Laikals The greatest movie ever made..!

Libramedi Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

GazerRise Fantastic!

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Scott LeBrun Hong Kong action specialist John Woo made his U.S. debut with this hard charging thrill ride, a solid vehicle for genre superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels plays "Chance" Boudreaux (so named because his momma took one), an unemployed longshoreman who's hired by comely young woman Natasha Binder (sexy Yancy Butler). Natasha is looking for her estranged father (played in the opening sequence by screenwriter Chuck Pfarrer, himself a former Navy SEAL commander), a combat veteran who fell into the exploitative clutches of evil entrepreneur Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen). Fouchon and his minions snatch people like Mr. Binder and force them to participate in "The Most Dangerous Game" type exercises. Naturally, Fouchon and company make the classic movie mistake of not taking their opponent quite seriously enough.Although some fans may charge that this is still not on the level of Woos' homegrown product, "Hard Target" is quite a good film of its type. He brings as much over the top flair as he can to these intense proceedings, pretty much demanding that the viewer suspend their disbelief just as much as they can. There is tons of violence to enjoy, with a very many squibs going off and a grand amount of explosions. The bad guys are unrepentant scum - and also pretty stupid, for the most part - so it's great fun to see so many of them easily fall victim to the intrepid hero. Woo maintains a very efficient forward pace, as "Hard Target" rockets toward a large scale showdown inside a warehouse. Among the amusing OTT touches are seeing Henriksen yell at his minions while trying to shrug off his burning jacket.Yet, for all the mayhem on display, some poignancy is generated, as the bad guys' actions create several victims. And there is heavy subtext about the tragic fate suffered by far too many American Veterans who fall on hard times. (While Fouchon and company were careful to try to select victims without family and/or close friends, they select Veterans because they will have a stronger survival instinct and give the hunters more of a challenge.) The New Orleans setting also adds a lot of flavor to the story.Van Damme is fine in a role that doesn't require too much actual acting. Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo of the later "Mummy" thrillers are superb villains. You just can't wait for these guys to die. Butler manages to be more than eye candy, giving the story some heart. Kasi Lemmons, Willie Carpenter, Eliott Keener, and Marco St. John are fine in support. Wilford Brimley appears late in the game to add some more spice as Chances' colorful uncle Douvee. Look for Ted Raimi in a cameo and Sven-Ole Thorsen as one of many hunters.This viewer is a big fan of the CCR classic "Born on the Bayou", so any movie that uses it (in this case, over the closing credits) automatically earns some points.Eight out of 10.

Fella_shibby I first saw this on a VHS in the mid 90s. John Woo's first American film is an underrated, enjoyable action thriller. I hav been a fan of most of his films like A better tomorrow, Hard boiled, The killer, Broken arrow, Face off, Windtalkers, Paycheck n my all time fav Red cliff. Action movie junkies will love Hard Target. Martial arts scenes are excellent, as is the gunplay. As for the plot, nothing special, just a new version of The Most Dangerous Game. With John Woo as the director, we get to see Van Damme doing those Woo signature-action like double-gun firing, action slow-mo, dangerous stunts. Woo is famous for his camera angles n doves. The action sequences, particularly the chase through the cemetery and the shootout in the Mardi-Gras warehouse are smoothly and stylishly directed. It was produced by Sam Raimi. Hard Target is done in the classic John Woo style with attention to detail and where pretty much everything is big whether it's the gunfights or the explosions, everything in Hard Target is pushed to the limit. It has Lance Henriksen (The terminator, Aliens, Quick n the dead, Pumkinhead) n Arnold Vosloo (The mummy, Blood diamond) as villains. The shootout was and still is the most explosive action sequence I have ever seen.

jcbutthead86 Hard Target is an excellent,explosive and underrated Action-Thriller that combines terrific direction,a great cast,fantastic Action and a fine score. All of those elements make Hard Target one of the better Action Films of the 1990s that is John Woo and Jean-Claude Van Damme at their best.Set in New Orleans,Louisana,Hard Target tells the story of Chance Doudreaux(Jean Claude Van Damme),who is asked by Natalie Binder(Yancy Butler)to track down her War Veteran Father who is homeless. While looking Chance and Natalie clash with wealthy man Emil Fouchon(Lance Henriksen)who hunts homeless people for sport. Now,it's up to Chance to take down Emil once and for all.Released in 1993,Hard Target is a terrific slam bang Action-Thriller that was a Box Office success for Jean Claude Van Damme and was John Woo's first Action film in America after making brilliant and unforgettable Action classics such as The Killer(1989),Hard Boiled(1992),A Better Tomorrow(1986)and A Better Tomorrow II(1987)in Hong Kong,China with actor Chow Yun Fat. And while Hard Target isn't as good as those films it's an outstanding and memorable movie and is one of the better Action films of the 1990s. For 97 wild and fast paced minutes Hard Target is pure,nonstop entertainment from start to finish and is a film I have always enjoyed and liked ever since I saw it on home video back in the mid-1990s and was the film that introduced me to Action master John Woo and is an Action movie that was made strictly for Action fans and John Woo fans because this movie has all of the trademarks you would see in Woo's Hong Kong films and his later movies such as Broken Arrow(1995)and Face/Off(1997):gun and hand to hand fights,explosions,use of slow motion and an over the top style that just works. Hard Target is the kind of Action movie that never stops to accomplish it's goal and that is to put viewers on the edge of your seat with excitement and thrills and Hard Target does it with a vengeance. It's a shame that John Woo and Jean Claude Van Damme never worked together again because together they seemed like a great fit for each others styles. The main character and hero Chance Boudreaux is a memorable character and an Action hero in the truest sense of the term and is the kind of character where his Actions speak louder than words while having a good mullet. Also,Chance uses his fighting skills and his wits to out do the bad guys who do the bad thing by underestimating and getting in trouble because of it. When Chance beats the bad guys and outsmarts them It's the kind of movie where the storyline isn't always strong and there isn't a lot of depth with the characters there is enough dialog and scenes with the main characters to keep the viewers interested. One of the main reasons to watch Hard Target is the Action scenes. The Action scenes in Hard Target is exciting,intense and is done in the classic John Woo style with attention to detail and where pretty much everything is big whether it's the gunfights(with one and at times two guns)or the explosions(with cars,buildings and at other times with motorcycles)everything in Hard Target is pushed to the limit and beyond like in Woo's Hong Kong films and while the scenery is changed from Hong Kong to New Orleans Woo's Action is still the same. What I also liked about Hard Target is the New Orleans locations which still looked beautiful despite the violence all around. The ending of Hard Target is amazing and filled with tons of Action and excitement that never stops and will have you cheering. A sensational ending.The cast is wonderful. Jean-Claude Van Damme is terrific as Chance,with Van Damme being charismatic and kicking butt at the same time. Lance Henriksen is wonderful and memorable as Emil Fouchon,with Henriksen stealing every scene he's in. Arnold Volsoo is fantastic as Pik,Emil's right hand man. Yancy Butler does a great job as Natasha,a woman who needs Chance's help. Wilford Brimley is outstanding as Uncle Dovee,Chance's Uncle. Kasi Lemmons is fine as May Mitchell,a cop. Willie C. Carpenter is sensational as Elijah,Chance's homeless friend. Chuck Pfarrer(who also wrote the screenplay)is good as Douglas Binder,Natasha's homeless Father.The direction by John Woo is outstanding and stylish,with Woo constantly moving the camera and showing close-ups,zooms and freeze frames while doing a great job with the Action scenes. Amazing direction,Woo.The score by Graeme Revell is fantastic,thrilling and matches the film's tone. Great score,Revell.In final word,if you love Jean Claude Van Damme,John Woo or Action Films,I highly suggest you see Hard Target,an excellent,underrated Action-Thriller that you can watch again and again. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

powermandan After making a name for himself in Asia as an action director, John Woo makes his American debut film, Hard Target. Although not his best, (it is one of his best) it was certainly a solid start. No better way make a great action film by having one of the hottest action stars in the world, Jean-Claude Van Damme. This was around the time that Van Damme's acting level was at par with other action stars such as Steven Seagal, but Van Damme was more versatile than him. Van Damme's role is a stereotypical tough-guy, drifter; greasy mullet, unshaven face, earring, long dark coat, ripped jeans. It is similar to Chuck Norris in The Hit-man a few years prior. Everybody praised the action and bashed nearly everything else. I'll admit, the story is weak: a young woman (Butler) hires a homeless merchant (Van Damme) to help find her father, who was murdered by a group of thugs (lead by Henriksen and Vosloo) who hunt and kill drifters for sport. It is after they discover what happened to her father that the plot becomes stale. But that is just when the violence really starts to take off. And the violence presented in such an artful way that only John Woo can do. Because believe it or not, action can be done in an artful way. There is tons and tons of violence (actually one of the most violent movies I have ever seen) done in a fun and exciting fashion. With a 90's look and music incorporated, it is only natural that this would be one of the best action flicks of the decade.