Bloodsport (1988)
Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts action film directed by Newt Arnold and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Leah Ayres, Forest Whitaker, Donald Gibb, Roy Chiao, and Bolo Yeung. The film centers on Frank Dux (Van Damme), a United States Army Captain and ninjitsu practitioner, who competes in an underground, full-contact martial arts tournament called the Kumite in Hong Kong. It was one of Van Damme’s first starring films and showcased his athletic abilities, launching his career as a mainstream action star. The screenplay is based on many of Dux’s claims first covered in the November 1980 issue of Black Belt magazine.
The real Dux served as the film’s action choreographer and technical advisor. After its release, many of Dux’s claims were disputed, including by co-screenwriter Sheldon Lettich, who claimed Dux fabricated his fight record and the existence of the Kumite.
Bloodsport was produced by Cannon Films and released by Warner Bros. on 26 February 1988. Despite mixed reviews from critics, it was a considerable box office success, grossing $50 million on a budget of $1.5–2.3 million. It developed a strong cult following, and has been cited as an influence on the development of mixed martial arts. It spawned three direct-to-video sequels.
Plot.
U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux has trained in the ways of ninjutsu under his sensei Senzo Tanaka. As a boy, Dux and a group of his friends broke into Tanaka’s home to steal a katana, but Dux was apprehended while returning the katana to its place. Impressed by Dux’s integrity and toughness, Senzo decided to train him alongside his son, Shingo. After Shingo’s death, Senzo trains Dux as a member of the Tanaka clan. Dux is invited to the Kumite, an illegal martial arts tournament in Hong Kong. After his Army superiors refuse to let him go, Dux goes absent without leave, says goodbye to his sensei and leaves for Hong Kong. Two Criminal Investigation Command agents, Helmer and Rawlins, are assigned to track down and arrest Dux.RELATED:
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After arriving in Hong Kong, Dux befriends American fighter Ray Jackson and their guide Victor Lin. When they arrive at the Kumite arena, the officials are skeptical but eventually accept them after Dux proves his connection to the Tanaka clan by performing the Dim Mak death touch. On the first day of the tournament, Dux earns the enmity of the ruthless Kumite champion Chong Li after breaking his record for the fastest knockout.
Dux becomes involved with American journalist Janice Kent, who is investigating the Kumite. Although Dux refuses to help her, she sneaks into the arena by agreeing to a date with another spectator. On the second day, Jackson is matched against Chong Li.
Although Jackson comes close to defeating Li, he wastes time gloating, allowing Li to recover and brutally beat him. Dux visits Jackson in the hospital and vows to avenge him. After witnessing the brutality of the tournament, Kent argues with Dux and tries to convince him not to return. Dux tells her that he has to win in order to become the best he can be.
Helmer and Rawlins arrive in Hong Kong and contact local police inspector Chen. They begin asking around for Dux and track him down to his hotel. A chase through the downtown ensues but Dux evades them when they fall into a canal. When Dux arrives at the Kumite, Helmer and Rawlins are waiting for him, along with Chen
and four of his officers. Dux defeats them, but agrees to return with Helmer and Rawlins after the tournament.
On the final day, Li kills his semifinal opponent, much to the consternation of the crowd. Fearing defeat, Li conceals a salt pill in his waistband before the final match against Dux. When Dux gains the upper hand, Li blinds him by crushing the pill and throwing it into Dux’s face. Dux falls back on his training from Tanaka, who taught him to fight blindfolded, overcoming the handicap and defeating Li. The next day, he bids farewell to Kent and Jackson before returning to the United States with Helmer and Rawlins.
Writing.
Co-writer Sheldon Lettich came up with the idea for the film. According to Lettich: “I had known Frank Dux for a number of months before I came up with the idea for Bloodsport. Frank told me a lot of tall tales, most of which turned out to be bullshit. But his stories about participating in this so-called “Kumite” event sounded like a great idea for a movie. There was one guy who he introduced me to, named Richard Bender, who claimed to have actually been at the Kumite event and who swore everything Frank told me was true. A few years later this guy had a falling-out with Frank, and confessed to me that everything he told me about the Kumite was a lie; Frank had coached him in what to say.” Producer Mark Di Salle said he was looking for “a new martial arts star who was a ladies’ man, [but Van Damme] appeals to both men and women. He’s an American hero who fights for justice the American way and kicks the stuffing out of the bad guys.”
Filming, Box office.
Bloodsport was entirely filmed on-location in Hong Kong. It is one of the few films featuring scenes filmed inside Kowloon Walled City before its demolition in 1993. Other locations included The Peninsula Hotel, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Trail, Victoria Peak, and Stanley Fort. In January 1989, the Los Angeles Times reported a U.S. box office gross of $11.7 million against a budget of $2.3 million. In August 1989, the Chicago Tribune reported that the film pulled in $50 million worldwide, including $15 million in the U.S. and Canada, making it Cannon Group’s most profitable film of 1988.RELATED:
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Critical response.
Leonard Klady of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Hacking through the jungle of cliche and reservoir of bad acting in Bloodsport are some pretty exciting matches.” Van Damme was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star, but “lost” to Ronald McDonald in Mac and Me. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports a 46% approval rating based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The site’s consensus reads: “This is where it all began for the Muscles from Brussels, but beyond Van Damme’s athleticism, Bloodsport is a clichéd, virtually plotless exercise in action movie recycling.” On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 29 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating “generally unfavorable reviews”.Cast:
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Frank Dux
- Pierre Rafini as young Frank
- Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson
- Leah Ayres as Janice Kent
- Norman Burton as CID Agent Helmer
- Forest Whitaker as CID Agent Rawlins
- Bolo Yeung as Chong Li
- Ken Siu as Victor Lin
- Roy Chiao as Senzo Tanaka
- Philip Chan as Captain Chen
- Bernard Mariano as Hossein
- Lily Leung as Mrs. Tanaka
- Sean Ward as Shingo Tanaka
- Kimo Lai Kwok Ki as Hiro
- Bill Yuen Ping Kuen as Oshima
- Paulo Tocha as Paco
- Cihangir Ghaffari as Gustafson
- John Cheung as Toon
- Dennis Chiu as Chuan
- Michel Qissi as Suan Parades
- David Ho as Pumola
- Eric Neff as Morra