Y'know, I think it's got a lot to do with watching a lot of action flicks as a kid. My first memory of Van Damme was seeing Bloodsport. I would have been.. hmm.. 12? At the time, I thought it was the most epic action flick I'd seen. Actually, I can safely say that this made more of an impression on me than seeing a James Bond marathon did. I didn't know it back then, but this movie pretty much starts the chain of the Van Damme clichés that I know and love so much. (Slo-mo rage yells, a shot of the splits, yadda yadda.)
I didn't actually get super-dee-dooper interested in Van Damme movies until about 2009/2010. I re-discovered my love for action flicks via a wannabe reviewer friend of mine, and that's how that got started. At some point, I spotted a megapack download of Van Damme movies, so, I started working my way through them. I only physically own about 5 Van Damme movies -- I find VHS-es in thrift stores, sometimes. Actually.. Van Damme movies are hard to get, unless you're willing to download, or buy online.
I get asked about why I picked Van Damme as my favorite. Wellp, I gotta admit, I love those kicks of his. I actually like some of his acting. The dude CAN act.. which is really awesome. I dunno. I just plain like watching his stuff. I like Jackie Chan for similar reasons -- he's funny, he's skilled, and he can act. That, and I'm a sucker for b-movies.
SO, BILL. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D ASK VAN DAMME, IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE?
Actually, yes.
* How DID he get that bump in his forehead, and that scar on his eyebrow? I never see mention of how those happened.
* Does Van Damme have to buy special stretchy pants, so that he can comfortably kick dudes in the teeth, without splitting the crotch?
* Also, the image I tile as my background -- I'd love to know the story behind THAT puppy.Was there some kind of crazy dance thing going on? Is this a Miss World pageant? What's with the crowd of chicks in bikinis, man?
Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme (2nd L) performs during the Miss Czech beauty contest in Prague March 20, 2010. REUTERS/David W Cerny -- Google, to the rescue!
SO, I'VE SEEN THIS SITE, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS VAN DAMME FELLA IS. WHY DON'T YOU ATTEMPT TO TELL ME?
Van Damme is a martial-arts movie star. I'm going to be relying on Wikipedia -- the link you skipped, if you clicked this page -- to tell me some more, just in case I find something new/forgot something really important.
Hell, why don't we just do this the way we normally do it on Whaleodes?
On October 18, 1960,
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg was born.
That means that in 2011,
He's a Libra, and a year past 50.
Wikipedia tells me he started
Martial arts at 10,
And ballet at 16.
That explains those kicks, then.
He was a professional kickboxer,
And played one on-screen in 1989.
Actually, that one has spinoffs
Without Van Damme actually in them.
Most people remember him as Frank Dux;
I know, that's my first memory of him on screen.
Some people remember the more notorious movies,
Like Double Team, or Double Impact.
He's had 4 wives (5 marriages);
He has 3 kids --
They're close to my/siblings ages.
He kicked a coke habit.
The last news this writer heard
About his subject
Was the story about the Expendables,
But not the outcome of the fight he skipped it for.
HEY, BILL.. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 5 FAVORITE VAN DAMME MOVIES?
- Bloodsport
- JCVD
- Lionheart
- Until Death
- Timecop
