ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Director Ringo Lam teamed up with Jean-Claude Van Damme to make a very intelligent and entertaining action/crime drama that really proves Mr. Van Damme can act.

In a dual role, Van Damme plays a brutal, psychopathic killer and . . . a clone of the killer, created in a manner that gives him some of the killer's memories as well as a telepathic link.

Van Damme's portrayal of the childlike clone in a body that looks forty (like the killer's) is very convincing.

Michael Rooker plays a Seattle police detective who desperately wants to end the years-long killing spree of the maniac, using the clone to gain insights into the killer's way of thinking. The clone is tortured by the images in his head of terrible acts the killer has committed, and Rooker hates him because he resembles his enemy and (he presumes) has the same murderous tendencies.

This film was released direct to video in the U.S. — but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't a fine movie. Give it a shot.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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This is movie is very well done, and I own the DVD. Here's the trailer, for anyone interested.

______________________ Replicant - trailer


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[The Spike]

Double Trouble for Van Damme again!

Yet another Jean-Claude Van Damme film that sees him tasked with playing two characters.

In spite of its shaky reputation, this isn't half bad. It delivers what most Van Damme fans expect — namely bonkers fights and shifty science.

Plot has Van Damme as a fire obsessed serial killer who is always one step ahead of the police. Enter science as a chance to clone the killer arises, and this sets in motion the wheels of the Van Damme clone trying to come to terms with his alien world as he and world weary police officer Jake Riley (Michael Rooker), set about capturing the unhinged mad man.

It's of course daft — but it's a whole bunch of fun, and with the strong presence of Rooker supplemented by two very interesting performances by Van Damme.

The fight scenes are smoothly choreographed and exciting, with director Ringo Lam clearly aware of what makes a Van Damme movie work. It's not prime Van Damme, but it's above average and well worth checking out for those so inclined. 6/10
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The quality of mercy is not strnen.

[Bud Brewster]

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In addition to this movie, Jean-Claude Van Damme has made several other fairly good science ficion films. The titles below are links to their All Sci-Fi threads.

Universal Soldier (1992)

Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

Timecop (1994)

Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009)

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)