Can someone explain to me why Jean Claude Van Damme was ever a star?

[Equint77]

Did I like Bloodsport? Sure
Kickboxer? Yeah
That movie with Drago? I guess

But how can someone with zero acting ability, a thick horrible accent, a cliche unto himself ever become a "sucess".. and I use that word loosely. Hell he's still making movies... They're B movies but he's still starring in them.

Anyone care to explain?

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Because his movies are actually pretty good and he has displayed some acting ability in the past.

The fact that he brings charisma, originality, and actually looks like he has fun makes him very respectable in my eyes. I've always liked Van Damme though, so maybe I'm somewhat bias.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

Did I like Bloodsport? Sure
Kickboxer? Yeah
That movie with Drago? I guess

But how can someone with zero acting ability, a thick horrible accent, a cliche unto himself ever become a "sucess".. and I use that word loosely. Hell he's still making movies... They're B movies but he's still starring in them.

Anyone care to explain?

those are reasons alone.

 

[Equint77]

Because his movies are actually pretty good and he has displayed some acting ability in the past.

The fact that he brings charisma, originality, and actually looks like he has fun makes him very respectable in my eyes. I've always liked Van Damme though, so maybe I'm somewhat bias.

I don't know.. I used to be a fan of his also until I realized he played the same role all the time..... either he was friends or brothers of a guy who got hurt/killed in a fight.... you had the training sequences.... either way in the end he'd end up in a fight tournament.

Maybe I just got over his films..... I still like Kickboxer though.

I beg to differ on originality though cause he uses pretty much the same forumula for all his movies.

 

[Corinthian™]

I don't know.. I used to be a fan of his also until I realized he played the same role all the time..... either he was friends or brothers of a guy who got hurt/killed in a fight.... you had the training sequences.... either way in the end he'd end up in a fight tournament.

Maybe I just got over his films..... I still like Kickboxer though.

I beg to differ on originality though cause he uses pretty much the same forumula for all his movies.

Universal Soldier


And my mom's crazy for Van Dame... but she likes cheesy B fighting/action movies.... She also loves Steven Segal

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

I don't know.. I used to be a fan of his also until I realized he played the same role all the time..... either he was friends or brothers of a guy who got hurt/killed in a fight.... you had the training sequences.... either way in the end he'd end up in a fight tournament.

Maybe I just got over his films..... I still like Kickboxer though.

I beg to differ on originality though cause he uses pretty much the same forumula for all his movies.

same thing can be said about stalonne..................Adrian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr. Credible]

Did I like Bloodsport? Sure
Kickboxer? Yeah
That movie with Drago? I guess

But how can someone with zero acting ability, a thick horrible accent, a cliche unto himself ever become a "sucess".. and I use that word loosely. Hell he's still making movies... They're B movies but he's still starring in them.

Anyone care to explain?

you just described Ahnold, and Sylvester, too.

they were stars because that's what was 'in' back then... beefy manly-man actors.

 

[enterthemadness]

Have you seen Wake of Death, Replicant, In Hell, or The Hard Corps? All are good movies, that deserved either a wide or limited release into theaters. Van Damme has approved his acting since being in DTV hell. His best acting is in Wake of Death and Second In Command.

Van Damme earns around 4-5 million a film, while Segal and Snipes gets 6 or 7 million for their DTV films.

 

[The Chairman]

Van Damme simply was in the right place at the right time. The 1980s' were largely built around the mindless action flick with a lead star who had little talent but loads of muscle and charisma (the exceptions being Bruce Willis and occasionally Arnold), and he fit the mold.

I personally haven't seen any of his movies, so I guess I shouldn't judge.

 

[Whirlysplat]

Watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" it all will become clear to you.

- Whirly

 

[Equint77]

Well in Stallone's case.... at least he did Rocky which will be the peak of his career.... as far as him milking that franchise..... they had to have made some money over the course of the last 30 years for a 6th to be coming out in December.

 

[Killgore]

I don't know.. I used to be a fan of his also until I realized he played the same role all the time..... either he was friends or brothers of a guy who got hurt/killed in a fight.... you had the training sequences.... either way in the end he'd end up in a fight tournament.

Maybe I just got over his films..... I still like Kickboxer though.

I beg to differ on originality though cause he uses pretty much the same forumula for all his movies.

The hours approaching, just give it your best
You got to reach your prime.
That’s when you need to put yourself to the test,
And show us a passage of time,
Were going to need a montage (montage)
Oh it takes a montage (montage)

Sure a lot of things happing at once,
With mind, everyone what’s going on (what’s going on?)
And when every shot you show a little improvement
Just Show it or it will take to long
that’s called a montage (montage)
Oh we want montage (montage)

And anything that we want to know, from just a beginner to a pro,
You want a montage (montage)
even rocky had a montage (montage)

(Montage…montage)

Anything that we want to know, from just a beginner to a pro,
You need a montage (montage)
Oh it takes a montage (montage)

Always fade out in a montage,
If you fade out, it seem like more time
Has passed in a montage,
Montage

 

[Equint77]

Watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" it all will become clear to you.

- Whirly

saw it back in 88 or 89

 

[The Chairman]

Well in Stallone's case.... at least he did Rocky which will be the peak of his career.... as far as him milking that franchise..... they had to have made some money over the course of the last 30 years for a 6th to be coming out in December.

Stallone has proven a few times he can genuinely act. His films are not nearly as bad as Seagal's or Van Damme's. Rocky is one of the greatest movies ever made, and the Rambo movies are classics (though I haven't seen them).

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

Because he's hot when he does the splits...unfortunately then he speaks and blows the whole thing

 

[Whirlysplat]

saw it back in 88 or 89

He was the Silent Russian as you're aware, what a great B ovie performance he even upstages Bruce Lees ghost. I probably haven't seen it since about 89 either.

- Whirly

 

[Equint77]

He was the Silent Russian as you're aware, what a great B ovie performance he even upstages Bruce Lees ghost. I probably haven't seen it since about 89 either.

- Whirly

yeah the thing I remember about his character was he used to rest in his corner doing the split and hanging on the second ropes.

 

[Immortalfire]

I'm reminded of our old friend Greengoblin, who called him Jean-Clod Van Dammit.

 

[tzarinna]

Ugh,I can't stand Jean Claude,Sly,Arnold or Steven Segal.

 

[Mee]

Poor man's Ahnold.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

Stallone has proven a few times he can genuinely act. His films are not nearly as bad as Seagal's or Van Damme's. Rocky is one of the greatest movies ever made, and the Rambo movies are classics (though I haven't seen them).

lmao.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I don't know.. I used to be a fan of his also until I realized he played the same role all the time..... either he was friends or brothers of a guy who got hurt/killed in a fight.... you had the training sequences.... either way in the end he'd end up in a fight tournament.

Maybe I just got over his films..... I still like Kickboxer though.

I beg to differ on originality though cause he uses pretty much the same forumula for all his movies.

I understand what you're saying. Personally Jean has made some very good underrated movies.

Timecop and Maximum Risk are what I consider to be his best films. Timecop in actuality is somewhat of a departure from his earlier work.

 

[Equint77]

I just saw the Quest on USA... it sticks to his formula.. tournament fighting.... but it's actally not a bad movie...

surprising since he directed it.

 

[BRUTAL]

If there was ever a JCVD video game you would only need 3 buttons...

1- Do the splits
2- Punch bad guy in the dong
3- Lick boobies

and of course everytime you jump it would be slow-motion...

 

[Equint77]

If there was ever a JCVD video game you would only need 3 buttons...

1- Do the splits
2- Punch bad guy in the dong
3- Lick boobies

and of course everytime you jump it would be slow-motion...

anyone remember this arcade game "pit fighter".. there was this character I could have sworn was modeled after him... he actually did the van damm splits.