Christopher J
sorry van damme this aint it dude
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
11/19/24
Full Review
Matthew D
Knock Off is outrageously funny with totally insane action!
Vietnamese director Tsui Hark’s Hong Kong style action thriller Knock Off (1998) delivers another wonderful Jean-Claude Van Damme picture after Hark’s previous actioner Double Team. Hark’s creative direction is fabulous with fast zooms, swift camera whips, smooth panning shots, crazy transitions, and dangerous action stunts. I was thrilled by the shootouts, fist fights, and car chases, all while laughing along with this bizarre original story. Hark went back to Hong Kong after Double Team and Knock Off for Hollywood, but we at least got two action classics starring Jean-Claude Van Damme from Tsui Hark.
Knock Off is a fascinating time capsule of 1997 Hong Kong when they filmed it right before the Hong Kong handover from Britain back to China. You’ll see Prince Charles, wet markets, and old piers. Next to that there’s the famous floating restaurant boat in the beautiful Hong Kong harbor, to the signs and stores in the bustling markets. I appreciate seeing Kai Tak Airport for the last time, which closed the following year, as a shooting location. The giant Buddha statue is awesome to the vast array of restaurants throughout the city. Knock Off is a total blast with hysterical buddy comedy, relentless action, and outstanding direction.
Writer Steven E. de Souza uses the chaos of the Hong Kong handover as a backdrop to Russians smuggling remote detonating bombs hidden in counterfeit jeans. His complex CIA espionage plot mixed with counterfeiters and local gangs. The endless string of double crosses, double agents, and hidden objects of interest is enthralling. I loved his witty humor and charming characters. Even the title Knock Off is a clever double entendre both meaning killing off someone and referencing the counterfeited fakes. Knock Off delivers huge explosions, rickshaw races, endless chases, constant betrayals, and martial arts combat. Casting directors Illana Diamant and Lauris Freeman cast a wonderful ensemble for our heroes, CIA agents, and crooks.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is awesome as fashion designer and counterfeiting crook Marcus Ray. He makes for a surly hero with anger, sarcasm, and stunning heroics. Van Damme’s dramatic acting performance is compelling, but his swift spinning roundhouse kicks are the most impressive. Van Damme was totally ripped then too. He rips off his shirt no less than 5 times in Knock Off. His run of action films from 1988 to 1998 are all must see features.
Rob Schneider is surprisingly funny and likable, in his dramatic acting debut, as CIA agent Tommy Hendricks. He’s got a fun rapport with Van Damme. His impressions and casual jokes are quite amusing comedy relief. Lela Rochon is intriguing and sexy as Karen Lee, who is posing as a jean executive looking into Ray’s fake products. Michael Fitzgerald Wong is excellent as the fierce Detective Han with his own secrets. Carman Lee is gorgeous as the pretty and stern Ling Ho. Paul Sorvino is great as the commanding CIA boss Harry Johansson. Wyman Wong is funny as Ray’s counterfeit contact Eddie Wang. Glen Chin is hilarious as the portly mobster Skinny Wang.
Editors Craig Henighan, Annellie Rose Samuel, and Marco Mak Chi-Sin deliver astonishing dissolves, jump cuts, parallel edits, and numerous perspectives for super innovative cutting in Knock Off. Cinematographer Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai’s inventive camera framing with dramatic angles and dazzling movements is mesmerizing. Sammo Hung was an assistant director here too!
Production designer James Leung Wah-Sing’s crafts all these gritty market sets, CIA hideouts, and quaint businesses. Art direction from Wong Ying, Raymond Kwok Siu-Keung, Alex Mok Siu-Chung, and Bill Lui Cho-Hung is spectacular. Huge fiery explosions, smokey atmosphere, shadowy lighting, icy blue hues, watery backdrops, and vast sky shots make Knock Off visually striking. Stunt choreography from Joe Chu Kai-Sang is unbelievable. Knock Off has many deadly looking stunts.
Composers Ron Mael and Russell Mael of Sparks deliver a playful film score full of moody synths and exciting melodies. Costume designers Ben Luk, Mabel Kwan, and William Fung Kwun-Man provide all the fake jeans, Hawaiian shirts, and Hong Kong outfits you could ever want to see. Makeup artist Kwan Lee-na’s slick looks are fabulous like hairstylist’s Iraina Crenshaw’s greasy haircuts. There’s a grit and realism to these looks.
In all, Knock Off is a wonderful action thriller that is both funny and exciting. Jean-Claude Van Damme has many underseen pictures like this in his illustrious filmography as an action hero. Knock Off is 91 minutes of pure entertainment.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/15/24
Full Review
The M
If you think it would get worse after double team, which I thought was really entertaining, but rushed. John Claude teamed again with Mr. Hark and brought in the Hong Kong classic knock off
I film so wild that has a view for every damn thing in the movie!! friend!! Here Vanny is a fashion designer in Hong Kong, and his partner is known other than Rob Schneider. Believe it or not the. And there is a lot of goood chemistry between them well they have to face off terrorist to putting bombs in their jeans.
This movie is a no hold bar action extravaganza that would've been a major hit. Had everybody not been beating up on Van Damme at the time. TsuiHark goes all out here with the action that set up against the Hong Kong backdrop. The fights are really good, and Paul Serino makes a really good bay guy under used
Yeah, the movie silly at times, but it is enjoyable highly recommended for action buffs
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
04/05/24
Full Review
Gleb A
I love that movie since I was a kid. Great action.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
08/10/23
Full Review
james h
After some chemistry was made with Sylvester Stallone & Rob Schneider with Demolition Man they tried it again with Judge Dredd and it didn't work this so Hollywood tried to make Rob Schneider have chemistry with another popular 90's action movie star Jean Claude Van Damme so I don't know if this was to try and make Rob Schneider an action star after Saturday Night Live but let's just say this was a miss of Rob Schneider becoming an action star
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Alguns filmes, fora de sua época, perdem totalmente a graça, aqui esta um exemplar ultrapassado, não é divertido, as cenas de ação são simplórias, o drama pouco interessante, nem a dupla protagonistas tão encantadores salvam o filme, Van Damme e Rob Schneider, novinhos, mas o filme chatinho...
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
Full Review
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