One of Van Damme's first starring roles (he got the lead after meeting producer Menham Globus on the street and kicking near his head), based on the real-life story of Frank Dux, the first Westerner to win the Kumite, an underground full-contact fighting tournament in Hong Kong. The story is pretty cliched (Dux wants to win the Kumite to impress his master), but this is still Van Damme's best movie, mostly because he doesn't talk a whole lot (though he does show his ass, which I think he is obligated to do in every film). His kickboxing skills are put to good use in the various fights, and the minor characters in the film are also quite good martial artists. Bolo virtually sleepwalks through his role as Chong Li, the current Kumite champion, but does look suitably menacing as a villain.

RATING: 6.6

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