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Albert Pyun Roulette, Part 2:
Cyborg -
Plot: A martial artist hunts a killer in a plague-infested urban dump of the future.
This dystopian action movie is as fundamental and derivative as it gets, but it does enough interesting things and makes the most of its peanuts budget that it was worth my while. Its "wall at the typical Chili's or Applebee's" approach to production design and costuming work for me because in a world where nobody can make anything new, everyone would likely make use of whatever junk was lying around. As for Van Damme, I'll still never choose to watch anything because he's in it - I watched this for the director, for what it's worth - since I still don't think he's that good of an actor. He at least has the physicality and martial arts talent to make the action scenes memorable, as does Klyn, who brings blue eyed soul - sorry, couldn't resist - to his villain role. Also, contrary to popular criticism, I think the use of flashbacks works - questionable hairstyling notwithstanding - as does the spiritual allegory despite the unintentional comedy.
Again, while there's barely anything new in this, there's still lessons to learn in it about the power of hope and that a little kindness goes a long way. Your mileage may vary on Van Damme, but as flexible as he may be, I doubt the movie will win him many new fans. Also, if you didn't already know Cannon produced the movie to salvage a failed production, you would assume as much pretty quickly. Pyun and company deserve a pat on the back regardless. Besides, what someone does with too little tends to be more interesting than what they do with too much.
Cyborg -
Plot: A martial artist hunts a killer in a plague-infested urban dump of the future.
This dystopian action movie is as fundamental and derivative as it gets, but it does enough interesting things and makes the most of its peanuts budget that it was worth my while. Its "wall at the typical Chili's or Applebee's" approach to production design and costuming work for me because in a world where nobody can make anything new, everyone would likely make use of whatever junk was lying around. As for Van Damme, I'll still never choose to watch anything because he's in it - I watched this for the director, for what it's worth - since I still don't think he's that good of an actor. He at least has the physicality and martial arts talent to make the action scenes memorable, as does Klyn, who brings blue eyed soul - sorry, couldn't resist - to his villain role. Also, contrary to popular criticism, I think the use of flashbacks works - questionable hairstyling notwithstanding - as does the spiritual allegory despite the unintentional comedy.
Again, while there's barely anything new in this, there's still lessons to learn in it about the power of hope and that a little kindness goes a long way. Your mileage may vary on Van Damme, but as flexible as he may be, I doubt the movie will win him many new fans. Also, if you didn't already know Cannon produced the movie to salvage a failed production, you would assume as much pretty quickly. Pyun and company deserve a pat on the back regardless. Besides, what someone does with too little tends to be more interesting than what they do with too much.