Pretty Good

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

In a violent and corrupt prison, decorated cop Louis Burke must infiltrate the jail to find answers to a number of inside murders. What he finds is a struggle of life and death tied in to his own past.This movie is notable for being one of the last Cannon films, as well as the first film from David Goyer. And it is an excellent example of both, being that over-the-top fun we expect and love. This is not high art, but it does not need to be.The generic VanDamme film is a lot of kicking and punching and nonsense. "Cyborg" has become something of a cult classic despite being incredibly stupid. This is a more intelligent film, with actual character depth and plot. Maybe not a strong plot. And maybe the twists are a little too obvious. But still a fun ride.

Probably qualifies as JCVD's first actual "movie", or at least the first one with a budget above six figures or where he's not playing the karate tournament guy ('No Retreat, No Surrender', 'Bloodsport', 'Kickboxer'). Written by David S. Goyer (Yes, that David S. Goyer, his first sold screenplay), it's got clichés and contrivances galore, but it's also got flashes of wit rare for the genre and moves along at a brisk, fat free clip. Speaking of fat free, this is JCVD at the height of his JCVDness, and though his normal screen charm (and I mean that) is buttoned down here thanks to the prison setting, he brings the physical goods. Co-star Robert Guillaume helps class things up a bit and it's stylishly directed by the otherwise unremarkable Daren Sarafian ('Terminal Velocity'). Not a great film by even the loosest standards, but much better than you'd expect.

Canadian cop Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) goes undercover in California (?) prison to solve series of murders. Then a serial killer called the Sandman (Patrick Kilpatrick) shows up there. Burke put the Sandman away so they have things to discuss. It's a JCVD movie, so you pretty much know what to expect: kicking, kicking, and, not surprisingly, more kicking.By-the-numbers Van Damme actioner. Every prison movie cliché is on display. It's watchable enough. You get what you pay for. Robert Guillaume is good as the older inmate who helps Van Damme out. Cynthia Gibb is the requisite love interest who gets her pipes cleaned by the "muscles from Brussels." Cartoon-faced Art LaFleur is hard to take seriously as the sadistic prison guard. First movie from screenwriter David Goyer.

Well this is one of my personal favourite Van Damme films.Its a prison movie and a an action/drama/crime movie.Van Damme goes undercover to prison where inmates have been disappearing and discovers that their body parts- livers etc are being sold by the corrupt guards.Van Damme gets off to a decent tart in uncovering the truth with some decent fight scenes.Then "The Sandman" enters the prison and recognises Van Damme and reveals his real identity.Along the way Van Damme is helped by the beautiful Cynthia Gibb.There is a scene where Van Damme arrive in his cell and his cell mate wants him to pay.Van Damme replies i"i don't pay,and i don't punk".As he says this he has his cell-mate pinned against the wall which is actually funny.The Sandman is unstoppable,but he hasn't met Van Damme yet.Now Van Damme must survive and bring the truth to light.This really is one of his best movies.