Bloodsport Still Oozes Testosterone and Action 35 Years Later
Sometimes films are considered art because of the excellent acting, spectacular script writing, amazing cinematography, or cultural impact, and other times a movie is just simply .
What this particular icon of the silver screen lacks in a few of those previously stated categories, it makes up for in martial arts glory, pure ‘80s nostalgia, and direct injections of testosterone right into the viewer’s eyes. This is the film that made Jean-Claude Van Damme an overnight success – after it spent a couple of years on the shelf and had to be re-edited – and legend has it he obtained the role by showing up to a restaurant where Menahem Golan of Cannon Films, his soon-to-be boss, was exiting and simply kicked over the man’s head to show off his skills. What they created together became a staple in the movie libraries of many households, a foundation of the genre, and an inspirational piece for many.
The story in is an instant win because it’s about a fighting tournament. It’s easy to love a good movie with a martial arts bracket and getting to watch the hero engage with different opponents, climb to the top to face his rival, and win it all. Frank Dux (Van Damme) goes AWOL from the military to win a series of underground fights for the honor of his teacher, Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao), who’s on his deathbed. He’ll have to dodge the authorities through the streets of Hong Kong, make friends with the other combatants, and face down the cruel Chong Li (Bolo Yeung). It’s simple, clean, and has a positive ending.
The event in question is called the Kumite. It’s a good word. Say it a few times out loud, you’ll appreciate it. Kumite roughly translates to “free fighting,” which is perfect for a competition that’s supposed to be a
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