So much average

Good idea lost in the noise

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Hard Target (1993) is one of the greatest and the best action packed movie in a John Woo-Van-Damme Style! Of all Van Damme movies this one of his, is the best of Van Damme ever and I absolutely love it to death. Like the title says Don't hunt what you can't kill. It is my John Woo's number 1 personal favorite action flick of all time, that I love to death. It is also one one of my personal favorite action films of all time. "Don't hunt what you can't kill."The thrill of the hunt. It's the ultimate drug, and the more intense the rush, the higher the price. International superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme teams up with world-famous action director John Woo for this electrifying thriller Van Damme is the target of an evil mercenary (Lance Henriksen) who recruits homeless combat veterans for the "amusement" of his clients - bored tycoons who will pay a half a million dollars to stalk and kill the most challenging prey of them all: Man. Laced with dark humor and slam-packed with electrifying action Hard Target is a must see for action fans. Hard Target is not only my John Woo favorite film, it is also my Jean-Claude Van Damme favorite best action film from my favorite action star. I put this film over Die Hard, this is my Die Hard movie. I love that the stunts were realistic I think that John Woo didn't allow Van Damme to make his own stunts and it is a shame that Jean-Claude Van Damme *beep* up his chance with John Woo by making on another film. It is Van Damme's ego fault. Still they don't make movies like this. I heard that there is Driector's cut somewhere on DVD that I have never saw, I own this film on Blu-ray in my John Woo collection and I still love it. The stunts are crazy, the action are spectacular. Van Damme catching a snake wow incredible. (at one point, a movie's typical crazy stuntman; firing the Beretta 92FS 9mm while standing on the seat of a motorcycle and crashes in to the car.) Still the motorcycle chase sequence is my favorite scene in the film. Van Damme "launches thousands of bullets, slugs, and explosive projectiles into THIRTY of mercenary tycoons baddies." Arnold Vosloo is also underrated actor who plays Pik van Cleef he did a really pretty good job as the villain and Fouchon second mercenary henchman. Possibly best role for him. "I don't get angry. I'm a professional." I love this movie the action is delivered perfectly. Honestly I love Arnold Vosloo more in this movie than Lance Henriksen and I love his character Pik van Cleef. The trill of the hunt. It's the ultimate drug and the more intense the rush, the higher the price. Hard target was the film is saw as a teen when I was 18, I couldn't saw it as a kid I really don't know, it was never on TV and I have never seen a VHS cover in a video store. I didn't even know that movie exists. Hard Target is a 1993 action film that marked the US directorial debut of acclaimed Hong Kong director John Woo, who brought out his Asian style of action to Western cinema.10/10 for me I love this movie to death, It is my number 1 favorite action film.

I first saw this on a VHS in the mid 90s. John Woo's first American film is an underrated, enjoyable action thriller. I hav been a fan of most of his films like A better tomorrow, Hard boiled, The killer, Broken arrow, Face off, Windtalkers, Paycheck n my all time fav Red cliff. Action movie junkies will love Hard Target. Martial arts scenes are excellent, as is the gunplay. As for the plot, nothing special, just a new version of The Most Dangerous Game. With John Woo as the director, we get to see Van Damme doing those Woo signature-action like double-gun firing, action slow-mo, dangerous stunts. Woo is famous for his camera angles n doves. The action sequences, particularly the chase through the cemetery and the shootout in the Mardi-Gras warehouse are smoothly and stylishly directed. It was produced by Sam Raimi. Hard Target is done in the classic John Woo style with attention to detail and where pretty much everything is big whether it's the gunfights or the explosions, everything in Hard Target is pushed to the limit. It has Lance Henriksen (The terminator, Aliens, Quick n the dead, Pumkinhead) n Arnold Vosloo (The mummy, Blood diamond) as villains. The shootout was and still is the most explosive action sequence I have ever seen.

Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler) comes to New Orleans in search for her missing father Douglas. He was a homeless vet killed in a secret game to hunt humans. Natasha is rescued from a group of thugs by drifter Cajun vet Chance Boudreaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). She hires him to help. Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen) organizes the hunts and is angry at his recruiter Randal for supplying Douglas who has family that comes looking for him. The overstretched police is reluctant to investigate Douglas' death except for detective Mitchell. They are pursued into the Bayou by Fouchon and his men. Boudreaux uses his local knowledge, super-kicks and his uncle Douvee (Wilford Brimley) to fight off Fouchon.Director John Woo brings his HK action style to America. I love his real stunt action but I've always been ambivalent to his slow motion film style. To me, it slows the pacing and reduces the tension. If done too much, it gives an artificial feel to the action. I often admire the stunt work without admiring the film work. Van Damme is playing a Cajun which excuses his accent somewhat. There is nothing great about the story or the acting. I love some of the stunts but even they start to wear thin.

Fantastic movie. I drifted off a bit towards the end, but the whole thing was just superb. If you looked at that script on paper you would just go "yeah, and...?" but John Woo completely takes it and turns it into something made of fire and music. OK, a lot of it is cheesy, but in an enjoyable 90s way, with probably the most amount of slow-motion I've ever seen in a film, more camera movement than if you attached a GoPro to a excitable puppy for two hours, an incredible number of explosions and some great dialogue (in particular I liked "Wakey, Wakey... you fat f***!" and "You are a f****** buffalo!") Van Damm is excellent. He is really able to handle the emotional side of the story well. Sure, he's not Marlon Brando, but he is WAY better than what passes for an action star these days. I mean he is pretty good at times to be honest, despite having little to work with. Anyway, the main thing is that he kicks a few people really hard and ends up in a vest doing back-flips through fire. I mean that's all that really matters in life, isn't it? Notable castings include Lance Henriksen (an absolute pro), Arnold Vosloo (menacing and really creates a wonderful secondary bad guy), Yancy Butler (gorgeous and exciting) and character actor Wilford Brimley who is doing a French accent so terrible that you would think his prep for the role involved watching the German dubs of the Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies.