Hotdog The Quest is a Cool Flick (Read 595 times)

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The Quest
is a Cool Flick

Produced & Directed by Jean Claude Van Damme. Starring Jean Claude Van Damme, Roger Moore and James Remar




  Some of you may have actually seen this one, seeing as how its had broadcast time. The Quest (1996) is a tournament-fighter movie, written, produced and directed by Jean Claude Van Damme. Now before you huff at me for praising a man who many think is a hack of an actor, let me give you my two cents on this particular film.

Our hero Christopher, an acrobat, entertainer, pickpocket, foster-parent, and all around loveable tramp from 1920s New York, finds himself in a world of trouble when he gets mixed up in some crazy gang business. Escaping the city as a stowaway on a freighter, it turns out the smugglers he befriends aren't too pleased with his being there, and put him to work. Thankfully, he is "rescued" by British high-society gentleman and pirate hunter Lord Dobbs (Roger Moore), who promptly sells him into slavery. Stranded on a small island in Thailand, he learns the local art of Muai Thai kickboxing. Once Dobbs catches wind how well the boy is doing in the local underground, he buys Chris his freedom so that he can compete in the great Ghang-Gheng, a fighting tournament where combatants from around the world compete for a statue of a giant golden dragon. There is just one problem, Maxie Divine (James Remar), the American holding the title of Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, is already competing.

I know you're probably rolling your eyes, but bear with me: it gets a whole lot better. The spectacle of the Ghang-Gheng has alone enough worth to make this film enjoyable. The fights were surprisingly well choreographed and well shot. The film has such novelty, in the idea that you are watching fighting styles from all over the world. You have the Japanese sumo wrestler, the French prize-fighter, the Turkish pit-fighter, the Russian juggernaut, and the Scottish bare-knuckle boxer (who we unfortunately don’t see a lot of) and others. Some of the more interesting fighting styles are performed by the Brazilian Capoeira fighter, the Greek wrestler, and the Chinese kung-fu master, and other nationalistic stereotypes that were actually close to the way the world was seen in the 1920s. What's also cool is that its a period film, takes place in exotic locales, and builds a surprisingly varied cadre of characters. Jean Claude rides horses and elephants, pirate ships and there's even a blimp in there somewhere, perhaps at an attempt to pan out to a wide audience with the enticement of the glaze of an adventure film. Because of this, I find it has a charm that Bloodsport and other Western tournament-fighting movies lack, and a style that is more definitive and unique.

Yes, it is nearly B-Movie. Most of that is thanks to the wooden and kitschy performances of James Remar (who is just a really bad actor I don't know how he keeps getting work) and Janet Gunn (as the tagalong journalist/romantic interest for our hero Christopher). But there is a charm and a campiness that seems so innocent, that is trying so hard to be an A-list movie. In my opinion, it comes really close, but the fact that it fails makes it all the more endearing. The script isn’t phenomenal, but for what it lacks in narrative grace it makes up for in atmosphere.

I know the trope has been pulled before: a fighting tournament summons the bravest and best to compete is some faraway corner of the globe for fame and fortune. In this particular version, steeped in an aloof sepia wash of the 20s, with a dash of the elements of a high or serial adventure, taking place at the dawning of a new global era… I find the vision and execution was done passably. Especially if you consider this work in contrast to Van Damme’s other pulp action or fighting flicks, there really wasn’t anything like it before it, and afterwards Legionnaire came close but flopped on the execution.

The IMDB gives the film the tag of "blimp" but I really think this is misapplied. I know this is going to sound silly, but I thought that Van Damme did a really masterful job of directing The Quest. If you consider Van Damme an auteur (that is, the influential primary artist in crafting the film), this could be viewed as his most masterful personal work. He said that his vision of the film came in part from the adventures of our good friend Tin Tin (and his faithful dog Snowy). There is controversy over how involved Van Damme’s former writing partner Frank Dux was involved in production (that is, the same Frank Dux that Van Damme himself portrayed in the film Bloodsport). These controversies apparently ended their working relationship and friendship as well.

Still, I think it is a charming film with a great atmosphere and capable execution. If you’re a fan of Van Damme, or Western martial arts movies in general, I recommend you see it. One time I made my girlfriend watch it and she admitted to liking it, so it can’t be nearly as bad as your worst expectations. Its the kind of film that is comfortable in its familiarity, and because of that it didn't get much praise, but I still think that its pretty cool flick.



Last Edit: August 11, 2008, 06:54:46 am by Blitzen
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James Remar is THE MAN. If this film is as good as you say it is I think I will love it because if the only flaw is James Remar (who is awesome) then this has to be a good film! Maaaan, I'm gonna go watch the warriors.

JAMES REMAR!
now is the winter of our discontent
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james remar is a pretty bad actor but not bad enough to be entertaining. if there was a show called "who cares about james remar" it would get 0 ratings.

this is a good topic. i like topics like this. but i'll never watch this movie. sorry i just don't want to watch another jean claude van damme movie or ever watch a martial arts/fighting contest movie.
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Haha, the absolute worst part in this whole movie is when Chris (Van Damme) is fighting the German guy in the first round and then Maxie (Remar) for absolutely no reason stands up and yells "NEW YORK CITY!"
Last Edit: August 12, 2008, 07:29:47 am by Blitzen
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