I often find myself bemused by some real harsh reviews of the better Van Damme films since they always deliver what is expected. Why for instance would someone who has seen Kickboxer, Bloodsport or Timecop go into a viewing of Lionheart and expect it to be the Citizen Kane of kung fooery ?. Jean Claude Van Damme movies pretty much do what they say on the tin, along with Seagal, Norris, Sly and the big Austrian Oak, there is a market they have cornered, and although I wouldn't be so foolish as to say that all their respective output is viable quality entertainment, i do say however that in amongst the collective output are films that shine quite brightly, and sadly many viewers seem intent on ignoring the quality pop corners and collectively call the output garbage.
Lionheart is one such film that is sadly undervalued across this site.
Lyon Gaultier is serving in the Foreign Legion when he hears that his brother has been fatally set on fire during a drug deal gone wrong, his superiors in the Legion are less than sympathetic to his request to leave the service to visit his dying brother, in fact they choose to punish him by way of getting his mind right, Gaultier is having none of it and deserts. On arriving in America, skint and with no home to call his home, Gaultier spies a bare knuckle contest and sees this as an opportunity to make some cash to hopefully get to L.A. to see his brother, this brings him attention from Cynthia, a glamorous pimp of underground no holds barred fights. Along with his self appointed manager, Joshua Eldridge, they agree to fight for Cynthia's syndicate as long as Lyon needs the money. Sadly Gaultier's brother dies and leaves his woman and child with a ream of debts and the prospect of being homeless, this drives Gaultier on as he desperately wants to help the pair of them out, but hot on his tail is the Foreign Legion heavies who are intent on bringing him back to serve his time in the service, can Lyon complete all he hopes to achieve before being taken away ?.
Containing great fight sequences and beating a true emotional heart, Lionheart more than fulfills the genre viewers needs, 7/10.
Lionheart is one such film that is sadly undervalued across this site.
Lyon Gaultier is serving in the Foreign Legion when he hears that his brother has been fatally set on fire during a drug deal gone wrong, his superiors in the Legion are less than sympathetic to his request to leave the service to visit his dying brother, in fact they choose to punish him by way of getting his mind right, Gaultier is having none of it and deserts. On arriving in America, skint and with no home to call his home, Gaultier spies a bare knuckle contest and sees this as an opportunity to make some cash to hopefully get to L.A. to see his brother, this brings him attention from Cynthia, a glamorous pimp of underground no holds barred fights. Along with his self appointed manager, Joshua Eldridge, they agree to fight for Cynthia's syndicate as long as Lyon needs the money. Sadly Gaultier's brother dies and leaves his woman and child with a ream of debts and the prospect of being homeless, this drives Gaultier on as he desperately wants to help the pair of them out, but hot on his tail is the Foreign Legion heavies who are intent on bringing him back to serve his time in the service, can Lyon complete all he hopes to achieve before being taken away ?.
Containing great fight sequences and beating a true emotional heart, Lionheart more than fulfills the genre viewers needs, 7/10.