Double Impact (1991) User Reviews

Classic Van Dammage!!

[supertom-3 · 7/10 · 13 May 2003]

This is joyously over the top and inane. This is classic Van Damme at his absolute best. In yet another (well in fact the first) of his duel role films, Jean Claude plays two twins separated at birth. They were separated when both their parents were killed by vicious gangsters, including the legend Bolo Yeung (Enter the Dragon).

What makes this film is the always-enjoyable combination of Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich. Lettich knows how to get the best out of Claude in the fights sequences, with a liberal and entertainingly cheesy use of slo-mo while Van Damme grunts and poses and jumps kicks his way through countless foes. The fights are so entertaining, and they more than make up for the wooden or ham-fisted acting of the cast, not to mention the brainless plot and cheesy dialogue.

This was written by Van Damme and really seems at times like an ego trip, with some of the lines and actions that characters have. It is entertaining in that sense. What is also funny about this film is the constant posing and muscle flexing from Van Damme. This is one of his most enjoyable films, because it is so fun, it brings back the fun feeling from his earlier film Kickboxer.

Overall this is one to watch and the fight between Van Damme and Bolo is the stuff of legend. ***

Damme it, it's fun!

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 29 February 2016]

The Muscles from Brussels takes a co-producer and co-writer credit on this routinely plotted but agreeable action picture. Van Damme plays twin boys, who were orphaned in the 1960s by thugs representing some greedy white collar criminals. One of them, Chad, ended up in L. A. where he got to live a fairly soft life. Alex, on the other hand, remained in Hong Kong where he became a street smart smuggler. 25 years later, their "uncle" Frank (Geoffrey Lewis) locates Alex and reunites the boys so they can have a classic bit of revenge - and reclaim what's theirs in the bargain.

All of the action is watchable if never truly inspired. There's a good deal of hard hitting violence (the naive Chad takes his lumps before the story is over), and plenty of effective squib action - not to mention a hearty helping of explosions. The exotic Hong Kong setting certainly helps a lot, as well. One sequence is particularly striking, and you can see bits of that in the trailer. And there's a fairly satisfying confrontation between Van Damme and martial arts icon Bolo Yeung, who plays Moon, a goon who ends up with a fake eye and a nasty scar due to Franks' intervention back in the 60s.

There's a certain degree of entertainment in watching Van Damme play two distinctly different characters. Thanks to some reasonably effective movie trickery - body doubles, special effects, and the like - we get to see the twins interacting regularly. Philip Chan, as crime kingpin Raymond Zhang, and Alan Scarfe, as the nefarious Nigel Griffith, are decent action movie baddies in the classic tradition. Both the blonde Alonna Shaw (as Alex's girlfriend Danielle) and the athletic brunette Corinna Everson (as henchwoman Kara) add much sex appeal. The eternally solid and reliable Lewis is a tremendous asset to the story, lending it an appropriate amount of respectability.

"Double Impact" may not be memorable in the end, but it sure provides a nice diversion for the better part of two hours.

Seven out of 10.

Little support, but fun to watch

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 27 March 2007]

OK, face it, Jean-Claude cannot act his way out of a wet paper bag. That is not why we watch him. We watch for the action, and this film has plenty of that.

No viewing of Jean-Claude's films would be complete without this one where he plays both himself and his brother. Separated by 25 years, one (Alex) stays in Hong Kong as a smugger, and the other (Chad) is a fitness instructor in California. That's ladies fitness instructor in pretty blue tights. Hmm, is there something to his role as "Gay Karate Man" in his first film? California Jean-Claude returns to Hong Kong to join Honk Kond Jean Claude to regain what is rightfully theirs. Luscious scenery provided by Alex's girlfriend Danielle (Alonna Shaw). Hot breathing brought on by action between Danielle and Kara (Corinna Everson). The return of Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport) as Moon is a big big plus for the film.

Lots of action, lots of laughs, and a good time for all.

Superb action

[action-6 · 31 July 2000]

Double Impact is one of Van Damme`s finest moments on the actionfilm-arena. It delivers what it must to succeed, namely tons of great fighting scenes, which is what Van Damme-movies are all about(well, almost). If you want to rent an old action-flick, Double Impact is one of the best movies Van Damme has ever done! 9/10

Van Damme at his best

[DunnDeeDaGreat · 5/10 · 1 November 2002]

Double Impact displays Van Damme at what he does best. Kickin ass and takin no names. He plays the twins very well and his fight against Bolo Yeung is good was one of the best Van Damme ever put on screen. The female lead also looks great nude.

"Welcome to Hong Kong".

[lost-in-limbo · 6/10 · 12 August 2011]

Coming out during the twilight of Jean-Claude Van Damme's career, it was something less than impressive. But a decent time-waster at best and for the price of one we would get two Van Damme's on screen. Twins unknowingly separated, to only meet up again 25 years later. Nice. Where else could we see Van Damme beating himself up, feuding over things and eventually teaming up to kick-ass. And there's a lot ass kicking, as well gun blazing to go with the martial arts. That's John Woo style. Slow motion galore. Bullets. Blood. Bodies piling up. Add plenty of broken bones. And nose bleeds. The action is brutal and high-energy. Van Damme cops a real work out. Where he has a whole bunch of villains (a gleeful Alan Scarfe and spiteful Phillip Chan), their henchman and Triad gangs to get through. He goes up against an old foe; Bolo Yeung (of "Bloodsport" fame) and female athlete / body builder Corinna Everson whose choice of fashion is almost upstaged by Van Damme himself. Then we got a bodyguard who uses the spurs on his boot to inflict pain. While stuck in the middle of the two Van Dammes is the always enjoyable character actor Geoffrey Lewis and the ravishing blonde Alonna Shaw. The simple plot (which was co-written by Van Damme) is clean-cut by setting up the motivation at the beginning and then the twins unite to seek vengeance on those involved in the murder of their parents. Also for laughs there's numerous mistaken identity scenarios, Van Damme's colourful fashion sense (the lover-boy one) and the macho script likes to have people telling others to virtually get f**k. Set in Hong Kong, director Sheldon Lettich (who directed Van Damme a year earlier in "Lionheart") strikes up some local flavour, amazingly tough action bursts and all at a reliable pace. Bold, but standard Jean-Claude Van Damme 90s action vehicle.

"When you find them. Bring back their bodies".

early nineties action fodder

[michellelocke007 · 5/10 · 13 January 2011]

bought this movie new for five dollars so i wasn't expecting too much. thoroughly enjoyed after viewing it because it has van damme as an action star playing dual roles as twin brothers who avenge the murder of their parents. it's van damme in tip-top shape coming off the success of his earlier films bloodsport and cyborg. in this feature he gets to show quite a bit of skin as he kung-fu's his way through an array of henchman and villains. it's nice to see the film being shot on location in hong Kong as it shows the city social scene at night. i though the nineties fashion was also fun to see and groan at. while van damme is no Shakespeare, he gets through the movie fine enough with his boyish good looks and charms. the action sequences and his one on one combat scenes are well choreographed and fun to watch. it doesn't hurt either that alonna shaw is in the film too. a film worth watching if you're a fan of action stars at their finest before age sets in and their physique is longer prime.

Enter the Van Dammes

[skullislandsurferdotcom · 6/10 · 2 February 2012]

If one Jean-Claude Van Damme was never enough, here's the movie for you: a decent action melodrama beginning with two infants separated during a bloody shootout in Hong Kong… Their father did a favor for a mobster who didn't need his services any longer. Thanks to Geoffrey Lewis as a bodyguard turned "uncle" who saves one of the brothers, winding up a pretty boy karate instructor to rich women in Los Angeles.

But he's drawn back to cutthroat Hong Kong where he meets his shady twin, an arms dealer who couldn't be more different. Together, along with Geoffrey Lewis and of course a beautiful love interest, they take on the mob boss who killed their parents, and even with two Dammes, it won't be easy.

The best scenes involve the milquetoast brother getting tougher through various fights, especially with the iconic ENTER THE DRAGON bulky tough guy Bolo Yeung (fitfully scarred-up from the opening scene, making him even more intimidating). But the crooked brother, who had so much promise as a rogue maverick in the beginning, becomes but a jealous whiner as his put-upon lady starts preferring Abel to Cain.

It's a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, and there's an abundance of insert/close-ups that lead one to believe the budget wasn't too high. But the characters are interesting enough to care about and it's the fights that matter, occurring enough to appease hardcore karate buffs.

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Feel the Impact

[sveknu · 5/10 · 16 May 2005]

If you're a big fan of van Damme, then this is the movie for you. Here, you get two of him. Two twin brothers, separated when they were babies, now back together fighting against the enemy that killed their parents. Van Damme isn't the best actor around, but I really think that he did a rather good job in portraying the two brothers in different ways. One is a rather tough guy, the other one a more gay-like and smiling character. There are two similarities to "Bloodsport" here (but beware, these two movies are totally different). For the first, Hong Kong is the location for the movie. For the second, it has Bolo Yeung in it as a bad guy. As usual, he barely speaks. The fight scenes in this movie are not the best ones that van Damme has made, but they're far from the worst too.

What a classic of B-movie cheese this is

[donbendell · 6/10 · 25 January 2007]

"What a classic of B-movie cheese this is. In the first of Van Damme's trilogy of twin movies (at least until he decides to use the idea yet again), our boy Jean-Claude plays brothers who are separated when a Triad hit team takes out their parents. Twenty years later, the "bad" brother is a smuggler in HK, while the "good" one is an aerobics instructor in Los Angeles, and they team up to take revenge on the boss (Philip Chan) who took out their parents.

There's nothing really great about Double Impact, other than the immortal tagline of "double the Van Damme, double the Van Damage", but it is a solid low-budget actioner. The script and acting are average to say the least, and the movie looks like it was made for fifty cents and a case of returnable bottles, but when it comes to action, Double Impact delivers the goods. The fights are among some of Van Damme's best, with good choreography and tight filming and editing. Also of note are the gunfights; I might be wrong, but I believe that this was the first Western movie to have John Woo-style dual 9mms (complete with slow motion). If you have a high tolerance for cheeseball antics (or just like to make fun of them), there's some good times to be had with Double Impact. I'm kind of sorry to say this, but given the current anemic state of action films, even middling stuff like this is much better than the crap that has been getting cranked out lately."

After 35 minutes, "Double Impact" tanks

[jonathanruano · 4/10 · 17 September 2011]

"Double Impact" is the story about two babies Alex and Chad who are separated after their parents are murdered by business partners Raymond Zhange (Philip Chan) and Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe). Twenty-five years later, the twin babies become two sexy martial arts sensations with strong Belgian accents (both played by Jean Claude Van Damme) who vow to avenge the death of their parents.

For the first thirty-five minutes, I really enjoyed "Double Impact." Jean-Claude Van Damme has this cool, confident and sometimes cocky persona that is often entertaining. Some of his martial arts sequences are fun to watch as well. Then the onslaught of shoot outs with machine guns and automatic guns and explosions came along and the movie tanked. I have not had any personal experiences where, armed with only two handguns, I had to kill several people who were firing automatic machine guns at me. But if I was in that situation, I suspect I would at the very least sustain several injuries, even if I was an action star. Yet there are several scenes in "Double Impact" where Jean-Claude Van Damme successfully takes on three Chinese criminals, armed with machine guns, and emerges unscathed. When the hero does that well in several gun fights, it sucks the excitement out of the movie. We no longer have any reason to be concerned for his safety, because we know he is invincible. As a result, the shootouts -- which presumably are meant to generate the most excitement -- are tedious and boring.

The other problem with the movie are the explosions. When I saw my first explosion in an action movie at age ten, I admit I was impressed. But since then, I have grown tired of them. Watching explosions in movies, like "Double Impact," is like eating doughnuts, potato chips and drinking pop drinks all day long. At the end, I get this sick feeling inside. The problem with "Double Impact" is that there are so many explosions and so much property damage that it smothers the plot and the dialogue. I had so much more fun watching Jean-Claude Van Damme showcasing remnants of both his characters, Alex and Chad. Then the explosions, shooting and full sound came along and ruined it all.

I was also hopeful in the beginning that this movie would have some kind of plot. But "Double Impact" has no plot after 30 minutes. Danielle Wilde (who is played by the stunning blonde model Alonna Shaw) has a bit part as Alex's girlfriend and secretary to Mr. Griffiths and she spends most of her on screen time rummaging through Griffiths' files to see if he was responsible for killing Alex's parents. Danielle's role, as far as I can tell, is to generate interest in a plot bereft of ideas (not even Alfred Hitchcock would pull this stunt). Danielle's investigative work is inconsequential because Alex and Chad have already made up their minds to wipe out Griffiths, Zhang and the Triads. The same has to be said for the female villain Kara (Corinna Everson) who combines violence with sexually assaulting Danielle. Kara's purpose, as a lesbian stereotype, is to help the producers of this film hedge their bets by adding some cheap thrills in a film that has run out of good ideas. A third source of cheap thrills is the sex scene involving Danielle and one of the Jean-Claude Van Damme characters, which really shows how low the producers were willing to go to sell this movie. Overall Double Impact was a big disappointment. 3.5/10

Double Slam-bang-best-action packed martial arts Van Damme film!

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 30 December 2015]

Double Impact (1991) was my favorite childhood Van Damme movie, beside Bloodsport was this movie my favorite. I grew up with this film I love this movie to death! Bolo Yeung was also in this movie as Moon, Zhang's killer.

The fight at the end between Van Damme and Bolo Yeung was the best just like was in Bloodsport. The story was adrenaline action packed and Van Damme played double role in here and he did an excellent job as Alex and Chad two different characters. I always loved this movie and I love the action and the fight choreographer from Jean-Claude Van Damme, I like his spin kick and his martial arts in this movie. Van Damme fights the same guy from Bloodsport. I love this movie a lot, it is bloody full action packed fire guns.

What I love in this movie is a great supporting cast, Geoffrey Lewis was a great support cast as Uncle Frank who raised Chad. Alonna Shaw as Danielle Wilde was a great as Alex girlfriend. Their was one imaginary sexy scene that really did not mean anything. Corinna Everson as Kara as Griffith's bodyguard was terrific, here we first time see a women who is a villain in a action movie. In the 90's I don't remember seeing any women been a villain. Corinna was a perfect choice for playing Kara. Philip Chan as Raymond Zhang was awesome he was even in John Woo's Hard Boiled and Bloodsport. The movie it self reflects more on Van Damme's life: Chad was really Van Damme, he was raised in Belgium in this film his character was raised in Paris, but with Frank they moved to America. Now after 25.years they come back to Hong Kong in which they track down Alex, together they avenge their parents death. Alex is a bad ass in this movie. He looks so scary, that even I wouldn't dare to cross his path. I love Van Damme in two roles he is great. I have enjoyed this movie a lot and had a lot of fun.

The contrast between the two characters of Chad and Alex is amazing. The happy go lucky playboy and the brooding street fighting bad ass. You really do get the feeling that there's two Van Dammes in the world and they're right there on screen together. And Chad is one my favorite JCVD characters he's ever played. I love the action sequences, the gun play, the fights and the story that works. In my opinion this movie is very underrated. It was my childhood favorite movie and it always will be.

I am giving a 10, because the movie has a good action and nice martial arts, but it also does have a plot hole that I don't like.

Probably one of the better movies (of the five total) where Van Damme plays two roles!

[tarbosh22000 · 7/10 · 19 October 2011]

Alex (Van Damme) and Chad (Van Damme) are twins who were separated at six months old when their parents were murdered by gangsters. Alex became a ne'er-do-well in Hong Kong while Chad became a pretty-boy aerobics instructor in L.A. Convinced to go to Hong Kong to find out the truth, Chad meets Alex, and Yin meets Yang. The two men, despite being brothers, couldn't be more different, and conflicts ensue. But it's all in the name of getting revenge for their slain parents. But it's going to take double the power to take down evildoer Moon (Yeung). Will you feel the impact? Probably one of the better movies (of the five total) where Van Damme plays two roles, Double Impact has JCVD as the happy-go-lucky Chad, with his absurd pastel outfits and tiny pink shorts, as well as the gruff, cigar-chomping Alex. If you've ever seen The Patty Duke show in reruns, you know the "show the back of the other character's head" style of portraying the two men. The movie wastes little time in having Van Damme do one of his trademark splits (while wearing a leotard, naturally). Chad is the fish out of water in Hong Kong (and the movie sports some great Hong Kong locations and photography), just one side of the coin that is Jean-Claude Van Damme.

This is also one of the many team-ups of Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich. But at almost two hours, the movie overstays its welcome and is just too long. You know what they always say - double the Van Damme, double the running time. Though the movie drags at times, it also has just enough cool moments to make this a roller-coaster of peaks and valleys.

The rest of the cast is worthy too, as Bolo is here looking great, Cory Everson plays the bodybuilder who is also in the hard-to-find Ballistic (1995), and Alonna Shaw plays the eye candy - at one point the movie basically stops so it can become like a Playboy video for her. The movie naturally concludes in the time-honored steam factory, and characters even throw barrels at each other, a la Double Dragon. Double Dragon - Double Impact... coincidence? I think not...! After the extensive running time, there is a freeze frame and the C + C Music Factory-like song, "Feel The Impact", by Gen plays. By our estimation, Double Impact is kind of hit-or-miss. It's a decent enough idea, but not enough to support such a lengthy movie.

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One of his WORST

[kraziken · 2/10 · 5 January 2001]

I don't see how anyone who even likes Van Damne could like this movie.

The movie actually starts out with some promise. I would say the action scenes at the beginning of the movie is excellent. The actions scenes with the family ward trying to save the twins is a great start and is good lead in to the main story. However, the film is all down hill from there.

It would have been nice if the director could have stayed with the original premise. That is the brothers are born in different parts of the world and thus learn different skills. One brother is supposed to be skilled in Martial Arts, but the other brother is supposed to be skilled in firearms. How convenient when the time arises that the brother who has never picked up a gun before all of the sudden is a great marksman, and the brother who has not been taught any martial arts is all of the sudden doing the splits and high kicks.

The plot, action, etc. are just plain ridiculous. My favorite scenes? How about when Van Damne is confronting an armed soldier with an AK-47. The soldier is about 100 yards away. Instead of aiming and shooting at Van Damne he is doing a war cry like he is wielding a battle axe and running at him. Van Damne proceeds to pick up a pistol from a fallen soldier and shoots him,...while he is still about 75 to 80 yards away.

This movie has one of the most disappointing endings. Bolo Yeung is a skilled martial artist. However, instead of choreographing a decent fight. Bolo is throwing barrels at Van Damne like Donkey Kong. Absolutely aggravating movie that had so much promise. If your a Van Damne fan, save your time and see Hard Target or one of his earlier films.

Double the trouble with Van Dammage

[abentenjo · 14 April 2002]

Egos run wild as Van Dammage is given the double dosage in this rampant, enjoyable thriller; hampered somewhat by the now two dreadful acting displays instead of the one. Yet credit where its due, this is one of his better outings, broadening his thespian ranges as well as stylishly kicking people in the head a lot. Revenge is on the cards again, playing both twin brothers separated at birth and reunited 25 years later (one's a US aerobics instructor who wears the silk underwear, the other a tough cigar-chomping gangster-type raised in the Hong Kong). Their parents, you see, were hopelessly slaughtered when they were babies, and summarily they vow vengeance. It's all laughable enough, as it should be: violent as hell with a Bolo villain and two Jean-Claude's causing complete bloody chaos - who could ask for more?

Mildly amusing.

[DigitalRevenantX7 · 4/10 · 12 April 2008]

Plot Synopsis: Hong Kong, 1966. Paul Wagner, the man who built the Victoria Tunnel, is murdered along with his wife by his associates. His twin sons, Chad & Alex, are split apart. 25 years later, Chad, a karate instructor in Los Angeles, & Alex, a smuggler living in Hong Kong, join forces to avenge their parents' murder & rightfully claim the tunnel.

This is the second time that Jean-Claude Van Damme & Sheldon Lettich have worked together, having previously done "Lionheart". This is also the first of three films to feature Van Damme playing dual roles ("Maximum Risk" & "Replicant" are the others). The plot is a very simplistic take on the revenge story, the film's sole redeeming feature being Van Damme's performance as two very different people – the prissy rich kid & the rough-&-tumble, cigar chomping tough guy. As it goes, Van Damme doesn't do a very good job in either role, although his take on Alex is mildly amusing. It is puzzling as to have the brothers mistaken for each other, with them wearing different clothes & having different hairstyles. Bolo Yeung makes a very worthy henchman for the baddies.

Double Team.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 23 August 2018]

After taking a little break,I began looking for a flick to get back on track with movie viewing. Catching a few awesome 1991 Action flicks this month,I decided to see what the Muscles from Brussels offered up for the year.

View on the film:

One of just two films produced by the Michael Douglas company Stone Group Pictures, (the other being '91's Action trash epic Stone Cold) the screenplay by co-writer/(with Peter Krikes/ Steve Meerson and Sheldon Lettich) co-producer and lead star JCVD (massage that ego!) goes for the trend of the era in having East meet West,via JCVD going to Hong Kong to take on corrupt British businessmen. Offering two for the price of one, the writers actually do well in the set-up with (intentional) comedy playing on JCVD's tough guy image with gym bunny Chad,before it high-kicks into a breezy double serving of revenge.

Being listed in the opening credits,Andy and Vic Armstrong continue to show the masterful skill of staging stunts, with exploding French champagne allowing the Armstrong's to pour out a John Woo-style gunfight, and the final "barrel punch-up" having a wonderfully silly,OTT atmosphere. Teaming up again with JCVD after AWOL, director Sheldon Lettich & cinematographer Richard H. Kline slickly blend the action thrills in with trick shots and doubles to allow the star to fight himself. Filling the movie with bonkers double fighting set-pieces, Lettich hurts the fun mood by showing too much self-awareness, with all winking at the camera and Arthur Kempel's jaunty score being prominently used.Re-teaming with Bloodsport's Bolo Yeung as a cackling baddie, along with the sexy and sassy Alonna Shaw, JCVD clearly enjoys playing with his image, as he delivers his roundhouse kicks with ease,and shows some real comedic charm as Chad,who allows JCVD to make the double impact.

"Maybe I'm drunk today, tomorrow I'll be sober, BUT YOU! WILL ALWAYS BE A FAGGOT!" Average Van Damme action flick.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 1 September 2007]

Double Impact starts in Hong Kong where a team of Triad hit men kill Paul (Andy Armstrong) & Katherine Wagner (Sarah-Jane Varley), however they fail to kill their two 6 month old twins who are rescued by Paul's friend Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis) who takes one to America & their nanny who dumps the other outside a Hong Kong orphanage... Jump forward 25 years where Frank & Chad (co-producer Jean-Claude Van Damme) run a Californian karate studio, Frank has tracked Chad's twin brother Alex (Jean-Claude Van Damme again) down in Hong Kong & together they fly out there. Frank introduces the two & reveal that their parents were murdered by a Triad gang run by slimy businessman Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe) & underworld boss Raymond Zhang (Philip Chang), Frank convinces them to join forces, take them both down & avenge their parents...

Co-written, co-produced & directed by Sheldon Lettich this is the first time JCVD plays twins although it wouldn't be the last, Double Impact was one of JCVD's earlier efforts just prior to his first big hit Universal Soldier (1992) & I didn't think it was anything special. The script by Lettich & JCVD (I wonder which one thought up the sex scene where JVCD gets to do the business with Danielle...) is a pretty by-the-numbers out for revenge action flick, the added interest of having two JCVD's doesn't really add anything to the film & some may actually see this as a reason to avoid Double Impact. It's all rather predictable with all the bad guy's not being able to shoot straight, not being able to fight properly & are just generally incompetent while the good guy's hit everything they shoot at, they can take an absolute pounding yet walk away with minor cuts & bruises & of course they never, ever run out of bullets while they seem able to avoid the attentions of the local police despite running around beating people up, killing people & destroying property. The story itself isn't particularly engrossing or original, the dialogue isn't that good, it's full of clichés, the character's are poor & the action scenes are repetitive. To be honest it moves along at a reasonable pace, it never bores, there are the usual unintentionally funny moments because of bad scripting, duff editing or horrible acting so I suppose it entertains on a dumb brainless action flick level but there are much better examples out there if you take the time to look.

Director Lettich does OK but it's all rather generic, bland & a touch lifeless. There's nothing particularly memorable here, there are a few predictably one sided martial arts fights, shoot outs & a few explosions although how did the fire on the boat magically put itself out? The entire hull full of flammable barrels explode yet in the very next shot the boat is fine & there isn't a single flame anywhere to be seen! Most of the scenes involving JCVD as twins is achieved through doubles & not showing them together in the same frame but when the film does the effects are less than satisfactory although ironically these days you could probably do the split screen thing with more convincing results on a home PC today with a decent movie making package. Other than that Lettich has Alex smoke a cigar whenever he's on screen as a sort of trademark while he has Chad dress in brightly coloured tight fitting clothes neither of which are very subtle. The fights are OK but get sort of boring as JCVD never seems to get injured or tired & they are just so one sided.

With a supposed budget of about $16,000,000 Double Impact did reasonable business, it's well made using nice enough locations in Hong Kong & I particularly liked the ending which is set on-top of a huge crane. The acting isn't that good, JCVD can't act, Geoffrey Lewis is awful & no-one else impressed either. Porn actress & low budget horror film starlet Julie Strain makes an early screen appearance.

Double Impact is an average JCVD vehicle, it doesn't make much sense when you think about it & generally speaking it's pretty predictable but if your looking for a few mindless fights & a few laughs then this will pass the time harmlessly enough.

VANDAMAGE!

[videorama-759-859391 · 7/10 · 31 July 2018]

You gotta give VD, credit. He doesn't do half bad a job, playing two people. You'll actually be surprised, and this hard action blockbuster, in none, a badly made film. Revenge is the order of the day, where blood is shed early in the piece, and not much after that in a couple of scenes. Chad. a lover and Alex, fueled with anger are reunited, where 25 years earlier, their parents were massacred, in all the name of big business, and iillegal enterprise, involving some infrastructure, headed by a smarmy English guy (Scarfe) and he makes an enjoyable villain, you love to hate. Their brother's mentor and close friend (Geoffrey Lewis), who I couldn't believe popped up in this, managed to snatch one of the VD babies, while good boy, Chad was taken in by the baddies. DI delivers, well of course, it's a VD pic, but one his better and slicker efforts. And again, early in the peace, he does do the outstretched leg exercise, OUCH! in front of all these pretty lovelies. It's fun watching the angry Van Damme going nuts when imagining him and his hot girlfriend, with the softer and gentler VD, and this was a smart and admirable touch. And too, we don't know if they actually did make out on that boat. Bolo Yeung, is entertaining and humorous as one of the evil nemesis's, involved with the illegal enterprise. It's really fun and humorous watching this buffoon, he always makes for an entertaining presence. DI is a really well polished actioner, and Lewis (Juliette Lewis's father) makes for interesting moments. Indulge.

Not the better of the two Hong Kong based movies that JCVD made

[ebiros2 · 5/10 · 18 October 2012]

Compared to the other JCVD Hong Kong classic the "Knock Off" this movie is of lot lower quality although it's still a good movie. But when this movie was made, it was an intrepid attempt to mix Hong Kong and western production into one (although there was China O'Brien that preceded this in this area).

JCVD was at the top of his game around this point. But he never succeeded breaking into big budget movies, although he was a bankable star (this movie grossed 80M). It took Jackie Chan 30 years to do it, so maybe we shouldn't be so hard on JC.

Interestingly, Ms Olympia Cori Everson makes a guest appearance as the female heavy for the gangs. She was somewhat under utilized, but so were many of the supporting casts. I'm not sure what's not working, but the supporting casts characters lack - well, characters.

The movie could also have capitalized more on the (sometimes) beautiful landscape of Hong Kong.

But out of all JCVD's movies, this is still one of the better ones made.

Two Jean-Claudes for the price of one!

[bowmanblue · 7/10 · 6 May 2020]

Yeah, the 'Muscles From Brussels' was desperately trying to stand out from other eighties action heroes, such as Schwarzenegger and Stallone. At least he had his whole 'martial arts' thing going for him, which did make his films just a little different to every other muscleman pounding countless henchmen into submission. That's not to say that he doesn't pound plenty of goons in 1991's 'Double Impact.'

25 years before a time where everyone wore pink and green (also known as 'the nineties') a pair of twin boys parents were murdered in Hong Kong. Now they've both grown up into revenge-seeking fully-grown men, hell-bent on bringing those who killed their parents to justice - i.e. two Jean Claude Van Dammes and a green-screen to put them on screen at the same time.

'Double Impact' is pretty bad. And I loved it. It's one of those 'so-bad-they're-good' films where you really can't take it that seriously. If you're in the mood for some sort of 'high art' with heaps of character development and/or growth then you're not going to enjoy this. However, if you're looking for a simple action/martial arts film where you suspend your disbelief in order to watch our identical heroes triumph then you're going to get it here.

I've mentioned the simple green-screen technology is used to create the two versions of Van Damme and, despite it probably being pretty obvious which one isn't there, it's actually better done than you might think - especially for the time period/budget. Also, believe it or not, Van Damme actually does a decent job of trying to portray two different versions of himself and, by the end of the film, you may just believe the two of him are two different characters. Also, special mention to Geoffrey Lewis for a surprisingly good performance as the older 'mentor-like' figure to our heroes.

There's plenty of martial arts action for you to enjoy and - yes - he does the splits at least once in the film. But you will need to be in a particularly forgiving mood to full appreciate this. Ever since 'Star Wars' audiences have joked about bad-guys having 'Stormtrooper aim' - i.e. the baddies can't shoot straight. Here it is most noticeable. Seriously, the enemy forces are possibly the worst aim I've ever seen in a film. Just switch off brain, put sunglasses on to prevent the glare from the 'colour-clash' of JCVD's wardrobe and enjoy.

Double or nothing

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 5/10 · 4 January 2004]

This is one of those interesting experiments that filmmakers decide to try out; what if there were two of Jean Claude Van Damme? Would it make the movie any better? The answer is, sadly, no. The movie is exactly the same as the typical Van Damme movie. The two main characters, both played by Van Damme, are hard to tell apart from each other, apart from their unlikeable personalities. Oh, and Alex, the tough one, usually has something in his mouth; either a cigar or a toothpick, depending on whether or not he's somewhere where smoking is allowed. Their aforementioned personalities are supposedly so different to make it easier to tell them apart; it doesn't work. It just makes us hate both of them even more, for different reasons. One of them is extremely sensitive, and very annoying. The other is supposed to be a tough guy, and he pretty much is, but he's also a major asshole throughout the duration of the movie. The fight scenes are what you would expect from a Van Damme movie; either he's kicking ass, or he's getting his ass kicked. The generic action is just that, generic. Nothing special or new about it. The acting is typical Van Damme, it barely passes. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who isn't a huge fan of Van Damme, and I do mean HUGE. Very average. 5/10

Great Jean Claude Van Damme Film!

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 13 March 2004]

Every time I view this film, I enjoy the great photography of Honk Kong, the beauty of the country, excitement of the night lights and the forbidden areas of the dark back streets and its perils! Claude Van Damme (Alex Wagner) gave the audience a double take every time he made a fantastic martial arts endeavor. His great supporting actor was the veteran actor, Geoffry Lewis, (Frank Avery),"Mind Games",'03, whose main goal was to protect the twin boys who were almost killed as infants and see that they obtained the wealth that belonged to the both of them. The gals in the picture add some hot steamy scenes, especially in the Boiler Room! If you are not a Jean Claude Van Damme fan or do not like the great acting of Geoffrey Lewis, this is not the film for you. You will probably like the "Terminator Films"!

For Those Who Believe That One Van Damme Is Not Enough

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 18 August 2004]

In Honk Kong, the twins baby brothers Alex and Chad are separated, when an armed gang executes their wealthy parents. Alex is raised by the former bodyguard and friend of his father, his `uncle' Frank (Geoffrey Lewis), and is a gym and karate instructor in USA. Chad was raised alone in the streets of Hong Kong and is a smuggler and small time crook. Twenty-five years later, Frank finds Chad and joins the two brothers in Hong Kong to fight against the powerful man who killed his parents. The plot of this movie is simply ridiculous. However, it is full of action, shootings, explosions, fights, it shows a beautiful naked woman (Alonna Shaw) and in the end, it is one of the best films of Van Damme. Highly recommended for those who believe that one Van Damme is not enough and for killing time. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Duplo Impacto' (` Double Impact')

Simple waste of time

[pushkar2016-1 · 3/10 · 30 April 2007]

Please, even if you are in the worst of the moods, refrain from watching this flick.

I don't think whether anything was right with this movie at all. On a friend's recommendation I watched this and I literally flushed 1h and 48 min of my life down the closet. Poor acting, stupid direction, weak storyline and pathetic action sequences - and when you blend this together you get "Double Impact". Even least of the expectations were not met.

I guess I did learn one thing - Never watch Van Damme action flicks. They are pure wastage of time !