User reviews

The picture concerns an Afghanistan/Irak veteran (Jean-Claude Van Damme) , he's living at hospital when is hired as a bodyguard . He must protect an ex-heavyweight champion , now a building magnate (Adoti) and his sister (Vivica A. Fox) against a dangerous rapper recently out of prison . The war veteran sets up an experienced team (Mark Griffin , among others) called ¨Hard Corps¨ to save menaced ex-boxer .

This movie direct to video packs violent action , suspense , shoot-outs , boxing and martial art fighting and results to be quite amusing . Suffering Van Damme plays finely a sad and affected veteran , splendid Vivica A. Fox as enjoyable sister who falls in love for him and the brother played convincingly by Adoti who acted along with Jean-Claude in his former film ¨Second-in-command¨ . The movie is pointlessly energetic , occasionally fun and entertaining and for that reason will appeal to real devotee Van Damme . It's produced in middling budget by Pierre Splenger who produced last films of Steven Seagal and Van Damme . The movie was professionally directed by Sheldon Lettich. He spent several years in the US Marines Corps , including a time in Vietnam war . Lettich is filmmaker of Van Damme previous hits such as ¨The order¨ , ¨Double impact¨,¨Lionheart¨ ; furthermore , he is author of hunk men vehicles such as Daniel Bernhardt : ¨Perfect day¨ , Dolph Lundgren : ¨List patrol¨, and Mark Dacascos : ¨Only the strong¨. Rating : Acceptable and passable .

Hard Corps reunites Jean-Claude Van Damme with frequent collaborator Sheldon Lettich for the 4th time.The first time was 1991's Lionheart,followed by the classic Double impact,until 2001's interesting,but flawed The Order.Hard Corps is a nice return to form for the talented director who should clearly be making more movies than he has.

On one side we have battle-traumatized soldier Phillip Savuage(JCVD) who lands a gig as a bodyguard to a head-strong(but well to due) Boxer named Barclay(Raz Adoti) all the while answering to his sister played by Vivica Fox.Tensions arise when a Gangster with an army of thugs put away by Barclay is released from jail wanting serious payback.Can Savauge rise to occasion?

The production looks like a medium-budget movie.Good photography and locations add to the "american" look of the movie.

We get a lot of character detail.Some nice fights.especially the Savauge/Barclay throw-down.Some nice humor involving rap music form critic Savuage.A rather Macabe scene that revolves around the "feeding" of Singleterry's dogs.

HCs gives JCVD a fully rounded character for once.There is a nice sub-plot that is handled very well involving his character's battle record and misplaced guilt.He still has the chops that developed very well at the start of Replicant and shined through WoD.He is a way more subtle here though.Why can't Hollywood see this?

Vivica Fox is very commanding and reactive.Charming as well.She has some nice Chemistry with JCVD.Shame she does not get to go Kill Bill for a few scenes though.Raz Adoti is very likable as the Boxer-turned-entrepreneur.He gets better in every movie he is in. As gangster Singleterry Viv Leacock gets to set on the sidelines and bark orders and does not make that imposing of a villain.That part is left to the imposing Ron Selmore.The supporting cast is good.

The only real fault is that the action scenes are far and few between scenes.At 110 minutes you would think there would be more.A lot of opportunities end up wasted.I was expecting a little more myself after some of the stand-out action seen in Hell and WOD.

However no bad CGI Trains,helicopters,Jets,Moths,or bad slow-motion is nice for once.

7.5/10

This film just lets itself down towards the end. From the start I thought maybe this one was going to be different and not the same as Vann Damme has been doing for the last 5 years, which has been in most cases disappointing. But these films seem not have the stamina to finish the race, and the plot seems a little hard to swallow. But I do like Vann Damme's idea of moving away from the action, more for the acting but he needs to find the right material or its just a waste of time. In closing quite a lot of things were bad from the make-up to the acting. Vivica A. Fox who did your make-up girl, they need shooting. Your not missing anything new by missing this one.

There are so many comments saying how good this movie is, I'm assuming that the people who wrote them were paid. This movie is unbelievably bad. If this movie was an animal it would have been shot and turned into glue. And it would have been sub-standard glue.

I have seen bowel actions that were better formed than this 'movie.' The acting is terrible, the plot is laughable and it is really boring. The quality is horrible, the lighting in the moving seems to be supplied by a couple of 9-volt flashlights.

People should hire a bodyguard for this movie because I want to kill it.

Better plots make all the difference, especially for films that are of the arcade game action and thrill type. Sony Pictures had a better plot for this Jean-Claude Van Damme film. It's not original, but it is more down to earth and interesting. The hero is Philippe Sauvage, an American veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After some VA hospital recovery from the psychological effects of the war, Philippe joins a former sergeant for a private job of guarding a celebrity. He is the reigning heavyweight champion and a philanthropist. But Wayne Barclay, played by Razaaq Adoti, has one particular enemy who would like to see him dead. And when Terrell Singletery gets out of prison early, the fireworks start.

"The Hard Corps" isn't a good film, but it is fair. Philippe's buddy gets killed early on, and he is hired to run the protection. So, he brings in some more veterans with experience. But Barclay wants some of his buddies from his gym as bodyguards as well. The two forces mix and the vets train the others.

This has some good scenes and is refreshing in that it isn't constant machine gun firing back and forth. There are some lulls when the cast get chances to try to act. It's an improvement over some of his last films, but the violence and flashes of partial nudity make these films not suitable, or enjoyable for many.

I have to admit that around Maximum Risk and Knockoff (late 90's era JCVD), Jean-Claude lost me. I found no enjoyment in either of those films, and while I absolutely loved Double Team (1997), anything after went straight to home video, which usually means low-quality films, and that's just never a good sign. I did try a few of his films here and there, but I could never sit through one completely. They just weren't any good. So I pretty much strayed from him films until 2008's JCVD. But even then, with his career seemingly at a resurgence, nothing that came after that was any good either. In fact, the only thing I actually liked from him in the last 20 years is easily the Amazon show pilot for Van Johnson, where he was just absolutely brilliant. I haven't heard anything new about it yet, but I do hope it gets picked up for a series.

Philippe Savauge (JCVD), an army vet suffering from PTSD, is hired as a bodyguard for local boxing champ Wayne Barclay (Razaaq Adoti). When a local drug kingpin, Terrell Singletery (Viv Leacock) is released from a prison stint, he sets his sights on exacting revenge on Barclay from a long-running feud. Savauge soon realizes he has his work cut out for him and things get even more complicated when it seems like Barclay's sister and manager Tamara (Vivica A. Fox) might have a thing for Savauge.

The Hard Corpse reunites Van Damme with his Lionheart and Double Impact writer/director Sheldon Lettich, and honestly, that was the only selling point for me to actually make the effort to watch this. Sure it had been many, many years since either of them had a hit, but I went in hopeful. And you know, it wasn't bad. Not at all the kind of film I was expecting, but it wasn't terrible either. It was shockingly able to keep my attention even though it ultimately ended up being the kind of film that I don't necessarily seek out. And after having seen it, it's not a film I will probably ever watch again and won't go down as one of Jean-Claude's better films.

There's really not much motivation for you to actually check this out, unless you're a die hard completest of JCVD films. There's really not a lot of action, and you only ever see him use his martial arts skills during one scene in the film. Even then, it comes across so "blah". You'd never know these two (Lettich and Van Damme) were the same team behind some of his earlier classics like Bloodsport, Lionheart and Double Impact (a personal favorite). But still, it's not a bad film. Just not a good or enjoyable one. Sheldon Lettich, while one of the few who spearheaded the whole martial arts/action movement in the late 80's to early 90's has clearly lost his mojo by this film. While he would only ever direct 8 films in his career, this would be his last. What makes the experience more trying is that Van Damme just looks so tired and uninterested here. He literally looks like he couldn't give a damn anymore than he already does and comes across as completely bored and unmotivated. Sad day indeed. Not one of his worst, but you can certainly find a better way to spend an hour and a half of your time. www.robotGEEKSCultCinema.blogspot.com

The plot is simple, a soldier returning from Afhganistan becomes a body guard for a well known boxer who is loved by the community he restored, and hated by the man he put behind bars.

It begins typically with plot development and whatnot but where other straight to video movies fail this one succeeds, if you give the movie a chance you will feel the difference between this and anything else that has been released recently. The plot has more to it, the action pieces deliver what is expected but it is entertaining none the less and the humor and rap beats thrown in add what is needed to make this movie more entertaining than what i was expecting. treat yourself and get a hold of this for lazy nights where you just want to kick back and see Jean Claude do his best.

The movie is not that bad. It's probably one of the best Van Damme did since (the Van Damme mania time). But it doesn't beat the time when he was everywhere. The money is one reason for sure. They are all B-Movies so the money's not in it that much so. But VD does play well and most of the cast too. I do miss the AMAZING VAN DAMME but who knows, maybe he lost it a bit. He's not that young so...I don't know I'm just saying he doesn't fight like BLOODSPORT,KICKBOXER or DOUBLE IMPACT time. The action is more like street fighting,shooting or boxing. There isn't any VD karate extra moves in it so...Don't look for that. He fight but...Streetfighting kinda moves.

Give it a try it's still worth watching. I've see a lot worst. Still..I give a 7/10.

what a disappointment this was. Hardly any action. awful fighting scenes, badly filmed. not entertaining at all. you see three kicks and a couple of punches of Van Damme in this movie nothing more. Shooting scenes are also badly timed and very hard to call realistic (eg pointing the gun to another point than where the people get shot). Guess Van Damme has had his best days, ready for retirement. Do not waist your time on this flick! Better watch Stevan Seagul. Also the whole context is not realistic. Van Damme says: 'i need professional as bodyguards'. And than goes to a boxing gym to select them, next day they are bodyguards. Just doesn't make sense. C-movie.

The Hard Corps is probably the most boring movie I've ever heard of. You're looking at the movie and saying, hey, this sounds like it's going to be descent. Jean Claude Van Damme, guns, kicks, muscles, all that good stuff. But no, this is garbage. And you're thinking, well, it's a new age movie he played in, give him some slack. But no, it sucks. It sucks dirt from a straw. You want to know why, well, where can I begin? First of a all, the name. The Hard Corps? That is the stupidest name that you could ever come up with! The Hard Corps?! I'm sorry, The Hard Corps?! Okay, now the fight scenes are basically the same as every movie that Van Damme has been doing in the 90's. Brawling, no kicking. Guns, but no originality. That's basically the outline of the whole film. And having Vivica A. Fox in a movie doesn't save it from being the worst direct-to-DVD films of all times. Therefore, The Hard Corps is bad and not worth watching. 3 of out 10.

The Hard Corps is about a PTSD special forces frenchie (Van Damme) that is hired to protect an ex heavy weight champ who is in deep s***t with a local gangsta punkie. Frenchie's flashbacks get in the way of some of the storyline and take too long to get to the point. Vivica is PHAT and plays relatively well although here eyes don't exactly respond properly to the dialog. Some good fight sequences. Some failed emotional ploys as frenchie and the ex-champ exchange sob stories to bond late in the film as they find out each other are OK people. Decent camera work. Predictable plot. Nice final 10 minute fighting and shoot em up. Van Damme is getting too old for these movies, and what's with the huge knot on his forehead?

Only one word can sum this movie up properly - ridiculous.

I found more meaning in any given Pauly Shore movie.

The acting can only be described as wooden, the script has more cheese than a dairy farm, and Van Moron is way past his prime...if he ever had one, that is.

Every single line of the script was one cliché after another, and there was no originality what so ever. The support cast, although they were clearly trying their very best, missed the mark completely. However, they cannot be blamed for the atrocious waste of time this movie turned out to be. I suppose that it is extremely hard work to attempt to take yourself seriously as an actor when you're given a project like 'The Hard Corps' to work on.

Each character is a ridiculous stereotype, the kind that you only find in made for TV movies or anything 'starring' Van Damme.

I do admit that this film will definitely appeal to the mindless, brain dead members of society who actually think that slow-mo fighting is the epitome of cool, but for the enthusiastic film fans out there who enjoy at least a tiny bit of intellectual stimulation - give it a miss.

In conclusion: DON'T BOTHER.

JC seems to be mellowing these days. His film roles are those which play up to his age, his experience, and have JC as more grounded individuals. In Wake Of Death he impressed with a performance that stretched him. In Second In Command, the film wasn't very good, but Van Damme gave a solid performance, albeit in a role without much depth. Now we all kind of realise that in the direct to video world, it's very unlikely you'll find a really decent film, so first and foremost a DTV viewer strives for competence. Wake Of Death had that, as had VD's previous film, In Hell. Second In Command came close, but the crap fairy waved his magic wand and terdinated the film slightly. The Hard Corps regains a level of competence again for Van Damme.

Here JC teams up with long time friend and collaborator, Sheldon Lettich. Together they have made Double Impact (great fun when you're in the right mood) and Lionheart as well. Lettich knows how to get the best from Van Damme, and on the most part does. He also gives the film an assured touch that was lacking in SIC. The plot centres on world heavyweight boxer, and entrepreneur, Wayne Barclay (Raz Adoti), and his sister Tamara (Vivica Fox). As it happens Barclay is far from popular with Rap mogul, and gangsta, Terrell Singleton, as Barclay had him sent to prison years earlier. Upon Terrell's release, the first order of business is to wipe out Barclay. Tamara insists that Wayne hires a security team and contacts a Vietnam Vet who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who in turn contacts his old, war scarred buddy, Van Damme. Van Damme is in a veterans psychiatric hospital, tormented by an incident in Iraq that left a school of children destroyed, with dozens of dead kid's inside. So Van Damme hops aboard the Barclay security. On the first night an attempt on Barclays life leaves Van Dammes pal dead, and from there he takes over and then he begins to develop a relationship with Tamara, much to Wayne's disgust. The plot outline seems simple enough, the trouble is the film seems segmented into three stories, and can't divide the screen time (a lengthy 110 minutes) right. As such the film lags in moments and there just ain't enough JC in it. His war torn character is not given enough depth. When we begin to delve into the character, the film takes us away to one of the subplots. In truth the film would have been better at 90 minutes, and with more focus on Van Damme. Still there's good support from Raz Adoti, and also the Foxxy, Vivica Fox.

Anyway, those who see this puppy at their local Blockbusters (probably on a lower to middle shelf, but at least not bottom) will not be too interested in how the plot is. It's the Van Damage they crave. The action here, is okay, with the biggest problem being that not enough time and money is spent on them. Gunfights for example lack impact because of a lack of practical effects. Also because the film isn't all that violent, despite it's R rating, people don't get shot, have their chest burst open with a gallon of blood and fall to the ground in a mangled bloodied heap. Being from the UK, this film is what I'd call standard 15 certificate, which equates to a soft R. Whereas for these movies I prefer a hard R, which over here means an 18 cert. What I mean is that when there's not that much punch in the action, when someone gets shot, there really needs to be a POW. We need to see the blood flying. As an example take Dolph Lundgren's The Mechanik (The Russian Specialist as it's also known). It's a low budget piece which actually did spend its money well on the action, but obviously can't compete with bigger movies that can double the explosion outlay. However the film was very violent, people got shot and you really knew it. Harry Knowles (AICN) himself in fact gave the film a brief mention in a Second In Command review, stating he dug the bloodletting that Dolph let loose upon us. I wouldn't imagine he'd say the same of this. Also the fight scenes although nice and rough, a too few and far between in all honesty. However Van Damme does get to deliver some trademark kicks, but he's still holding back the Helicopter kick for B-2 (a sequel to Bloodsport none the less).

Overall though THC, is a fair piece of entertainment, that surpasses anything Steven Seagal is doing at the moment. Really it's a film that won't blow your socks off, or stick its hand in your underwear and pleasure you, but it's a lot better than watching paint dry. As a point of interest though, Van Damme's next film, Til Death could be great. It's a dark film, that seems to be going for a 70's styled, Death Wish, Get Carter vibe, that sees Van Damme donning a leather jacket and sideburns. It promises to hit hard with the action and get a level of nastiness we saw in VD's Wake Of Death. And if that doesn't get you excited how bout this: Stephen Rea, the Oscar nominated actor recently seen in V for Vendetta, co-stars. AND if that isn't enough, it's also written by Dan Harris, one of the guys responsible for Superman Returns, and X Men 2. But who knows we may even see JC face off against Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3! I hope so. **1/2

Is there a way to give zero stars? if so tell me. Because this was crap. Just a normal actions movie. I was waiting for something special to happen but it never did. And the boxers sister acts as if she hasn't been banged for years. Flirting with the help. As usual van damme is successful in acting in a another flop. THe film tries to make the boxer and van damme equal at fighting, and thats just crap. Its like a white guy stuck in a black neighborhood. For crying out loud, come up with good ideas will you.

THe films looks as though the actors were forced to act here. Wonder if there was a script involved here. Its like a sky without any stars. So how can you even expect to see a moon.

"The Hard Corps" came out only three months after "Second In Command". That was fast. The plot is: Phillip Sauvage (Van Damme) is hired to be a bodyguard for a heavyweight boxer named Wayne Barclay (Raz Adoti) who is receiving death threats from gangsta Terrell Singeltery (Viv Leacock). Sauvage not only has to protect Wayne, but also his sister Tamara (Fox).

The movie is fast-paced at 110 minutes, but it still could be edited a bit. One character named Leonard, who is Terrell's nephew, is annoying and has way too much screen time. Besides that, the movie has some good action sequences, including the Uzi gun battle in a parking lot, and a excellent fight between Wayne and Phillip. It shows Van Damme can still kick ass any time.

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THE HARD CORPS is a film I'd like a lot more if it wasn't for the subject matter. It's a film that looks good, seeing Van Damme team up once more with director Sheldon Lettich, with whom he made some cheesy classics back in the day (such as DOUBLE IMPACT), which are still personal favourites of mine. There are some decent action scenes sprinkled around, including a great bit where our hero machine-guns a car and has a fist fight with a younger, fitter opponent, reminding us that he's still got 'it'.

But for too much of the running time, the film gets bogged down in the storyline surrounding a black boxer and the man who vows to have him killed. Too many 'gangsta' stereotypes creep into the script, especially at the climax, so that this resembles nothing more than one of those poor Seagal movies.

It's not totally without merit, though. Van Damme isn't required to act much here, as in other, recent movies, but he's still fun to watch. The (few) action scenes are fun, and I like Lettich's direction. I just wish that they'd gone for a better script rather than desperately trying to appeal to the young, black, male crowd.

There is nothing perfect about this movie, but for what it is, it sure the hell is enjoyable. Van Damme just gets better and better in the acting department and pleases everyone in this one, new fans and old ones. The action scenes are way better then in Second In Command and much more martial arts oriented then Wake of Death, with some more trademark kicks. Vivica A. Fox is sexy and perfect for her role and the story involving a former heavyweight champ who needs security from a rap-mogul/gangster is very fresh considering its new territory for a Van Damme movie. Anyway fan of his or not, I would no doubt check this one out, its a pleaser.

this movie has to be the worst movie van damme has ever made, the acting was horrible , from everyone, specially van damme, after seeing the replicant , in hell, wake of death, i was becoming once again a jean claude van damme fan!! but after viewing this trash!!! yes!!!! trash... i am never watching another van dumb film , i rather see steven seagal movies, at least his acting is much better . but the real surprise here was vivica a. fox , i respected her as an actress, but her performance in this movie showed me that she is washed up, just like van damme. to make it shorter this movie sucks!!!! don't watch it!!!! save your money, this film is trash, please rent something else my rating is 1 out of 10. thanks

Alright, opening scene... scenes from Iraq and flashbacks to a guy sitting on a bed somewhere and then to a boxing match. Make no sense? Well it doesn't get much clearer The whole movie is riddled with useless scenes from the 'horrific past' that our protagonist faces... but its useless. The entire feel of 'gangster' is just sad.

The lines feel forced and encourages so many stereotypes its not funny. The relationships formed are confusing at best and the scenes seem like they are forced to be what they are... somehow the director has made even the scenes hate themselves.

I would equate this movie to someone trying to dance right after having been beaten up with 2 broken legs and being made to do so by gun point.

The movie is ridiculous with unfunny jokes, annoying characters and ridiculously unnessesary scenes.

I have a great collection of movies which does not include this. You don't watch this for entertainment purpose. Lethargic is what this is! Nothing is exciting here. The acting, except that of Vivica Fox is way down par. The fight scenes are contrived and practically lacks the crispness and snap of action that is seen in Universal Soldier and Hard Target. Such waste!