VAN DAMME: A RETROSPECTIVE (25 Career Highlights Good & Bad) PART 3

JCVD hanging with the russians and taking in the fights...

13) Death Warrant

JCVD goes undercover as a prisoner to investigate some disturbing murders going on in Harrison State Prison. This is basically classic Van Damme. Some great martial arts, cheesy one liners, and outrageous early 90s outfits. It doesn't live up to some of the other classics, but it belongs in the category. JCVD is probably the worst undercover cop of all time, doing everything wrong left and right, but blame it on the script. We get one of the best villains though in The Sandman, played by B-movie creep Patrick Kilpatrick ("The Stand", "The X-Files")

12) Replicant

Like everyone else, I wasn't expecting much from this film. But I still remember sitting by the TV waiting for the debut of this straight to DVD picture on USA network. And like everyone else, I was surprised at how decent this film was. Not only was this the first time we got to see some genuine emotion from JCVD (much better than "Nowhere to Run"), we have a film that had the story come first, and the action second. Not very often did we get this in a Van Damme picture. Always classic Michael Rooker adds some flavor to this film and veteran action director Ringo Lam puts some extra pizazz into this science fiction themed action drama.

11) Maximum Risk

Also directed by Ringo Lam, "Maximum Risk" will always be the sleeper hit by JCVD. It was right at the beginning of his downfall and pretty much forgotten in the grand picture of his career. A little more serious than his other movies at the time, "Maximum Risk" is basically just a well done action thriller. People were disappointed because Ringo Lam brought some serious steam to America and this was considered a let down, but even in critic's minds this was above average for a Van Damme film. Throw in "Species" hotty Natasha Henstridge and some bath house violence and you get a great Van Damme vehicle.

10) Double Impact

From a critical standpoint, "Maximum Risk" and "Replicant" are probably better movies than "Double Impact", but what we have here from this twin Van Damme picture is pure entertainment. Like "Replicant" we have Van Damme in a dual role where he may not show as amazing acting chops in this movie, but he provides some of the best action and comedic moments of his career (whether they are intentional or not I don't know). We get some cameos from "Bloodsport" co-stars to add a little something extra for Van Damme fans to nerd out about.

9) Lionheart

This was a personal favorite of mine growing up, but as an adult it is easier to pick up on the flaws. Still "Lionheart" has a special place in my heart. There is just something really cool about a foreigner coming to America and being forced to fight in an underground street fighting circuit. Ignoring the emotional cheesy family sideplot, JCVD provides some of the best fights against some of the most unique characters in cool settings of his career. For some extra fun they threw in some cool roles by Brian Thompson ("The X-Files", "Terminator" need I say more?), a bad ass bitch and fake Sharon Stone, and the guy who also beats up Van Damme in "The Quest" and "The Order".

8) Timecop

"Timecop" will probably be known as the most financially successful film of Van Damme's career, but it certainly isn't his best. From a plot stand point, it has more holes than a golf course, but what we get is a lot of fun. Van Damme travels through time beating up bad guys and trying to get over the death of his beloved wife Mia Sara ("Legend", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off") and also my 1980's crush. Van Damme does the splits to avoid electrically charged water in his kitchen and he also reps the mullet which shall be seen again on this list. "Timecop" goes in the summer blockbuster category. Some cool action and science fiction special effects, but not the most challenging plot and unpredictable story telling. Still, I love this movie and will always think about Cartman buying 4 copies of "Timecop" on dvd at Walmart for $9.95. Such a deal.

The final part coming soon....