Despite some of the more esoteric films that I like, I really DO enjoy watching Van Damme's movies. I think that they are a blast! A lot of people say that he is 'wooden', but I just think he pulls it off as being very cool. Not all actors in his category can do that and really DO look wooden (cough... Steven Seagal, cough...)
With that said... unfortunately, in my lowly and wretched opinion as opposed to several reviewers here, I truly do NOT think that this is one of the better Van Damme films. As a matter of fact, I feel that in all the ones that I've seen, this is probably my least favourite. The story, although rather plain, is fine. His acting and the supporting actors are fine. Even some of the quirky prison stuff and people are okay. It's just that for some odd reason, around the last 30-40 minutes, to me anyway, it really seems like the director starts to get VERY lazy. All of the sudden where everything was just fine before, the scenes, acting, and ESPECIALLY the editing, line delivery, and pacing REALLY take a dive. It honestly is like about two thirds of the way into the film the director lost interest, or did a few too many funny cigarettes or something, I don't know. At that point it just seems like whatever focus or sharpness the direction had was lost.
Really weird...
So, being that the end of a film SHOULD indeed be stronger to finish it out, this one left me feeling like it ultimately was a bit silly. IF the director had finished it out at the exact same level of quality with which he shaped the first two thirds of the film, then I think it would have been just great.
Also, Kilpatrick usually comes across as very, VERY menacing, but in this movie he seems like more of a goofy, grinning pussy somehow; I think that that really took away some of the impact that the ending could have had.
I don't know, maybe for a Van Damme film I'm just thinking too 'damme' much... :) But, a film is a film, and when you start at a certain level you really should finish it at LEAST at the same level. But hey, for people who like Van Damme and his films (like most of the other reviewers here) you likely will enjoy it anyway.
For me personally, this was one of his least satisfying films; one of my personal favourites would have to be 'TIMECOP' (I don't know if that helps or hurts my credibility... : )
With that said... unfortunately, in my lowly and wretched opinion as opposed to several reviewers here, I truly do NOT think that this is one of the better Van Damme films. As a matter of fact, I feel that in all the ones that I've seen, this is probably my least favourite. The story, although rather plain, is fine. His acting and the supporting actors are fine. Even some of the quirky prison stuff and people are okay. It's just that for some odd reason, around the last 30-40 minutes, to me anyway, it really seems like the director starts to get VERY lazy. All of the sudden where everything was just fine before, the scenes, acting, and ESPECIALLY the editing, line delivery, and pacing REALLY take a dive. It honestly is like about two thirds of the way into the film the director lost interest, or did a few too many funny cigarettes or something, I don't know. At that point it just seems like whatever focus or sharpness the direction had was lost.
Really weird...
So, being that the end of a film SHOULD indeed be stronger to finish it out, this one left me feeling like it ultimately was a bit silly. IF the director had finished it out at the exact same level of quality with which he shaped the first two thirds of the film, then I think it would have been just great.
Also, Kilpatrick usually comes across as very, VERY menacing, but in this movie he seems like more of a goofy, grinning pussy somehow; I think that that really took away some of the impact that the ending could have had.
I don't know, maybe for a Van Damme film I'm just thinking too 'damme' much... :) But, a film is a film, and when you start at a certain level you really should finish it at LEAST at the same level. But hey, for people who like Van Damme and his films (like most of the other reviewers here) you likely will enjoy it anyway.
For me personally, this was one of his least satisfying films; one of my personal favourites would have to be 'TIMECOP' (I don't know if that helps or hurts my credibility... : )