AN ANCIENT SPORT BECOMES A DEADLY GAME.
After a kickboxing fight in Bangkok that leaves his older brother in a wheelchair, Kurt Sloane (Jean-Claude Van Damme) decides to avenge him. One of the movies that made Van Damme an action star works only if the year is 1989 and youāre a 12-year-old boy ā in any other circumstance, this is too silly. Atrocious acting, not least from the star himself, even if thereās a certain degree of cringeworthy charm (the dancing is a highlight). The climactic fight has its Rocky vibes, but Iām being generous.
1989-U.S. 105 min. Color. Directed byĀ Mark DiSalle, David Worth. Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Kurt Sloane), Dennis Alexio (Eric Sloane), Dennis Chan (Xian Chow), Michel Qissi (Tong Po), Haskell Anderson, Rochelle Ashana.
Trivia: Chuck Norris was allegedly first considered for the lead. Followed by four sequels, starting with Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991); remade as Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016).Ā