This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Blistering performances.

Many audiences either like Jean-Claude Van Damme or they dislike him. Either way, in the late 1980's and throughout the 1990's there was no bigger star than Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme had appeared in a few small movies but in 1988 Bloodsport launched his career into super stardom by showcasing his spectacular martial arts abilities and athletic prowess. Although Bloodsport was not a critical success and it certainly did not set the world on fire with its acting, it has developed a reputation as a cult classic and also attracted a legion of loyal Van Damme fans.Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Frank Dux, a US Army Captain who has gone AWOL to participate in an illegal martial arts tournament named the Kumite which is well known to be secretive yet brutal. Frank Dux participates to honour his master Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao) who took Frank under his wing as a child and taught him the ways of martial arts. Upon Frank's arrival in Hong Kong, he befriends fellow American competitor Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and liaison/manager Victor Lin (Kenneth Siu). Frank also finds himself heading towards a collision course with the defending champion Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), who is a vicious and remorseless fighter who has killed participants in past tournaments. At the same time, Frank finds himself romantically involved with US journalist Janice Kent (Leah Ayres) who has been assigned to investigate the Kumite, and Frank must also avoid being arrested by two Military Police CID officers Helmer (Norman Burton) and Rawlins (Forest Whitaker in an early role).Van Damme had a likable presence throughout his halcyon days and nowadays his star isn't as bright as it used to be as his career is stuck in the doldrums of endless forgettable direct-to-video movies. Here in Bloodsport, Jean-Claude Van Damme has a certain charisma about him along with his athletic prowess and that's what attracted many audiences to see Van Damme's movies.Don't listen to the nay sayers and forget the hokey acting, Bloodsport is still an enjoyable and entertaining martial arts movie years later. Bloodsport is definitely one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's most memorable movies in his starring debut and certainly one to remember as the movie that launched his career.Highly recommended for all Van Damme fans as well as fans of martial arts movies.7/10.

Greetings from Lithuania.When i was 6-8 years old, "Bloodsport" (1988) was one of my favorite movies around. It was so good martial arts movie (and in general i didn't liked martial arts movies), but it was also just a very decent film overall.The fighting action scenes were awesome, characters were simple yet sharply drawn - it was easy to identify who is good who is bad, who fights dirty and who is just fun to watch at. It is probably still my favorite movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and it even had Forest Whitaker! (didn't new him for sure at the time). The training scenes i still can remember after 20 years now (this is how much time have past since i saw this movie last time).Overall, "Bloodsport" is not deep at ideas, but it was almost perfect for what it wanted to be - a Kick-Ass martial arts movie with characters we do care about. This is one of the very best (and probably my favorite one) of it's genre. And the last fight is simply unforgettable stuff.

Recently I revisited Bloodsport for the first time since my initial viewing at the theater in 1988. Surprisingly, the movie holds up well...far better than I was expecting...and probably better than the dubious history of real-life fighter(?) Fred Dux.Upon my initial viewing one of my problems with Bloodsport was the lack of flashy fighting sequences. But, in today's MMA world the fights look pretty darn good and with the exception of the bouncy-guy and the finale with the over-the-top acting, the rest of the fighting rings surprisingly realistic.Bloodsport was VanDamme's first movie and it still holds up as one of his best. I have a soft-spot in my heart for Timecop as well. If you're in the mood for a simple bubblegum movie on a Friday night, then this is a great flashback to the hey-day of 1980s action movies. The pod-cast Don and his Amazing Friend recently did an episode reviewing the movie which is worth listening to (www.donandhisamazingfriend.com).

'Bloodsport' certainly suffers from all of the problems any movie from this era and of this genre naturally would, but just as Frank Dux triumphs over Chong Li, so too does 'Bloodsport' conquer the cheese factor.Jean Claude Van Damme may not exactly be De Niro, but he has an easy, natural charisma that lifts everything around him. Combined with his impressive physical gifts--here at their absolute peak--and you have a star making turn.Filled with colorful characters, fun fights and a host of awesome 80s trappings, 'Bloodsport' is a genre essential, and a Van Damme classic.