Best movie ever!

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Blistering performances.

I grew up as a fan of JCVD but watching this over again now in my late 30's I've got to say this is truly a good movie with good musical scores to accompany the emotions. It's not easy to understand the efforts in fighting to keep a family above grounds especially if you haven't a family of your own to provide for. Lionheart helps us to remember that there is still beauty in life worth fighting for even when life isn't fair and fills up with such ugliness. It's what we make of it, either we hide away in the dark or run into the light even if it means going AWOL. This is truly a movie I would keep close to heart, to fight when that's all you can do to keep all that you have left.

Francois Gaultier is murdered by drug dealers and leaves behind his wife Helene (Lisa Pelikan) and daughter Ashley (Nicole). Upon hearing of his brother's death, Lyon Gaultier (Jean-Claude Van Damme) deserts the French Legion in spectacular fashion and rushes to the United States to take care of Helene and Ashley. But in order to care for his brother's family, Lyon must (you guessed it) don the name "Lionheart" and participate in some truly brutal fights in order to win enough money. This in a nutshell is the set up for "Lionheart," a film that is not about anything in particular, but is instead vehicle for Jean-Claude Van Damme to show the world why he is so good at karate.The chief strength of Lionheard is its ability to make full use of Jean Claude Van Damme's Lyon Gaultier and Deborah Rennard's Cynthia. This film does an effective job at exploiting JCVD's beautifully choreographed karate and of course displays much of his sculptoresque physique. In addition, Deborah Rennard's Cynthia may be a stereotype of a femme fatale, but she makes for an interesting stereotype nonetheless. Rennard portrays a character that combines snobbery with sexuality and, to a menacingly degree, has an unscrupulous tendency to use people (in fights) until they are a spent force. Now if those elements do not make for an interesting villain, I do not know what does.But Lionheart also makes the huge mistake of taking itself too seriously. When a film becomes serious, the acting has to be of a high standard. Otherwise the film comes across as pathetic and it is impossible to excuse its flaws by saying that it was just a campy film with a lot of cornball. In Lionheart, the film-makers approach Lyon Gaultier's relationship with his sister-in-law and niece with a straight face, which would have worked except that Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lisa Pelikan and Ashley Johnson are not good at playing serious roles with the result that their relationship comes across a phony. Thus Lionheart as a sentimental piece gets crushed under the weight of its pretensions for being a serious film. Lionheart would have been better off sticking to the action sequences and trying to be fresh version of "Bloodsport" (1988) which was a far better JCVD vehicle.5.7/10

Van Damme is a celebrated action-star, who's now very rightly so regarded as a legend. 'Lionheart' explores the potential Van Damme has, and I must say, this 1990 film is a must for Van Damme fans. 'Lionheart' stars Van Damme as a paratrooper legionnaire; when his brother is seriously injured he returns to Los Angeles to enter the underground fighting circuit to raise money for his brother's family.'Lionheart' works in parts. The Fight Sequences are Outstanding and all the credit goes to Van Damme. In terms of Writing, the film has some engaging moments that work on it's advantage. Sheldon Lettich's Direction, is plain ordinary. Van Damme is truly the best thing about 'Lionheart'. The actor performs well throughout, and is Outstanding when it comes to Action. He holds the film on his shoulders and does complete justice to his part. If you're a Van Damme fanatic, then 'Lionheart' is your best bet.

Jcvd had been my favorite actors in early 1990s , i still have got his autographed photo he sent me in 1994. Even now in these times he is at least better than that freak Steven seagal. Some times on occasions along with his martial art moves he also delivers a solid performance being an actor like he did in Jcvd and in hell. However in this particular movie he delivered a fantastic performance both as an artist and martial arts tough guy. The fights were i believe after bloodsport were the most best , van dammes kicks were really awesome ,on the other hand he also played another face of a family man. The movie started when is his brother was killed by hired thugs/drug gangs after being set ab lazed , he who is serving in french foreign legion had to escape from his over zealot strict superiors to get to his sis in law and a niece he never saw. Now when he is U.S he s got no home and nothing to live on here he finds organized street fights where money is poured and paid in form of bets. Van damme meets a man named Joshua and shows him the fight skills and impresses him. Then Joshua takes him to Cynthia a very rich woman running the organized underworld fight biz while also she has connections to drug cartels. Inside she is quite vicious mean and cunning lady when she observes Lyon (van damme) s fight potential she is very anxious to capitalize on it. May she has some connection to death of his bro. Lyon for the sake of his remaining family is reluctantly agreed to fight for her while is being pursued by his officers of the legion. His manger Joshua is very concerned and sympathetic for him , always ready to help. i think i perhaps have seen this film some 20 times and still i ve not been bored. Wehn it comes to Van damme i consider it his one real great movie to be remembered.