Bloodsport (1986)

Featured Audience Ratings

• KJ P

  
  "Bloodsport," even though it is based upon a real martial arts fighter, feels extremely corny and sloppily put together. The dialogue feels like it was written and directed by a young teenager who was given a professional camera, along with some big name hollywood actors who… More
  "Bloodsport," even though it is based upon a real martial arts fighter, feels extremely corny and sloppily put together. The dialogue feels like it was written and directed by a young teenager who was given a professional camera, along with some big name hollywood actors who really do not seem interested in their own characters. Usually the action in a film like this would be the deciding factor between enjoyment or utter awfulness, and honestly, this film fails at that as well. The action is very poorly edited and there is practically no signs of practised choreography here. I could not keep myself from laughing during this entire film, not because of intended comedy, but because the characters were very unintertesting, the story is extremely generic, the cinematography captures the worst angles during the fight sequences, and the overall film suffers. Seeing as it is based on an actual person, you would think that the filmmakers would have put a but more devotion into the film and hired a better actor than Van Damme, but what can you do. The film was made, and it really sucks. Still, throughout the film you can find some enjoyment during the fight and chase sequences.

• Reid V

  
  I, like most film fans, can appreciate the films of Kubrick, Goddard, Pabst, Bergman, and other auteurs. With patience, time, and access to a well-vetted Wikipedia page, one can slowly begin to peel back layer by layer the many different meanings encompassed in the very best of… More
  I, like most film fans, can appreciate the films of Kubrick, Goddard, Pabst, Bergman, and other auteurs. With patience, time, and access to a well-vetted Wikipedia page, one can slowly begin to peel back layer by layer the many different meanings encompassed in the very best of cinema. However, it takes a certain kind of man to truly take on headfirst a film as profound, devastatingly honest, and important as Newt Arnold's Bloodsport. Arnold not only understands the human condition better than any filmmaker I have ever seen, but he also knows how to trim the fat and get to the very heart of what keeps people coming back to the movies over and over again. All of this, and much much more, is on display here in Bloodsport. Arnold utilizes slow motion to great effect here as he knows that watching a fibula break just isn't the same when witnessed in real time. Also, the raw energy of the immensely talented cast only adds greater depth to the already riveting story that touches on, but is not limited to: alienation, addiction, love, and above all, pain. While I am sure there are countless metaphors buried beneath all of the abdominal blows and roundhouse kicks, I couldn't even begin to touch on them here. Hell, I don't even know if a doctoral dissertation could begin to unpack all of the symbolism Arnold gives us in a single frame. It's best to leave that to the experts, should there ever exist someone willing to take on such heady subject matter. Hitchcock once said "For me, cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake." I can only assume that Hitch got his hands on an early print of Bloodsport when he said this as I can not imagine any other film being more deserving of your time than this blood-soaked masterpiece.

• Phil H

  
  Van Dammes finest hour, this is a great martial arts fest with brilliant scenes and some stunning Hong Kong scenary. The fights are great, alittle dated now but still cool with nice fake blood splashing around and over the top moves. It lifts your spirits as Van Damme, as predicted,… More
  Van Dammes finest hour, this is a great martial arts fest with brilliant scenes and some stunning Hong Kong scenary. The fights are great, alittle dated now but still cool with nice fake blood splashing around and over the top moves. It lifts your spirits as Van Damme, as predicted, beats the final opponent, avenges his buddy and wins the tournament. The other fighters are a great line up too, real collection of styles and looks to show its a world tournament, this is how 'Street Fighter' should have been, in fact it could be SF2 easily. Good training scenes, nice soundtrack and its based on reality which is kinda new for Jean Claude.

• Jason O

  
  "Bloodsport" is a great fighting movie. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this movie that is based on a real life fighting champion, Frank Dux. Frank travels to Japan to try and become the fighting champion of the Kumite tournament. His biggest challenge in the tournament is… More
  "Bloodsport" is a great fighting movie. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this movie that is based on a real life fighting champion, Frank Dux. Frank travels to Japan to try and become the fighting champion of the Kumite tournament. His biggest challenge in the tournament is Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), the current Kumite champion. "Bloodsport" is sure to satisfy just about anybody who likes fighting movies. Like always, Jean-Claude Van Damme puts on some great fighting sequences. Donald Gibb does a good job portraying Frank's friend, Ray Jackson. I recommend "Bloodsport" to anybody who likes exciting fighting movies. It was the first great Van Damme fighting movie, now there are several more such as "Kickboxer," "Hard Target," and "Double Impact." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Van Damme rocks, period, or kicks.

• Martin S

  
  This kind of reminds me of another movie......ooh yeah the ultimate Van Damme movie collection

• Lady D

  
  Probably one of my most watched flms as a kid. It all looks pretty corny now, but like this film for sentimental value

• Derek D

  
  It is what it is...a Van Damme movie. Great fight sequences with different martial arts styles represented, but only for fans of either Van Damme or martial arts movies. Van Damme is his usual self here - for better or worse - but this does include Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker so how… More
  It is what it is...a Van Damme movie. Great fight sequences with different martial arts styles represented, but only for fans of either Van Damme or martial arts movies. Van Damme is his usual self here - for better or worse - but this does include Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker so how many karate movies can say they have a Best Actor winner in them?

• Lenny M

  
  Van Damme's calling card, sets the example for how every Van Damme film, bad guy does something, kill people to get to him, shows his ass in the process.

• Daniel H

  
  Bad. Not that it won't entertain, but this movie fails at everything it sets out to do... even the amount of blood in "Bloodsport" is pretty pathetic, and the fighting is standard. Failing at an interesting plot wouldn't be so bad for a movie like this, but it… More
  Bad. Not that it won't entertain, but this movie fails at everything it sets out to do... even the amount of blood in "Bloodsport" is pretty pathetic, and the fighting is standard. Failing at an interesting plot wouldn't be so bad for a movie like this, but it also tries to be a biopic, a love story, a movie about honor, an underdog story, a crime drama, a buddy picture, and Mortal Kombat. Still, perhaps that is it's charm... a pathetic, sniveling charm.

• danny d

  
  maybe the best tournament movie of all time

• Lafe F

  
  Bloodsport is a fascinating movie about an illegal-fighting competition which only the greatest are invited to. It inspired much interest with my friends during High School; we'd watch it repeatedly. It had great fight scenes, with the characters' very lives at stake.… More
  Bloodsport is a fascinating movie about an illegal-fighting competition which only the greatest are invited to. It inspired much interest with my friends during High School; we'd watch it repeatedly. It had great fight scenes, with the characters' very lives at stake. Probably the first Jean-Claude Van Damme movie we ever watched. It's very well done, with interesting angles on the fights. There's even a plot.

• Dean !

  
  Probably one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's best films, along with Kickboxer. Great fight scenes and not much else in between, pure action all the way.

• Jason S

  
  A classic of the martial arts movies. Van Damme at his finest.

• Dean M

  
  I believe this film is based on a true story in martial arts.

• Khris N

  
  Van Damme's best flick (i think) - good martial arts on display -very realistic.

• Kalel J

  
  Bloodsport shows Van Damme has credit as both a Martial Artist and Action-star. While Bloodsport is a film that impresses in many contexts, it somehow fails in really drawing the audience into the characters and chemistry on screen. Apart from that this is a film that shows the… More
  Bloodsport shows Van Damme has credit as both a Martial Artist and Action-star. While Bloodsport is a film that impresses in many contexts, it somehow fails in really drawing the audience into the characters and chemistry on screen. Apart from that this is a film that shows the audience a true action film in that respect.

• Deb S

  
  While the acting might not be quite up to par compared to the great films of our era, this film is solidly supported by great fight choreography. To me it's one of the best martial arts movie ever.The fight scenes were awesome and this movie is packed with them with Bolo Yeung… More
  While the acting might not be quite up to par compared to the great films of our era, this film is solidly supported by great fight choreography. To me it's one of the best martial arts movie ever.The fight scenes were awesome and this movie is packed with them with Bolo Yeung being a great muscular adversary. JCVD gives one of his best performances in this movie and his fighting style was excellent. If you're into fighting films, then you would have most likely seen this! If not, then you need to rush out and rent it.

• Curt C

  
  The 80's music and style, combined with the punches and kicks that miss by a mile, make this a pretty interesting viewing experience today. Unlike the vast majority of movies from this genre, this is still watchable, entertaining, and, dare I say, inspiring today. Possibly Van… More
  The 80's music and style, combined with the punches and kicks that miss by a mile, make this a pretty interesting viewing experience today. Unlike the vast majority of movies from this genre, this is still watchable, entertaining, and, dare I say, inspiring today. Possibly Van Damme's best movie.

• John M

  
  I saw this movie when I was a kid, I re-watched it and still hold up after all these years. The action is fantastic and the story is pretty clichéd but you have to look at it as a martial arts film and accept the stunning fight sequences the film offers. "Bloodsport" is a… More
  I saw this movie when I was a kid, I re-watched it and still hold up after all these years. The action is fantastic and the story is pretty clichéd but you have to look at it as a martial arts film and accept the stunning fight sequences the film offers. "Bloodsport" is a perfect classic Martial Arts movie.

• Sean L

  
  WOW. This movie is dumb. It wreaks of everything which was bad about the eighties. The music sucks. There are long stupid montages of Van Damme sitting in deep thought to fill the gaps between fights. There is an excessive amount of slow motion which only serves to accentuate Van… More
  WOW. This movie is dumb. It wreaks of everything which was bad about the eighties. The music sucks. There are long stupid montages of Van Damme sitting in deep thought to fill the gaps between fights. There is an excessive amount of slow motion which only serves to accentuate Van Damme's goofy facial expressions when he does karate and draw more attention to the fact that no one is actually getting hit. There also seems to be some strange racism at work here, which is obviously never appreciated. The plot is absolutely dumb as a board. I'd be lying if I said I was bored or didn't enjoy it, but if this ranks as a guilty pleasure then I need to seriously redefine some other movies I consider guilty pleasures.

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