen refuses to play villains who hurt women or children. And he only plays bad guys with a purpose, not bad guys who are just bad for the sake of being bad.
Well said, i too agree that Van Damme has a certain look, especially in the fight scenes,,Sharp n direct with so much grace and fluidity that shines in ways that are just pleasing on the eye. He just has that Something about him. Like his kicks are purely dazzling, but there is also a speed in his snap-back punch which he delivers in most of his films. I watch Van Damme with my finger on the rewind button on nearly every fight scene. Im a little bit of a V, Damme fan who Seems to think i know it all. And to me, i selfishly do. Kickboxer being the Best Moves V, Damme has ever showcased. Id love to direct V, Damme in my own way. Id just keep it all Martial Arts like Bloodsport and Kickboxer, Tournament Fights. Nonstop Madness just pure delivery, no guns, no car chases. All Of what most Hard-core fan man really wants to see. Coz there is no one like him when it comes to that type of display. Trust me, just watch how smoothly he lets off even the most simple way of movement, take notice of the way he Runs back to his family at the end of LYONHEART, I have to say that he looks as if he styled it proper pin point an its movements in and on i could sit here all day and pull out the uniqueness i see, Real talk, Real fan its as if i know him, even though I've never had the chance to meet him. Van Damme 💯% if only, hey. LEGENDARY... Bless. ✔️🙏
Three days ago I watched this movie on TV once again (maybe it's the 10th time I watch it) and I enjoy it every single time. The hero, the innocent girl, the cop (I always want her to be alive, but hey I can't change the movie), the two villains (so perfectly well done!), the protagonist speaking with a french accent is something that I like and the action scenes and choreographies are so good! This was the first Woo's movie that I watched and I was amazed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. Greetings!!!
Excellent review. I always felt this was Van Damme’s best big studio film (Time Cop being next in line). How can you go wrong with John Woo directing, Lance Henriksen, Imhotep and Van Damme nearing his peak. Great to see the movie getting the recognition it deserves.
Loved this video, Loved Hard Target, Love everything John Woo.....need to give it another watch. Also, love Lance Henrickson! Near Dark is the bomb also.
My favorite Van Damme movie of all time. It showcases everything that he does well. His windmill kick, his straight punch, his slow motion jump kick, I love this movie. When I saw that Scott Adkins was in part 2 I didn't think there was anything more perfect. Boy, was I wrong.
I graduated high school in 1993. Vandamme is a part of my childhood from when I went to go see this movie I never heard of the guy right when I got out of 5th grade I saw the trailer for no retreat no surrender and I didnt eben care about the good guy in the movie I saw Vandamme as the Russsisn and was like Holyshit who's that guy! After that movie black eagle and then Bloodsport which I watched in 7th grade and from then on Vandamme was the man. Went to every one of his action movies in the 80s and 90s and Hard Target was freaking great and to me Wilford Brimley was hilarious. Lance Hendriksen killed it as the antagonist. I did something out there before the movie and ate a heroic dose of magic mushrooms and my friends and I tripped balls and watched Hard target! That was a experience I'll never forget. We laughed until we almost passed out and it was a freaking trip. Crazy shit I used to do when I was a young man. Sure was fun though 😆 I love the channel brother you know your stuff and keep them coming.
I watched Hard Target many times. I even remember a lot of the dialogues. I don't think i have seen a movie with such intense action like this one. The scenes are incredible,John knew exactly he could do awesome scenes because Van Damme can do everything. If a director is creative and has Van Damme with him and with such villains who did such a great work we can only expect this wonder.
HT’s action is mind boggling. It was Woo being Woo before he became Americanized style wise. Lance Henriksen said he didn’t gel with him until ending reshoots... kind of insightful. He also said it was his favourite director to ever work with.
There are four cuts I know of: The theatrical cut, the unrated cut, the rough workprint version, and the director's cut workprint. Tbh I'm fine with the unrated cut which you can find on the Blu Ray. If you can find the director's cut it's worth a watch but it's a lot slower paced and the picture quality is poor
@@VikingSamurai hey Viking Samurai just because direct to DVD films with JCVD isn't that bad just because it's a direct to DVD film doesn't mean it's bad you have to watch Wake of Death Shepherd Border Patrol, Until Death, The Order, In Hell, Second in Command, Six Bullets, Enemies Closer
@@VikingSamurai eh Bouncer was good it's watchable but it has no ANY emotion (even anger and rage and crying would've been appreciated), action that you've seen done better in other Van Damme dramatic work like Wake of Death, In Hell & JCVD in that performance it's not action film i know bouncer is not action film but in that role it's better to have him showing emotion anger, rage, furious if you seen wake of death, until death, In Hell, JCVD then you get my point what i am trying to say
"Don't hunt what you can't kill." One of my personal favorite action films of all time. My favorite Van Damme's action film. My favorite John Woo film. My Personal Favorite Action FILM of All Time!!!!!! Which I love this film to death and I do think it is the best 90's film.
Kurt Russell is a fine and dedicated actor, but I think Hard Target would’ve been an entirely different movie with him starring in it. It would’ve been more of a backwoods thriller than a martial arts action film. I love Hard Target and I really would love to see a remastered edition of the 120 Min version
I’m a big fan of Hard Target! I watch it at least once a year. Looking forward to seeing your next video on John Woo and other Hong Kong directors! Tsui Hark maybe? Thanks Viking Samurai,
Hard Target was a great movie, had Kurt Russell been the main lead, you would have had far more character work than action set pieces. It needed Van Damme.
Great video!! One of the best action films of all times. Jean Claude was perfect as Chance. Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo were incredible as the villains and Yancy Butler was perfect in her role and she was beatiful and hotter than lava as well;). And of course John Woo did a magnificent job directing this film. One truly amazing action film
I was also a huge JCVD fan as a kid in the 90s and Hard Target was my favorite of his films, with Bloodsport being an extremely close second. That character was such a bad ass. It even inspired me to get my hair cut just like his in the movie. I had shoulder length hair so I get it cut into a mullet and geled. I thought it would make also look like a badass but of course it didn't.
Woah! He didn’t kill the snake, just knocked it out to set the trap later cuz. Also I was born in Louisiana so this movie holds an extra special place in my heart.
Hard Target is the ultimate action film as far as i'm concerned. It works on all fronts, the hero, damsel, villain and henchman all perfectly cast, and the action has a real flair to it. But I think you were a little harsh on Hard Target 2. It wasn't as good as the original, but it was alright, thanks mostly to Scott Adkins.
I watched this so many times when I was a kid. I recently watched it for the first time in years. So classic. *EDIT: OOH! I didn't know Lance Henriksen's flaming coat scene was improvised! That's awesome! Such a great scene! Also, I caught Hard Target 2 not too long ago and I have to agree, it's not great. I like Scott Adkins, and he does his best, but it just doesn't measure up to its namesake. It's really a sequel in name only.
Van Dammes was also really discovered by Ng See Yuen and Corey Yuen for the film No Retreat No Surrender. JCVD is the villain in this film, but its awesome, made with a true Hong Kong style in America.
This is my 3rd favorite Van Damn movie. Mainly due to the well executed martial arts and gun use balance. Something I rarely saw in Hollywood action movies.
Seen Hard Target in the theater. Nothing not to like about it imo. Woo and JCVD collab was perfect. The long hair was straight up for the slo-mo and well thought out. 👌
Awesome movie. Liked it from the first time I saw it. The Blu Ray version I have is about 4 minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Many scenes of violence and gunplay are restored. Making it that much better.
I absolutely love Hard Target. Its both my favourite Van Damme film and my favourite US produced John Woo film. It’s a shame that JCVD and John Woo didn’t get to work on more films together as Woo could easily make JCVD look good on film.
Viking Samurai I totally agree. There were definitely more potential to their collaboration for future projects. A big shout out to Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo as well for having such a good chemistry together as the antagonist. I particularly loves the scene in which Vosloo and JCVD stands back to back with a wall seperating them, they jump out, shoots and Vosloo throws a grenade and JCVD jumps through the window. Pure art for my action heart. The final fight scene between Lance and JCVD was great as well. They sure don’t make movies like this anymore.
Hard target is a bloody great action film I love it All the actors are fantastic I especially like the uncle was it wilford brimley People never mention that van damme is also not too bad an actor and has given some good performances over his career Great video sir Big thumbs up from the UK
Thanks for watching! I agree, Van Damme's acting talent is usually underappreciated. I felt like he finally got some recognition with the JCVD film at least.
I saw Blood sport when I was 12 in 1987 , that was the real true UFC only in real life it was held.in Jamaica . Frank Duxe kicked serious ass in real life . Anyhow I Rember having the blood sport poster in my room of Van Damme doing the jump kick on Bolo . Love Blood sport havnt seen Hard Target yet. But I will.
I Just discovered Knock Off a few weeks ago. Was weird seeing Rob Shneider in that kind of role. Hard Target definitely up there on my favorite JCVD movies.
That’s one of his best. Just a great cast Arnold Volsoo and Lance Henkerson played great villains. Like to see you interview James Ryan. He had a couple good films.
I was living in Hong Kong between 1978-1988. I was only a kid. But I remember seeing a part of the filming of Bloodsport, sadly I didn't know what I was looking at.
@@MrMiltonenrique2001 I believe it was the chase scene, I was up the top of Nathan Road near the star ferry terminal. I saw filming going on, and 2 white actors & one black in front of the camera talking to the "Director". It was only a few years later in May 1989 I watched Bloodsport, actually I had never heard of it or JCVD. But when I saw it in my local video rental store....that was that ☺
Dude your van damme videos are excellent! I agree hard target 2 is garnage but do you watch Scott Atkins TH-cam channel intervirws with martial art legens? The tony jaa one and benny vas. Are fascinating
I know I may have came into this video late, lol but I came across it and seen it was about Hard Target and had to watch. Hard Target was a masterpiece and one of the greatest action movies ever made, Hard Target 2 was ok, could of been better in my opinion and I love Scott Adkins but it just wasn't nothing like the first one or as big. Love your videos and channel!
Hard target was dope and a classic! I loved it! Btw I thought another under-rated Van Damme movie was LionHeart, you should do a review on that movie if you haven't already lol!
I love Hard Target, heck I love Face off and like Broken Arrow, I don't think Hard Target needed a sequel. However, if one had to be made they may as well just brought back Van to play the same character and have him hunted again, maybe by a brother or other relative of the Lance character years later. The problem with a Hard Target sequel is a major reason it worked was the director's sense of action, which would be near impossible to recapture regardless of who did the sequel.
#VikingSamurai the way john woo shoots movies is like a ballerina on the dance floor it is a dance ...The shootout scenes are amazing the back and forth of guns being shot and the way they were gliding over or sliding under stuff and everything else is exploding around them amazing
Great Video. Nice in depth details on this Action Masterpiece. John Woo really had a unique creative style.... Only if Vandamme and Woo made more films together... This film was Magic caught in a bottle. Yeah, the sequal was a soulless stinker, I like Scott Adkins, but man he needs better stuff to work with.
I always wanted to make this video and I'm glad somebody did. Hard Target is my number one go to FUN film and the first JCVD film I always show to my friends who haven't seen any. Awesome video.
Great video. I was just talking to someone about this movie this morning. I think youtube is listening hah. I love john woo. If anyone hasnt seen Bullet in the Head 1990, do yourself a favor and watch that masterpiece. As far as Hart Target goes, it always left a bad taste in my mouth due to it being Woo's first film in the States, but Van Damme had to stink up the first 3 quarters of the film with his ego. That being said, the final 20 minutes of Hard Target is all John Woo kicking ass and it is glorious. Im glad you brought up the boat chase from Face/Off being removed due to Van Damme changing his mind. I think it would have been such a cool addition to the film and upped my opinion of the film as a whole. I dont mean to crap on Van Damme. I love the dude and most of his films. I am just disappointed in how he made most of Woo's project, his project.
Hard Target is one of my favorite JCVD movies. Also, Chance Boudreaux is my favorite JCVD character. Note: Don’t forget that Jon Woo has the tendency to include pigeons in his movies! 🤷🏻♂️
Vandammes axe kick that he uses like an inside to outside crescent kick in the final battle w Henrickson, as well as his back spinning hook kick where he side steps the attacker n catches him on the back of the head n sends him through the window in the first street fight are both so excellent in their height and uncommon utilization. JCVD is kinda a limited guy, but he really maxed out his move set n cinematically was probably the best at what he excelled at when u consider his build and techniques combined. This movie was great. Its also cool to see Sven Thornson (Arnolds film buddy) get that cigar kicked outta his mouth slow motion style in the mardi gras graveyard warehouse too. His Hawaiian shirt in New Orleans proves he got what he deserved. :)
Im thinking about watching the og punisher with dolph . Havent seen since i was very young infact i think i may watch all punisher movies to see whichis best. I just re-watched the netflix series and it was great. Any ways i dig ur content . Who was ur favorite punisher ?
I like Thomas Jane's Punisher movie. But I'll take Jon Bernthal in general. As far as Dolph goes, he's awesome in general, but when he did Punisher, comic movies weren't really taken seriously and it showed. I'm curious to revisit that though with an open mind.
Hard Target is legendary. Top favorite Van Damme film, by a mile above the rest. Henricksen makes a great villain. But Arnold Vosloo makes an unforgettable one! The best villainous duo of all time. I wish the movie had more fights against living persons...(as opposed to the ones that are already dead from lead poisoning)...especially sorely missing is the hand-to-hand confrontation against Pick Van Cleef. This flaw is hard to swallow even after all this time. Nonetheless, this is a masterpiece of action, that i enjoy re-watching regularly for many years.
Is it true that there were deleted scenes of Van Damme using a crossbow and doing more acrobatic movements. ??! A classic movie - reminds me of the novel that became a 'movie' No Escape - Or The Penal Colony - by Richard Hearly great book!!!
I started martial arts because of van damme. Went on to do it for 30 years. Travelling to Malaysia amongst other places for competition. Best days of my life. I'd love to thank him in person one day. I almost grew a mullet because of hard target..... ALMOST lol
Cinema,tape,dvd,blu ray...and waiting for 4K..this is how i love hardtarget....u cant kill what u cant hunt...scott adkins and van damme for hardtarget 3
Plus Van Damme knows how to rock the slick back mullet in this movie. Hard Target with Kurt Russell would of been good too. Kurt Russell knows how to play a Badass.
@@VikingSamurai Ashley Johnson should have got an award for that scene! Lots of great fights, personally liked the movie more than Sudden Death. He was excited to do that movie cause he had a family in it, but his scenes in Lionheart with family were more enjoyable to watch.
I saw 👀 this 2x in the 🎥 theater soooo good! I always tried to drag my friends to Van Dame movies 🎬 in the 90s..I recall seeing every movie Except for cyborg in the theater because my mom wouldn't let me go 😅
Hard Target is one of the greatest action films ever made.
@MarSar Fishin' I miss John Woo! Hope he does some American films again!
I'm gonna have to rewatch the movie cause I didn't like it same thing with the legionarie his a great actor but he has some bad movies too. Wake of death is awesome
@@nelsont4784 Wait. What? Who's a great actor?
@MarSar Fishin' You can definitely go wrong with slow-mo when it's overused (like in this film). Most of Van Damme's movies have slow action. Sudden Death is Van Damme's best film.
@@csd8204 sudden death lol
Hard Target is a Classic.
Lance Henriksen was perfect in that role, just like in Excessive Force. He is great at playing villains: Stone Cold, Near Dark, Johnny Handsome... Have you ever watched The Hit List from 1989? He was very cool in it.
I need to see that.
He was also good in Mans Best Friend, it’s said that Lance Henriksen refuses to play villains who hurt women or children. And he only plays bad guys with a purpose, not bad guys who are just bad for the sake of being bad.
@@robertnguyen9493 Very talented actor. We can add Nature of the beast to the list of recommendations.
Stone Cold is actually pretty damn good despite Brian Bosworth being the lead.
You said it, man. Van Damme had that crazy undefinable quality where your eyes are completely drawn to him. Its so rare.
Well said, i too agree that Van Damme has a certain look, especially in the fight scenes,,Sharp n direct with so much grace and fluidity that shines in ways that are just pleasing on the eye. He just has that Something about him. Like his kicks are purely dazzling, but there is also a speed in his snap-back punch which he delivers in most of his films. I watch Van Damme with my finger on the rewind button on nearly every fight scene. Im a little bit of a V, Damme fan who Seems to think i know it all. And to me, i selfishly do. Kickboxer being the Best Moves V, Damme has ever showcased. Id love to direct V, Damme in my own way. Id just keep it all Martial Arts like Bloodsport and Kickboxer, Tournament Fights. Nonstop Madness just pure delivery, no guns, no car chases. All Of what most Hard-core fan man really wants to see. Coz there is no one like him when it comes to that type of display. Trust me, just watch how smoothly he lets off even the most simple way of movement, take notice of the way he Runs back to his family at the end of LYONHEART, I have to say that he looks as if he styled it proper pin point an its movements in and on i could sit here all day and pull out the uniqueness i see, Real talk, Real fan its as if i know him, even though I've never had the chance to meet him. Van Damme 💯% if only, hey. LEGENDARY... Bless. ✔️🙏
@@karltelemak2856van damme has Chrisma and screen presence which is rare
He is what they call movie star not everyone has it
Three days ago I watched this movie on TV once again (maybe it's the 10th time I watch it) and I enjoy it every single time. The hero, the innocent girl, the cop (I always want her to be alive, but hey I can't change the movie), the two villains (so perfectly well done!), the protagonist speaking with a french accent is something that I like and the action scenes and choreographies are so good!
This was the first Woo's movie that I watched and I was amazed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. Greetings!!!
This was pretty much JCVD as Gambit
That's what I always thought, and that I would have loved to see him play Gambit in a movie back then
Yes!
Two action Legends working together... Classic movie!!!!
Excellent review. I always felt this was Van Damme’s best big studio film (Time Cop being next in line). How can you go wrong with John Woo directing, Lance Henriksen, Imhotep and Van Damme nearing his peak. Great to see the movie getting the recognition it deserves.
Loved this video, Loved Hard Target, Love everything John Woo.....need to give it another watch. Also, love Lance Henrickson! Near Dark is the bomb also.
Dude, Hard target is Van damme's second best movie. Loved henriksen was hilarious
My favorite Van Damme movie of all time. It showcases everything that he does well. His windmill kick, his straight punch, his slow motion jump kick, I love this movie. When I saw that Scott Adkins was in part 2 I didn't think there was anything more perfect. Boy, was I wrong.
Lol, I'm glad I'm not the only one that was severely disappointed with the sequel.
I graduated high school in 1993. Vandamme is a part of my childhood from when I went to go see this movie I never heard of the guy right when I got out of 5th grade I saw the trailer for no retreat no surrender and I didnt eben care about the good guy in the movie I saw Vandamme as the Russsisn and was like Holyshit who's that guy! After that movie black eagle and then Bloodsport which I watched in 7th grade and from then on Vandamme was the man. Went to every one of his action movies in the 80s and 90s and Hard Target was freaking great and to me Wilford Brimley was hilarious. Lance Hendriksen killed it as the antagonist. I did something out there before the movie and ate a heroic dose of magic mushrooms and my friends and I tripped balls and watched Hard target! That was a experience I'll never forget. We laughed until we almost passed out and it was a freaking trip. Crazy shit I used to do when I was a young man. Sure was fun though 😆 I love the channel brother you know your stuff and keep them coming.
Hard Target was a great movie!! Jean Claude Van Damme was a very big movie star in the 80's and 90's!!
I watched Hard Target many times.
I even remember a lot of the dialogues.
I don't think i have seen a movie with such intense action like this one.
The scenes are incredible,John knew exactly he could do awesome scenes because Van Damme can do everything.
If a director is creative and has Van Damme with him and with such villains who did such a great work we can only expect this wonder.
HT’s action is mind boggling. It was Woo being Woo before he became Americanized style wise. Lance Henriksen said he didn’t gel with him until ending reshoots... kind of insightful. He also said it was his favourite director to ever work with.
Am I the only one that needs to see this original cut of the movie?
There are four cuts I know of: The theatrical cut, the unrated cut, the rough workprint version, and the director's cut workprint. Tbh I'm fine with the unrated cut which you can find on the Blu Ray. If you can find the director's cut it's worth a watch but it's a lot slower paced and the picture quality is poor
Same I thonk because I watched Robocop when i eas really young so i can stomach alot of violence
@@TotalMeltdown2 I want to. I hope I find the the u rated cut. I have a Blu-ray I'm gonna see if it's unrated.
The quintessential action movie. Everything about it is perfection.
Van Damme was perfect for Hard target trust me.
That's true, some roles are just perfect for certain actors.
@@VikingSamurai hey Viking Samurai just because direct to DVD films with JCVD isn't that bad just because it's a direct to DVD film doesn't mean it's bad you have to watch Wake of Death Shepherd Border Patrol, Until Death, The Order, In Hell, Second in Command, Six Bullets, Enemies Closer
That’s a lotttt if direct to dvd :(
@@PrestonLions3 I'm gonna have to revisit a bunch of his straight to video ones... The Bouncer is the best one he's done in the last 10 years imo.
@@VikingSamurai eh Bouncer was good it's watchable but it has no ANY emotion (even anger and rage and crying would've been appreciated), action that you've seen done better in other Van Damme dramatic work like Wake of Death, In Hell & JCVD in that performance it's not action film i know bouncer is not action film but in that role it's better to have him showing emotion anger, rage, furious if you seen wake of death, until death, In Hell, JCVD
then you get my point what i am trying to say
"Don't hunt what you can't kill." One of my personal favorite action films of all time. My favorite Van Damme's action film. My favorite John Woo film. My Personal Favorite Action FILM of All Time!!!!!! Which I love this film to death and I do think it is the best 90's film.
Kurt Russell is a fine and dedicated actor, but I think Hard Target would’ve been an entirely different movie with him starring in it. It would’ve been more of a backwoods thriller than a martial arts action film. I love Hard Target and I really would love to see a remastered edition of the 120
Min version
I'm glad they ended up making it with Van Damme.
I’m a big fan of Hard Target! I watch it at least once a year. Looking forward to seeing your next video on John Woo and other Hong Kong directors! Tsui Hark maybe? Thanks Viking Samurai,
Thanks for watching the channel!
Hard Target was a great movie, had Kurt Russell been the main lead, you would have had far more character work than action set pieces.
It needed Van Damme.
Not watched this one in years! Spent all week watching john woo classics too!
Damn never knew about plans of woo and philip rhee! Love that guy!
Great video!! One of the best action films of all times. Jean Claude was perfect as Chance. Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo were incredible as the villains and Yancy Butler was perfect in her role and she was beatiful and hotter than lava as well;). And of course John Woo did a magnificent job directing this film. One truly amazing action film
I was also a huge JCVD fan as a kid in the 90s and Hard Target was my favorite of his films, with Bloodsport being an extremely close second. That character was such a bad ass. It even inspired me to get my hair cut just like his in the movie. I had shoulder length hair so I get it cut into a mullet and geled. I thought it would make also look like a badass but of course it didn't.
Lol... He very well might've been the only one that could pull it off.. why? Bc he's Van Damme! lol !
Woah! He didn’t kill the snake, just knocked it out to set the trap later cuz. Also I was born in Louisiana so this movie holds an extra special place in my heart.
the snake was killed by lance henriksen with a shotgun.
Dude ! You’re jcvd material is on fleej!! 😱 ❤️❤️❤️🙌🏼🔥💯
A match made in Heaven for John Woo and Van Damme! Too bad we didn’t get another movie! Would have been awesome!!!
Hard Target is the ultimate action film as far as i'm concerned. It works on all fronts, the hero, damsel, villain and henchman all perfectly cast, and the action has a real flair to it. But I think you were a little harsh on Hard Target 2. It wasn't as good as the original, but it was alright, thanks mostly to Scott Adkins.
Absolutely brilliant movie. Defo one of his best, and probably the most fun with a stellar cast
I watched this so many times when I was a kid. I recently watched it for the first time in years. So classic. *EDIT: OOH! I didn't know Lance Henriksen's flaming coat scene was improvised! That's awesome! Such a great scene! Also, I caught Hard Target 2 not too long ago and I have to agree, it's not great. I like Scott Adkins, and he does his best, but it just doesn't measure up to its namesake. It's really a sequel in name only.
Van Dammes was also really discovered by Ng See Yuen and Corey Yuen for the film No Retreat No Surrender. JCVD is the villain in this film, but its awesome, made with a true Hong Kong style in America.
Really great movie!
Dude, Lance Hendrickson is such a pro, I had never heard that story before about the coat catching on fire.
it is hoax, it never happened this way, see also his greased hair not to catch on fire in the scene..
Favorite Van Damme movie. It has awesome villains too.
This is my 3rd favorite Van Damn movie. Mainly due to the well executed martial arts and gun use balance. Something I rarely saw in Hollywood action movies.
I'd put this at 3 as well, just behind Bloodsport and Lionheart.
Seen Hard Target in the theater. Nothing not to like about it imo. Woo and JCVD collab was perfect. The long hair was straight up for the slo-mo and well thought out. 👌
Hard Target was a awesome Action film. Van Damme was excellent and Lance Henriksen was hilarious as well.
Nice video as always...you should check out jhon woo’s black jack with dolph lundgren also
I'll need to check that out.
Awesome movie. Liked it from the first time I saw it. The Blu Ray version I have is about 4 minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Many scenes of violence and gunplay are restored. Making it that much better.
I absolutely love Hard Target. Its both my favourite Van Damme film and my favourite US produced John Woo film. It’s a shame that JCVD and John Woo didn’t get to work on more films together as Woo could easily make JCVD look good on film.
It would've been amazing for them to do more.. it's a crime they didn't do at least 3 films together.
Viking Samurai I totally agree. There were definitely more potential to their collaboration for future projects. A big shout out to Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo as well for having such a good chemistry together as the antagonist. I particularly loves the scene in which Vosloo and JCVD stands back to back with a wall seperating them, they jump out, shoots and Vosloo throws a grenade and JCVD jumps through the window. Pure art for my action heart. The final fight scene between Lance and JCVD was great as well. They sure don’t make movies like this anymore.
Hard target is a bloody great action film I love it
All the actors are fantastic I especially like the uncle was it wilford brimley
People never mention that van damme is also not too bad an actor and has given some good performances over his career
Great video sir Big thumbs up from the UK
Thanks for watching! I agree, Van Damme's acting talent is usually underappreciated. I felt like he finally got some recognition with the JCVD film at least.
The king of slo-mo and the double take👊🏼👊🏼👍🏼
The end fight ("hunting season is over") is one of mt all time fav scenes.
Viking's background is randomly lit asf lol
Awesome video man, its still a personal favourite of mine from from his high kicking filmography
Hard Target is such a great movie. John Woo is an action maestro and Van Damme was bad ass as usual.
My favorite JCVD film. I had an old work print on VHS back in the day that was around 20 minutes longer.
I saw Blood sport when I was 12 in 1987 , that was the real true UFC only in real life it was held.in Jamaica . Frank Duxe kicked serious ass in real life . Anyhow I Rember having the blood sport poster in my room of Van Damme doing the jump kick on Bolo . Love Blood sport havnt seen Hard Target yet. But I will.
@Anthony Clark I will
I Just discovered Knock Off a few weeks ago. Was weird seeing Rob Shneider in that kind of role. Hard Target definitely up there on my favorite JCVD movies.
I'll be rewatching Knock Off again soon, that's going to be part 3 of this video series.
Great casting on the main villains! Lance Henriksen & Arnold Vosloo 🤙 👍 🤘 😁
Blood Sport , Hard Target & the Quest my favourite Jean Claude Van Damme movies .
That’s one of his best. Just a great cast Arnold Volsoo and Lance Henkerson played great villains. Like to see you interview James Ryan. He had a couple good films.
I was living in Hong Kong between 1978-1988. I was only a kid. But I remember seeing a part of the filming of Bloodsport, sadly I didn't know what I was looking at.
That's cool, thanks for sharing!
Tell us more, what scenes do you remember checking
@@MrMiltonenrique2001 I believe it was the chase scene, I was up the top of Nathan Road near the star ferry terminal. I saw filming going on, and 2 white actors & one black in front of the camera talking to the "Director". It was only a few years later in May 1989 I watched Bloodsport, actually I had never heard of it or JCVD. But when I saw it in my local video rental store....that was that ☺
Just a superior movie full of grit, action, character and a little bit a superhero all rolled up in one stick of 🧨
all john woo movies have a superhero as the main protagonist
At the end of the movie it was filmed in a closed down sugar mill. Now the sugar mill is converted to a welding shop and I work there now.
Jcvd and John woo great classic, want to watch again
good channel with A lot information and so inspiring
Thanks so much! I'm glad you appreciate it!
@@VikingSamurai thanks bro
One of my favourite movies, Very good video 👌 , please continue making such type of videos Bro 💪💪👊😎😎👌
Dude your van damme videos are excellent! I agree hard target 2 is garnage but do you watch Scott Atkins TH-cam channel intervirws with martial art legens? The tony jaa one and benny vas. Are fascinating
His interviews are great!
I know I may have came into this video late, lol but I came across it and seen it was about Hard Target and had to watch. Hard Target was a masterpiece and one of the greatest action movies ever made, Hard Target 2 was ok, could of been better in my opinion and I love Scott Adkins but it just wasn't nothing like the first one or as big. Love your videos and channel!
Scott and I discuss Hard Target 2 in a future video
I'll definitely be watching
Hard target was dope and a classic! I loved it! Btw I thought another under-rated Van Damme movie was LionHeart, you should do a review on that movie if you haven't already lol!
I love Lionheart, I'll be covering that soon!
I'm sure you can get interviews with 90s action stars. They are mostly retired and it would be amazing.
That would be awesome! That'll definitely be something I'll look into as this channel grows.
Not my favorite movie but one of my favorite channels. I love all those movies you mentioned especially Darkman.
Whoa. You called it the 'Guyver Kick!? I thought only my brother and I called it that!
It's a slick move.
@@VikingSamurai will you be doing a video about the Guyver movies in the future!?
Love that streets of rage. The new one is amazing.
I still need to play that new one!
I love Hard Target, heck I love Face off and like Broken Arrow, I don't think Hard Target needed a sequel. However, if one had to be made they may as well just brought back Van to play the same character and have him hunted again, maybe by a brother or other relative of the Lance character years later. The problem with a Hard Target sequel is a major reason it worked was the director's sense of action, which would be near impossible to recapture regardless of who did the sequel.
Hard Target is one of his best! Love it! Part 2 is another movie and not as great!
I always wondered why woo would use birds in his films.
#VikingSamurai the way john woo shoots movies is like a ballerina on the dance floor it is a dance ...The shootout scenes are amazing the back and forth of guns being shot and the way they were gliding over or sliding under stuff and everything else is exploding around them amazing
Great Video. Nice in depth details on this Action Masterpiece. John Woo really had a unique creative style.... Only if Vandamme and Woo made more films together... This film was Magic caught in a bottle.
Yeah, the sequal was a soulless stinker, I like Scott Adkins, but man he needs better stuff to work with.
I always wanted to make this video and I'm glad somebody did. Hard Target is my number one go to FUN film and the first JCVD film I always show to my friends who haven't seen any. Awesome video.
Thanks for sharing. Hard Target is a great gateway film to get people started with experiencing Van Damme's greatness!
Would love to see alternate cut
Great video. I was just talking to someone about this movie this morning. I think youtube is listening hah. I love john woo. If anyone hasnt seen Bullet in the Head 1990, do yourself a favor and watch that masterpiece. As far as Hart Target goes, it always left a bad taste in my mouth due to it being Woo's first film in the States, but Van Damme had to stink up the first 3 quarters of the film with his ego. That being said, the final 20 minutes of Hard Target is all John Woo kicking ass and it is glorious. Im glad you brought up the boat chase from Face/Off being removed due to Van Damme changing his mind. I think it would have been such a cool addition to the film and upped my opinion of the film as a whole. I dont mean to crap on Van Damme. I love the dude and most of his films. I am just disappointed in how he made most of Woo's project, his project.
Thanks for commenting, it is interesting how much power the "star" has over a production in the states.
This and Broken Arrow are underrated unsung legendary movies of the 1990s.
Cyborg had a high body count 🤙🏻
Awesome, Hard Target is the all time best action movies!
Hard Target is one of my favorite JCVD movies. Also, Chance Boudreaux is my favorite JCVD character. Note: Don’t forget that Jon Woo has the tendency to include pigeons in his movies! 🤷🏻♂️
90s Action Masterpiece! 👍🏾👏🏾💯👌🏾One of the Greatest Action Movies Ever Made!!!
One of top 3 Van Damme's best. John Woo makes awesome action movies
Vandammes axe kick that he uses like an inside to outside crescent kick in the final battle w Henrickson, as well as his back spinning hook kick where he side steps the attacker n catches him on the back of the head n sends him through the window in the first street fight are both so excellent in their height and uncommon utilization. JCVD is kinda a limited guy, but he really maxed out his move set n cinematically was probably the best at what he excelled at when u consider his build and techniques combined. This movie was great. Its also cool to see Sven Thornson (Arnolds film buddy) get that cigar kicked outta his mouth slow motion style in the mardi gras graveyard warehouse too. His Hawaiian shirt in New Orleans proves he got what he deserved. :)
Great comments!
@@VikingSamurai thanks i love ur content. U talk my language
Okay you called it the Guyver Kick. You are da man!!!!!!!! Not many people know that movie. Part 2 action was ahead of its time lol
I like went back to watch that movie and the fight in the lake was so epic.
Im thinking about watching the og punisher with dolph . Havent seen since i was very young infact i think i may watch all punisher movies to see whichis best. I just re-watched the netflix series and it was great. Any ways i dig ur content . Who was ur favorite punisher ?
I like Thomas Jane's Punisher movie. But I'll take Jon Bernthal in general. As far as Dolph goes, he's awesome in general, but when he did Punisher, comic movies weren't really taken seriously and it showed. I'm curious to revisit that though with an open mind.
one of my faveorites too watch love van damme
Hard Target is legendary. Top favorite Van Damme film, by a mile
above the rest. Henricksen makes a great villain. But Arnold Vosloo
makes an unforgettable one! The best villainous duo of all time.
I wish the movie had more fights against living persons...(as opposed
to the ones that are already dead from lead poisoning)...especially
sorely missing is the hand-to-hand confrontation against Pick Van Cleef.
This flaw is hard to swallow even after all this time. Nonetheless, this is
a masterpiece of action, that i enjoy re-watching regularly for many years.
Definitely a fantastic Woo and JCVD film! An absolute classic!
It’s a great action film, I absolutely loved it, me and my brother even tried to pull off JCVDs mullet 😆
It's definitely a tough look to pull off! Lol
Oh my🤭
Is it true that there were deleted scenes of Van Damme using a crossbow and doing more acrobatic movements. ??! A classic movie - reminds me of the novel that became a 'movie' No Escape - Or The Penal Colony - by Richard Hearly great book!!!
Would love to watch Woo's original cut of Hard Target.
Could you please do a review on David Bradley. He starred with Marc Ducascos in Amarican Samurai and also in Amarican Ninja.
What's the background music you put something jet..
John Woo's Dual Pistol Trademark is also called as Gun-Fu 🎬👌
Lots of love from india.
Hard target uncut....a classic
I started martial arts because of van damme. Went on to do it for 30 years. Travelling to Malaysia amongst other places for competition. Best days of my life. I'd love to thank him in person one day.
I almost grew a mullet because of hard target..... ALMOST lol
That's great, he inspired me to train in martial arts as well after seeing him in Bloodsport!
@@VikingSamurai might have been as far back as cyborg for me. I'm that old unfortunately
Cyborg's amazing!
Cinema,tape,dvd,blu ray...and waiting for 4K..this is how i love hardtarget....u cant kill what u cant hunt...scott adkins and van damme for hardtarget 3
Plus Van Damme knows how to rock the slick back mullet in this movie. Hard Target with Kurt Russell would of been good too. Kurt Russell knows how to play a Badass.
Both great movies. Hard Target is amazing and so much fun, but I feel Lionheart gets over looked a bit. That scene at the end was touching.
I absolutely love Lionheart!
@@VikingSamurai Ashley Johnson should have got an award for that scene! Lots of great fights, personally liked the movie more than Sudden Death. He was excited to do that movie cause he had a family in it, but his scenes in Lionheart with family were more enjoyable to watch.
Anychance you'll work on a video of Mark Dacascos and Crying Freeman /Drive?
It's very possible I'll do another Dacascos video.
Van Damme’s Top 5 Movies:
#1 Bloodsport
#2 Double Impact
#3 Hard Target
#4 Time Cop
#5 Universal Soldier
I saw 👀 this 2x in the 🎥 theater soooo good! I always tried to drag my friends to Van Dame movies 🎬 in the 90s..I recall seeing every movie Except for cyborg in the theater because my mom wouldn't let me go 😅