The Hard Corps (2006)

I have to admit that around Maximum Risk and Knockoff (late 90's era JCVD), Jean-Claude lost me. I found no enjoyment in either of those films, and while I absolutely loved Double Team (1997), anything after went straight to home video, which usually means low-quality films, and that's just never a good sign. I did try a few of his films here and there, but I could never sit through one completely. They just weren't any good. So I pretty much strayed from him films until 2008's JCVD. But even then, with his career seemingly at a resurgence, nothing that came after that was any good either. In fact, the only thing I actually liked from him in the last 20 years is easily the Amazon show pilot for Van Johnson, where he was just absolutely brilliant. I haven't heard anything new about it yet, but I do hope it gets picked up for a series.Philippe Savauge (JCVD), an army vet suffering from PTSD, is hired as a bodyguard for local boxing champ Wayne Barclay (Razaaq Adoti). When a local drug kingpin, Terrell Singletery (Viv Leacock) is released from a prison stint, he sets his sights on exacting revenge on Barclay from a long-running feud. Savauge soon realizes he has his work cut out for him and things get even more complicated when it seems like Barclay's sister and manager Tamara (Vivica A. Fox) might have a thing for Savauge. The Hard Corpse reunites Van Damme with his Lionheart and Double Impact writer/director Sheldon Lettich, and honestly, that was the only selling point for me to actually make the effort to watch this. Sure it had been many, many years since either of them had a hit, but I went in hopeful. And you know, it wasn't bad. Not at all the kind of film I was expecting, but it wasn't terrible either. It was shockingly able to keep my attention even though it ultimately ended up being the kind of film that I don't necessarily seek out. And after having seen it, it's not a film I will probably ever watch again and won't go down as one of Jean-Claude's better films.There's really not much motivation for you to actually check this out, unless you're a die hard completest of JCVD films. There's really not a lot of action, and you only ever see him use his martial arts skills during one scene in the film. Even then, it comes across so "blah". You'd never know these two (Lettich and Van Damme) were the same team behind some of his earlier classics like Bloodsport, Lionheart and Double Impact (a personal favorite). But still, it's not a bad film. Just not a good or enjoyable one. Sheldon Lettich, while one of the few who spearheaded the whole martial arts/action movement in the late 80's to early 90's has clearly lost his mojo by this film. While he would only ever direct 8 films in his career, this would be his last. What makes the experience more trying is that Van Damme just looks so tired and uninterested here. He literally looks like he couldn't give a damn anymore than he already does and comes across as completely bored and unmotivated. Sad day indeed. Not one of his worst, but you can certainly find a better way to spend an hour and a half of your time. www.robotGEEKSCultCinema.blogspot.com

THE HARD CORPS is a film I'd like a lot more if it wasn't for the subject matter. It's a film that looks good, seeing Van Damme team up once more with director Sheldon Lettich, with whom he made some cheesy classics back in the day (such as DOUBLE IMPACT), which are still personal favourites of mine. There are some decent action scenes sprinkled around, including a great bit where our hero machine-guns a car and has a fist fight with a younger, fitter opponent, reminding us that he's still got 'it'.But for too much of the running time, the film gets bogged down in the storyline surrounding a black boxer and the man who vows to have him killed. Too many 'gangsta' stereotypes creep into the script, especially at the climax, so that this resembles nothing more than one of those poor Seagal movies.It's not totally without merit, though. Van Damme isn't required to act much here, as in other, recent movies, but he's still fun to watch. The (few) action scenes are fun, and I like Lettich's direction. I just wish that they'd gone for a better script rather than desperately trying to appeal to the young, black, male crowd.

this is one of the better Jean Claude Van Damme movies i have seen in a long while.the story is actually pretty good.the acting is decent.the characters have some depth to them.Van Damme actually misplays some emotional range.this isn't your typical Van Damme action flick.Vivica A. Fox add some class(not to mention beauty and talent)to the proceedings.and the supporting players are all also very good here.after having just watched Derailed(another Van Damme Movie)which stunk to high heaven,i was pleasantly surprised at how good it really is.this is one movie i would definitely recommend watching.like me,i'm betting you just might be pleasantly surprised.for me,The Hard Corps is an 8/10

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as a special forces guy (you know the type) who is hired as a bodyguard for a world champion boxer, seems that a gangster has put a hit on said boxer, and despite Van Damme's reluctance, Vivica A. Fox convinces him to take on the case. The film I was most reminded of was Blackjack with Dolph Lundgren (Minus the color phobia angle.) and this is because the film features a similar plot line. Jean-Claude Van Damme is in decent form, he excludes a charisma and is in his strong action man role, which has been lacking lately in his later straight to video movies. Alas despite Van Damme's effective work the movie still doesn't work due to the over-edited action sequences and lame camera angles that cut away far too much so we can't get into the action as well. The choreography is certainly decent but the action is too chopped up to be effective. Also Van Damme has a group of other tough guys and gals helping out,so we see more action with them then with Van Damme, which is sort of a letdown. The movie is passable, I mean I wasn't bored with it and despite its routine story and predictability the movie does deliver what it promises. I just wish the movie would've given us more Van Damage and less camera trickery. In the end though it's not one of Van Damme's best. It is in fact a lesser film from Jean-Claude.* * out of 4-(Fair)