In Hell
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Movie Reviews of In Hell
Movie Review: Worth Buying 4 1/2 Stars
Summary: 5 Stars
Well I guess I'll do a review too.Reading the plot outline to IN HELL, it would be easy to assume that it's just another typical Jean-Claude Van Damme fancy kicks, buttock shots, big guns festival. But much to my surprise, it wound up being a deep, gritty, poignant, intense and mature picture instead. Who knew? After the abysmal DERAILED (his worst film along with STREETFIGHTER), the Muscles from Brussels returns to top form in what is his best movie since REPLICANT and probably his strongest performance ever. This bitter pill punched hard with its unrestrained display of human ugliness, gripping symbolism and brutal violence which itself was dipped in philosophy and a sadness stricken aura. The films "ace" though was that it played it mainly as an engaging character-driven piece about one mans loss of his soul and his tortuous journey in prison to regain it. Thankfully, J-C was up to the task. I felt his characters pain, gulped a few times and was rooting for the main man the whole way.
Visually, the movie also came out a big winner with its strong showing of exquisite photography, stylish/creative shots and an intoxicating morbid atmosphere. Think David Fincher (SEVEN) like. And the fight sequences, you may ask? Well, we're treated to a different flavor than the usual Van Damme here. Gone are the "show off" aerial kicks that wouldn't hold up in a real fight and present is a more grounded style of fighting that reinforced the films realism and emotional impact. Sadly, parts of the script weren't up to par. Without the minor plot holes, the various prison movie cliches, the obvious devices to communicate substance and the tacky "ghost" appearance, the flick would've reached a higher level of quality. But in the end, I was still genuinely moved, impressed and highly entertained by IN HELL. It transcended its faults and affected me on many levels. Way to go, Jean-Claude
Movie Review: Wow!
Summary: 5 Stars
In Hell is one of the best JCVD movies from his recent direct to video offerings. In the film, he plays Kyle LeBlanc, a French-American man living and working in Russia with his American wife, who soon gets brutally murdered. Kyle is then sent to a Russian prison after he murders the man who killed his wife. Of course, this prison is no cakewalk...actually it makes Oswald State Prison from the HBO show "Oz" literally look like Disney World. The warden and guards are all corrupt and the prisoners who have money get all the perks. The warden also sets up a human cockfighting arena on the prison grounds where he has two prisoners fight (most of the time fight to the death) and he and his friends take bets on the winners. Of course, JCVD sets out to make his way through this corrupt system, help his new prison friends, and get revenge for his wife's death.
The film is very dark, brutal, and bloody, but it is beautifully filmed. There is one scene in particular when Kyle is thrown in "the hole" for misbehaving. In that scene, after Kyle loses hope and tries to hang himself, a moth flies down from the window/rafters above him and the camera beautifully follows it down as it flutters toward Kyle, and then it lands on the handle of the spoon that is in his untouched bowl of gruel, as if to say, "Eat. Get stronger, and you will be able to free yourself from this place." I know it sounds really corny, but it is really a lovely scene and not something that you typically see in JCVD films.
The DVD transfer is awesome. Picture and sound quality are good and you get widescreen and fullscreen to choose from.
Definitely a movie to see, whether you like Van Damme or not. It's a movie for anyone who has ever lost anyone they loved or had their life inexplicably turned upside down and had to fight to get things right.
Movie Review: Above average acting by Van Damme!!
Summary: 5 Stars
In his latest movies, Van Damme has shifted toward suspense and drama, which makes his characters more believable. In Hell is without a doubt one of the most tear jerking movies I have seen in a while due to Van Damme's powerful screen presence. In this movie, Van Damme slowly breaks down mentally until he is dirty with an unkept beard. In fact, he looses touch with reality to the point that even the movie's villians look at him horrified and shocked!! In Hell is more of a thriller than a mindless martial arts video. Van Damme is following in the footsteps of Jet LI, Jackie Chan, and my man Ho Chung Tao (AKA Bruce LI) who are great actors in their own right. One element that an above average actor must have is vulnerability.
That is my major gripe about Steven Seagal's movies. HE almost always looks the same-his hair, his wardrobe. But the big flaw of Seagal's movies is that his characters are "perfect", with no flaws that most people have at least to a minor extent. On the other hand, Van Damme is not afraid to play roles that show weakness or vulnerablities in human nature. Even Jet Li and Jackie Chan have played alcholics and other flawed personality traits in which they had to battle within themselves to finally defeat their enemies. In many films, Jet LI also makes amends to those in which he has wronged.
Van Damme is showing an ability to take risks with his acting by playing roles that show weaknesses in himself and his characters. Very moving, powerful performance by Van Damme!!
All Van Damme needs is a good director and producer to compliment his new vision of more "realistic" acting to continually deliver high quality movies to his fans.
Above average acting, good choreography, and a believable plot make this a suspense thriller well worth watching. I give this movie a 5 star rating.
Movie Review: Van Dammage
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read some critical reviews of this movie, and I realize the frustration. People who pick up a Van Damme movie expect high-kicking martial arts, and 'In Hell' is not 'Bloodsport'. Naive viewers are inclined to downgrade the effectiveness of this film as a result, but let's try something different. Imagine for a moment that Van Damme is just a regular guy who suffers the agony of hearing his wife being murdered over a telephone line. He snaps--justly so. Now he's in prison. We're not talking an American prison with cable television and internet access. This is a Russian prison where Russians don't take kindly to Americans. The ensuing hour is a bloodbath of man vs. man in animal vs. animal display. Van Damme is not a martial artist, but he is a man pushed over the edge of sanity, and he snaps only to become more bloodthirsty than he ever was in Cyborg.Ringo Lam is a brilliant director who's lost in the translation of B-movie Hell, but his vision is startlingly clear. 'In Hell' is his best film yet (and Maximum Risk was pretty impressive). Lawrence Taylor co-stars and shines as an insanely sane prisoner on a quest for justice. If you're a Jean-Claude fan, DO NOT pass this film up. 'The Order' sucked as did 'Derailed', 'Knock Off' and 'US2'. On a serious note, Ringo Lam brings you 'Maximum Risk', 'Replicant' and now 'In Hell'.
Movie Review: The return of the Silence of the Lam
Summary: 5 Stars
Van Dammage depicted in a bloodfest, raw with carnage and insanity. If you want a synopsis for this film, you can read any number of reviews below for they all pretty much tell the same story. However, for you doubters, rest-assured, this is NOT a martial arts flick. Van Damme never pretends to be a former world-champ. He's average Joe stuck in purgatory. What separates this film from his others is the uncustomary violence and grotesque display of inhumanity taking place In Hell. He's your friendly neighbor turned savage after the last of his sanity is stolen through careful diligence of the black world around him. His retribution is taken out upon those around him, and be warned that every player in this film eventually winds up a beast, laden with blood. Ringo Lam does another phenomenal job--out-doing Replicant with imagery and action.No, this is not Bloodsport or Kickboxer. This is humanity dragged to its lowest limits--the bowels of Hell. Van Damme might never win an oscar for acting, but he is forever entrenched within the memory of Hollywood. If you are a Jean-Claude fan or a fan of dark drama, don't pass over this flick.