Hard Target (1993)

Hard Target was one of John Woo's earlier attempts in Hollywood, and generally is a good B-movie. It wasn't the type of big budget summer blockbusters he later made (such as M-I:2), and the whole film effuses a raw and less polished style.
The film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, one of the less successful action stars of the late 80s - early 90s. He doesn't have much acting talent, judging by the few films I've seen, but he certainly can fight, and fight with real style, and that's what matters in a John Woo film.
The plot is mildly interesting, though perhaps unoriginal - a bunch of serious bad-asses are running a business which lets millionaires (or anybody willing to pay a few hundred thousand dollars) hunt down people in the literal sense. Things go wrong when Van Damme gets involved, investigating the death of one the victims whose daughter hires him. The bad guys of course decides to forcefully stop the investigation, which turns into another hunting game, with Van Damme as the target. But as the target suggests, Van Damme is too hard a target for them.
What's slightly more interesting, is the action. Woo uses Van Damme fairly well, showing off his kicks perhaps a few times too many, but that's perhaps the point anyway - stylish action films are always somewhat over-the-top. Which is why some of the more wacky scenes such as standing hands-free on a bike and shooting are especially enjoyable. Some of the showdown scenes, which were later reused in Face/Off, present some rare nostalgia value too.
A film like Hard Target is destined to enjoy a small cult following. It has that kind of a in-your-face style, unapologetic in making violence into great masculine entertainment. However, for other audiences who don't want just senseless action, this film has little viewing value.
6/10