Hard Target, "laced with dark humor, slam
packed with bone-crunching fights and blazing with spectacular
firepower," is an action movie for hard core lovers of
the action genre.
A sadistic mercenary conducts big game hunts
in New Orleans, where Vietnam vets are the hunted. This mercenary
recruits homeless combat veterans, for the amusement of his
clients, who pay half a million dollars to stalk and kill these
veterans. When a tough, out of work sailor looks into the disappearance
of a vet, the father of beautiful Natasha Binder, he proves
to be a hard target, when he and Natasha stumble upon this vile
safari.
This action film was expertly directed by talented
action film director, John Woo, who truly understands how to
put an exciting, hard hitting action movie together. He maintains
his high standards and reputation with this effort, that has
thrilled many fans of manly man type films.
Director of photography Russell Carpenter delivers great visuals.
The New Orleans locations, and not just Bourbon Street/The French
Quarter, are well examined.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is particularly good as the sailor. While
his acting is not in the league of a Gene Hackman or Robert
Duvall, I'll bet they don't know squat about kicking people
in the head, making it all look easy to do.
Lance Henriksen ("Aliens") is
effective as the evil guy who organizes the man hunt expeditions.
He was recently the lead in the TV series "Millennium."
My favorite scene involves a street encounter between Van Damme
and some bad guys who are trying to steal a woman's purse. The
ensuing fight scene is very well staged and edited.
Rated R for violence.
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