Hard Target Details

Cult Hong Kong director John Woo's Hollywood debut was regarded as a major disappointment by his die-hard fans, but it's a lot better than most American action fodder. It's also easily Jean-Claude Van Damme's best movie, even if Woo doesn't quite achieve the impossible and coax a performance out of him. Armed with the dodgiest haircut since Hoddle and Waddle in their Spurs' heyday (ask the football fan next to you!), Van Damme plays an unemployed sailor who spoils the human hunting games of some wealthy millionaires when he fights back. The plotting is minimal, but Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo make for terrific baddies and Woo orchestrates some stunning action set pieces, including a spectacular finale, with panache.

John Woo, Hong Kong's influential director of action films, makes his American debut with yet another re-make of The Most Dangerous Game; the experience seems not to have been a happy one for him, or for his audience.