HARD TARGET

"Hunting Season is over."

(20 August 1993)   Director: John Woo
1h 37m  action crime thriller

Released in 1993, Hard Target looks like the best classic '80s action movies down to the creative opening soundtrack with bits of synth and saxophone. With the tagline "Don't hunt what you can't kill," the movie opens mid hunt. There is a first-person-shooter video game feel to the scene that really sets the tone and ramps up the fear. The metal arrows and the sound they make are terrifying. I love how the graphic designer used the shape of the metal arrow tip in the movie poster. 

VAN DAMMAGE
As John Woo's American (Hollywood) directorial debut, this Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle drives hard on the action. It's a classic that stood the test of time. Interestingly, IMDB Trivia says "John Woo's original cut of the film ran nearly two hours (how can we see that version?!) and focused more on Fouchon." It goes on: "Jean-Claude Van Damme and his editor [do actors bring their own editors?!] locked themselves in an editing room for two days and reedited the film for the producers. Van Damme stated that moviegoers were paying to see a Van Damme movie, not a Lance Henriksen movie." Considering how big a deal he was at the time, he wasn't wrong.

LEG WORK
To have seen this movie in the theater when it came out was a real treat. Action Movies were in their heyday with multiple super-popular BIG Action Figure stars and by this time, we had gotten over Van Damme's accent and only cared about worshipping his skills. He was known for his kicks and his flexibility. He would like me to add and his good looks. Of course, the main thing everyone remembers about this movie is classic John Woo: When "Chance Boudreaux" pulls his raincoat back like a cowboy would his duster (to uncover his gun belt and get ready to shoot) we all laughed that the weapon is just his leg. But we ate that up. It was such a perfect hommage. And who else but Van Damme could make that work?! It's not bragging if it's true, his leg IS a weapon. Gotta attribute it to John Woo, but can't help but wonder if it was in the script. This is an excellent script by Chuck Pfarrer (who appears as Douglas Binder) with the stellar casting and performances of Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo as villains. Hateable villains go a long way to making a great Action Movie.

IT'S NOT A MULLET
One of the most quoted lines I've heard from this movie is "Now take your pig stick and your boyfriend and find a bus to catch." LOL The accent and delivery just add to Van Damme's quirky charm. I've heard a lot about his "mullet" too. It's not a mullet. His hair is long and it's just slicked back in a "wet look'. A mullet looks short from the front and long from the back. Here, we always see that it's long and the sides and top are not cut. For the record, just saying. I know, I know, it still looks like a mullet.

ON TARGET
One of the most enjoyable things in this movie is how Van Damme's character focuses on his target. He shoots and shoots and doesn't even flinch much. In many ways, Sinners and Saints (2010)—another New Orleans movie—reminds me of this movie. As the movie becomes a Chase at the 56-minute mark, we hear the bad guys say "This could be dangerous. We're on his  turf now." And "If you would die quieter, and pick up the pace, Boudreaux would have less time for these little surprises." (Remember the snake punching scene?). There's just so much to love here: insane firepower, explosions, gun battles/shoot-outs, Gnarly Kills, and splits! Van Damme is the King of the airborne split aka the "teddy bear." In one scene he even somersaults away from an exploding grenade. If you've never seen it, be sure to watch it first. Don't let the trailer ruin a moment of it for you.