Kickboxer *** (1989, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, Michel Qissi) – Classic Movie Review 8489

‘An Ancient Sport Becomes A Deadly Game.’

Directors Mark DiSalle and David Worth’s 1989 Kickboxer stars the ex-world karate champ Jean-Claude Van Damme (aka the ‘Muscles from Brussels’), who first gained stardom with this predictable but passable martial arts action thriller, in which he plays corner-man Kurt Sloan, who swears revenge on the vicious Thailand champion kickboxer Tong Po (Michel Qissi) who maliciously paralysed his brother Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio).

For action fans there is spectacular film of Van Damme training in the ancient kickboxing art of Muay Thai under an unorthodox old kickboxing master trainer Xian Chow (Dennis Chan) , exciting martial arts footage, and a satisfying big fight finale. The low-budget film ($1,500,000) is modestly presented and assembled, and Van Damme shows the glimmerings of a burgeoning acting talent.

Kickboxer may not be great, perhaps, but it is quite exciting and certainly better than expected, and it was a hit, grossing $14,697,005 at the US box office.

Also in the cast are Haskell V Anderson III, Rochelle Ashana, Ka Ting Lee and Richard Foo.

It runs 104 minutes but the video version 97 minutes.

Kickboxer is directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth, runs 104 minutes, is made by Kings Road Entertainment and The Movie Group, is distributed by Entertainment Film Distributors (1989) (UK) and Cannon Film Distributors (1989) (US), is written by Glenn A Bruce (screenplay), based on a story by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mark DiSalle, is shot in Technicolor by Jon Kranhous, is produced by Mark DiSalle and is scored by Paul Hertzog, with Production Design by Shay Austin.

It was filmed in August 1988 in Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

It is followed by Kickboxer 2: The Road Back, Kickboxer 3: The Art of War, Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor, all with Sasha Mitchell, and Kickboxer 5: The Redemption with Mark Dacascos, and Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016), with Dave Bautista, Alain Moussi, Gina Carano and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8489

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