The Hard Corps

JCVD has made plenty of crappy movies since the glory days of Bloodsport and Kickboxer. Hard Corps is a prime example. The only possible defense I can think of is that it actually gets better as it progresses. The problem with this defense is that it starts off being completely and utterly terrible, and then slowly progresses to being just plain bloody awful. The storyline (kind of) goes -
Our hero - Phil (JCVD) has been trained to run sideways while firing a machine gun. This skill has made him a war hero (but also a villain if you believe the terrorists version of events). He spends his days sitting on his bed daydreaming about running sideways while firing a machine gun. One day, he decides to take the job of protecting the heavy weight boxing champion of the world (who is only slightly bigger than an average man but has beaten Mike Tyson to a pulp in the past). Some rapper dude wants to bump off the champ and it's up to Phil to save the champ not only from death, but also his own stupidity. The champ goes clubbing even though he knows that he will probably be massacred at some point during the evening. Luckily Phil sees what's happening and quickly runs sideways while firing a machine gun, saving the day and becoming a hero in the eyes of the champs sister. Phil knows that the champ will be mincemeat if he's not always ready to run sideways while firing a machine gun. The champ goes to see his girlfriend but it's an ambush. Phil cannot run sideways (because he is standing in a doorway) so he stands still and fires his machine gun instead. The champ says that this breaches the terms and conditions of their contract and then tells Phil to leave town or else. Phil tells the champ that he wants to settle this dispute in a bare knuckle no holds barred fight to the death. They arrange to meet up and see who is talking crap. They let themselves be punched and kicked for a while and say things like "you feel that b**ch?". Suddenly they hear the news that someone has kidnapped the champs sister. Phil is not prepared to accept that. They join forces to rescue her and drive to the house where she is waiting to be rescued. The champ suddenly realizes that the rapper dude is to blame, so he decides to beat him up. Someone else shoots at Phil but the bullets cannot harm him as he has already started running sideways while firing a machine gun. They both suddenly realize that they have found friendship while beating the crap out of some rappers. The champs sister and Phil both realize that they love eachother and so decide to get married. The end.
Hard Corps may be enjoyed if you get pleasure out of watching a disaster of an action film. Have a laugh at the silly gun fights and ridiculous gangster rappers. But if you want to feel any emotional connection, watch A.W.O.L instead.

Let me just start by saying i am a fan of Van Damme`s action based films and i am only speaking from the perspective of the impressive films hes done in the past ie: Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, Wake Of Death etc.. so we know what Van Damme is capable of in terms of film making to make an impressive action film.. sadly this isnt and its a shame because the premise is quite promising and could have been something good but its let down by (again) poor directing. I know the director gave us AWOL and Double Impact but this is far too luke warm to be on the same level as those classic films.
Firstly there is a scene that features a drive by shooting by a rival gang, there are at least 3 guns pointing out of the windows blazing bullets yet Van Damme can just stand up faceing them with no cover whatsoever and return fire with a machine gun and not get hit once? This kind of action scene repeats itself in other areas of the film and really dispells the belief that he used to be a soldier and also makes you disengage yourself from the story thats being portrayed.
Other scenes such as taking direct hits from a professional boxer with no gloves on, yet still managing to get back up again several times! And later after this scene in the film showing only a few cuts to his face? Surely his face would have been swollen up, black eyes and everything but then maybe i am being a little bit fussy but i did find myself watching in disbelief many times through the film at such superhuman abilities that i slowly just accepted it as the equivalent of a tv movie with a few half decent action scenes.
To be fair the film isnt bad but as a comparison to all Van Dammes films hes made over the years this one just marginally dips below average and im still waiting for the super kicker to show us that he can still do his spinning kicks and martial arts action as opposed to this poor attempt at trying to be someone he isnt. If Kumite, Bloodsport 2 or any martial arts based films are on the horizon for him then there maybe hope for the belgian Karate champion yet but if these kind of films continue then i can only wish him a happy retirement.

Look, no one buys or rents this kind of film expecting high concept, high budget movie-making. If you're even looking at it then you surely aren't expecting Steven Spielberg!

So it's unfair to criticise a straight-to-dvd B-movie for its obvious drawbacks. There's only so much you can do with a limited budget.

The Hard Corps uses its limited resources to the full, as far as I can see. The role is a really good one for Van Damme; he's no spring chicken any more but this character and scenario gives him an opportunity to shine as the short-talking, kick-boxing action man.

The script clunks along to start with and the set up for the main characters isn't original -- but it gets you into the plot pretty quick, and the gunfire starts flying within 15 minutes. And hey; you're watching this to be entertained, right?

The action is based in urban American gangsta-rapper land, so you should expect a smattering of string bikinis and gold lame shorts (on the girls! Not Van Damme. Obviously), and plenty of mf-ing language. Plus heaps of semi-automatic gunfire and a stand up fight between Jean Claude and a boxer whose 15 years younger than him. Oh, and a pack of rottweilers eating a bad guy.

What's not to like?