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richalexh
Reviews
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
all good things should come to an end
i've been a fan of mike myers since i was little and have found him to be very funny (wayne's world being one of the best comedies from the last decade) and i can honestly say i've enjoyed the austin powers series immensely international man of mystery was a funny and original parody and with the spy who shagged me things just seemed to get better and better. i was pretty pleased with this latest entry in the series but i think the time has now come to put a lid on the austin powers series and for mike myers to move on to other things.
Don't get me wrong here i believe goldmember was one of the best comedies of the year and as good as myers and the jokes were i get the feeling the series is starting to tire. You can only use the same gag so many times as ozzy osbourne was good enough to point out. Goldmember lacks the freshness of the first two films and in parts just makes us feel like we're going through the motions. i welcomed the new characters we were given in the first sequel mini me and fat bastard but goldmember just seems rather pointless unless that is the film makers have some major issues with the dutch and on first viewing i thought beyonce knowles character foxxy cleopatra came across well but on second viewing just came off as rather annoying.
Although all that said there is still a lot of fun to be had in goldmember all the austin powers regulars are back i particuarly enjoyed seth green's scott evil who has finally made the transition to evil and has won his father's love. the cameos from the beginning are excellent and seeing a certain pop princess's head blow up was rather satisfying.
All in all i would recommend austin powers to anyone apart from the rare few that don't like the other films. I can happily say i was very pleased with goldmember i just think myers and new line cinema should leave the austin powers trilogy as the comedy phenomenon it is.
I rate this a 7
Timecop (1994)
A highly enjoyable sci fi actioner
I first saw this a couple of years ago and thought it was just a routine action film but when i saw it again i thought it was a highly enjoyable sci fi actioner like Sudden Death and Hard Target its on a bigger budget and is of a much higher quality than most van damme films. Its not that i don't enjoy some of his other stuff because i do its just its nice to see action vehicles with a brain, a talented supporting cast and better special effects. The story is based around Max Walker a cop who works for a special unit who police time, Walker is trying to catch a crooked senator named mcomb while at the same time goes back 10 years to save his wife from being murdered. Timecop is great fun boasting some fantastic fights and special effects and a great bad guy played superbly by Ron Silver he has some great 1 liners and steals a lot of the scenes hes in. I've noticed people saying how violent it is i'm denying its violent but its not a heavy 18 and its mainly just punch ups and guns this really does make me wonder if you think this is violent how are you going to stomach Robocop.
Double Impact (1991)
A Decent martial arts flick
Van Damme films are never going to win oscars but seeing as this is one of his earlier films (with the exception of cyborg)you can guarantee it will be an enjoyable worth while action picture. The basic outline of the story is after their parents are killed by a chinease hit squad twin babies are separated, twenty five years later they are reunited and with the help of the parents bodyguard they set out to avenge the death of their parents. Van Damme doesn't exactly give an oscar winning performance but if we wathched Van Damme for his acting we woudn't be watching his films at all. Though what we do have here is a great display of martial arts talent Bloodsport's bolo yeung is on fine form and this makes out for some great chopsoky between yeung and van damme towards the end. The rest of the cast give adequate performances and an assortment of bad guys are thrown in such as a high kicking bloke with spurs on the heels of his shoes and a female baddie who could give Goldeneyes's Xenia Onatopp a run for her money. All in all this makes for good action fodder alas if only Jean claude still made films as good as this.
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
Up there with Cyborg a true Van Damme stinker
Before I rented this I was a bit weary seeing as JCVD'S last couple of films hadn't been too good (desert heat,the quest etc) and also WCW's Bill Goldberg I'm not a fan of wrestling and wrestlers aren't renowned for their acting ability but being a Van Damme fan I had to rent it. I didn't expect much from it but I didn't even get that, it started up not too badly with a river boat chase but once they get onto land (and I mean the moment they set foot off the boats) we meet Goldberg ridiculously named Romeo we realise the kind of lame action fair we're in for. The story was stupid and totally forgettable there wasn't 1 decent performance from the entire cast and we get a whole nasty made for tv feel about it. If your a Van Damme fan or you loved the original see it for the sake of it anyone else should avoid, up there with Cyborg this is a true Van Damme stinker.
Sudden Death (1995)
The best Die Hard clone around
This isn't the first time the Die Hard formular has been copied and you can be quite sure it won't be the last this is however a top notch action film with some great martial arts and eye popping stunts. I rented this out the video shop on 1 rainy day with high expectations and i'm very pleased to say they were met. As a change to your usual cop/ex army hero we are given Van Damme as an ex fireman as this is a Die Hard formular picture obviously we need blood thirsty terrorists, hostages, ransom demands action heros and most of all something big to be taken over. This time its a hockey arena stageing the stanley cup play offs. This is a great setting seeing as it gives some unusual twists on the formular. Peter Hyams who directed Timecop with Van Damme (which is another of Van Dammes above average big budget A grade action films)does a marvelous job at the helm producing some excellent action sequences. After the dodgy big screen video game adaption of street fighter its good to see Van Damme pick himself back up and do a real action movie. Over all I highly recommended this and there is much to be enjoyed the menaceing Powers Booth, the fantastic explosions, the martial arts but mostly of all the fight with the giant bird (you have to see it to believe it) and so i conclude the best Die Hard clone around. An Explosive ****/*****
Hard Target (1993)
Up there with Die Hard a true action classic
John Woo's first u.s film is a hugely underrated hugely enjoyable action thriller beautiflly shot and bursting with style this is certainly Van Damme's best film and in my books is at the top of the action genre. It's a sort of updating of 1930's thriller The Most Dangerous Game. It centres around a women searching for her father in New Orleans who enlists the help of tough cajun chance boudreux i don't wanna say any more about the plot cos i don't wanna give to much away.this is the part of Van Damme's career when his acting wasn't too bad, the rest of the cast are mostly a solid bunch of unknowns who prove they've got what it takes to make this a tight well made thriller. Lance Henriksen is great as Fouchon and Arnold Vosloo equally as good as accomplice Van cleef. Even though in my opinion this is Woo's best u.s film it took him 2 more attempts to breakthrough into the Hollywood mainstream in which he finally struck gold with Face/Off. Hard Target comes out a dark action thriller packed with a superb blend of martial arts shootouts and explosions. I recommend this to any 1 weather your an action junkie, die hard van damme fan or just a general film buff. Up there with Die Hard this is a true action classic