AWOL (DVD)

A review of the film only. This Jean-Claude Van Damme film features the best of the Muscles from Brussels: when he's silent. The man first got into the movie scene because of his martial arts skills, and the moments where he lets his limbs do the talking are by far and away the best in his films. That he adds a certain charisma became apparent in the later films, but in the earlier ones such as this one, he has a rather dull and disinterested expression. As Foreign Legion deserter Lyon Gaultier, he is silent and deadly, as he seeks to support his dead brother's family by digging and finding out what happened. He uncovers an underground fighting ...  Read the complete review

A.W.O.L is the Van Damme movie I never ever seen when I was a kid. But forever would the image of the front cover be scarred into my head, seeing as it appeared to be permanently stuck to the shelf in my local video shop. Years later, a drunken stroll through a market brought the movie on VHS to my attention for £1, and seeing as it was made in Van Damme’s ‘glory’ days, I thought it would be worth a go. The movie follows Lyon Gaultier (Van Damme - Desert Heat), a French Legionnaire, who discovers that his brother is dead and his sister in law and her daughter are left with nothing but debt from him. Lyon goes AWOL from the legion, and two ...  Read the complete review

Now I love this type of film as I love martial art's.When I see Jean-Claude using his talent not only as a actor I love it even more. This film made me cry at the end,I mean all film's normally end up with him getting the girl or maybe just and I mean just staying alive.In this film Jean-Claude does stay alive but the girl has to wait for him to do his penance for going A.W.O.L. A great film for all us action movies freaks.I'm not going to give you too much info on the film as if you have not seen it,it could spoil it for you.I will tell you that it is a great film to watch and if I had to give marks out of 10 then yep this one would get 10. ...  Read the complete review

This is just another one of those movies where Van Damme kicks the 'stuff' out of other blokes, except this time...It's Personal (hang on, its always personal!). He plays an army guy who's brother has been killed by some people and he goes AWOL to get revenge. That is essentially it. However, to get the killers he must participate in illegal fighting tournaments where literally aanything goes, sometimes these scenes are good and the fights are well choreographed. However, most of the time it is quite boring especially during the scenes that are meant to be emotional, because the acting is not good enough for these scenes to be believable. ...  Read the complete review

If you like karate films then this one is for you,lyon (John Claude Van Damme) is a french legionnaire who hears about his brother's accident and the only way he can get to see his brother is by going A.W.O.L (Absent With Out Leave).Ater arriving in new york with out any money he is forced to go bare knuckle fighting and faces a number of fights all organised by "the lady".All he wants is to earn enough money to see his brothers wife and kid to be well off.He goes against the lady and she matches him up with the champion a man who can tear people in half and the question is can he beat this champion.All in all it is a good film with some great fighting ...  Read the complete review