Well, looks like I have to condecorate myself this time. There must exist some merit in founding and watching an even more crappy "Yojimbo" remake than Albert Pyun's "Omega Doom" was. I can imagine that at least I deserve the purple heart for the damage sustained while watching the goddam movie.
I'd better cut the crap: This one is a late Van Damme film directed by John Avildsen, of "Karate Kid" and "Rocky" fame. It just copies the usual "Yojimbo" storyline (two bands in a deserted village and a man who confronts them) setting it in a modern western fashion. Really crappy movie, the only good bits are watching Danny Trejo and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in mediocre supporting roles. About Van Damme, I'd say it is a return to his origins, a lousy film where everybody seems to have carried their own wardrobe and where he is to show his ass again.
I'd have to concur with you, Neville. Hell, I'd consider myself to be a really big JCVD fan and even I didn't like this one. Where exactly did it go wrong? Well, Neville pretty much hit the nail on the head, but I'm gonna add a few things:
1. For starters, for a JCVD movie, there wasn't very much action. But I've sat through JCVD movies before with lesser amounts of action than usual (Replicant) and enjoyed them, so not only did this movie not have very much action, but it was pretty boring.
2. I actually thought Morita was wasted, but maybe that's just me.
3. Trejo was his usual bad assed self, but there wasn't enough of him. I realize this is a JCVD movie, but at least have Trejo be the bad guy or something!
4. The main villain of the movie was weak.
The movie did, however, have extremely great looking women in it. That was a definite plus. JCVD also has a threesome, and at that point, I'm sure he used a little bit of what creative control he has left over his movies to toss that gem in. Anyways, that was amusing. Unfortunately, one of the worst JCVD movies out there. As much as this pains me to say it, avoid this one, unless you need a JCVD fix and have seen everything else.
Nick
Yeah,guys,for "Desert Heat" truly was a Van Damme film that was so bizarre and badly cluttered,that even John Avidson hid behind one of those usual pseudonyms to hide his embarassment(he probably had much-due rent to pay when he accepted directing this one).
Is "condecorate" a word?
Apparently Van Damme spent much of the film shoot coming onto Jaime Pressly to the point that she went to the producer's threatening to file sexual harrassment charges if they didn't do something about it.
Can you really blame Van Damme for that? I mean I'm sure he came on too strong, but come on, it's Jaime Pressly..
Where did you hear about this, Foy? Did Pressly come out and say this herself? Just curious.
Nick
I heard Jaime Pressly in an interview claim that he kept hitting on her the whole time even though she kept turning him down. I read the part about going to the producers and threatening a lawsuit on a celebrity gossip site. Apparently Van Damme is one of those actors who thinks he's entitled to sleep with his co-stars as this isn't the first time he's gotten in some hot water over stuff like this. Although, he isn't nearly as bad as Steven Seagal who has had numerous sexual harrasment lawsuits filed against him over the years by production assistants he's made obscene comments to.
Nope. I meant "decorate", but my mind slipped.
By the way, I wasn't going against what you said Foy, I was just curious as to where you read about this. I wouldn't be surprised. I'm a huge JCVD fan, but I could definitely see him doing this. The same goes with Seagal.
Nick
My parents rented it when I was a little kid,but I couldn´t see it because they refused to see it right after the introducing credits because they said it was crap.
Your parents are very wise people, Johnny. I never thought I would ever say that about a JCVD movie, but Desert Heat was pretty bad. You aren't missing much man.
Nick