In Hell -- VanDamme + Ringo Lam = must see

Just saw In Hell, the new straight to video film by HK mastermind Ringo Lam and starring VanDamme, Lawrence Taylor, and others. Now you might be thinking B-movie, b-movie -- just look at Black Mask 2, I'm not seeing this...etc...

Well give it a try, seriously—this is not your typical VanDamme film. Probably his best work to date. Yes it's that good and proves that Van Damme can indeed act. Watching this film, it just felt right, like a Hong Kong film without Chinese actors. The action, dialogue, set pieces, all of it was straight up HK style filmmaking and I enjoyed it the most out of the 3 Lam films done with JCVD (Maximum Risk and Replicant -- both good films also) and even more than some Lam's HK work (Burning Paradise, School on Fire, City on Fire, Prison on Fire 1&2, etc).

Brief plot -- VanDamme is working in Russia, when his wife is killed. Her killer is let go on lack of evidence. VD kills him and bam he's sent to a Russian prison where he undergoes a physical and mental test. Make no mistake this is a great film, the action is hard and brutal, the acting very well done. This film is gritty and violent and is also a miss-match of many of Lam's HK efforts—some scenes reminded me of his "On Fire" films, while others reminded me of "Burning Paradise," while others were entirely new...you get the idea.

I will be adding this to my DVD collection and I recommend others atleast give it a rental.

Rented 'In Hell' on your recommendation. I'm 30 minutes into this and I'm luvin it[/mickyD]

Kinda feels like that Stallone movie (another shitty actor) Lock Up, but a lot more intense.


Man, I felt sorry for the youngin, that scene was unbearable to watch and listen to :\

Yeah I will check it out. Heard it's preety good.

Is this movie new? I seem to remember seeing a trailer for it a couple years ago...Maybe I'm mistaking it for something else.

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Originally Posted by adol

Is this movie new? I seem to remember seeing a trailer for it a couple years ago...Maybe I'm mistaking it for something else.

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Yeah, just came out. Check it out, my blockbuster had tons of 'em, so it must be getting around.

Yeah that poor dude -- it's a pretty brutal movie is I have to say, but worth it to see all the way through.

I have it, and I watched first 20 minutes, and it was good. I need to get back and finish it. Definately it shows Van Damme in more dramatic role, and seem that his acting much improved here. Definately a surprise, and I always liked Ringo Lam films.

Too bad they kicked him out from the next Van Damme project that he was supposed to direct :(

I dunno ssbomberman, I am/was an avid Van Damme fan, but I didn't like it that much. I bought Derailed and rented this one (was gonna buy it but it was sold out). I enjoyed Maximum Risk and Replicant (it was on the SCIFI channel awhile back) much more myself. But, I'll give it credit for the Lawrence Taylor character which was the most interesting to me... I didn't even know know it was him till the end.

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Originally Posted by NightWolve

I dunno ssbomberman, I am/was an avid Van Damme fan, but I didn't like it that much. I bought Derailed and rented this one (was gonna buy it but it was sold out). I enjoyed Maximum Risk and Replicant (it was on the SCIFI channel awhile back) much more myself. But, I'll give it credit for the Lawrence Taylor character which was the most interesting to me... I didn't even know know it was him till the end.

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That's cool, I'm just glad people are giving it a try. I do think whether people like it or not, it shows that VD is better than people think and is *somewhat* dynamic if put with the right team and script.

In Hell is DEFINITELY one of Van Damme's better acting jobs. The last Van Damme movie I rented was Desert Heat and it was a total laugher.

Not only does Van Damme do a good acting job in In Hell but the movie was enjoyable from start to finish.

Rented it today and loved it. It is really violent but is well worth seeing through. I am definitely adding it to my dvd collection. Thanks for the heads up on this dvd.