Most people just don't understand movies.There are different movie genres,and none can really be compared to the other.Take this movie for instance - it's not " Hamlet " nor is it " Jason Goes To Manhattan ".Not to be crass,but Van Damme makes movies not for artistic value,he makes movies you can pop into your VCR or DVD Player when you feel like kicking someones ass.Think of his movies as " Primal Drama ". What's " Primal Drama ",you might ask ? It's movies that are made to appease your inner beast.Just as you might feel like screaming at someone, or breaking a chair over someone's head,you reach for a Van Damme or Stallone movie instead.Somehow,watching the hero in these simplistic displays of eccentric unbelievable melodrama makes life a little easier.Watch an emotional display of comic brutality, and somehow everything's alright again.Look at Van Damme's movies the same way you did Comic Books and you'll understand.Just like Comic Books,Van Damme movies will always have a place in the heart of the Alpha Male.Lowbrow for sure,fun nonetheless. ***** 7 out of 10 *****
93 Reviews
A Cut Above In A Couple Of Areas
ccthemovieman-128 December 2006
This was an intense prison movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme as an undercover cop. "Louis Burke," trying to solve a crime inside a tough prison.
There is excellent suspense, some surprisingly-good photography with excellent closeups and slow-motion. Language-wise, I liked the fact there wasn't a lot of the usage of the Lord's name in vain. All of that help make this better than I anticipated.
The final fight scene is a little long and is Rocky-like ridiculous in that both combatants get viscously beaten to a pulp.....but keep coming back and not even having their hair messed up!! That notwithstanding, it was an entertaining movie and a cut above most martial arts fare.
There is excellent suspense, some surprisingly-good photography with excellent closeups and slow-motion. Language-wise, I liked the fact there wasn't a lot of the usage of the Lord's name in vain. All of that help make this better than I anticipated.
The final fight scene is a little long and is Rocky-like ridiculous in that both combatants get viscously beaten to a pulp.....but keep coming back and not even having their hair messed up!! That notwithstanding, it was an entertaining movie and a cut above most martial arts fare.
One of the best JCVD movie
ebiros217 October 2012
Dare I say that when this movie was made JCVD was at the peak of his physical shape ? He really looks awesome in this movie. He's a pretty good actor as well, which is evident when you compare Chuck Norris' movies from the same era.
Although the movie is more than 20 years old, it doesn't look dated. The movie is also not a mindless martial arts movie either. It has some good story behind it. Even compared to "Lionheart" made the same year, this movie is way ahead in terms of quality.
Amanda Gibbs is gorgeous in this movie. Too bad that we didn't get to see her during the '90s asides from this movie.
Seriously, this is one of the best JCVD movie made and is recommended for viewing even if you're NOT a JCVD fan.
Although the movie is more than 20 years old, it doesn't look dated. The movie is also not a mindless martial arts movie either. It has some good story behind it. Even compared to "Lionheart" made the same year, this movie is way ahead in terms of quality.
Amanda Gibbs is gorgeous in this movie. Too bad that we didn't get to see her during the '90s asides from this movie.
Seriously, this is one of the best JCVD movie made and is recommended for viewing even if you're NOT a JCVD fan.
Mister Sandman Give Me A Dream
sol12188 March 2005
**SPOILERS** One of Jean-Claud Van Damme's better movies in which he plays a Royal Canadian Mountie who goes undercover in a California prison to find out why a number of prisoners have been murdered at the Harrison State Prison over the last year.
Being that officer Louis Burke, Jean-Claud Van Damme, is from out of the country and has worked with the LAPD before, he lost he partner while tracking down a serial-killer known as "The Sandman" (Patrick Klipatrick) it's felt by the prison authorities and the DA's office that no one will recognize him in the pen.
Working with DA attorney Amanda Beckett, Cynthia Gibbs, who's posing as his wife on the outside Burke keeps in touch with her on whatever information he can come up with on the dead prisoners. With the help of some local convicts that he befriended in the prison including Hawkins, Robert Guillaume,Burke begins to find out that whats happening is being conducted by the very people who placed him there, DA Tom Vogler and head of prisons Ben Keane, George Dickerson & Jack Bannon. Voler & Keane are working together with the head of the prison guards and the prison doctor Sgt. DeGraf & Dr. Gottesman, Art Laflevr & Arimin Shierman, in killing healthy and non-addicted, to either drugs or alcohol, prisoners. These murders are being done in order to take out their vital organs and then sell them on the open market to the highest bidder! In fact DA Voglar has gotten Dr. Gottesman to get him a healthy liver, from one of the murdered prisoners, for his sick wife Helen, Dorothy Dells, without even her knowing about it.
Burke had been set up by the corrupt state administrators to show the higher ups in the government that they were doing all that they could to find out about the murders there. When Burke started to find out the real reason for them, the dead prisoners, he was to be terminated before he could expose Volgar & Co. and their illegal human organ racket.
The action in the film was as good and as exciting as you could ever want in a movie like "Death Warrent" with Van Damme in top form taking out the bad guys with his fists and feet in a number of gut crunching fight sequences. Being a marked man with his identity, as an undercover policeman, exposed by the prison officials themselves it's a wonder why those in authority, not involved in this organ racket, didn't come to Bruke's rescue earlier then they did. Bruke's outside contact Amanda was doing everything to alert them but they seemed to be either out to lunch or on vacation.
Thrilling final with Burke having it out with the almost indestructible "Sandman" giving him a hot foot as well as a one way trip to Blazeville with the prisoners, forgetting about Burke's police identity, giving him a standing ovation at the end of the film.
P.S Despite two major inconsistence. #1.Why the non-corrupt government authorities were so late in sending state troopers and national guardsmen to Harrison State Prison in order to rescue fellow police officer Louis Burke from hundreds angry and homicidal convicts. #2. The fact that "The Sandman" seemed to have come back to life at the end movie after he was obviously killed by Burke, with a hail of bullets, when the movie started. The film hold together pretty well and gives you the kind of non-stop action that you would expect from it.
Being that officer Louis Burke, Jean-Claud Van Damme, is from out of the country and has worked with the LAPD before, he lost he partner while tracking down a serial-killer known as "The Sandman" (Patrick Klipatrick) it's felt by the prison authorities and the DA's office that no one will recognize him in the pen.
Working with DA attorney Amanda Beckett, Cynthia Gibbs, who's posing as his wife on the outside Burke keeps in touch with her on whatever information he can come up with on the dead prisoners. With the help of some local convicts that he befriended in the prison including Hawkins, Robert Guillaume,Burke begins to find out that whats happening is being conducted by the very people who placed him there, DA Tom Vogler and head of prisons Ben Keane, George Dickerson & Jack Bannon. Voler & Keane are working together with the head of the prison guards and the prison doctor Sgt. DeGraf & Dr. Gottesman, Art Laflevr & Arimin Shierman, in killing healthy and non-addicted, to either drugs or alcohol, prisoners. These murders are being done in order to take out their vital organs and then sell them on the open market to the highest bidder! In fact DA Voglar has gotten Dr. Gottesman to get him a healthy liver, from one of the murdered prisoners, for his sick wife Helen, Dorothy Dells, without even her knowing about it.
Burke had been set up by the corrupt state administrators to show the higher ups in the government that they were doing all that they could to find out about the murders there. When Burke started to find out the real reason for them, the dead prisoners, he was to be terminated before he could expose Volgar & Co. and their illegal human organ racket.
The action in the film was as good and as exciting as you could ever want in a movie like "Death Warrent" with Van Damme in top form taking out the bad guys with his fists and feet in a number of gut crunching fight sequences. Being a marked man with his identity, as an undercover policeman, exposed by the prison officials themselves it's a wonder why those in authority, not involved in this organ racket, didn't come to Bruke's rescue earlier then they did. Bruke's outside contact Amanda was doing everything to alert them but they seemed to be either out to lunch or on vacation.
Thrilling final with Burke having it out with the almost indestructible "Sandman" giving him a hot foot as well as a one way trip to Blazeville with the prisoners, forgetting about Burke's police identity, giving him a standing ovation at the end of the film.
P.S Despite two major inconsistence. #1.Why the non-corrupt government authorities were so late in sending state troopers and national guardsmen to Harrison State Prison in order to rescue fellow police officer Louis Burke from hundreds angry and homicidal convicts. #2. The fact that "The Sandman" seemed to have come back to life at the end movie after he was obviously killed by Burke, with a hail of bullets, when the movie started. The film hold together pretty well and gives you the kind of non-stop action that you would expect from it.
I don't pay!.. I don't punk!
lastliberal19 June 2010
Jean-Claude Van Damme is definitely a guilty pleasure for me. I don't go looking for fine acting and a great script. I want action and lots of it! Van Damme is a Canadian cop who goes undercover in LA to find out what is going on in a prison. He is made for this type of role, as he will have plenty of opportunity to display his considerable martial arts skills.
He isn't in prison long before he ticks of the Hispanic gangs and has to continually fight to stay alive.
Cynthia Gibb provides the essential "babe" in these flicks, even if she wasn't completely satisfying. And, when does a prisoner in the hole get out for conjugal rights? I always enjoy Robert Guillaume, and he didn't disappoint. Patrick Kilpatrick made a formidable foe and the final bout was well worth the time spent getting there.
A guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless.
He isn't in prison long before he ticks of the Hispanic gangs and has to continually fight to stay alive.
Cynthia Gibb provides the essential "babe" in these flicks, even if she wasn't completely satisfying. And, when does a prisoner in the hole get out for conjugal rights? I always enjoy Robert Guillaume, and he didn't disappoint. Patrick Kilpatrick made a formidable foe and the final bout was well worth the time spent getting there.
A guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless.
I have a warrant... FOR YOUR DEATH!
AwesomeWolf15 April 2005
"What is a death warrant?" you may ask. I'm not too sure myself. I assume it must like an arrest warrant, but instead of arresting the target of the warrant, Van Damme gets to kill them. Pretty simple really. I mean, if Jean-Claude was only intending to ARREST the antagonists, it would be a pretty boring movie, right?
Van Damme plays Louis Burke, a Canadian Mountie who never wears the proper Mountie uniform, which is a damn shame because those Mountie hats are cool. Burke is on assignment in Los Angeles, tracking down a villain known as the Sandman, bullet-proof serial-killer extraordinaire. After taking down The Sandman in the first few minutes, Burke is given another assignment: The inmates of the local maximum-security prison have developed a nasty habit of being killed by ice-pick to the head. Burke's assignment is to go undercover (naturally) and find out where all these ice-picks are coming from and who is behind it. Is it a prison-gang war, or a massive conspiracy involving corrupt officials and mad scientists? Have a guess.
Naturally, one would assume that a Van Damme movie - set in a prison - called 'Death Warrant' would be action packed. Unfortunately, 'Death Warrant', much like 'Legionnaire', proves that not all Van Damme movies are excuses for a showcase of spin-kicks. It is a shame that 'Death Warrant' is not as action packed as I would like it to be. There are some cool fights, but it is a fairly slow movie, and the less said about the scenes involving a character called Priest (Abdul Salaam El Razzac), the better. Priest is a weird, weird fellow. I'm pretty sure he is really some sort of alien replicon from the beyond the moon...
Now, I'm trying to judge 'Death Warrant' harshly, I really am. There just isn't enough action, but I just can't speak ill of any movie that was made in the 80s, is about the 80s, or features music and fashion from the 80s. In this case, 'Death Warrant' has 80s music AND a mad scientist. Both big bonuses in any movie's favour. Granted, the mad scientist's screen time is almost negligible, but the presence of a mad scientist makes the coolness metre of any movie shoot straight up.
Sure, 'Death Warrant' may be slow, lack action, and feature a lot of Van Damme acting rather than fighting, but it is entertaining enough (what with the 80s music and all), but it is only for Van Damme fans - 6/10
Van Damme plays Louis Burke, a Canadian Mountie who never wears the proper Mountie uniform, which is a damn shame because those Mountie hats are cool. Burke is on assignment in Los Angeles, tracking down a villain known as the Sandman, bullet-proof serial-killer extraordinaire. After taking down The Sandman in the first few minutes, Burke is given another assignment: The inmates of the local maximum-security prison have developed a nasty habit of being killed by ice-pick to the head. Burke's assignment is to go undercover (naturally) and find out where all these ice-picks are coming from and who is behind it. Is it a prison-gang war, or a massive conspiracy involving corrupt officials and mad scientists? Have a guess.
Naturally, one would assume that a Van Damme movie - set in a prison - called 'Death Warrant' would be action packed. Unfortunately, 'Death Warrant', much like 'Legionnaire', proves that not all Van Damme movies are excuses for a showcase of spin-kicks. It is a shame that 'Death Warrant' is not as action packed as I would like it to be. There are some cool fights, but it is a fairly slow movie, and the less said about the scenes involving a character called Priest (Abdul Salaam El Razzac), the better. Priest is a weird, weird fellow. I'm pretty sure he is really some sort of alien replicon from the beyond the moon...
Now, I'm trying to judge 'Death Warrant' harshly, I really am. There just isn't enough action, but I just can't speak ill of any movie that was made in the 80s, is about the 80s, or features music and fashion from the 80s. In this case, 'Death Warrant' has 80s music AND a mad scientist. Both big bonuses in any movie's favour. Granted, the mad scientist's screen time is almost negligible, but the presence of a mad scientist makes the coolness metre of any movie shoot straight up.
Sure, 'Death Warrant' may be slow, lack action, and feature a lot of Van Damme acting rather than fighting, but it is entertaining enough (what with the 80s music and all), but it is only for Van Damme fans - 6/10
Lethal injections...
fmarkland3222 May 2006
A police officer goes undercover in a prison to discover why inmates are disappearing at a fast rate. The investigation is going all fine and dandy until the serial killer that this particular cop caught is transfered therefore putting him in jeopardy and blowing his cover. Good thing the cop knows kickboxing. This is one of Jean-Claude's lesser efforts, it lacks the overall excitement of Bloodsport and Kickboxer as well as the visceral enjoyment provided by his later movies like Universal Soldier and Hard Target. The story itself is too routine and although at times Death Warrant has a grisly twist that give it a jolt, Death Warrant is very forgettable stuff. I myself enjoy a good action flick but I like them more upbeat and it's only the action sequences which make this mildly diverting.
* * out of 4(Fair)
* * out of 4(Fair)
i'm the sandman.......
FlashCallahan10 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Death Warrant, or the film where Van Dammes voice broke is an odd affair. It's not like really any of his other films, it's very dark and gloomy but still has some great fights in it.
the story is something about human organs being harvested by the prison, and Van Damme goes in there undercover to find out what in the hell is going on.
About halfway through the film,'the sandman' becomes an inmate, and before you know it, he tells everyone that Van Damme is a cop, and probably the fact that he is from Belgium too.
This is when the action really begins, but not in very large amounts. Van Damme is very broody and mumbles a lot through the film, there are good cops, bad guards, cross dressing prisoners, and red herrings galore.
It's not the best film he has made, but it's far from the worst.
If you are a fan of Van Damme, it's well worth seeing. He does his trademark roundhouse kick a few times, and the fight at the end has the good old editing that makes Van Damme look like he kicks the bloke twenty times, when really he does it once.
very dark at times, narrative could be better, bit it's a cannon film, so it's ultimately a guilty pleasure.
the story is something about human organs being harvested by the prison, and Van Damme goes in there undercover to find out what in the hell is going on.
About halfway through the film,'the sandman' becomes an inmate, and before you know it, he tells everyone that Van Damme is a cop, and probably the fact that he is from Belgium too.
This is when the action really begins, but not in very large amounts. Van Damme is very broody and mumbles a lot through the film, there are good cops, bad guards, cross dressing prisoners, and red herrings galore.
It's not the best film he has made, but it's far from the worst.
If you are a fan of Van Damme, it's well worth seeing. He does his trademark roundhouse kick a few times, and the fight at the end has the good old editing that makes Van Damme look like he kicks the bloke twenty times, when really he does it once.
very dark at times, narrative could be better, bit it's a cannon film, so it's ultimately a guilty pleasure.
A deadly situation with unrealistic payoff
breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com27 July 2014
By 1990, Jean-Claude Van Damme had claimed success in his late 80s sports films like Kickboxer (1989) and Bloodsport (1988). Along with this film, was Lionheart (1990) released the same year, which also many fans enjoyed. The thing was for almost every film Van Damme had played in, his role was that of a character with a family member he had lost and was fighting for. It was new and touching for him as an actor in the beginning. But as time went on, the story lines began to feel awfully similar. Still, they entertained fans and viewers alike for the most part. Then came Death Warrant (1990), a movie with a whole different setting and situation which is great, yet failed to change the rest of the elements that Van Damme has already worked with in past stories.
Van Damme plays a cop named Burke who goes incognito at a penitentiary to solve a series of murders that have taken place there. This particular plot line is fine if it were handled without being treated so generically. Helping Burke from the outside is Amanda (Cynthia Gibb, best known for playing Sandy in Short Circuit 2 (1988)), posing as his wife. Starting off with how generic this story line is already headed, I'm sure viewers could pick out what happens between Amanda and Burke. It's quite blatant with how both characters are set up and developed. Are they memorable? Mehhh,...maybe to some. The only part of the plot that is different from Van Damme's past movies is that he's no longer fighting for a family member, he's fighting for himself. Kind of like First Blood (1982) but with a mediocre script.
Besides these actors, the rest of the main cast isn't terrible but are mostly under developed too. There's Abdul Salaam El Razzac as a man named Priest and Hawkins (Robert Guillaume - known for voicing Rafiki to The Lion King (1994)). Both of these actors give interesting character portrayals but somehow side with Burke for little to no reason. If they are criminals what exactly made them warm up so quickly to Burke? Then there's a cult favorite for some fans, Art LaFleur for playing in Stallone's Cobra (1986) & The Blob (1988) remake. He plays the head of the penitentiary and dislikes Burke a lot and for what reason? It's not given either. Lastly is a character known as the "Sandman" (Patrick Kilpatrick) who has the ability to withstand almost any type of lethal damage. And the reason behind this is? Again,...not given. Kilpatrick also isn't that memorable as a villain. He's more obnoxious than actually threatening.
Here's the biggest surprise, the screenplay was written by the now insanely sought out David S. Goyer. Yes, the man behind all the future comic book movies - this was his entry into film. Wow, Mr. Goyer you didn't start off that great. Russell Carpenter as head of cinematography was OK but nothing really stood out. The editing was strange at times though, especially during the fight scenes. There would be quick cuts to an action Burke would make and it would be repeated to make it look faster but instead it felt like filler. Even Gary Chang's score was in the middle. At times it work by using his signature marimba drums to emphasize the wild like instincts to survive such a hostile place, but it also didn't feel totally appropriate at times. He even has a main theme for Burke but it doesn't have a tune that is memorable. Sigh.
Its situation is written differently from that of Van Damme's earlier efforts but somehow all the same elements make it in as well. Plus, the screenplay suffers from several motivations and explanations that aren't explained. Thankfully it at least has a decent cast and music to back it up.
Van Damme plays a cop named Burke who goes incognito at a penitentiary to solve a series of murders that have taken place there. This particular plot line is fine if it were handled without being treated so generically. Helping Burke from the outside is Amanda (Cynthia Gibb, best known for playing Sandy in Short Circuit 2 (1988)), posing as his wife. Starting off with how generic this story line is already headed, I'm sure viewers could pick out what happens between Amanda and Burke. It's quite blatant with how both characters are set up and developed. Are they memorable? Mehhh,...maybe to some. The only part of the plot that is different from Van Damme's past movies is that he's no longer fighting for a family member, he's fighting for himself. Kind of like First Blood (1982) but with a mediocre script.
Besides these actors, the rest of the main cast isn't terrible but are mostly under developed too. There's Abdul Salaam El Razzac as a man named Priest and Hawkins (Robert Guillaume - known for voicing Rafiki to The Lion King (1994)). Both of these actors give interesting character portrayals but somehow side with Burke for little to no reason. If they are criminals what exactly made them warm up so quickly to Burke? Then there's a cult favorite for some fans, Art LaFleur for playing in Stallone's Cobra (1986) & The Blob (1988) remake. He plays the head of the penitentiary and dislikes Burke a lot and for what reason? It's not given either. Lastly is a character known as the "Sandman" (Patrick Kilpatrick) who has the ability to withstand almost any type of lethal damage. And the reason behind this is? Again,...not given. Kilpatrick also isn't that memorable as a villain. He's more obnoxious than actually threatening.
Here's the biggest surprise, the screenplay was written by the now insanely sought out David S. Goyer. Yes, the man behind all the future comic book movies - this was his entry into film. Wow, Mr. Goyer you didn't start off that great. Russell Carpenter as head of cinematography was OK but nothing really stood out. The editing was strange at times though, especially during the fight scenes. There would be quick cuts to an action Burke would make and it would be repeated to make it look faster but instead it felt like filler. Even Gary Chang's score was in the middle. At times it work by using his signature marimba drums to emphasize the wild like instincts to survive such a hostile place, but it also didn't feel totally appropriate at times. He even has a main theme for Burke but it doesn't have a tune that is memorable. Sigh.
Its situation is written differently from that of Van Damme's earlier efforts but somehow all the same elements make it in as well. Plus, the screenplay suffers from several motivations and explanations that aren't explained. Thankfully it at least has a decent cast and music to back it up.
Your usual Van Damme film
legendaryunderdog20 October 2009
"Death Warrant" is another good film from the early nineties featuring Van Damage and all his greatness, this time Van Damme (a police officer) goes undercover to a prison that supposedly has been the hosts to some rather mysterious deaths. What transpires from there is your usual prison flick: fights, gangs, murders, plotting to get the bad guy, the eventual fight sequences, etc. Considering the time this film came out (1990), it isn't too bad at all, I have definitely seen much worse in the action film department than this. There are some flaws, continuity errors, goofs, and what have you, but Van Dammes films in my opinion should be devoid of any Roger Ebert-laden scrutiny. They are entirely designed for the action sequences that many fans (along with myself) find enjoyment in watching for the simplicity of entertainment value. I recommend 'Death Warrant' to anyone who appreciates your good old rock 'em sock 'em Van Damage (Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Lionheart for example). Good stuff.
A standard but good early Van Damme vehicle.
alexanderdavies-993829 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Death Warrant" is another early JCVD movie which helped him on the way to success.
The violence is pretty grim but the martial arts has been slickly put together for the fight scenes.
Van Damme is up against corruption at a high security prison, where the worst kinds of criminals are to be found and the prison guards abuse the responsibility they have. Going undercover as a newly convicted felon, Van Damme uncovers some sinister events and has to endure the company of some of the less civilised gentlemen. One inmate in particular is the king of the psychos and he wants JCVD!
The story isn't much to write home about and is hard to keep up with. It's best to just enjoy Van Damme doing his thing.
No-Holds-Barred Action Prison Style! - The best of Van Damme!
ivo-cobra830 December 2015
Death Warrant (1990) is no-holds-barred-action classic another prison style Van Damme movie. It is my fourth favorite best underrated Van Damme movie. This movie is really underrated, but it is one of my best favorite prison style movies. Also my favorite childhood movie that I still watch today, like other Van Damme action movies I do.
The action fighting sequences are awesome. Sylvester Stallone made an action Drama movie Lock Up in 1989 and Jean-Claude Van Damme made Death Warrant a year later in 1990. Directed by Deran Sarafian and written by a David S. Goyer who at the time was a college student and it was his first script. Cynthia Gibb is awesome as co star alongside Van Damme. The movie is awesome another adrenaline action packed movie I also love the music score: Bring Me a Dream by Craig Thomas, which I am still listening today.
"Bring me a dream Burke".
This movie to me is a kicks-ass, Patrick Kilpatrick as The Sandman was a bad ass villain on screen, I have ever seen. This movie is also a horror film and get's scary, when you see the prison place and the murders of the doctor and the prison inmates inside those cells. When prisoners brake loose was really scary. I love loved the prison movies, about prison inmates, it was, one the reason why I love Prison Break (2005) and why it become my favorite TV Show! This movie is a kick ass and it will always be forever my favorite Van Damme movie that I love it to death!
" Don 'The Dragon' Wilson (Bloodfist) and David Bradley (American Ninja 3) the action stars from the 80's and 90's both ripped off Van Damme movies! Like Bloodfist 1 ripped off the story from Bloodsport, Bloodfist 2 ripped off the story from Kickboxer and Bloodfist 3 ripped off the story from Death Warrant! And Don Wilson was praising him self that, he could beat Van Damme to a pulp?! I don't think so! David Bradley's Hard Justice (1995) ripped off the story from John Woo's Hard Boiled (even the title they stole), Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight and Death Warrant! That movie copied and stole everything from those three movies. That is the thing I had a problems in the 90's, they could have been all creative and not copy someone else's movies work! Even Jerry Trimble - Live by the Fist (1993) ripped off Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight. I know they were all different movies, but they copied and ripped off the story from Death Warrant geesh! I want to point this out! That's fine by me, if you read my review and you don't agree, but that is me.
Attila from Lionheart and Sandman in here Death Warrant fights comes very close. The movie is filled with action and the inside of the prisons is great. The cells are also great. This is the first time Jean-Claude Van Damme played a Canadian, the second time he played a Canadian was in Sudden Death (1995). I always enjoyed Death warrant and like I mentioned before it is my fourth favorite best Van Damme Movie. The other three are Hard Target, Bloodsport and Universal Soldier than is Death Warrant.
It's part of that first generation of JCVD films (Bloodsport, Cyborg, Kickboxer, Death Warrant, and Double Impact) before the biggest budget film he was part of (Universal Soldier). I love Jean-Claude Van Damme and I am a big fan of him. I grew up watching, his old movies and other kids including me grew up too watching his movies. Bolo Yeung, Michel Qissi, Abdel Qissi and Patrick Kilpatrick where great villains in Van Damme movies. Cynthia Gibb was also awesome she played in Youngblood (1986) in the 80's another my favorite all time sports film.
The action fighting sequences are awesome. Sylvester Stallone made an action Drama movie Lock Up in 1989 and Jean-Claude Van Damme made Death Warrant a year later in 1990. Directed by Deran Sarafian and written by a David S. Goyer who at the time was a college student and it was his first script. Cynthia Gibb is awesome as co star alongside Van Damme. The movie is awesome another adrenaline action packed movie I also love the music score: Bring Me a Dream by Craig Thomas, which I am still listening today.
"Bring me a dream Burke".
This movie to me is a kicks-ass, Patrick Kilpatrick as The Sandman was a bad ass villain on screen, I have ever seen. This movie is also a horror film and get's scary, when you see the prison place and the murders of the doctor and the prison inmates inside those cells. When prisoners brake loose was really scary. I love loved the prison movies, about prison inmates, it was, one the reason why I love Prison Break (2005) and why it become my favorite TV Show! This movie is a kick ass and it will always be forever my favorite Van Damme movie that I love it to death!
" Don 'The Dragon' Wilson (Bloodfist) and David Bradley (American Ninja 3) the action stars from the 80's and 90's both ripped off Van Damme movies! Like Bloodfist 1 ripped off the story from Bloodsport, Bloodfist 2 ripped off the story from Kickboxer and Bloodfist 3 ripped off the story from Death Warrant! And Don Wilson was praising him self that, he could beat Van Damme to a pulp?! I don't think so! David Bradley's Hard Justice (1995) ripped off the story from John Woo's Hard Boiled (even the title they stole), Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight and Death Warrant! That movie copied and stole everything from those three movies. That is the thing I had a problems in the 90's, they could have been all creative and not copy someone else's movies work! Even Jerry Trimble - Live by the Fist (1993) ripped off Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight. I know they were all different movies, but they copied and ripped off the story from Death Warrant geesh! I want to point this out! That's fine by me, if you read my review and you don't agree, but that is me.
Attila from Lionheart and Sandman in here Death Warrant fights comes very close. The movie is filled with action and the inside of the prisons is great. The cells are also great. This is the first time Jean-Claude Van Damme played a Canadian, the second time he played a Canadian was in Sudden Death (1995). I always enjoyed Death warrant and like I mentioned before it is my fourth favorite best Van Damme Movie. The other three are Hard Target, Bloodsport and Universal Soldier than is Death Warrant.
It's part of that first generation of JCVD films (Bloodsport, Cyborg, Kickboxer, Death Warrant, and Double Impact) before the biggest budget film he was part of (Universal Soldier). I love Jean-Claude Van Damme and I am a big fan of him. I grew up watching, his old movies and other kids including me grew up too watching his movies. Bolo Yeung, Michel Qissi, Abdel Qissi and Patrick Kilpatrick where great villains in Van Damme movies. Cynthia Gibb was also awesome she played in Youngblood (1986) in the 80's another my favorite all time sports film.
Van Damme against violent inmates using his incredible martial art
ma-cortes3 March 2008
The cunning detective named Louis Burke(Jean Claude Van Damme), a Royal Canadian police, fights in an abandoned location with a villain called Sandman. Later Burke is sent prison of Harrison to investigate assassination nine inmates mysteriously murdered. He poses as a prisoner and advocate Amanda(Cynthia Gibb) acts like his spouse. Burke befriends an one-eyed inmate(Robert Guillaume) and the Priest. The Harrison Penitentiary is ruled by a tough sergeant named De Graff (Art Le Flour) and attended by a doctor(Armin Shimerman). Burke must to confront brutal inmates(Al Leong) and his cruel enemy Sandman(Patrick Kilpatrick). Burke and Amanda are only helped by a teen hacker(Joshua Miller) until the stirring and strong final showdown.
This violent film contains suspense, action, tension and spectacular fights. Entertaining movie, thanks to tight pace, skillful edition and well mounted combats. It's tense and exciting , at time lackluster action movie , but the struggles and fighting are well done . Jean Claude is nice as two-fisted hero in this middling budget picture. Interesting screenplay by David S Goyer, today famous as producer and screenwriter of superheroes(Batman, Blade,Ghost Rider). Appropriate musical score fitting to action movie by Gary Chang. Colorful cinematography by Russell Carpenter, a future cameraman of blockbusters (Titanic, Charlie's Angels I and II, Monster in law). The motion picture is professionally directed by Deran Sarafian who achieved success with ¨Terminal velocity¨, though today exclusively directing for television (CSI: Miami, NY, Without trace, Lost). Pointlessly energetic and excessively violent, the film will like the true devotee of main actor. It's a must see for Van Damme fans.
This violent film contains suspense, action, tension and spectacular fights. Entertaining movie, thanks to tight pace, skillful edition and well mounted combats. It's tense and exciting , at time lackluster action movie , but the struggles and fighting are well done . Jean Claude is nice as two-fisted hero in this middling budget picture. Interesting screenplay by David S Goyer, today famous as producer and screenwriter of superheroes(Batman, Blade,Ghost Rider). Appropriate musical score fitting to action movie by Gary Chang. Colorful cinematography by Russell Carpenter, a future cameraman of blockbusters (Titanic, Charlie's Angels I and II, Monster in law). The motion picture is professionally directed by Deran Sarafian who achieved success with ¨Terminal velocity¨, though today exclusively directing for television (CSI: Miami, NY, Without trace, Lost). Pointlessly energetic and excessively violent, the film will like the true devotee of main actor. It's a must see for Van Damme fans.
He makes it work!
K3nzit3 January 2020
Decent Van Damme movie
jason_a_aguirre23 June 2019
I wouldn't put this one on the same level as Blood Sport and Lionheart, but it's not bad. I think if they had tried to keep it more realistic or more like Shawshank Redemption, but with fight scenes, it would have been a little better. The cheesiness is both good and bad in this one. Good because it adds to the classic feel of Van Dammes earlier movies, but bad because it kind of takes away some of the realism. For a movie about prison, it's not bad, but there are better prison movies out there. But if you're a Van Damme fan, watch it. It's decent.
Okay, I REALLY do like Van Damme, but...
lathe-of-heaven2 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
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... : )
"Bring me a dream Burke"
uds321 October 2003
Like I keep tellin' youse guys....ya watch a Van Damme flick, ya can't expect any MORE than a Van Damme flick. Why watch the thing then complain "another Van Damme stinker"...that's a no-brainer! To quote Rocky "It ain't so bad!" Van Dumb plays a Canadian undercover cop sent in to root out a whole heapa jail corruption - see? there's a realtime story line - don't knock it!
Patrick Kilpatrick as "the Sandman"....is the star of the flick anyway, even if he HAS nothing whatsoever to do with the story at hand! A mega-tough inmate if ever there was one..."Sandman" looks for all intents and purposes like a close relative of Michael Myers and his climactic set-to with Van Damme is worth the price of at least a small carton of popcorn. "You can't kill me Burke, I'm the Sandman" he utters, shortly after stepping nonchalantly out of a raging furnace no less, totally aflame but otherwise quite unbothered. Naturally Van Dumb proves him wrong on that point! Comical but entertaining stuff.
Certainly not one of JCVD's worst!
Patrick Kilpatrick as "the Sandman"....is the star of the flick anyway, even if he HAS nothing whatsoever to do with the story at hand! A mega-tough inmate if ever there was one..."Sandman" looks for all intents and purposes like a close relative of Michael Myers and his climactic set-to with Van Damme is worth the price of at least a small carton of popcorn. "You can't kill me Burke, I'm the Sandman" he utters, shortly after stepping nonchalantly out of a raging furnace no less, totally aflame but otherwise quite unbothered. Naturally Van Dumb proves him wrong on that point! Comical but entertaining stuff.
Certainly not one of JCVD's worst!
"Bring me a dream, Burke."
utgard1417 August 2014
Canadian cop Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) goes undercover in California (?) prison to solve series of murders. Then a serial killer called the Sandman (Patrick Kilpatrick) shows up there. Burke put the Sandman away so they have things to discuss. It's a JCVD movie, so you pretty much know what to expect: kicking, kicking, and, not surprisingly, more kicking.
By-the-numbers Van Damme actioner. Every prison movie cliché is on display. It's watchable enough. You get what you pay for. Robert Guillaume is good as the older inmate who helps Van Damme out. Cynthia Gibb is the requisite love interest who gets her pipes cleaned by the "muscles from Brussels." Cartoon-faced Art LaFleur is hard to take seriously as the sadistic prison guard. First movie from screenwriter David Goyer.
By-the-numbers Van Damme actioner. Every prison movie cliché is on display. It's watchable enough. You get what you pay for. Robert Guillaume is good as the older inmate who helps Van Damme out. Cynthia Gibb is the requisite love interest who gets her pipes cleaned by the "muscles from Brussels." Cartoon-faced Art LaFleur is hard to take seriously as the sadistic prison guard. First movie from screenwriter David Goyer.
Undercover Prison Madness
primevalsoup13 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
People are dying in prison so, rather than a sudden government inspection or closing it down and investigating the causes, or even examining the bodies, someone decided that the best approach would be to send in an undercover policemen posing as an inmate. That's how much the police force cares about the people it puts away. It can't bare to see them come to harm. It would rather risk the life of one of its own, knowing full well that if discovered he will surely be horridly killed.
But this is just what the audience knows from near the start. The real plot is described below (and spoiled): Once upon a time, in the 1980s, a brilliant doctor figured out a way of preserving donated organs at fridge/room temperatures for ages in some weird pink jelly stuff. But rather than write up his findings in Nature, the Lancet or the New England Journal, he just sat on this for years. Exactly which organisation funded his research and then did not care that he did not disclose what he was up to to anyone remains a mystery. Perhaps it was the Pablo Escobar Heart Foundation, or the FARC Guerilla Gorilla to Human Transplant Institute. Then, in 1990 or thereabouts, some rich guy approached this doctor (who was now working in a prison), somehow knowing he was an expert in organ transplant, asking him for an organ. Because organ regulations and murder investigations in the US were quite weak in those days, no one realised that a prisoner was mysteriously murdered and had also had his liver removed. So this doctor realised he could make loads of money knocking off prisoners and doing this again and again.
There is also fun with Van Damme - no guard reverse round house kick - fighting, and disappearing ninja bad guys who like to stand in risky positions (like in front of an open furnace they just opened up for no reason), and fickle prisoners that keep changing their minds about murdering someone.
But this is just what the audience knows from near the start. The real plot is described below (and spoiled): Once upon a time, in the 1980s, a brilliant doctor figured out a way of preserving donated organs at fridge/room temperatures for ages in some weird pink jelly stuff. But rather than write up his findings in Nature, the Lancet or the New England Journal, he just sat on this for years. Exactly which organisation funded his research and then did not care that he did not disclose what he was up to to anyone remains a mystery. Perhaps it was the Pablo Escobar Heart Foundation, or the FARC Guerilla Gorilla to Human Transplant Institute. Then, in 1990 or thereabouts, some rich guy approached this doctor (who was now working in a prison), somehow knowing he was an expert in organ transplant, asking him for an organ. Because organ regulations and murder investigations in the US were quite weak in those days, no one realised that a prisoner was mysteriously murdered and had also had his liver removed. So this doctor realised he could make loads of money knocking off prisoners and doing this again and again.
There is also fun with Van Damme - no guard reverse round house kick - fighting, and disappearing ninja bad guys who like to stand in risky positions (like in front of an open furnace they just opened up for no reason), and fickle prisoners that keep changing their minds about murdering someone.
I don't punk for nobody.
hitchcockthelegend8 March 2009
Canadian cop Louis Burke is assigned to go undercover in a notorious prison where prisoners are mysteriously being killed off. Being one tough cookie he is able to earn respect and trust from the hardened criminals, but just as he thinks he's getting to the bottom of the case, and old adversary shows up.
I agree with the other reviewers who boldly state that you know what you are getting when you load a JCVD film into your player. It's safe to say that by and large, you are a fan of sorts of nonsense high velocity bottom kicking!. I consider myself one of that number, however this doesn't mean that every film should be talked up as worthy entertainment, Van Damme has done some pretty naff films, Death Warrant as it happens, falls somewhere in between decent and poor. Just two minutes into the piece and Jean is whooping some punks who clearly can't see he's built like a brick toilet!, and that of course is merely a taster of things to come. Death Warrant actually doesn't score too high for the amount of fight sequences, it finds Van Damme and the makers veering towards putting flesh on the bones of their story, it's formulaic for sure, but it's interesting enough and the support cast is worthy of interest.
Robert Guillaume is a face most will know from popular TV work {go on, look him up}, Patrick Kilpatrick was in Minority Report and Eraser, and the astute fans of action films will spot the awesome Al Leong, who's credits include Big Trouble in Little China, Lethal Weapon, Action Jackson, They Live and Die Hard. Sadly the female lead {Cynthia Gibb} is hopelessly hopeless, tho to be fair to her she really is only Van Damme fodder, if you get my meaning!, and of course the inevitable twist is just that, inevitable. But it has its moments, it's just not a film anyone should put forward as a first film for someone interested in a bit of Van Damage, steer them towards Bloodsport, Sudden Death or Timecop instead. 5/10
I agree with the other reviewers who boldly state that you know what you are getting when you load a JCVD film into your player. It's safe to say that by and large, you are a fan of sorts of nonsense high velocity bottom kicking!. I consider myself one of that number, however this doesn't mean that every film should be talked up as worthy entertainment, Van Damme has done some pretty naff films, Death Warrant as it happens, falls somewhere in between decent and poor. Just two minutes into the piece and Jean is whooping some punks who clearly can't see he's built like a brick toilet!, and that of course is merely a taster of things to come. Death Warrant actually doesn't score too high for the amount of fight sequences, it finds Van Damme and the makers veering towards putting flesh on the bones of their story, it's formulaic for sure, but it's interesting enough and the support cast is worthy of interest.
Robert Guillaume is a face most will know from popular TV work {go on, look him up}, Patrick Kilpatrick was in Minority Report and Eraser, and the astute fans of action films will spot the awesome Al Leong, who's credits include Big Trouble in Little China, Lethal Weapon, Action Jackson, They Live and Die Hard. Sadly the female lead {Cynthia Gibb} is hopelessly hopeless, tho to be fair to her she really is only Van Damme fodder, if you get my meaning!, and of course the inevitable twist is just that, inevitable. But it has its moments, it's just not a film anyone should put forward as a first film for someone interested in a bit of Van Damage, steer them towards Bloodsport, Sudden Death or Timecop instead. 5/10
Jean-Claude Van Damme is great in this movie
monkey-man26 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Death Warrant (1990).
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this movie as a cop called Louis Burke who goes undercover in a prison to try and find out who is killing heaps of prisoners.He befriends a few prisoners like Hawkins and Priest who help him to try and find out who is killing the prisoners.And as they are getting close to uncovering who is killing them and what for a psycho called The Sandman that Jean-Claude put in jail is transfered to the jail where he is.Jean-Claude is in trouble now because all of the prisoners know that he is a cop now and the Sandman and the rest of the prisoners are trying to kill him.
This movie is by far one of Jean-Claude Van Dammes better movies and if you are a die hard Van Damme fan this movie is a must buy.And if you liked this movie you should watch one of these Van Damme greats like Bloodsport (1988),Kickboxer (1989),Timecop (1994) and Sudden Death (1995).
Over all i really like this movie and do not believe the crap rating of 4.7 this movie has got.My rating for this movie is 6 out of 10.
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this movie as a cop called Louis Burke who goes undercover in a prison to try and find out who is killing heaps of prisoners.He befriends a few prisoners like Hawkins and Priest who help him to try and find out who is killing the prisoners.And as they are getting close to uncovering who is killing them and what for a psycho called The Sandman that Jean-Claude put in jail is transfered to the jail where he is.Jean-Claude is in trouble now because all of the prisoners know that he is a cop now and the Sandman and the rest of the prisoners are trying to kill him.
This movie is by far one of Jean-Claude Van Dammes better movies and if you are a die hard Van Damme fan this movie is a must buy.And if you liked this movie you should watch one of these Van Damme greats like Bloodsport (1988),Kickboxer (1989),Timecop (1994) and Sudden Death (1995).
Over all i really like this movie and do not believe the crap rating of 4.7 this movie has got.My rating for this movie is 6 out of 10.
Van Damme kicks again
SnoopyStyle21 April 2015
RCMP Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is in L.A. and brings down madman Christian 'The Sandman' Naylor. Sixteen months later, he returns to investigate Harrison penitentiary where the assistant warden as well as some prisoners have been killed. He goes undercover as a convict with lawyer Amanda Beckett (Cynthia Gibb) posing as his wife. Sergeant DeGraf (Art LaFleur) runs the prison with an iron fist. Hawkins (Robert Guillaume) is the one-eyed elder statesman prisoner. Louis runs into gang trouble but the prison holds darker secrets.
There are a lot of cheesy B-movie aspect to the prison. Most notable is the basement brothel. The production is second rate. The good part is that Van Damme gets to do some butt kicking. There's nothing wrong with that. If anything, it needs more Van Damme butt kicking. The investigation is lackluster. There isn't much tension. Van Damme fans may like this but nobody else will.
There are a lot of cheesy B-movie aspect to the prison. Most notable is the basement brothel. The production is second rate. The good part is that Van Damme gets to do some butt kicking. There's nothing wrong with that. If anything, it needs more Van Damme butt kicking. The investigation is lackluster. There isn't much tension. Van Damme fans may like this but nobody else will.
Death of An Era: The 1980s
bigslam514 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The 1980s were a guiltless time. Rock music was hard, meaningless, and not subtle with its innuendo. The same can be said about 80s action movies. The 80s Action movie had to be classic good guy-bad guy, because all action movies "should" be like that. The 80s action movie had to have some babe in it, and though it was meant to attract female viewers to a movie, the result was nothing more than a sex object for men. The 80s action movie had to have an absurd amount of killing and testosterone. 90s and 00s action movies are the same, but, they are riddled with guilt. They "try" to have a good guy-bad guy mix, but the good guy is not entirely good and the bad guy is not entirely bad. They "try" to incorporate deep "love interests," but fail miserably...at least 80s action movies didn't really try in that department. Lastly, they don't have good action anymore. Everything is computer and shaky camera during fight scenes. Where is the good old fashioned pile of dead extras? 80s action movies are guiltless and treat themselves like revenge fantasy "epics," while modern action movies try to be deep. Just like 80s rockers, they did not try to be deep, while modern alternative music's attempt at deepness and subtleness fails to invoke any real intelligent thought. 80s music, movies, presidents were not deep in meaning...everything was a MTV sound bite, a rude, in your face, unashamed whatever it was. It did not pretend to be something different.
Death Warrant, like the band Firehouse, was the last breath of the 80s burning out in the 90s. It has 80s music, 80s clothes, and most importantly, the 80s mentality. The story revolves around a bad ass, shallow as a puddle, cop in Van Damme. He quickly defeats Kilpatrick (Naylor Sandman) by firing 400 bullets at him, and gets th-rusted into the "average" American prisona cesspool of political corruption, racial tension, violence, and sodomy. The movie is rather guiltless at all of these aspects of America's prisons, making stunningly "deep" observations. The politician justifies harvesting prisoner's organs because "they're all scum"a reflection of real policy. When Burke (Van Damme) enters "the black part of the prison," the music gets stereotypically "black" with its bass (guiltless 80s mentality) and the warden's comment "I know that you are hereWhy? I can smell the (n-bomb)" is a reflection upon the racism. As a prison movie, violence and sodomy don't need to be explained. Of course the movie is all ridiculous hyperbole, but it is so extreme, yet at a strange level true, it makes the bad ass action movie extremely comical as well.
The movie has many ridiculous elements added on purpose, for the sake of guiltless "bad-assness" and hilarity. Everyone in this prison is part of a gang, has access to drugs, cell phones, weapons people leave their cells at will..the "Priest" (a prisoner), seems to be more powerful than the Governor of California, let alone the warden of the prison. The Sandman is stronger than Goliath and refuses to die until he ironically dies like every other prisoner who died as part of the organ ring conspiracya spike in the back of the head. Lastly, the Sandman, after taunting Burke, lets him wallow a little longer. Sure, the Sandman could had killed him right there, but instead he says something incredibly "deep" instead: "Bring me a dream Burke, bring me a dream " This has nothing to do with the plot. It is an inside joke, a little jab at the song named "Mister Sandman," which the first lines of the song are "Mister Sandman, Bring Me a Dream." The movie ends as all movies should end. The hero gets the babe, mends racial boundaries, gets the ultimate honor of "Prison Respect" (where every convict will move out of your way and sing your praises like "He just dusted the Sandman" and "You got it homes "), and ends with a kick ass 80s sounding rock ballad called "Bring Me A Dream"another inside joke. I wrote an email to the composer of the song and he sent me the MP3 of it, because I "got" the joke. Very cool.
I rate this movie 8 out of ten in not a light fashion. I have watched a lot of movies and only a handful are 8 and up. This movie is that good for its genre and its ultimate entertainment value. It is smart, incredibly stupid, subtle, but blatant at the same time. It is an 80s movie masterpiece and is up there with some of the best movies of all time.
Death Warrant, like the band Firehouse, was the last breath of the 80s burning out in the 90s. It has 80s music, 80s clothes, and most importantly, the 80s mentality. The story revolves around a bad ass, shallow as a puddle, cop in Van Damme. He quickly defeats Kilpatrick (Naylor Sandman) by firing 400 bullets at him, and gets th-rusted into the "average" American prisona cesspool of political corruption, racial tension, violence, and sodomy. The movie is rather guiltless at all of these aspects of America's prisons, making stunningly "deep" observations. The politician justifies harvesting prisoner's organs because "they're all scum"a reflection of real policy. When Burke (Van Damme) enters "the black part of the prison," the music gets stereotypically "black" with its bass (guiltless 80s mentality) and the warden's comment "I know that you are hereWhy? I can smell the (n-bomb)" is a reflection upon the racism. As a prison movie, violence and sodomy don't need to be explained. Of course the movie is all ridiculous hyperbole, but it is so extreme, yet at a strange level true, it makes the bad ass action movie extremely comical as well.
The movie has many ridiculous elements added on purpose, for the sake of guiltless "bad-assness" and hilarity. Everyone in this prison is part of a gang, has access to drugs, cell phones, weapons people leave their cells at will..the "Priest" (a prisoner), seems to be more powerful than the Governor of California, let alone the warden of the prison. The Sandman is stronger than Goliath and refuses to die until he ironically dies like every other prisoner who died as part of the organ ring conspiracya spike in the back of the head. Lastly, the Sandman, after taunting Burke, lets him wallow a little longer. Sure, the Sandman could had killed him right there, but instead he says something incredibly "deep" instead: "Bring me a dream Burke, bring me a dream " This has nothing to do with the plot. It is an inside joke, a little jab at the song named "Mister Sandman," which the first lines of the song are "Mister Sandman, Bring Me a Dream." The movie ends as all movies should end. The hero gets the babe, mends racial boundaries, gets the ultimate honor of "Prison Respect" (where every convict will move out of your way and sing your praises like "He just dusted the Sandman" and "You got it homes "), and ends with a kick ass 80s sounding rock ballad called "Bring Me A Dream"another inside joke. I wrote an email to the composer of the song and he sent me the MP3 of it, because I "got" the joke. Very cool.
I rate this movie 8 out of ten in not a light fashion. I have watched a lot of movies and only a handful are 8 and up. This movie is that good for its genre and its ultimate entertainment value. It is smart, incredibly stupid, subtle, but blatant at the same time. It is an 80s movie masterpiece and is up there with some of the best movies of all time.
Don't touch my kidney.
DigitalRevenantX725 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Canadian Mountie Louis Burke is sent on a mission undercover into a US maximum security prison as a prisoner to investigate the deaths of several prisoners. Once there he discovers an underground scheme by the corrupt prison authorities to kill & harvest prisoners for their organs. When they discover Burke, the black marketeers send in the Sandman, a violent killer who Burke had previously arrested, to kill him.
Jean-Claude Van Damme started his career in the late 1980s, making films such as BLOODSPORT, KICKBOXER & LIONHEART / WRONG BET, where he would participate in some kind of underground fighting tournament. These films limited his career until Albert Pyun cast him in CYBORG, which was not a great film or even a good one, but which broadened his appeal to action fans.
"Death Warrant" is perhaps the first mainstream action film that Van Damme had enjoyed success with. As far as films go, "Death Warrant" is an action film with horror undertones, with its almost superhuman serial killer, the Sandman (played by Patrick Kilpatrick, who gets the chance to go full-on with his role), a psycho who proves to be one of the toughest villains Van Damme has ever faced (along with Dolph Lundgren & Vincent Klyn). The film's story is not as well sketched out as it should be, but remains passable (if you ever get the feeling that it was written by a teenager, you would be right – Goyer wrote this when he was 18!).
The acting is pretty standard, although special mention must be made of Robert Guillaume as the seasoned black inmate who befriends Van Damme, Art LaFleur as the corrupt prison warden & Abdul Salaam El Razzac, a guy who will give you the creeps with his strange eyes.
As usual, the film's main attraction is watching Van Damme spin-kick his way through several inmates, most notably one scene where he takes on a Hispanic prisoner & his homey Bruce, "who likes to kick the crap out of white trash". Watch as he VanDamminates both knuckleheads with nothing but his fierce determination, martial arts skills & a broken mop handle (although Bruce does have the edge by brandishing a metal chain – sort of like a contest of "scissors, paper, rock"; or more like "sticks, chains & legs"). "Death Warrant", with its underground practices & tough inmates, most closely resembles "The Story of Ricky", that infamous Hong Kong gorefest, although Van Damme does not get so much as a scratch (he does take a wrench to the chest & nearly gets impaled on a wood lathe).
At the end of the day, I would recommend "Death Warrant" to action fans, Van Dammists & those who like prison films. Just don't ask where that kidney came from.
Jean-Claude Van Damme started his career in the late 1980s, making films such as BLOODSPORT, KICKBOXER & LIONHEART / WRONG BET, where he would participate in some kind of underground fighting tournament. These films limited his career until Albert Pyun cast him in CYBORG, which was not a great film or even a good one, but which broadened his appeal to action fans.
"Death Warrant" is perhaps the first mainstream action film that Van Damme had enjoyed success with. As far as films go, "Death Warrant" is an action film with horror undertones, with its almost superhuman serial killer, the Sandman (played by Patrick Kilpatrick, who gets the chance to go full-on with his role), a psycho who proves to be one of the toughest villains Van Damme has ever faced (along with Dolph Lundgren & Vincent Klyn). The film's story is not as well sketched out as it should be, but remains passable (if you ever get the feeling that it was written by a teenager, you would be right – Goyer wrote this when he was 18!).
The acting is pretty standard, although special mention must be made of Robert Guillaume as the seasoned black inmate who befriends Van Damme, Art LaFleur as the corrupt prison warden & Abdul Salaam El Razzac, a guy who will give you the creeps with his strange eyes.
As usual, the film's main attraction is watching Van Damme spin-kick his way through several inmates, most notably one scene where he takes on a Hispanic prisoner & his homey Bruce, "who likes to kick the crap out of white trash". Watch as he VanDamminates both knuckleheads with nothing but his fierce determination, martial arts skills & a broken mop handle (although Bruce does have the edge by brandishing a metal chain – sort of like a contest of "scissors, paper, rock"; or more like "sticks, chains & legs"). "Death Warrant", with its underground practices & tough inmates, most closely resembles "The Story of Ricky", that infamous Hong Kong gorefest, although Van Damme does not get so much as a scratch (he does take a wrench to the chest & nearly gets impaled on a wood lathe).
At the end of the day, I would recommend "Death Warrant" to action fans, Van Dammists & those who like prison films. Just don't ask where that kidney came from.
Delivers what it promises
Fluke_Skywalker13 August 2015
Probably qualifies as JCVD's first actual "movie", or at least the first one with a budget above six figures or where he's not playing the karate tournament guy ('No Retreat, No Surrender', 'Bloodsport', 'Kickboxer'). Written by David S. Goyer (Yes, that David S. Goyer, his first sold screenplay), it's got clichés and contrivances galore, but it's also got flashes of wit rare for the genre and moves along at a brisk, fat free clip. Speaking of fat free, this is JCVD at the height of his JCVDness, and though his normal screen charm (and I mean that) is buttoned down here thanks to the prison setting, he brings the physical goods. Co-star Robert Guillaume helps class things up a bit and it's stylishly directed by the otherwise unremarkable Daren Sarafian ('Terminal Velocity'). Not a great film by even the loosest standards, but much better than you'd expect.
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