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Death Warrant [1990]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In 1990, Death Warrant was one of several back-to-back action movies that suddenly made Jean Claude Van Damme's name a rival to Stallone's and Schwarzenegger's. Its distinction from the likes of Cyborg or Double Impact is in its firm grounding in reality. In fact, Los Angeles County Jail couldn't seem more harshly real. That's where Detective Burke finds himself going undercover to investigate a string of mysterious (and politically embarrassing) deaths. Of course, the prison environment is ideally suited to Van Damme's strengths, where he elicits sympathy as the innocent abroad during one fight sequence after another. Lots of colourful secondary characters are along for the ride, such as the enigmatic Priest, tough-as-nails peanut-shucking Sergeant DeGraf and Burke's arch nemesis, the Candyman (Patrick Kilpatrick). There's an admirable attempt at portraying the action with some panache. Light and shadow is used to good effect and every kickbox move is punctuated by a double cut. Although the script dispenses with the essential Van Damme elements in the opening seconds (he lost a partner / he's from Canada / he can kickbox), this is definitely an above-average Van Damme flick.

On the DVD: The bare-bones transfer offers an occasionally grainy picture in 1.85:1 ratio and a three-channel surround soundtrack. The only extra off the static menu is the original theatrical trailer. --Paul Tonks


Van DAmne at his most cerebral
Review date: 2007-12-12 Rating: 6 out of 10

A police officer goes undercover in a prison to discover why inmates are disappearing at a fast rate. The investigation is going all fine and dandy until the serial killer that this particular cop caught is transfered therefore putting him in jeopardy and blowing his cover. Good thing the cop knows kickboxing. This is one of Jean-Claude's lesser efforts, it lacks the overall excitement of Bloodsport and Kickboxer as well as the visceral enjoyment provided by his later movies like Universal Soldier and Hard Target. The story itself is too routine and although at times Death Warrant has a grisly twist that give it a jolt, Death Warrant is very forgettable stuff. I myself enjoy a good action flick but I like them more upbeat and it's only the action sequences which make this mildly diverting.

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Reviews


A SOLID AND ENTERTAINING FILM FOR ALL VAN DAMME FANS
Review date: 2007-08-26 Rating: 8 out of 10

Death Warrant is a very enjoyable little prison/Action film, it has great fight scenes and of course my favorite action star Van Damme kicking some major ass as an undercover cop in a prison!. There's also a decent story to it as well, and while the fight at the end between Burke(Van Damme) and The Sandman may be a bit over the top and long it was still a great barn burner, plus I really liked the opening it was suspenseful, and quite moody! I love how they focused the Camera on the water near the drain!. The Sandman was quite the creepy villain, and all the fight scenes were great in my opinion, plus while I enjoy most Van Damme films, this has more suspense then most of them!, I don't usually expect that. This is one of Van Damme's most underrated films in my opinion, and there are plenty of his spinning and fancy kicks for all you Van Damme lovers to enjoy!, plus Van Damme is mean and rough in this one!. Overall a perfectly enjoyable little film that all Action lovers should enjoy I say it's a must see!. ***1/2 out of 5

The Acting is Fun!. Jean-Claude Van Damme is good here he is Highly entertaining and highly mean and rough, and I loved that, he also did alright in the acting department too, although one cheesy line has him saying ("Your so beautiful" to Gibb), other then that he was awesome as usual!. Robert Guillaume is great as Van Damme's friend Hawkins, and he could have been nothing more then the Token Black guy, but he was much more then that, he was just great. Cynthia Gibb is very gorgeous,and does fine in her role as the other cop, she had decent chemistry with Van Damme, and held her own I liked her. George Dickerson is OK as Vogler and did what he had to do. Art LaFleur is excellent as the prick Sgt. Degraff and played his role extremely well. Patrick Kilpatrick is creepy as the villain the Sandman, he played the perfect unstoppable villain for Van Damme. Abdul Salaam El Razzac is amusing as the priest he cracked me up.

slightl below par if im truthful
Review date: 2006-09-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

death warrant is a 1990 movie that is a little slow to be regarded as a van damme classic,the pace of the movie is downtuned,perhaps to create a sense of edge and drama but that helps hinder the film rather than help,van damme isnt suited to a film with the pace of classic hitchcock and this is the reason why this gets only three stars,regardless of that,death warrant is still agood film with some good action scenes,the film is shot in alot of dark locations to create a minimal feel to it.Van damme plays a cop who goes undercover to investigate prison murders,he has an arch enemy who soon transfers to the prison and bedlam follows.
The film is predictable as one would expect and with the little faults that i have aimed at the film ,it has its praise in my eyes as well,at this stage van damme was goldust in the action genre,this film didnt hurt him but looking back now,this doesnt have the character and brilliance of hard target,kickboxer and blood sport.

One of his best
Review date: 2003-07-19 Rating: 8 out of 10

Although this appears at first as a typical prison drama, probably to better Stallone's 'Lock-up'. Van Damme, does some Damage as detective Burke sent in to investigate the mysterious deaths of prisoners and wardens alike. Terrific performance from Robert Guilliame (Benson) in an unfamiliar role. Van Damme's acting is well, Van Damme's acting, but the rivalry with 'The Sandman' makes this a tense rollercoaster of Martial Arts with Van Damme at his most fierce here. Definitely one for the Van Damme collection.

van damme is average
Review date: 2001-07-09 Rating: 6 out of 10

In this film van damme is not up to scratch but its still an interesting film. A seven year old could have wrote the plot but some ok perfomances make death warrant an interesting film in which van damme infiltrates a prison for some reason only to end up in a fight.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Art LaFleur
George Dickerson
Cynthia Gibb
Robert Guillaume
Jean-Claude Van Damme

Creators:
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Primary Contributor)
Robert Guillaume (Primary Contributor)
Russell Carpenter (Cinematographer)
Cheryl Kroll (Editor)
G. Gregg McLaughlin (Editor)
John A. Barton (Editor)
Andrew G. La Marca (Producer)
Mark DiSalle (Producer)
David S. Goyer (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070006711
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-07-09
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 85 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1990-09-14
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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