Join the Born to Watch team as we we discuss the 1988 Jean Claude Van Damme martial arts juggernaut, Bloodsport. We go deep into the underground of Hong Kong to watch the full contact martial arts tournament - The Kumite. Will Frank Dux survive against some of the worlds best fighters?
Show Notes
Episode 7 - Jean Claude Van Damme burst into the mainstream after the 1988 martial arts movie - Bloodsport. Directed by Newt Arnold, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb and Leah Ayres. The film was released in the United States on February 5, 1988. Bloodsport is based on the allegedly true story of Frank Dux, an American martial artist who fought in underground Kumite matches in Hong Kong.
Van Damme plays the US Army Captain Frank Dux, who has been trained since childhood in Ninjitsu by Senzo Tanaka ( Roy Chiao). Dux has entered into an illegal underground martial arts tournament in Hong Kong called the Kumite, where he must fight for his life against some of the deadliest martial artists in the world.
The film was shot on location in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. It was released to positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing over $65 million worldwide.
Van Damme's performance in Bloodsport helped to launch his career as a martial arts action star. He would go on to star in other successful films such as Kickboxer (1989), Lionheart (1990), Universal Soldier (1992) and Timecop (1994). Bloodsport is considered to be one of Van Damme's best films and has garnered a cult following over the years.
See below a link to the soundtrack for Bloodsport
https://youtu.be/S7QWBbtjqyg
This is the best dance scene in all of cinema.
https://youtu.be/CE8XKeN0zk4
What is Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast?
Join four old mates on a cinematic journey like no other in the "Born to Watch Movie Podcast" the podcast where movies aren't just watched, they're experienced. Each week, dive into the films that reshaped their lives and, perhaps, even the world. With many thousands of hours of movie-watching under their belts, these friends bring a unique, seasoned perspective where they don't take themselves or the movies too seriously.