Movie Reviews for Wake of Death

Wake of Death

	List Price: ~~$14.94~~ Our Price: $6.20 You Save: $8.74 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.43 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

Movie Reviews of Wake of Death

Movie Review: Wake of a Career
Summary: 3 Stars

Wake of Death is one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest attempts at dramatic acting. I have to admit, I grew up watching Van Damme and I like the guy. I would love to see him do a great serious film and revive his action film career. I think he could make a great action film if the right script and imaginative director came along.

Sadly, Jean-Claude is not as flexible as he was back in '89 (I'd love to see a gratuitous split shot now!) so the Wake of Death relies heavily on shootouts, car chases and dialogue. Dialogue has never been Jean-Claude's strong point. The film is a bit boring, overdramatic, far-fetched and lacks a satisfying conclusion. The direction by Philippe Martinez is stylish in places but ultimately comes up short in the really important parts: the action scenes.
I lucked out by getting the DVD for under $6. The film has possibilities and it got my expectations up but unfortunately it falls short.

Recommended for huge Van Damme fans only. Check out these films first: Hard Target/Sudden Death
Bloodsport
Timecop

Movie Review: Guy movie.
Summary: 3 Stars

This movie has all of the elements you'd look for in a guy movie: guns, explosions, sex, and shoddy acting. They start delivering on the sex scenes with 2 of them in the first 10 minutes or so. Bam!

The reason it only gets 3/5 stars here is because for a guy movie, the body count is kinda low. Instead of piling the bodies high, they waste scenes on trying to get Van Damme to act. Hello? In one scene they try to show Van Damme crying and turning to alcohol, but instead he looks like he's having a glass of scotch after work with too much eye drops in his eyes. Come on, we want violence not melodrama!

All in all, this movie won't waste too much of your time if you're into guy movies. That is if you can get over the fact that they kill off the chick of the movie early so there's less time to oogle over her body and if you can laugh off the acting scenes.

PS - The best guy movie of all time has to be Dolph Lundgren's Army of One. They actually try to keep track of how many bullets a gun can hold in that movie and you'll laugh at how they compensate for it. Please watch that movie if you haven't. You won't be dissapointed!!

Movie Review: an o.k. movie
Summary: 3 Stars

Predictable, same ol' Van Damme movie, but I'm a sucker for revenge plots, so I was being generous with my stars. I really liked the emotional sequences Van Damme goes through with the dark music in the background. However they started doing this scene a little too much in the movie. It did however have some good blood in it. Although I feel the need to say something: In the movie, a victim is shot point blank with a shot gun and the next time you see the victim, you see them on a bed with blood trickling down their face and head. Let me correct this scene in this movie by saying if you shoot someone in the head with a shotgun at close range, they wont have a head left.

Movie Review: An Ok Movie
Summary: 3 Stars

I work at a video store and take home movies each night (usually one), last nights selection was Wake of Death with Jean Claude Van Damme...yes it was the typical violent/revenge story, but this one was a bit different. This movie showed Van Damme's other side, a side that I have not seen before. I saw a Van Damme that was endearing to his family, and his character (Ben Archer) wanted something more than what he was doing in the past. Violence...yes...Storyline...good...overall, I think that the picture should have delved a bit more into the lives of these characters.