I wouldn't quite call this a martial arts movie, even though it does have martial arts in it. It has a genuine story, and while it's not very original, it does a few things that not a lot of films do.
The main feature of Kickboxer is that it is absolutely dripping with atmosphere! The locations are beautiful, and the motivation is genuinely emotional, so we are with Kurt all the way on his journey as he seeks revenge for his brother.
This is all glued together by an absolutely phenomenal score by Paul Hertzog, which fully encapsulates the location, the art, and the mysticism all in one. It's a crime that Hertzog has only essentially done two movies (this and Bloodsport) because his music is genuinely stirring and emotional. It's one of my favourite scores ever, and a highlight of the film itself.
The action scenes are uniquely choreographed and directed by Jean Claude Van Damme himself, and quite honestly, I've never seen fights like this in any other film. It's not trying to copy Hong Kong, but instead it does its own very original thing at a slower pace, but it's made up for by sheer power. It's a shame that Van Damme never quite hit this level of quality with the fights in his later films, even the one he had full control over (you know which one).
One thing the film gets right it's balance. There's a good mix of action, emotion, and even comedy in there - none of which outstays their welcome, and they all appear in turn just at the right time for breathers. The pacing is also pristine, and there is zero meandering or pointless scenes.
The cinematography is beautiful, especially the end fight, with lots of fire reds and oranges intensifying the action, and there's a good use of slow motion that's used very well with Van Damme's choreography.
Kickboxer is a bone fide video rental days classic of the late 80s and early 90s. It's up there with the likes of Sakura Killers, Eliminators, No Retreat No Surrender, Robocop, King of the Kickboxers, and many more.
It's far and above the usually cheddar of that ilk, becasue it's just a better film than most. The feel, the music, the atmosphere - it's all here, and it's a classic that should be an any action film fan's collection.
It's just a crying shame that the DVD version has scenes missing, and Denis Alexio's voice has been dubbed. It's not the version I grew up with, and I had to hunt for a VHS copy of the film for a long time. Thankfully, I got a UK ex-rental big box copy which was in decent condition, and even though the sound is slightly muffled, it's a far superior version to the DVD print.
The main feature of Kickboxer is that it is absolutely dripping with atmosphere! The locations are beautiful, and the motivation is genuinely emotional, so we are with Kurt all the way on his journey as he seeks revenge for his brother.
This is all glued together by an absolutely phenomenal score by Paul Hertzog, which fully encapsulates the location, the art, and the mysticism all in one. It's a crime that Hertzog has only essentially done two movies (this and Bloodsport) because his music is genuinely stirring and emotional. It's one of my favourite scores ever, and a highlight of the film itself.
The action scenes are uniquely choreographed and directed by Jean Claude Van Damme himself, and quite honestly, I've never seen fights like this in any other film. It's not trying to copy Hong Kong, but instead it does its own very original thing at a slower pace, but it's made up for by sheer power. It's a shame that Van Damme never quite hit this level of quality with the fights in his later films, even the one he had full control over (you know which one).
One thing the film gets right it's balance. There's a good mix of action, emotion, and even comedy in there - none of which outstays their welcome, and they all appear in turn just at the right time for breathers. The pacing is also pristine, and there is zero meandering or pointless scenes.
The cinematography is beautiful, especially the end fight, with lots of fire reds and oranges intensifying the action, and there's a good use of slow motion that's used very well with Van Damme's choreography.
Kickboxer is a bone fide video rental days classic of the late 80s and early 90s. It's up there with the likes of Sakura Killers, Eliminators, No Retreat No Surrender, Robocop, King of the Kickboxers, and many more.
It's far and above the usually cheddar of that ilk, becasue it's just a better film than most. The feel, the music, the atmosphere - it's all here, and it's a classic that should be an any action film fan's collection.
It's just a crying shame that the DVD version has scenes missing, and Denis Alexio's voice has been dubbed. It's not the version I grew up with, and I had to hunt for a VHS copy of the film for a long time. Thankfully, I got a UK ex-rental big box copy which was in decent condition, and even though the sound is slightly muffled, it's a far superior version to the DVD print.