Thursday, February 12, 2009

Favorite Movie

My favorite movie I have ever seen is by far "Bloodsport." It is about a secret karate tournament called the Kumite. The idea of this movie even existing is ironic, because it is the true story of a secret event so you have to take the writer's word for it. Either way, fiction or non-fiction, it is extremely entertaining. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays the main character, Frank Dux. The fight scenes are what really make the movie. Sometimes, during these scenes, the actors look like the director told them that Bloodsport was going to be a silent film. I really can't tell if they were trying to do it on purpose or not, but some of the facial expressions and falls taken by defeated fighters are almost funny. You want to laugh and sometimes you do. Those images are my favorite part of the movie and the reason why I think the movie has somewhat of a cult following. Besides dealing with the fights and his rival Chong Li, Dux also has to avoid a young Forest Whitaker, who plays a United States cop trying to catch Dux and bring him home before he gets into too much trouble. I don't know of many people who have seen this movie but the few I know who have all love it. So I recommend it to everyone and especially anyone who likes karate or kung fu movies.

2 comments:

  1. I think I actually showed this movie in class years ago. The AP European History class kept saying how great it was and I relented and showed it in JUne after the test was complete. I can't say I was terribly impressed, but it held my interest. Your comments about it mimicking aspects of silent film is interesting. Your discussion of its cult status and the fact that you like it for reasons that transcend any claims you might make to its greatness are also relevant. On my "profile" I liist my favorite movies. The first is "Colossus: the Forbin Project. It's not a great movie. It's not even a good movie. But I like it a lot for personal reasons.

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  2. Haha Rob ... didn't you first see this with me?

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