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Bloodsport (film)

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Bloodsport
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNewt Arnold
Screenplay byChristopher Cosby
Mel Friedman
Sheldon Lettich
Story bySheldon Lettich
Produced byMark DiSalle
Yoram Globus
Menahem Golan
StarringJean-Claude Van Damme
Roy Chiao
Donald Gibb
Leah Ayres
CinematographyDavid Worth
Edited byCarl Kress
Jean-Claude Van Damme (uncredited)
Music byPaul Hertzog
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • February 26, 1988 (1988-02-26)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
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 on the claimed adventures of Frank Dux.[2][3] The film performed well at the box office, grossing $11,806,119 domestically on a budget of $1,100,000, a 1,073% return on cost. Bloodsport became one of Jean Claude Van Damme's first starring films and showcased his athletic abilities. On display are numerous physical feats such as his trademark helicopter-style, jump spinning heel kicks, and Van Damme's ability to perform a complete split.

Plot

Bloodsport tells the story of Canadian 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). To honor his mentor out of gratitude and respect for having been allowed the training in place of Senzo Tanaka's deceased son, Dux leaves for 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 clandestinely invited every five years.

The movie begins with the preparation for the Kumite in Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong. A number of fighters are shown preparing for the Kumite with their own individual training regimens. Frank Dux is shown kicking a speed bag in an Army gym. An officer informs him that the commanding officer found out about Dux's intent to participate in the Kumite and wants to speak to him. Frank tells him he wants to take a shower first, only to go AWOL instead.

Dux goes to the Tanakas to say goodbye to his mentor. A flashback sequence shows a younger Frank Dux sneaking into Tanaka's house with friends to steal a Katana and getting caught. Impressed by his "fighting spirit", Tanaka explains to Dux's parents that he intends to train their son in martial science. Tanaka's son Shingo tells Dux that one day he will make his father proud by going to the Kumite. After Shingo's death years later, and despite initial resistance, Tanaka agrees to train Dux as a member of the Tanaka Clan.

Back in the United States, two ACID (Army Criminal Investigation Division) officers (Norman Burton and Forest Whitaker) are summoned to track down and arrest Dux for desertion. After arriving in Hong Kong, Dux befriends American fighter Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and Victor Lin (Ken Siu), the latter of whom acts as a manager/liaison for Jackson and Dux. Dux, Jackson 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 Chong Li after breaking his record for the fastest KO.

Dux becomes involved with a female American journalist Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who is attempting to investigate the secretive Kumite event but is horrified by its brutality. Dux is cornered by the ACID officers but, after defeating the local police, promises to give himself up once the tournament is over. On the second day of the tournament, Jackson is set up against Chong Li. Although Jackson gains the upper hand, he chooses to gloat rather than finish Chong Li, who proceeds to brutally beat 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.

Dux advances to the final of the tournament to face Chong Li, who shocks everyone by killing his previous opponent and showing no remorse. Dux proves to be a formidable foe, so Chong Li resorts to blinding him with a handful of quicklime, but Dux uses his other senses, as Tanaka taught him, to overcome the handicap and forces Chong Li to shout "matté", making Dux the first Western winner of the Kumite. The film closes with Dux returning to the United States.

Cast

Soundtrack

Bloodsport's soundtrack score was composed by Paul Hertzog, who also composed another Jean-Claude Van Damme movie titled Kickboxer. Hertzog's score was only issued on CD a few times. Due to its rarity, it is now considered a collector's item and goes for as much as $150 on eBay and $199 on Amazon.com.[citation needed][5] The movie's score contained the songs "Fight To Survive" and "On My Own", both of which were performed by Stan Bush. However Stan Bush's songs as featured in the movie are not present on the official soundtrack, and alternate versions with vocals by Paul Delph are present on it instead. Paul Delph received a Grammy nomination for his work.

The film contained the song "Steal The Night" by Michael Bishop, that plays during a scene when Van Damme's character runs away from Helmer and Rawlins. The song was not released until the mid 2000's, when it was made available for online purchasing. The single contains a vocal and instrumental version. Also of note is a previously unreleased piece of score from the movie The Gamble, that was released on the Best of Van Damme Compilation Volume 2 CD. On June 26, 2007, Perseverance Records released a limited edition of the soundtrack on CD. The release is considered to be an improvement over all previous releases as the CD contains for the first time, the original versions of the tracks performed by Stan Bush as heard in the motion picture.

Reception

The film received mostly negative reviews from critics. On the website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 33%, and 71% of the audience liked the film.[6] Bloodsport has gained a large following amongst martial arts film fans and is considered to be a cult classicEspecially for showing a wide variety of different styles .[7]

DVD release

Bloodsport was released in a Region 1 DVD by Warner Home Video on October 1, 2002.

Sequels

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

Remake

A remake of Bloodsport is being planned. Phillip Noyce is attached to direct based on a screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen. Screen Daily reported, "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."[8]

References

  1. ^ "Bloodsport (1988)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  2. ^ Richards, David (1994-09-04). "FILM; Jean-Claude Van Damme, the, uh, Actor?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  3. ^ Cater, Dave (May 1987). "Bloodsport – The Ultimate Martial Arts Movie". Inside Kung Fu Presents The Complete Guide To Ninja Training: 38–47.
  4. ^ "Jean-Claude Van Damme". A.V. Club. Retrieved March 22, 2011 (2011-03-22). {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ "Bloodsport: Various Artists: Music: Reviews, Prices & more". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  6. ^ Klady, Leonard (1988-02-29). "'Bloodsport': A Blow for Cliches". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  7. ^ "Bloodsport". The Factual Opinion. August 28, 2006 (2006-08-28). Retrieved October 1, 2011 (2011-10-01). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ Goodridge, Mike (May 17, 2011). "Pressman signs Noyce for Bloodsport; lands Venice slot for Moth Diaries". Screen Daily. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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