JCVD in 4K!

DEATH WARRANT (4K UHD) and LIONHEART (4K UHD)

MVD Visual

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bonecrusher😼

Two of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s popular fightfests from 1990 (when he was still flirting with A-lister status) are getting the 4K treatment from MVD Visual. Available separately, both more-or-less include the same bonus material from previous Blu-ray or DVD releases, so these are for the Damme die-hards who just gotta have the best picture and sound quality possible. You know who you are.

Lionheart (1990/110 min) is arguably the first film where Van Damme really required to truly act...you know, with emotions 'n stuff. As such, he isn't half bad. He plays Lyon Gaultier, trying to visit his dying brother who was burned alive during a drug deal gone bad in Los Angeles. Needing quick cash, Lyon ends up participating in underground fights to earn money to get to L.A., and later in a big money bout run by wealthy and conniving socialite Cynthia (Deborah Rennard).

Lyon is too late to see his brother, but his niece and estranged sister-in-law are in financial dire straits, so he resumes fighting, with Cynthia arranging bigger and more dangerous matches. Van Damme, of course, engages in plenty of what he does best: punching, kicking, collecting contusions. But unlike, say, Bloodsport, at least the downtime is watchable. Lyon's developing friendship with one character even manages to be engaging at times.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

EXTENDED 110 MIN VERSION

"THE STORY OF LIONHEART" & "INSIDE LIONHEART" - Two lengthy and entertaining retrospective documentaries featuring some of the cast & crew, including director Sheldon Lettich, producer Eric Karson, Harrison Page, Deborah Rennard and, of course, Van Damme (who seems to be lost in his own world).

AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By director Sheldon Lettich (this is the only new bonus feature); 2) By director Sheldon Lettich and actor Harrison Page.

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with director Sheldon Lettich and actor Harrison Page.

"LIONHEART: BEHIND THE FIGHTS"

VINTAGE MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE AUDIO COMMENTARY (really) - Five minutes of Lettich & Page in a recording booth, beginning their commentary.

PHOTO GALLERY

TRAILER

MINI POSTER

"Did I step in something?"

Death Warrant (1990/89 min) is more outlandishly plotted and somewhat bereft of plausibility, but you could say the same about far worse Van Damme vehicles. Besides, this one delivers what his fans care about most…bone-crushing, bloody brawls. In this one, he’s a cop named Louis Burke who goes undercover as an inmate at a maximum security prison to investigate a string of murders. Complicating matters, however, is the appearance of “The Sandman” (Patrick Kilpatrick), a serial killer Burke thought was already dead (having shot the man himself in the prologue(.

As long as you check your brain at the door, there’s some violent fun to be had here. Van Damme’s performance is, as usual, adequate enough for what’s required of him, while Kilpatrick….you know, now that I think about it, I don’t recall ever seeing him in a role where he didn’t play a psycho. Stick to your strengths, I guess. Elsewhere, the action is plentiful and well shot. All-in-all, these are two decent additions to MVD’s LaserVision collection.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with actors Patrick Kilpatrick, Cynthia Gibbs and one of my favorite “hey, it’s that guy!” actors, Art LaFleur.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Director Deran Sarafian.

TRAILER

MINI POSTER

Both films feature upgraded picture and sound from previous Blu-ray editions. The overall image is a slight improvement, and the LPCM 2.0 audio tracks for each are clear and well balanced. Be advised, however, that the 5.1 Surround option for Lionheart is only available on the Blu-ray copy.