This is a splendid movie. It's van Damme exactly as I want to see him, with great martial arts action, a decent plot (even if it's not original at all), cool characters and a great 80's soundtrack. The movie is somewhat different from Bloodsport. Of course there are similarities too, like an evil fighting champion that van Damme is fighting. But this movie hasn't nearly as many fights as Bloodsport. Instead, it's more focus on training here. The training scenes are visually very good, and with really cool background music. Even though I had expected more fighting instead of this, there's no doubt that this is a great movie in it's own way.
157 Reviews
Revenge of the 80's: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Superstar.
Captain_Couth11 October 2004
Kickboxer (1989) was another in a long line of star vehicles for the "Muscles from Brussels". In this picture J.C.V.D. plays the younger brother of a unbeaten American kick boxer who lusts for some real competition. So he decides to go to the home of Muay Thai kick boxing, Thailand. There he realizes that he doesn't know squat about the true art of kick boxing. He learns a painful lesson. His younger brother decides to learn Muay Thai and avenge his brother's honor.
Not a bad movie. Entertaining and a good time waster. But for some reason the producers decided to franchise out this series. The rest of the films are a mixed bag at best. The more they made the least interesting they became until the final results were unwatchable. As always with these films the first film is usually the best of the bunch. Jean-Claude plays his character with a thick euro-accent (I forgot how they explained it). He's physically impressive so it's kind of hard to swallow his naiveté about fighting and what not. Or well. Fun for all.
Recommended.
Not a bad movie. Entertaining and a good time waster. But for some reason the producers decided to franchise out this series. The rest of the films are a mixed bag at best. The more they made the least interesting they became until the final results were unwatchable. As always with these films the first film is usually the best of the bunch. Jean-Claude plays his character with a thick euro-accent (I forgot how they explained it). He's physically impressive so it's kind of hard to swallow his naiveté about fighting and what not. Or well. Fun for all.
Recommended.
A true classic (somehow)
bowmanblue10 May 2017
When it comes to those musclebound heroes who were so popular in the eighties/early nineties, you kind of remember their breakthrough roles. 'The Terminator' is still a classic to this day and you can see how it catapulted Arnold Schwarzenegger into super-stardom. The same can be said for 'Rocky' and 'Die Hard' for Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis respectively. It was fair to say that Jean Claude Van Damme hadn't done much before he starred as the lead in 'Kickboxer' (and a brief turn as the Predator before he threw a hissy-fit on set doesn't count – seriously, look that up). In 'Kickboxer' he plays a ballet dancer who turns professional kickboxer to avenge the crippling of his (also kickboxer) brother in the ring at the hands of a psycho. No, really. That's the plot.
Okay, so you can expect a certain amount of training, in-ring fighting and romantic love interest thrown in there for good measure. That's all taken for granted in pretty much any film. However, all these tropes can't hide the fact that Van Damme isn't really that great actor. Okay, so he's hardly improved dramatically over the years, but he's definitely got better to justify his casting as a lead. Here, he can barely look like he understands other characters' lines, let alone form a facial expression that relates to them. I guess what I'm trying to say it that, even if 'Kickboxer' isn't the worst film ever made, it's quite hard to see how this was a springboard for his rise to stardom.
I suppose he was cast simply because of his looks (which my girlfriend tells me are pretty hot back then – not to mention other areas of his anatomy!) and his ability to throw a kick or two. That, he can do for sure. Yes, the film-makers may have felt the need to overlay a sound effect reminiscent of you hitting a sponge sofa really hard over every punch, but you can tell he's really got the moves in the ring.
'Kickboxer' is a classic. Everything about it should make it bad – reading back over this review I can see how scathing I sound. And yet, after watching it, I really don't feel like I've wasted my time and even enjoyed much of it. Yes, it's quite silly in places and the songs played over (alleged dramatic moments) sound like something Trey Parker and Matt Stone would spoof in 'South Park.' Plus the overall story plays out like a slightly more violent 'Karate Kid' movie, but it's still fun. You'll have seen it all before and know exactly where it's going, but if you're a fan of JCVD, or are just happy to sit through martial arts movies or general eighties overblown cheese, you should find some enjoyment here.
Okay, so you can expect a certain amount of training, in-ring fighting and romantic love interest thrown in there for good measure. That's all taken for granted in pretty much any film. However, all these tropes can't hide the fact that Van Damme isn't really that great actor. Okay, so he's hardly improved dramatically over the years, but he's definitely got better to justify his casting as a lead. Here, he can barely look like he understands other characters' lines, let alone form a facial expression that relates to them. I guess what I'm trying to say it that, even if 'Kickboxer' isn't the worst film ever made, it's quite hard to see how this was a springboard for his rise to stardom.
I suppose he was cast simply because of his looks (which my girlfriend tells me are pretty hot back then – not to mention other areas of his anatomy!) and his ability to throw a kick or two. That, he can do for sure. Yes, the film-makers may have felt the need to overlay a sound effect reminiscent of you hitting a sponge sofa really hard over every punch, but you can tell he's really got the moves in the ring.
'Kickboxer' is a classic. Everything about it should make it bad – reading back over this review I can see how scathing I sound. And yet, after watching it, I really don't feel like I've wasted my time and even enjoyed much of it. Yes, it's quite silly in places and the songs played over (alleged dramatic moments) sound like something Trey Parker and Matt Stone would spoof in 'South Park.' Plus the overall story plays out like a slightly more violent 'Karate Kid' movie, but it's still fun. You'll have seen it all before and know exactly where it's going, but if you're a fan of JCVD, or are just happy to sit through martial arts movies or general eighties overblown cheese, you should find some enjoyment here.
pretty good movie
joliet-jake30 December 2004
this is the one of my favorite van dam movies. I think that it is also one of his best films. We watch his character train throughout the movie for a fight at the end. The martial arts throughout are very well done. This is one of those films you can watch every time it is on TV. If you like martial arts movies you will probably enjoy this one. The movie though is all about the final fight. Like many other films of its type. All in all van dam is great and if you want to see a film based on the martial arts that doesn't have Druce Lee or Jackie Chan or Jet Li in it then this movie is one for you. The story is pretty simple but the fight scenes are worth it so go for it. 7 out of 10.
The only good Kickboxer movie in the series.
martymaster21 January 2002
It has been made a lot of sequels in this series,but this one is the only that is worth watching. It is kind of like Rocky,in the sense that he traines all the movie for a fight in the end. The fight scenes are hardcore and the one at the end is quite cool. This cant be compared to the best movies of Jackie Chan and Jet Li,but it is still a good martial arts movie.
One of Van Dammes best to date.
One of Van Dammes best to date.
Quick Reviews!!
malkane3165 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Probably the most famous of Van Damme's early work, kick-boxer is another simple story of revenge, and a showcase for his skills as a martial artist. It has some good fights, and some interesting moments showing the difficulty of training and trying to achieve your best while not losing your focus. Although it suffers from some cheesy acting, dialogue, music, and a highly disturbing dance scene, this is a must for Van Damme fans, and those with an interest in martial arts movies who don't want to stray too far from the West.
Van Damme stars as Kurt Sloane, the younger brother of a flashy American Kickboxer. They train together, but his brother Eric seems to be more interested in looking like a good fighter than actually finding the ability and skill to be one. Eric takes part in a fighting competition and is crippled and almost killed by Tong Po, and fearsome Kickboxer with a great rage and discipline. Kurt decides to avenge his brother, but no-one will train him as they believe Tong Po is too popular and strong. Eventually he finds a trainer in the middle of nowhere who teaches him to reach his full potential and push through the barriers which he never though he could surpass. He also meets Winston Tyler who provides some laughs, and Mylee who provides some style. Of course it is the fights that matter, and the revenge plot is safe enough to give the fights reason. Rather than cheap montages, we see the tough training regime Kurt goes through, and see Tong Po kicking a cement wall to build up the strength and invulnerability of his foot. Sounds odd yes, but how else would we know he's a hard lad? Anyway, a good film for fight fans, light-hearted and fast and worth watching.
7.5 out of 10
Van Damme stars as Kurt Sloane, the younger brother of a flashy American Kickboxer. They train together, but his brother Eric seems to be more interested in looking like a good fighter than actually finding the ability and skill to be one. Eric takes part in a fighting competition and is crippled and almost killed by Tong Po, and fearsome Kickboxer with a great rage and discipline. Kurt decides to avenge his brother, but no-one will train him as they believe Tong Po is too popular and strong. Eventually he finds a trainer in the middle of nowhere who teaches him to reach his full potential and push through the barriers which he never though he could surpass. He also meets Winston Tyler who provides some laughs, and Mylee who provides some style. Of course it is the fights that matter, and the revenge plot is safe enough to give the fights reason. Rather than cheap montages, we see the tough training regime Kurt goes through, and see Tong Po kicking a cement wall to build up the strength and invulnerability of his foot. Sounds odd yes, but how else would we know he's a hard lad? Anyway, a good film for fight fans, light-hearted and fast and worth watching.
7.5 out of 10
One of Jean-Claude Dammes best movies
monkey-man29 July 2005
This movie is really good and its about a Kickboxer and his brother who go to Thailand to fight the Thai Kick boxing champion and the American Kickboxer loses and ends up being paralyzed and then his brother gos and gets kick boxing training in a remote part of Thailand to revenge his brother.There are heaps of good scenes in this movie like all of the scenes of the city Bangkok and of all of the beautiful temples and the great fight scenes in the end of the movie.This movie stars good actors like the great action star Jean-Claude Van Damme,Dennis Chan,Dennis Alexio,Michel Qissi and Haskell V. Anderson The III.Kickboxer is one of Vam Dammes best movies and so are the movies Blood Sport,Nowhere To Run,TimeCop,The Quest and Hard Target.Over all this movie was good with NEVER a boring scene and my rating is 7 out of 10.
Jean-Claude Van Damme goes Muay Thai-style!
dee.reid9 May 2006
Nah, you're not interested in "Kickboxer," the Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts movie set in the exotic and mysterious Thailand and focuses in on the brutal sport of Muay Thai, are you? You're not going to miss Van Damme's hammy acting, his trademark splits, or his harsh (although according to some sources, inaccurate) training and portrayal in and of the Thai sport of Muay Thai, are you?
Of course you do. The Muscles From Brussels goes Thai in this 1989 adventure, with the Belgian actor exploring the martial arts fundamentals of Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, which has gained wider recognition in the West because it's the de facto fighting style for mixed martial arts and Thai-native newcomer Tony Jaa seeks to promote his tiny country's greatest commodity for a worldwide audience. But this is a Van Damme movie, first and foremost. True he's no great actor, but there's something about his work here that makes me want to watch "Kickboxer" again and again.
First things first, what is Muay Thai? As already stated, it's the national sport of Thailand, where the fighter will condition his body so that his arms and legs become weapons capable of delivering blows, kicks in particular, that are three times as powerful as that of any ordinary martial artist. He'll also use his feet, fists, shins, and elbows too. If one wants to go all out, two guys will get in a ring and have themselves a rope-fist fight, where the fighters' wrists are bound in rope and covered with broken glass. Isn't that mean and nasty?
To begin "Kickboxer," Van Damme is Kurt Sloane, brother of Eric (Dennis Alexio), the top kickboxer in the United States. Tiring of the generic competition of his native soil, he travels with brother Kurt to Bangkok, where he hopes to dethrone the current champ Tong Po (Michel Qissi), who has a reputation for fighting dirty. Kurt first sees this towering mountain of flesh and muscle kicking the hell out of a support beam in the locker room; that's the first clue to Kurt that Eric shouldn't get in the ring, but he's not listening.
And Eric fights anyway, against baby brother's warnings.
To make long stories short, Eric takes quite a beating in the ring but a series of illegal blows delivered after Kurt throws in the towel cripple Eric for life. So what went wrong? According to some sources, American Kickboxing is a watered-down form of Muay Thai, so it's no wonder Tong Po got the upper hand so quickly on Eric, who despite his excellent training and peak physical condition, only landed a few lucky punches on the towering fighter. Apparently, Muay Thai is strictly for street fighting, not something for refined martial artists like Kurt and Eric.
To teach Tong Po a lesson in humility, Kurt contacts American Winston Taylor (Haskell V. Anderson III) to seek out a venerated Thai master, Xian Chow (Dennis Chan), to learn the art of Muay Thai, and so the training begins. Kurt first puts aside his already-planted Karate training and strengthens his body, kicks tree stumps until the scar tissue prevents any kind of feeling aside from invincibility, learns a little about Asian spirituality, and even flirts with Chow's niece Mylee (Rochelle Ashana). What it all culminates in, of course, is a no-holds-barred "Rocky IV"-style showdown using the ancient rope-fists between Kurt and Tong Po.
As someone who knows next to nothing about Muay Thai (in fact, much of what I know comes from Wikipedia and the special features section of the "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior" DVD), I found "Kickboxer" to still be quite entertaining. It's brutal stuff, really, so it's no wonder Muay Thai is gaining such greater notoriety in the United States. As Kurt Sloane, Van Damme is good (despite his acting limitations in showing emotions), his performance notwithstanding, and none of the other performers are really worth speaking of either, but Tong Po is a nasty villain and his one speaking line "You bleed like Mylee; Mylee good f**k" sends chills down the spine.
The fights are another thing and are what this feature co-directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth seems to specialize in. The fights are spectacular (as with any martial arts movie that features Van Damme doing his trademark splits and 360-degree flying spin-kick), which does include one sequence where Kurt gets drunk, starts dancing, and takes on the patrons at a bar.
This "Kickboxer" - it's a kick, just don't let it "kick" you in the head too much with its lackadaisical script and lame-brain plotting.
7/10
Of course you do. The Muscles From Brussels goes Thai in this 1989 adventure, with the Belgian actor exploring the martial arts fundamentals of Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, which has gained wider recognition in the West because it's the de facto fighting style for mixed martial arts and Thai-native newcomer Tony Jaa seeks to promote his tiny country's greatest commodity for a worldwide audience. But this is a Van Damme movie, first and foremost. True he's no great actor, but there's something about his work here that makes me want to watch "Kickboxer" again and again.
First things first, what is Muay Thai? As already stated, it's the national sport of Thailand, where the fighter will condition his body so that his arms and legs become weapons capable of delivering blows, kicks in particular, that are three times as powerful as that of any ordinary martial artist. He'll also use his feet, fists, shins, and elbows too. If one wants to go all out, two guys will get in a ring and have themselves a rope-fist fight, where the fighters' wrists are bound in rope and covered with broken glass. Isn't that mean and nasty?
To begin "Kickboxer," Van Damme is Kurt Sloane, brother of Eric (Dennis Alexio), the top kickboxer in the United States. Tiring of the generic competition of his native soil, he travels with brother Kurt to Bangkok, where he hopes to dethrone the current champ Tong Po (Michel Qissi), who has a reputation for fighting dirty. Kurt first sees this towering mountain of flesh and muscle kicking the hell out of a support beam in the locker room; that's the first clue to Kurt that Eric shouldn't get in the ring, but he's not listening.
And Eric fights anyway, against baby brother's warnings.
To make long stories short, Eric takes quite a beating in the ring but a series of illegal blows delivered after Kurt throws in the towel cripple Eric for life. So what went wrong? According to some sources, American Kickboxing is a watered-down form of Muay Thai, so it's no wonder Tong Po got the upper hand so quickly on Eric, who despite his excellent training and peak physical condition, only landed a few lucky punches on the towering fighter. Apparently, Muay Thai is strictly for street fighting, not something for refined martial artists like Kurt and Eric.
To teach Tong Po a lesson in humility, Kurt contacts American Winston Taylor (Haskell V. Anderson III) to seek out a venerated Thai master, Xian Chow (Dennis Chan), to learn the art of Muay Thai, and so the training begins. Kurt first puts aside his already-planted Karate training and strengthens his body, kicks tree stumps until the scar tissue prevents any kind of feeling aside from invincibility, learns a little about Asian spirituality, and even flirts with Chow's niece Mylee (Rochelle Ashana). What it all culminates in, of course, is a no-holds-barred "Rocky IV"-style showdown using the ancient rope-fists between Kurt and Tong Po.
As someone who knows next to nothing about Muay Thai (in fact, much of what I know comes from Wikipedia and the special features section of the "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior" DVD), I found "Kickboxer" to still be quite entertaining. It's brutal stuff, really, so it's no wonder Muay Thai is gaining such greater notoriety in the United States. As Kurt Sloane, Van Damme is good (despite his acting limitations in showing emotions), his performance notwithstanding, and none of the other performers are really worth speaking of either, but Tong Po is a nasty villain and his one speaking line "You bleed like Mylee; Mylee good f**k" sends chills down the spine.
The fights are another thing and are what this feature co-directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth seems to specialize in. The fights are spectacular (as with any martial arts movie that features Van Damme doing his trademark splits and 360-degree flying spin-kick), which does include one sequence where Kurt gets drunk, starts dancing, and takes on the patrons at a bar.
This "Kickboxer" - it's a kick, just don't let it "kick" you in the head too much with its lackadaisical script and lame-brain plotting.
7/10
The best of Van Damme my favorite martial arts classic film of all time
ivo-cobra812 March 2018
Kickboxer (1989) is one of the best martial arts films that Jean-Claude Van Damme ever made. I am a huge fan of Van Damme, I absolutely love this film to death! It is a cult classic film that Jean-Claude Van Damme made in to a star. Hard Target is Jean-Claude Van Damme's favorite number 1 film of mine this is my second favorite film of his. Bloodsport and Kickboxer are Van Damme's best films of the 80's he ever did. Since he edited Bloodsport himself and Cyborg flopped, Van Damme went and make this film that even today it is one of his best films of his career.
After an US Champion Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio who was a kickboxing champion in real life) and his brother Kurt Sloane (Jean-Claude Van Damme) travel to Thailand, Bangkok to fight the Thailand Champion Tong Po (Michel Qissi). In the ring the fight is different than in America in a Muay Thai style and Eric get's hurt and paralyzed for life by Tong Po. Van Damme is angrier and vows for revenge, so he meets this guy Vietnam vet retired Winston Taylor (Haskell V. Anderson III) who helps Van Damme on his mission. With the help of the Thai master Xian Chow (Dennis Chan) who becomes his teacher, trains him and getting him ready for the fight of his life.
What can I say I love this movie to death, this movie kicks ass. It is great choreographed, it has no wires, just real action. Real fights they were all choreographed from Jean-Claude Van Damme him self. I love that the location was shot in Thailand and not in America. The director Mark DiSalle did a wonderful job directing this beautiful movie. David Worth was good by helping co directing it. Music was made from Paul Hertzog who made the music montage for Bloodsport. Trough inter film we se Van Damme training I love that, I love how Van Damme trains in the Stone City. The whole training montage was inspired from The Karate Kid and Rocky IV. Kickboxer defines my childhood I grew up watching Van Damme as a kid and Kickboxer is still my favorite film. Tong Po (Michel Qissi) is one of the best bad guys of all time.
On the end of the film we se the last fight with Kurt and Tong Po in the "ancient way", with a broken glass which it is a beautiful well choreographed. I love how Van Damme kick's and defats with martial arts Tong Po one of the best fights in the movie I ever seen. Van Damme dances while been drunk and kicks Freddy Li's fighters to the ground. Van Damme kicks a fighter in a tournament and deafets him in a kickbox match. I love the songs played in the film: Never Surrender, Fight for Love and Streets of Siam by Stan Bush. This movie spawned 4 sequels and 2 reboot films but no one of those films come near this movie. Don The Dragon Wilson can suck Van Damme's dick for challenging him Don your movies suck. Steven Seagal get your fat ass out of Van Damme way because Van Damme would have kicked your face with his technique to the ground on the dirt.
10 out of 10 Kickboxer is my all time favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts film and kicks ass, it is a cult classic film of all time. I love the cast, the direction I love everything about this film. I love this film to death.
After an US Champion Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio who was a kickboxing champion in real life) and his brother Kurt Sloane (Jean-Claude Van Damme) travel to Thailand, Bangkok to fight the Thailand Champion Tong Po (Michel Qissi). In the ring the fight is different than in America in a Muay Thai style and Eric get's hurt and paralyzed for life by Tong Po. Van Damme is angrier and vows for revenge, so he meets this guy Vietnam vet retired Winston Taylor (Haskell V. Anderson III) who helps Van Damme on his mission. With the help of the Thai master Xian Chow (Dennis Chan) who becomes his teacher, trains him and getting him ready for the fight of his life.
What can I say I love this movie to death, this movie kicks ass. It is great choreographed, it has no wires, just real action. Real fights they were all choreographed from Jean-Claude Van Damme him self. I love that the location was shot in Thailand and not in America. The director Mark DiSalle did a wonderful job directing this beautiful movie. David Worth was good by helping co directing it. Music was made from Paul Hertzog who made the music montage for Bloodsport. Trough inter film we se Van Damme training I love that, I love how Van Damme trains in the Stone City. The whole training montage was inspired from The Karate Kid and Rocky IV. Kickboxer defines my childhood I grew up watching Van Damme as a kid and Kickboxer is still my favorite film. Tong Po (Michel Qissi) is one of the best bad guys of all time.
On the end of the film we se the last fight with Kurt and Tong Po in the "ancient way", with a broken glass which it is a beautiful well choreographed. I love how Van Damme kick's and defats with martial arts Tong Po one of the best fights in the movie I ever seen. Van Damme dances while been drunk and kicks Freddy Li's fighters to the ground. Van Damme kicks a fighter in a tournament and deafets him in a kickbox match. I love the songs played in the film: Never Surrender, Fight for Love and Streets of Siam by Stan Bush. This movie spawned 4 sequels and 2 reboot films but no one of those films come near this movie. Don The Dragon Wilson can suck Van Damme's dick for challenging him Don your movies suck. Steven Seagal get your fat ass out of Van Damme way because Van Damme would have kicked your face with his technique to the ground on the dirt.
10 out of 10 Kickboxer is my all time favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts film and kicks ass, it is a cult classic film of all time. I love the cast, the direction I love everything about this film. I love this film to death.
Great martial arts action, crap plot and music, some terrifying dancing.
ian06 January 2006
Somehow, this film ends up being hugely enjoyable, no matter who watches it. There is something for everyone.
If you like martial arts, Jean Claude Van Damme's technique and physique is exceptional; if you like foreign travel, there are plenty of scenes in Thailand; if you like embarrassingly-bad 80s synth-pop, you will cry laughing at the soundtrack; but the stand-out moment in the whole movie has to be the dance scene in the bar. Some issues:
1) what the hell is he wearing?
2) How do you watch this scene without cringing?
JCVD choreographed all the fight scenes, so I guess he must have choreographed the dancing too. Either it's a brilliant piece of acting, or he really does have too high an opinion of his dancing ability! Surely one of the funniest sequences in movie history...
If you like martial arts, Jean Claude Van Damme's technique and physique is exceptional; if you like foreign travel, there are plenty of scenes in Thailand; if you like embarrassingly-bad 80s synth-pop, you will cry laughing at the soundtrack; but the stand-out moment in the whole movie has to be the dance scene in the bar. Some issues:
1) what the hell is he wearing?
2) How do you watch this scene without cringing?
JCVD choreographed all the fight scenes, so I guess he must have choreographed the dancing too. Either it's a brilliant piece of acting, or he really does have too high an opinion of his dancing ability! Surely one of the funniest sequences in movie history...
This is stone city. Where many ancient warriors come. While you train here, listen!
lastliberal29 March 2008
It appears that Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport) wasn't enough of a challenge, so Jean-Claude Van Damme sets a match with Tong Po. Of course, he is there to avenge his brother. Hmmm, wasn't he avenging his parents in Double Impact? He is always avenging someone - I think it was another brother (he must have a lot) in Lionheart.
The movie is really a yawn unless you have a thing for an hour of looking at Van Damme's rippling muscles on a perfectly formed body shiny with oil.
The ring action is so short and predictable that it is a real letdown. I mean, you absolutely knew the match would turn around once his brother appears, didn't you?
The movie is really a yawn unless you have a thing for an hour of looking at Van Damme's rippling muscles on a perfectly formed body shiny with oil.
The ring action is so short and predictable that it is a real letdown. I mean, you absolutely knew the match would turn around once his brother appears, didn't you?
Great Van Damme movie! One of his best!
Movie Nuttball9 October 2003
This is one of Van Damme's best films! I thought his acting was really good especially when he was crying. Michel Qissi and Dennis Chan very good good. There is a lot of action in the film. Tong Po's introduction was cool! The music by Paul Hertzog was good. Kickboxer has three sequels and I think the the second movie is arguably better than the first one and this one is excellent! If like Van Damme's other great movies such as Bloodsport, Cyborg, Hard Target, and Sudden Death then I recommend you watch Kickboxer!
A Good Addition To JCVD's Filmography
damianphelps28 January 2021
Should never have spawned so many sequels but apart from that this is a really entertaining movie with one of the better villains in cinema.
It has some Rocky elements to it (which work) and has some humour which I wasn't a fan of but many people do like.
This is one of the rarer JCVD movies that has a bit of soul.
It has some Rocky elements to it (which work) and has some humour which I wasn't a fan of but many people do like.
This is one of the rarer JCVD movies that has a bit of soul.
I prefer Blood Sport to this movie.
Aaron13759 October 2009
This little Jean Claude Van Damme movie had its ups and downs, but in the end just was not up to his previous martial arts movie "Bloodsport" released the previous year. The movie has more of a revenge plot to it than anything as this guy who is the American champ of kick boxing goes overseas to fight another champion of some country in Asia I do not remember which. The brother is paralyzed by this champ and the other brother finds a guy to train him so he can defeat this super killer guy who took out the American champ in a few seconds. So the rest of the movie is Jean training to get back at the super kick boxer. The movie is okay, but it has problems too. There is only so much training one can take and this one has those scenes in spades. The super kick boxer in the final fight is a bit weak and that whole fight is a bit anti-climatic. And seriously they just dump the American champ outside after his loss? Why did the American agree to go over there without some sort of backing by the government to take care of him and sanction the fight, just goes to show you never go to an underground like fighting arena to prove yourself. Still, it is a watchable movie just not really my thing, I preferred the tournament of "Bloodsport" where they had rather big array of fighters.
Pure bliss from start to finish.
DonVitoCorleone6 January 2002
This film has it all.
For the martial arts fan: We have the great fight scenes between JC and Tong Po and what's better than a good training sequence.
For the Van Damme: It is the best film ever. Full of what makes a great Van Damme film. We have splits, the spinning kick and some excellent dress sense. But what makes Kickboxer such a great film is 1.) When Van Damme says "I was sent by Mr Xian for his eh grocheries" truly magnificent. 2.) The scene where Van Damme is drunk and is dancing. Utter genius.
I strongly recommend every one goes out and buys this film.
For the martial arts fan: We have the great fight scenes between JC and Tong Po and what's better than a good training sequence.
For the Van Damme: It is the best film ever. Full of what makes a great Van Damme film. We have splits, the spinning kick and some excellent dress sense. But what makes Kickboxer such a great film is 1.) When Van Damme says "I was sent by Mr Xian for his eh grocheries" truly magnificent. 2.) The scene where Van Damme is drunk and is dancing. Utter genius.
I strongly recommend every one goes out and buys this film.
Kickboxer is truly a video store classic!
tarbosh2200010 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Eric Sloane (Alexio) is a champion kickboxer in the United States, so, seeking new triumphs in the ring, he travels to Thailand. With his brother/ringman Kurt by his side, he feels he cannot lose. That is, until he faces off against the most fearsome fighter in Thailand, if not the world: the dreaded Tong Po ("himself"...actually Qissi) Despite Kurt warning him to not get in the ring with him, Eric pridefully ignores his brother and fights Tong Po. The evil Po mercilessly beats Eric so badly he paralyzes him for life. Seeking revenge for his brother's crippling, Kurt sets out to learn Muay Thai and beat Tong Po in the ring. No school will accept him, so, working on a tip from ex-Special Forces Vietnam vet Winston (Anderson), Kurt goes to the Thai countryside to receive lessons from master Xian Chow (Chan). Chow puts him through his paces, but ends up falling in love with Mylee (Ashana) in the meantime. Gangster Freddy Li (Lee) has bet millions on the upcoming fight, AND Tong Po assaulted Mylee, AND he wants to get revenge, so with all the pressure building, will Kurt defeat Tong Po? Here's another Van Damme classic from the golden year of 1989. Most people, even if they're not action fans, are at least aware of Kickboxer. Even a David Letterman "Top Ten List" of the day featured the topic "top ten things overheard while waiting in line for Kickboxer". Underground fighting movies had hit the mainstream and had their brief moment in the spotlight. And Van Damme was spearheading the trend, thereby becoming one of the faces of the action movie movement of the late 80's/early 90's. While Kickboxer falls squarely in the middle in terms of the quality of his Punchfighting era (the best being Bloodsport, 1988 and the weakest being The Quest, 1996 - as always it's open for debate but that's our opinion), it has a "much imitated, never equaled" kind of feel to it and even though it's a little on the long side, it never really gets boring.
It may be a bit of a stretch to believe Alexio and Van Damme are brothers, but, that aside, in the movie, Eric disregards Kurt's advice to not fight Tong Po, thus reinforcing the old saying "always listen to your Van Damme". But the brothers in Bangkok do share a genetic sense for fashion, as stonewashed denim vests and half-shirts seem to be the order of the day. But Van Damme steals the show in the wardrobe department when he unleashes what can only be described as a tanktop with suspenders for straps. And for no explained reason, for the final face-off with Tong Po, they are BOTH wearing silly loincloths that leave criminally little to the imagination. How did they both know wear a freakin' loincloth to this particular battle? Presumably they didn't talk beforehand and arrange it - it's surprising they both weren't embarrassed, like two women who wear the same outfit to a party.
There are some excellent and picturesque Thai locations, there's a great song at every turn which smartly keeps the energy going (most of which are by AOR artist Stan Bush), and at one point one character says to Van Damme, "I'm not signing your death warrant". Seeing as the movie of that name came out the next year, could this line be an inspiration? Also in 1990 came a similarly-themed movie to Kickboxer, The King of the Kickboxers (1990), where Keith Cooke takes over the rural Thai trainer role. But one thing that movie does not have, nor any of the myriad "training sequence" movies that followed in its wake has, is one very important element: the "Van Damme" dance. Yes, part of Kurt's training is to go to a roadside cafe, get drunk, then bust a move with some local ladies. The movie pretty much stops - as it should - so we can see Van Damme get funky on the dance floor. Not since Breakin' (1984) where he claps along to the beat in his wrestling singlet have we seen his expertise with rhythm. Definitely a movie - nay - a career highlight for JCVD. He should have danced more in his movies.
One other note: like how in Best of the Best 2 (1990), the name "Brakus" is constantly and continuously said throughout the movie, here the name "Tong Po" is the constantly-said name. These writers were sure proud of their bad-guy names. While the popularity of this movie led to the inevitable flood of sequels (where Sasha Mitchell replaces Van Damme), this original is truly a "video store classic" and a worthy movie in its own right.
It may be a bit of a stretch to believe Alexio and Van Damme are brothers, but, that aside, in the movie, Eric disregards Kurt's advice to not fight Tong Po, thus reinforcing the old saying "always listen to your Van Damme". But the brothers in Bangkok do share a genetic sense for fashion, as stonewashed denim vests and half-shirts seem to be the order of the day. But Van Damme steals the show in the wardrobe department when he unleashes what can only be described as a tanktop with suspenders for straps. And for no explained reason, for the final face-off with Tong Po, they are BOTH wearing silly loincloths that leave criminally little to the imagination. How did they both know wear a freakin' loincloth to this particular battle? Presumably they didn't talk beforehand and arrange it - it's surprising they both weren't embarrassed, like two women who wear the same outfit to a party.
There are some excellent and picturesque Thai locations, there's a great song at every turn which smartly keeps the energy going (most of which are by AOR artist Stan Bush), and at one point one character says to Van Damme, "I'm not signing your death warrant". Seeing as the movie of that name came out the next year, could this line be an inspiration? Also in 1990 came a similarly-themed movie to Kickboxer, The King of the Kickboxers (1990), where Keith Cooke takes over the rural Thai trainer role. But one thing that movie does not have, nor any of the myriad "training sequence" movies that followed in its wake has, is one very important element: the "Van Damme" dance. Yes, part of Kurt's training is to go to a roadside cafe, get drunk, then bust a move with some local ladies. The movie pretty much stops - as it should - so we can see Van Damme get funky on the dance floor. Not since Breakin' (1984) where he claps along to the beat in his wrestling singlet have we seen his expertise with rhythm. Definitely a movie - nay - a career highlight for JCVD. He should have danced more in his movies.
One other note: like how in Best of the Best 2 (1990), the name "Brakus" is constantly and continuously said throughout the movie, here the name "Tong Po" is the constantly-said name. These writers were sure proud of their bad-guy names. While the popularity of this movie led to the inevitable flood of sequels (where Sasha Mitchell replaces Van Damme), this original is truly a "video store classic" and a worthy movie in its own right.
Muay Thai Muy Bien
dauplaisej2 April 2005
Jean-Claude Van Damme turns in a solid performance as Kurt Sloane - the younger brother who seeks revenge against the demoniacally sadistic Bangkok bad guy, Tong Po (Michel Qissi), who paralyzes Kurt's older brother - Eric - implausibly cast and ineptly acted by Dennis Alexio. The simplistic explanation for the siblings' lack of resemblance to one another in terms of class, ethnicity - and language is too hilariously weak to warrant revealing. Although the film is rife - and ripe - with trademark eighties cheese, the Muay Thai fight sequences are adroitly choreographed, shot and edited. This film is a must for Muay Thai buffs and offers plenty of unintentionally, but nonetheless highly comical relief. Without a doubt, the best of the three Kickboxer films --- but also quite possibly the one possessed of the very worst soundtrack.
One of the best Van Damme movies with overwhelming combats and spectacular scenes
ma-cortes12 May 2008
A man named Kurt Sloane(Van Damme) learns in Thailand the ancient Kickboxing style called Muay Thai for fighting the contender who paralyzed his brother named Eric(Dennis Alexio who was actually US Kickboxing heavyweight champion) . During world championship with the Kickboxing heavyweight champion celebrated in Bankok stadium, Eric was crippled by fighter Tong Po. Then, Kurt is seeking vengeance and he's only helped by an American ex-soldier(Haskell Anderson) and an expert trainer named Xian(Dennis Chan). The film contains some biographic note, as Kurt tells his sweet-girl he was born Belgium and lives in Los Angeles.
The picture displays lots of violence, action filled, thrills and fierce combats. This is a colourful, Thailand set and quite budget movie; leave no cliché untouched , though the fighting are well staged . Van Damme performance reveals to be more of the Chuck Norris, Stallone style than the Stanislawski school of acting. Karate expert Van Damme co-wrote the script along with the producer-director Mark DiSalle .The breathtaking fights are magnificently choreographed and directed by Van Damme. Exciting scenes , such as Van Damme training over temple of stone, sympathetic fights in the bar and spectacular combat against tiger champion Tong Po and the crowd shouting, 'great white warrior'. The motion picture is professionally directed by Michael Worth and Mark DiSalle who tried repeat success with Jeff Speakman but he didn't achieve. The result is a strong entry for action buffs, though strictly for Jean Claude Van Damme fans. Followed by numerous unreleted sequels, such as, Kickboxer II, the road back directed by Albert Pyun with Sasha Mitchell; II Art of war directed by Rick King with Michell; IV by Albert Pyun with Mitchell; V by Kristine Petersen with Mark Dacascos.
The picture displays lots of violence, action filled, thrills and fierce combats. This is a colourful, Thailand set and quite budget movie; leave no cliché untouched , though the fighting are well staged . Van Damme performance reveals to be more of the Chuck Norris, Stallone style than the Stanislawski school of acting. Karate expert Van Damme co-wrote the script along with the producer-director Mark DiSalle .The breathtaking fights are magnificently choreographed and directed by Van Damme. Exciting scenes , such as Van Damme training over temple of stone, sympathetic fights in the bar and spectacular combat against tiger champion Tong Po and the crowd shouting, 'great white warrior'. The motion picture is professionally directed by Michael Worth and Mark DiSalle who tried repeat success with Jeff Speakman but he didn't achieve. The result is a strong entry for action buffs, though strictly for Jean Claude Van Damme fans. Followed by numerous unreleted sequels, such as, Kickboxer II, the road back directed by Albert Pyun with Sasha Mitchell; II Art of war directed by Rick King with Michell; IV by Albert Pyun with Mitchell; V by Kristine Petersen with Mark Dacascos.
Nice takeoff of Karate Kid
Quackle20 February 2003
Warning: Spoilers
[Possible Spoilers] Great film, with the same concept as "Karate Kid". The heros brother gets disabled in a kickboxing fight with a legendary warrior, and of course, our hero must avenge this! I strongly recommend this film. 7/10
Explosive Martial Arts Move!
The__Watcher13 January 2001
This is one of the best martial arts movie ever made. It's got "Damme" good soundtrack , "Damme" good story line and "Damme" good training. The last fight is the best I've ever seen. I've seen 2 different versions and they're both good. This is a must watch Van Damme movie.
The Muscles from Brussels goes to Thailand
Maziun11 September 2018
This is one of best Van Damme movies right there with "Bloodsport". In some ways I like "Kickboxer" even more than "Bloodsport". It's a simple revenge story that makes a good use of Van Damme's fighting skills. In this movie we explore the martial arts fundamentals of Muay Thai. It's the national sport of Thailand, where the fighter will condition his body so that his arms and legs become weapons capable of delivering blows, kicks in particular, that are three times as powerful as that of any ordinary martial artist. He'll also use his feet, fists, shins, and elbows too. It's the de facto fighting style for mixed martial arts.
The acting here is a mixed bag. Van Damme is very hammy and Dennis Alexio has no talent at all . On the other hand Dennis Chan is a good copy of Mr. Myiagi from "Karate kid" as Xian Chow and Haskell V. Anderson III is fun as Winston Taylor a retired Vietnam War veteran. Let's not forget about Michel Qissi who is unforgettable as the main villain - Tong Po. Tong Po is mistakenly billed as playing himself (on the film's credits). Qissi can also be seen in two other Van Damme movies "Bloodsport" and "Lionheart". He also appeared in sequel to this movie - "Kickboxer 2".
There are some really cool scenes here - Van Damme training with the dog , the drunk fight in the bar , Van Damme and the palm , final fight with the hands bound with glass. The soundtrack here is unfortunately forgettable and can't compare to the one in "Bloodsport".
I give it 6/10. "Kickboxer" is a cheesy , lighthearted , entertaining little action movie. A small classic. Co-directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth it's well paced with nice fight scenes. The producers decided to franchise out this series. Other movies are unwatchable. Stick with this fun little time waster.
The acting here is a mixed bag. Van Damme is very hammy and Dennis Alexio has no talent at all . On the other hand Dennis Chan is a good copy of Mr. Myiagi from "Karate kid" as Xian Chow and Haskell V. Anderson III is fun as Winston Taylor a retired Vietnam War veteran. Let's not forget about Michel Qissi who is unforgettable as the main villain - Tong Po. Tong Po is mistakenly billed as playing himself (on the film's credits). Qissi can also be seen in two other Van Damme movies "Bloodsport" and "Lionheart". He also appeared in sequel to this movie - "Kickboxer 2".
There are some really cool scenes here - Van Damme training with the dog , the drunk fight in the bar , Van Damme and the palm , final fight with the hands bound with glass. The soundtrack here is unfortunately forgettable and can't compare to the one in "Bloodsport".
I give it 6/10. "Kickboxer" is a cheesy , lighthearted , entertaining little action movie. A small classic. Co-directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth it's well paced with nice fight scenes. The producers decided to franchise out this series. Other movies are unwatchable. Stick with this fun little time waster.
Another fond memory ruined
view_and_review17 March 2020
I don't know why I keep rewatching these movies that I had fond memories of thinking that they would be just as good as when I was a teenager. I need to rate these movies based upon my memories instead of rewatching them and nullifying those fond memories.
The fact of the matter is: Van Damme's climactic fight scenes are lousy. That goes for, at least, "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer." It's no fun watching people stand still as they get pummeled over and over. And I'm realizing the Van Damme trademark is just as lousy.
Van Damme trademark:
No shirt.
Splits.
Psycho face and yell after a significant strike.
Just switch it up a little.
In "Kickboxer" Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, brother of Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio). Eric is a world renowned kickboxer that gets significantly injured by a Thai kickboxer. Kurt must avenge his brother. With the help of a local kickboxing guru Kurt trains to perfection so that he can avenge his big bro. That means training montage, falling in love with a local Thai girl, some intermediate fights, and then the final fight.
These writers are a joke.
The fact of the matter is: Van Damme's climactic fight scenes are lousy. That goes for, at least, "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer." It's no fun watching people stand still as they get pummeled over and over. And I'm realizing the Van Damme trademark is just as lousy.
Van Damme trademark:
No shirt.
Splits.
Psycho face and yell after a significant strike.
Just switch it up a little.
In "Kickboxer" Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, brother of Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio). Eric is a world renowned kickboxer that gets significantly injured by a Thai kickboxer. Kurt must avenge his brother. With the help of a local kickboxing guru Kurt trains to perfection so that he can avenge his big bro. That means training montage, falling in love with a local Thai girl, some intermediate fights, and then the final fight.
These writers are a joke.
The story about White Warrior - the best kickboxing fight martial arts film ever Van Damme's best movie my fifth personal favorite
NightmareOnElmStreetFan8 February 2019
Seriously one of the best martial arts movies that Van Damme ever did. I really love Kikcboxer to death it is a cult classic film. The movie is like Rocky in a revenge style. I am huge Jean-Claude Van Damme fan I grew up watching his movies. Hard Target is Jean-Claude Van Damme's favorite number 1 film Van Damme is from Belgium Europe. His character was born in Belgium so he is practically based on Van Damme's life. My fifth favorite Van Damme film of all time his best one.
It was beautiful wonderful directed by Mark DiSalle who directed wonderful this movie. Jean-Claude Van Damme's performance is one of the best in the movie. I love his character so much as Kurt Sloane. I love how he trains trough whole movie the movie is like "The Karate Kid" but uses Muay Thai style in the training sequence. Jean-Claude Van Damme directed the fight scenes he was the choreographer of the movie. I love the music score by Paul Hertzog who also made a music score for Bloodsport Van Damme's first lead role movie. This was Van Damme's last movie in the 80's he did. We got now 7 Kickboxer movies because there were 4 sequels and 2 reboots so we got 7 Kickboxers. This movie did not need any sequels and it did not need to be remade. It should have been a stand-up alone movie. It is the best one of all 6 movies that come out none of those films come near this movie.
I love the fight scenes that were really choreographed no wires, no CGI all practical done for real. Real actions. I love Van Damme in the Maylee store kick's 2 guys from Freddy Li beating them like a real martial artist, he kicked them ass. I love the finale in which Van Damme kick's and defats with martial arts Tong Po one of the best fights in the movie I ever seen. Van Damme dances while been drunk and kicks Freddy Li's fighters to the ground. Van Damme kicks a fighter in a tournament and defeats him in a kickbox match. You have also 2 dogs in a movie one is Kiki in which Xian Chow owns him and one is in the opening sequence and I love dogs. I am an animal lover and I respect Van Damme and love him so much. Van Damme love dogs and I love dogs too, I am so glad he let dogs in his movie yay. I love you Van Damme so much. His my second favorite action star with Sylvester Stallone. The whole training montage was inspired from The Karate Kid and Rocky IV.
I love the songs played in the film: Never Surrender, Fight for Love and Streets of Siam by Stan Bush. Seriously I grew up watching this movie even me kicked in a door with my knee pretending to be a palm tree in which Van Damme kicks it. When Xian Chow provokes Van Damme, he kicks palm tree to the ground. Michel Qissi was excellent as the villain Tong Po he also played in Bloodsport Suan Parades with Van Damme and he also reunited in Lionheart again with Van Damme. He was the only with Dennis Chan who returned for the sequel with Sasha Mitchell. Dennis Chan as Xian Chow was awesome as Kurt trainer but in which he performed that Tai Chi style that was a stunt double sorry but I recognize a stunt double.
Haskell Anderson as Winston Taylor was awesome as bad-ass Vietnam vet retired a retired US Army special forces I love the guy in this movie. Former world kickboxing champion Dennis Alexio was great as Eric Sloane. All fights were done for real. I liked Rochelle Ashana as Mylee who played Kurt's love interest.
Kikcboxer is my fifth favorite martial-arts film definitely Jean-Claude Van Damme's best film. It is in my top 10 Van Damme favorite films.
It was beautiful wonderful directed by Mark DiSalle who directed wonderful this movie. Jean-Claude Van Damme's performance is one of the best in the movie. I love his character so much as Kurt Sloane. I love how he trains trough whole movie the movie is like "The Karate Kid" but uses Muay Thai style in the training sequence. Jean-Claude Van Damme directed the fight scenes he was the choreographer of the movie. I love the music score by Paul Hertzog who also made a music score for Bloodsport Van Damme's first lead role movie. This was Van Damme's last movie in the 80's he did. We got now 7 Kickboxer movies because there were 4 sequels and 2 reboots so we got 7 Kickboxers. This movie did not need any sequels and it did not need to be remade. It should have been a stand-up alone movie. It is the best one of all 6 movies that come out none of those films come near this movie.
I love the fight scenes that were really choreographed no wires, no CGI all practical done for real. Real actions. I love Van Damme in the Maylee store kick's 2 guys from Freddy Li beating them like a real martial artist, he kicked them ass. I love the finale in which Van Damme kick's and defats with martial arts Tong Po one of the best fights in the movie I ever seen. Van Damme dances while been drunk and kicks Freddy Li's fighters to the ground. Van Damme kicks a fighter in a tournament and defeats him in a kickbox match. You have also 2 dogs in a movie one is Kiki in which Xian Chow owns him and one is in the opening sequence and I love dogs. I am an animal lover and I respect Van Damme and love him so much. Van Damme love dogs and I love dogs too, I am so glad he let dogs in his movie yay. I love you Van Damme so much. His my second favorite action star with Sylvester Stallone. The whole training montage was inspired from The Karate Kid and Rocky IV.
I love the songs played in the film: Never Surrender, Fight for Love and Streets of Siam by Stan Bush. Seriously I grew up watching this movie even me kicked in a door with my knee pretending to be a palm tree in which Van Damme kicks it. When Xian Chow provokes Van Damme, he kicks palm tree to the ground. Michel Qissi was excellent as the villain Tong Po he also played in Bloodsport Suan Parades with Van Damme and he also reunited in Lionheart again with Van Damme. He was the only with Dennis Chan who returned for the sequel with Sasha Mitchell. Dennis Chan as Xian Chow was awesome as Kurt trainer but in which he performed that Tai Chi style that was a stunt double sorry but I recognize a stunt double.
Haskell Anderson as Winston Taylor was awesome as bad-ass Vietnam vet retired a retired US Army special forces I love the guy in this movie. Former world kickboxing champion Dennis Alexio was great as Eric Sloane. All fights were done for real. I liked Rochelle Ashana as Mylee who played Kurt's love interest.
Kikcboxer is my fifth favorite martial-arts film definitely Jean-Claude Van Damme's best film. It is in my top 10 Van Damme favorite films.
Van Damme starts off strong!!!
BandSAboutMovies7 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Every time I do an in-depth film week, there comes a moment when I go from "most of these movies aren't very good" and "they just have the same tropes over and over again" to "I love this movie!" It's digital Stockholm Syndrome and it happens almost every time. It happened at some point during Chained Heat during my Linda Blair week. And now, at some point during Kickboxer, I fell in absolute head over heels love with Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.
This reminds me of a moment in my childhood. It was probably 1979 and local TV independent station WPTT-22 was advertising the heck out of kickboxing, proclaiming it as the most violent new sport around. I became nearly manic with intensity, needing to see this kickboxing for myself and Saturday night at 10 PM, when it would air, felt like months, not days, away. Every single TV and radio commerical stoked the flames of my nine-year-old demand to see these fights. The reality? Just white dudes kicking one another slowly in matches that were no more intense than an average boxing battle. The fight that was inside my head? Well, that would be this movie.
This is but the first of seven Kickboxer films, but it's a doozy. The good guys are as good as it gets, while the bad guys are the absolute worst people to ever walk the face of the Earth.
Kurt Sloane (Van Damme) is the younger brother of Eric Sloane, the United States kickboxing world champion. Eric is played by Dennis Alexio, who only appeared in two other acting jobs: the TV series Super Force and as Toshi Lum in Picasso Trigger.
His life story should be a movie, as he started his professional kickboxing career by winning seventeen consecutive fights with only a single fight lasting more than one round. He then battled Don "The Dragon" Wilson to a loss for the WKA World Super Light Heavyweight title on NBC before continuing to move up in weight divisions and even boxing professionally for a year.
After slowing down his career - if you can call it that, he won eight different titles - by fighting lower level K-1 fighters and gaining a rep for avoiding top level fighters, Alexio retired after winning the WAKO Pro World Heavyweight Full Contact Championship. But his crazy life wasn't over yet.
In 2003, he was first convicted of bank fraud. Charges like that would come back to haunt him, including failing to pay past child support. A decade later, Alexio and his wife were charged with thirty-six counts, such as filing false tax claims, wire fraud and money laundering, as well as charges of sending false documents with the goal of obtaining gold bars and coins worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars. He was finally convicted of twenty-eight of those counts and now resides at FCI Safford, a low-security federal prison in Arizona.
Let's get back to Kickboxer.
After yet another successful title win, Eric decides to go to Thailand and build on his legend. After all, that's where the sport was born. Eric doesn't even train, thinking that he can defeat anyone. But his brother discovers that his opponent, Tong Po (Van Damme's childhood friend Michel Qissi, who is absolutely the greatest villain of all time) is a maniac. The dude kicks concrete pillars with his bare legs and has a stare that confirms that he is a murderer.
Kurt begs his brother not to fight, but Eric laughs it off. Po murks him round after round, beating him into the ground with ease as the crowd basically laughs at the two gaijin infiltrating their world. Even after Kurt throws in the towel, Tong Po kicks it out of the ring and elbows Eric in the back, turning him into a quadriplegic before tearing his title belt to shreds. And get this - there are two more matches to go. This wasn't even the main event!
Kurt is now stuck as a stranger in a strange land, with a brother near death, unable to speak the language. Winston Taylor, a retired US Army special forces member, helps them get to the hospital where they learn that Eric will never walk, much less kickbox, again.
Kurt vows to get revenge and is introduced to Xian Chow, a trainer of Muay Thai. Basically, this training involves him torturing our hero, so if you'd like to see a muscular young boy from Brussels get trussed up by an older Asian daddy that wants to teach him the ropes, you can watch this and still feel pretty manly about it. I kid - although that sequence at the beginning where the shirtless brothers cavort about Thailand seems a little romantic.
Somehow during all this Kurt falls from Xian's niece Mylee and helps her battle the crime lord Freddy Li. Xian then convinces Freddy to book a match between Tong Po and Kurt in the ancient tradition. That tradition? Hemp ropes all over the fists, coated in resin and dipped in broken glass while the ring has metal chains instead of ropes and fire is everywhere. This is the exact moment I lost my mind and began screaming at the screen as if this were a real fight that I was watching live and no longer a multipack DVD that I bought for $4.
Freddy Li arranges to have the fight fixed and gets $1 million from syndicate bosses to bet on the outcome. To stack the odds, Eric is kidnapped so that Kurt will do the job. Think that's bad? Tong Po also assaults Mylee. Remember how I said these guys were the worst humans in almost any movie not starring David Hess?
Xian tells Kurt to go the distance in the fight before losing, which gives him and Taylor time to save Eric, who appears just in time to chant "Nuk Soo Kow," or white warrior, along with the fickle crowd who turns on Tong Po. Kurt goes buck wild and easily bests the maniac who started the match out by eating broken glass and bloodying up his own tongue.
While Tong Po is listed as playing himself, please know that that is really Michael Qissi. This isn't a Zeus/Tiny Lister deal. His voice, however, was dubbed by Jim Cummings, who is also the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Darkwing Duck. However, don't celebrate just yet, as the actor was accused earlier this year of animal abuse, drug addiction and physical, mental and sexual abuse by his ex-wife. After knowing that, it adds some real cringe to the line that Tong Po yells during the fight: "You bleed like Mylee! Mylee...good CENSORED!"
This reminds me of a moment in my childhood. It was probably 1979 and local TV independent station WPTT-22 was advertising the heck out of kickboxing, proclaiming it as the most violent new sport around. I became nearly manic with intensity, needing to see this kickboxing for myself and Saturday night at 10 PM, when it would air, felt like months, not days, away. Every single TV and radio commerical stoked the flames of my nine-year-old demand to see these fights. The reality? Just white dudes kicking one another slowly in matches that were no more intense than an average boxing battle. The fight that was inside my head? Well, that would be this movie.
This is but the first of seven Kickboxer films, but it's a doozy. The good guys are as good as it gets, while the bad guys are the absolute worst people to ever walk the face of the Earth.
Kurt Sloane (Van Damme) is the younger brother of Eric Sloane, the United States kickboxing world champion. Eric is played by Dennis Alexio, who only appeared in two other acting jobs: the TV series Super Force and as Toshi Lum in Picasso Trigger.
His life story should be a movie, as he started his professional kickboxing career by winning seventeen consecutive fights with only a single fight lasting more than one round. He then battled Don "The Dragon" Wilson to a loss for the WKA World Super Light Heavyweight title on NBC before continuing to move up in weight divisions and even boxing professionally for a year.
After slowing down his career - if you can call it that, he won eight different titles - by fighting lower level K-1 fighters and gaining a rep for avoiding top level fighters, Alexio retired after winning the WAKO Pro World Heavyweight Full Contact Championship. But his crazy life wasn't over yet.
In 2003, he was first convicted of bank fraud. Charges like that would come back to haunt him, including failing to pay past child support. A decade later, Alexio and his wife were charged with thirty-six counts, such as filing false tax claims, wire fraud and money laundering, as well as charges of sending false documents with the goal of obtaining gold bars and coins worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars. He was finally convicted of twenty-eight of those counts and now resides at FCI Safford, a low-security federal prison in Arizona.
Let's get back to Kickboxer.
After yet another successful title win, Eric decides to go to Thailand and build on his legend. After all, that's where the sport was born. Eric doesn't even train, thinking that he can defeat anyone. But his brother discovers that his opponent, Tong Po (Van Damme's childhood friend Michel Qissi, who is absolutely the greatest villain of all time) is a maniac. The dude kicks concrete pillars with his bare legs and has a stare that confirms that he is a murderer.
Kurt begs his brother not to fight, but Eric laughs it off. Po murks him round after round, beating him into the ground with ease as the crowd basically laughs at the two gaijin infiltrating their world. Even after Kurt throws in the towel, Tong Po kicks it out of the ring and elbows Eric in the back, turning him into a quadriplegic before tearing his title belt to shreds. And get this - there are two more matches to go. This wasn't even the main event!
Kurt is now stuck as a stranger in a strange land, with a brother near death, unable to speak the language. Winston Taylor, a retired US Army special forces member, helps them get to the hospital where they learn that Eric will never walk, much less kickbox, again.
Kurt vows to get revenge and is introduced to Xian Chow, a trainer of Muay Thai. Basically, this training involves him torturing our hero, so if you'd like to see a muscular young boy from Brussels get trussed up by an older Asian daddy that wants to teach him the ropes, you can watch this and still feel pretty manly about it. I kid - although that sequence at the beginning where the shirtless brothers cavort about Thailand seems a little romantic.
Somehow during all this Kurt falls from Xian's niece Mylee and helps her battle the crime lord Freddy Li. Xian then convinces Freddy to book a match between Tong Po and Kurt in the ancient tradition. That tradition? Hemp ropes all over the fists, coated in resin and dipped in broken glass while the ring has metal chains instead of ropes and fire is everywhere. This is the exact moment I lost my mind and began screaming at the screen as if this were a real fight that I was watching live and no longer a multipack DVD that I bought for $4.
Freddy Li arranges to have the fight fixed and gets $1 million from syndicate bosses to bet on the outcome. To stack the odds, Eric is kidnapped so that Kurt will do the job. Think that's bad? Tong Po also assaults Mylee. Remember how I said these guys were the worst humans in almost any movie not starring David Hess?
Xian tells Kurt to go the distance in the fight before losing, which gives him and Taylor time to save Eric, who appears just in time to chant "Nuk Soo Kow," or white warrior, along with the fickle crowd who turns on Tong Po. Kurt goes buck wild and easily bests the maniac who started the match out by eating broken glass and bloodying up his own tongue.
While Tong Po is listed as playing himself, please know that that is really Michael Qissi. This isn't a Zeus/Tiny Lister deal. His voice, however, was dubbed by Jim Cummings, who is also the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Darkwing Duck. However, don't celebrate just yet, as the actor was accused earlier this year of animal abuse, drug addiction and physical, mental and sexual abuse by his ex-wife. After knowing that, it adds some real cringe to the line that Tong Po yells during the fight: "You bleed like Mylee! Mylee...good CENSORED!"
Chan's Still the Best Drunken Master
thesar-24 September 2019
30th Anniversary: 1989 - the Best Year in Cinema Marathon Film #67/100: "Kickboxer" (1st Viewing.)
To call this movie, even in the 1989 timeline "predictable" is an insult to single-digit IQ folk. Worse, though, is how boring it was. Mercifully, some of the jokes worked and actually had me laughing and I did enjoy one scene: a drunken Van Damme fighting in a bar. But, aside from those minute positives, I found other ways to occupy my time during this first and only screening of the "legendary" Kickboxer movie.
Such as checking my phone. Playing the Friday the 13th game on said phone. Texting my friend - also phone. And clipping my toenails. I did those manually. Well, with clippers of course. I'm not crazy. Or that agile.
What'd be crazy would be to recommend this dull version of revenge and low action for an action movie. Months earlier, enormously superior action films came out giving this lame "action" film no excuse: License to Kill, Batman, Lethal Weapon 2 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
So, see what I mean about 1989? Even then, even that same summer: No excuses. This was pure amateur filmmaking and low-key for even the most modest martial arts film. Though it didn't exist back then, it almost felt like this script was written via Google Translator. Total skip.
To call this movie, even in the 1989 timeline "predictable" is an insult to single-digit IQ folk. Worse, though, is how boring it was. Mercifully, some of the jokes worked and actually had me laughing and I did enjoy one scene: a drunken Van Damme fighting in a bar. But, aside from those minute positives, I found other ways to occupy my time during this first and only screening of the "legendary" Kickboxer movie.
Such as checking my phone. Playing the Friday the 13th game on said phone. Texting my friend - also phone. And clipping my toenails. I did those manually. Well, with clippers of course. I'm not crazy. Or that agile.
What'd be crazy would be to recommend this dull version of revenge and low action for an action movie. Months earlier, enormously superior action films came out giving this lame "action" film no excuse: License to Kill, Batman, Lethal Weapon 2 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
So, see what I mean about 1989? Even then, even that same summer: No excuses. This was pure amateur filmmaking and low-key for even the most modest martial arts film. Though it didn't exist back then, it almost felt like this script was written via Google Translator. Total skip.
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