| Knock Off (1998) Cast:Jean-Claude Van Damme,Rob Schieder,Lela Rochon,Paul Sorvino It's true that english is Tsui Hark's second language but somebody (At least Van Damme) should have clued Hark in on the blatant stupidity of a plot of this movie, which features Van Damme as a fashion buisnessman(!) and Schieder teaming up to take out a mobster who puts micro bombs in jeans and is planning on black-mailing the U.S during the H.K handover.(Huh!) It's hard to understand what on earth was going on in Tsui Hark's mind when he decided to direct one of the most surreal and decidedly terrible movies of not only his career but also Van Damme's career. For example we get crazy angles that happen for no reason and pretty much provide you with the feeling that this was made with more cocaine than cash. Indeed wasn't Van Damme still on coke when he made this? This would explain why this makes even the laughable Cyborg seem like, well Hard Target compared to this. However interestingly this reminded me of Cyborg, as it featured tons of useless scenes and confusing camera angles for such a simple story that point and shoot would've been just fine. Knock Off however takes this one step further, after all, even Pyun wouldn't film a shot of Van Damme putting his foot in a shoe. Still some surreal moments pop up, such as green explosions, Lela Rochon tied up with a bottle of acid in her mouth and Van Damme being fought with a guy with razor sharp glasses. Certainly. Tsui Hark tries his best with his intense (yet misused ) style but he should know you can't make chicken salad out of chicken crap-Case in point here. However in twenty years this movie will be a camp classic and I can already see it being compared to Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. D.Tsui Hark * |