Though I think Van Damme is all right (and he can definitely kick some serious ass), and I think he was cool in this movie, I watched the original, and I found it boring. It had better and more drama, plot, and maybe acting than this new one, but it had little actual fighting, and what was there was really lame. This one has real, great action and fighting, and lots of it. I loved it. All these people who say this movie is so bad, yet like the old one...I can only assume they're either completely blind when it comes to martial arts (this one guy saying the choreography looks like something kids made on YouTube, lol, are you serious? Get your eyes checked dude), or they're not watching this movie for the fighting or action at all, in which case...I have to ask why they're even watching the movie to begin with...You watch a movie like this for the fighting, why else would you watch it?
Anyway, the story is simple, which is fine, but the directing is a little erratic, and there is little character development, which the old one did better. Had those been better, and the acting a bit more on point, I would have given a higher score. I can do without all the drama from the old one though, which wasn't really a thing here. But the fights and the action direction in any case is great, and provides lots of entertainment. Having people like Batista who are real fighters in real life doesn't hurt. The beautiful cinematography is also worth a note. Thailand is a beautiful place, and some of the shots show that well. The music was fine. If like me you like martial arts movies, go watch this, I think you will enjoy it a lot. If you're not in it for the action, then don't watch it, as there is honestly nothing here for you.
