Bloodsport (film)

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Bloodsport
Bloodsport (movie poster).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Newt Arnold
Produced by Mark DiSalle
Yoram Globus
Menahem Golan
Screenplay by Christopher Cosby
Mel Friedman
Sheldon Lettich
Story by Sheldon Lettich
Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Roy Chiao
Donald Gibb
Leah Ayres
Bolo Yeung
Music by Paul Hertzog
Cinematography David Worth
Editing by Carl Kress
Jean-Claude Van Damme (uncredited)
Studio Golan-Globus
Distributed by The Cannon Group
Release date(s)
  • February 26, 1988 (1988-02-26)
Running time 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1.1 million
Box office $11.8 million (USA)[1]

Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts sports drama film directed by Newt Arnold, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roy Chiao, Donald Gibb and Leah Ayres. The film is based in part on fiction as well as in part inspired by real life of American martial artist Frank Dux.[2][3][4] It sold well at the box office, grossing $11,806,119 domestically on a budget of $1,100,000. Bloodsport was one of Van Damme's first starring films and showcased his athletic abilities. He performs numerous physical feats such as helicopter-style, jump spinning heel kicks, and a complete split.

Contents

Plot [edit]

American Frank Dux (Jean Claude Van Damme), trained from his youth in the ways of Ninjutsu by a Japanese master of the art, Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao), honors his mentor out of gratitude and respect for having been allowed to train in place of Tanaka's deceased son Shingo by going to Hong Kong to participate in the Kumite — an illegal and underground, freestyle, single-elimination and occasionally deadly full-contact martial arts tournament, to which the world's best martial artists are secretly invited every five years.

In Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong, a number of fighters prepare for the Kumite with their own individualized training regimens. Dux, currently enlisted in the Army, is one of the invited participants, but his superiors have learned of the dangerous nature of the Kumite and refuse to let him go. Therefore, he goes AWOL, says goodbye to his mentor and leaves for Hong Kong. Two ACID (Army Criminal Investigation Division) officers (Norman Burton and Forest Whitaker) are summoned to track down and arrest Dux for desertion.

A flashback sequence reveals that Dux, as a teenager, once reluctantly burgled Tanaka's house with friends, but, after they heard a noise and his friends deserted him, Frank returned the katana they had snatched, only to be apprehended by the Tanakas. Impressed by his honesty, Senzo kept quiet about the incident and instead explained to Dux's parents that he would train their son in martial science (although it first seems that Frank was only meant to serve as Shingo's 'practice dummy' as punishment for the burglary). Eventually, Dux and Shingo became friends, and Shingo told him that one day he would make Senzo proud by going to the Kumite. After Shingo's death years later, and despite initial resistance, Senzo agreed to train Dux as a member of the Tanaka Clan.

After arriving in Hong Kong, Dux befriends American Vale Tudo fighter Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and Victor Lin (Kenneth Siu), who becomes the manager/liaison for Jackson and Dux. The two Americans and the defending Kumite champion Chong Li (Bolo Yeung) — a fighter with a savage streak - all make it through the first day of the Kumite. Dux earns the enmity of Li after breaking his record for the fastest knockout. Dux becomes involved with American journalist Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who is attempting to investigate the Kumite, but is horrified by its brutality. On the second day of the tournament, Jackson is set up against Li. Although Jackson gains the upper hand, he gloats instead of finishing Li, who brutally beats him, putting him in the hospital. Dux vows that he will avenge Jackson. Kent tries to convince Dux to pull out of the tournament, but he refuses.

On the last day of the competition, Dux is cornered by the ACID officers. After defeating the local police, he promises to give himself up once the tournament is over. Dux advances to the tournament final to face Li, who had shocked the audience by killing his previous opponent remorselessly. Dux is a formidable foe, so Li resorts to blinding him with a handful of quicklime. Dux uses his other senses (as Senzo had taught him) to overcome the handicap and force Li to shout "matté" (a cry of surrender), becoming the first Western winner of the Kumite. He then returns to the United States with the ACID officers.

Cast [edit]

Soundtrack [edit]

Bloodsport's soundtrack score was composed by Paul Hertzog, who also composed another Jean-Claude Van Damme movie titled Kickboxer. Due to its limited release, the score on CD is considered a collector's item and goes for as much as $150 on eBay[citation needed] and $199 on Amazon.com.[6] The soundtrack contains the songs "Fight To Survive" and "On My Own", both performed by Stan Bush. However, Bush's songs which are featured in the movie are replaced on the soundtrack with alternate versions sung by Paul Delph, who was nominated for a Grammy for this work.

The film plays the song "Steal The Night" by Michael Bishop during a scene where Dux runs from Helmer and Rawlins. The song was not released until the mid-2000s, as a single containing a vocal and instrumental version.

On June 26, 2007, Perseverance Records released a limited edition CD of the soundtrack including, for the first time, the original film versions of the Stan Bush songs.

Reception [edit]

Critics [edit]

On the website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 33% "Tomatometer" rating, and so is considered "rotten". The Los Angeles Times critic, like most professional critics, offered a negative review.[7]

Box office [edit]

The movie was profitable, drawing $11.7 million dollars at the U.S. box office.[8]

Home release [edit]

Bloodsport was released on Region 1 DVD by Warner Home Video on October 1, 2002. It was later released on Blu-ray, as a double feature with Timecop.

Legacy [edit]

Sequels [edit]

Bloodsport was followed by three sequels: Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), Bloodsport III (1997) and Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite (1999). They were released direct-to-video and Jean Claude Van Damme did not appear in them.

Remake [edit]

A remake of Bloodsport is planned. Phillip Noyce is attached to direct a screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen. Screen Daily explains, "The story will follow an American who goes to Brazil to recover from the violence he has experienced in Afghanistan who gets involved in a martial arts contest."[9]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Bloodsport (1988)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-09-08. 
  2. ^ "LA Times exposé". Articles.latimes.com. 1988-05-01. Retrieved 2012-10-24. 
  3. ^ Richards, David (1994-09-04). "FILM; Jean-Claude Van Damme, the, uh, Actor?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-08. 
  4. ^ Cater, Dave (May 1987). "Bloodsport – The Ultimate Martial Arts Movie". Inside Kung Fu Presents The Complete Guide To Ninja Training: 38–47. 
  5. ^ "Jean-Claude Van Damme". A.V. Club. Retrieved March 22, 2011 (2011-03-22). 
  6. ^ "Bloodsport: Various Artists: Music: Reviews, Prices & more". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 
  7. ^ Klady, Leonard (1988-02-29). "'Bloodsport': A Blow for Cliches". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
  8. ^ January 08, 1989 (1989-01-08). "Box Office Champs, Chumps : The hero of the bottom line was the 46-year-old 'Bambi' - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.  Text "LEONARD KLADY " ignored (help)
  9. ^ Goodridge, Mike (May 17, 2011). "Pressman signs Noyce for Bloodsport; lands Venice slot for Moth Diaries". Screen Daily. 

External links [edit]

Bloodsport film series
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