Synopsis
U.S. soldier Frank Dux has come to Hong Kong to be accepted into the Kumite, a highly secret and extremely violent martial arts competition. While trying to gain access into the underground world of clandestine fighters, he also has to avoid military officers who consider him to be AWOL. After enduring a difficult training and beginning a romance with journalist Janice Kent, Frank is given the opportunity to fight. But can he survive?
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Cast
- Jean-Claude Van DammeFrank Dux
- Bolo YeungChong Li
- Donald GibbRay Jackson
- Leah AyresJanice Kent
- Norman BurtonHelmer
- Forest WhitakerRawlins
- Roy ChiaoSenzo Tanaka
- Philip ChanCaptain Chen
- Kenneth Siao Wai-KeungVictor Lin
- Paulo TochaPaco
Recommendations
- 50
Los Angeles Times
Hacking through the jungle of cliche and reservoir of bad acting in Bloodsport are some pretty exciting matches. It all boils down to a confrontation between a clean-cut noble warrior and a snorting, apish, dirty fighter. As usual, it's no contest. - 40
Time Out London
Forest Whitaker's cameo adds plumage to what is otherwise a well-plucked turkey, humourless and plagued by a script full of stilted mumbo-jumbo. - 40
TV Guide Magazine
Bloodsport is strictly for martial arts buffs; little is offered here in the way of plot, dialog, or acting. - 25
Chicago Tribune
The fight scenes are staged cleanly enough by Newt Arnold, a veteran assistant director (to Sam Peckinpah, among others) making his debut at the helm. But the contest format is hopelessly repetitive and inert, the characters would seem underdeveloped in a comic book, and the restricted setting ensures that the action will never develop any real scale or velocity. The Chinese may take it on the chin in Bloodsport, but their own movies are infinitely better. - 25
Miami Herald
Bloodsport offers some lurid but fascinating bits. Chief among them: Van Damme, his feet tied to two poles, performs horrifyingly painful splits. Otherwise, Bloodsport boasts bad acting, bad photography and a bad script. So much for the art of motion pictures. [03 May 1988, p.C4]
