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Mark di Salle Movies

1986  
R  
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Jean-Claude Van Damme makes his starring debut in the aptly titled Bloodsport. An American soldier at large in Hong Kong, Van Damme becomes involved in the Kumite (also spelled Kumatai), a highly illegal kickboxing competition. Whoever survives the bout will be crowned Kumite champion of the world-a title that has plenty of challengers with homicide in their hearts. The finale offers a duel to the death (or near-death) between Van Damme and reigning Kumite king Bolo Yeung. The script is based on the real-life exploits of martial arts champ Frank Dux (who serves as the film's fight coordinator). Denied such niceties as production values, Bloodsport scores big-time in the violent action department. A sequel followed in 1995, inventively titled Bloodsport 2. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Jean-Claude Van DammeDonald Gibb, (more)
 
1989  
R  
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Jean Claude Van Damme kicks up his heels once again in this action film. Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, the brother of American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio). Having bested the best in the United States, Eric takes off to Bangkok with little brother Kurt to defeat the kickboxing champion of Thailand. However, while Eric wins the fight, his career is finished for good when his opponent, the malicious Tong Po (Michel Qissi) breaks his spine after the final bell sounds, putting Eric permanently in a wheelchair. Kurt learns the sport of kickboxing himself, so he can get in the ring and teach the Thai champ a lesson. An old man who is a master at kickboxing, instructs Kurt in the brutal art, along with gentle bromides of Zen philosophy and spiritual peace. Kurt finally becomes a pro and lines up a match with Tong Po, but to insure victory, Tong Po's cohorts rape Kurt's girlfriend, kidnap his crippled brother, and even kill his dog. But Kurt is unbowed and is ready for the champ to meet his match. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Starring:
Jean-Claude Van DammeDennis Alexio, (more)
 
1990  
R  
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Canadian Mountie Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is assigned to a bizarre case where prison inmates are being murdered. Sent to the jail to investigate while undercover as a prisoner, Burke is hot on the trail until one of his former busts, the Sandman (Patrick Kilpatrick), is transferred to the same prison. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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Starring:
Jean-Claude Van DammeRobert Guillaume, (more)
 
1991  
R  
Featuring plenty of high, hard kicks, and flailing furious fists, this martial arts actioner tells an exciting tale of vengeance as a tough American street fighter stalks the streets of L.A.'s Chinatown in search of the organized criminals responsible for his guardian's death. Movie newcomer Jeff Speakman makes an appealing action hero, with fluid direction from genre veteran Mark DiSalle. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Starring:
Jeff SpeakmanJohn Dye, (more)
 
1993  
R  
In this violent urban drama, an LA cop is deeply traumatized after he tries to save a child in a hostage situation and fails. He leaves the force and returns to his old gritty South Central neighborhood to help Rebecca Sanchez find her brother Carlos who has mysteriously disappeared shortly after a gang truce, between the African-American gang the Blades and the Latin Lords, begins disintegrating thanks to a number of drive-by shootings in either territory. The cop's investigation soon reveals that both gangs are being manipulated by a third party. Poor Carlos seems to hold the key and finds his life in grave danger. When the cop figures it all out, his life is also jeopardized. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Starring:
Jeff SpeakmanChristopher Neame, (more)