Lionheart / Death Warrant
My name is Greg and I’m a JCVD apologist.
Actually, there’s no official support group out there (not that I’m aware of, anyway), but it often feels like fans of the “Muscles from Brussels” should get together twice a month for a reassuring pat on the back. Putting the actor’s personal life aside, his filmography isn’t something the average Letterboxd user would brag about. But there’s something irresistible about the “go-for-broke” way Jean-Claude approaches every project; good, bad or brutally average, JCVD is always unashamedly himself.
Lionheart (1990) finds him playing Lyon Gaultier, a deserter from the French Foreign Legion making his way to L.A. to visit his dying brother. Short on cash, Leo teams up with a street fight promoter (Harrison Page) and fights his way across the country, facing one badass after another, in hopes of providing financial support to his sister-in-law and five-year-old niece.
Taking a kinder, gentler approach to the ‘90s action formula, director Sheldon Lettich (who would team up with JCVD two more times) softens some of the actor’s rough edges to make Jean-Claude more relatable. But the effort winds up padding the story with too much mawkishness, distracting from the deathmatch action scenes set in parking garages, racquetball courts and half-empty swimming pools. Co-written by JCVD himself, the image makeover is a bit too obvious, but it does give perennial TV guest star Harrison Page a welcome chance to shine.
Death Warrant (also 1990) fares much better, sending Canadian cop Louis Burke (Van Damme) undercover as a prisoner to investigate a series of unexplained murders among the general population. His only backup comes from a hottie fresh out of law school (Cynthia Gibb) and a wise old con (Robert Guillaume) who isn’t keen on sticking his neck out. As if the odds weren’t bad enough, the serial killer Burke put behind bars shows up for an encore appearance.
The screenwriting debut of David S. Goyer and an early assignment for cinematographer Russell Carpenter, Death Warrant never feels like a cheapie independent. The prison itself resembles a music-video hellscape, filled with colorful lighting and even more colorful characters that keep JCVD on his toes. Director Deran Sarafian bounces the star off stronger performers like Guillaume, Art LaFleur and Conrad Dunn (“Francis” from Stripes), leaving Van Damme free to concentrate on the fight sequences. The film isn’t high art, but it delivers the goods with unexpected style.
Released separately on 4K-UHD Blu-ray as part of the MVD Rewind Collection, their commitment to getting the best possible Van Damme editions out there is admirable. Lionheart comes from a 2025 4K scan and restoration from the original negative, but, while there’s no significant damage to speak of, the results look more like a serviceable release print. It lacks the “pop” and fine detail of Death Warrant which is in a class by itself. The extras on Lionheart are impressive, including an extended version of the film, new commentary and loads of archival material carried over from the 2018 release. Death Warrant gets a commentary as well, along with interviews featuring LeFleur and Gibb. Both releases include a slipcover, foldout poster and cool collectible packaging.
Actually, there’s no official support group out there (not that I’m aware of, anyway), but it often feels like fans of the “Muscles from Brussels” should get together twice a month for a reassuring pat on the back. Putting the actor’s personal life aside, his filmography isn’t something the average Letterboxd user would brag about. But there’s something irresistible about the “go-for-broke” way Jean-Claude approaches every project; good, bad or brutally average, JCVD is always unashamedly himself.
Taking a kinder, gentler approach to the ‘90s action formula, director Sheldon Lettich (who would team up with JCVD two more times) softens some of the actor’s rough edges to make Jean-Claude more relatable. But the effort winds up padding the story with too much mawkishness, distracting from the deathmatch action scenes set in parking garages, racquetball courts and half-empty swimming pools. Co-written by JCVD himself, the image makeover is a bit too obvious, but it does give perennial TV guest star Harrison Page a welcome chance to shine.
Death Warrant (also 1990) fares much better, sending Canadian cop Louis Burke (Van Damme) undercover as a prisoner to investigate a series of unexplained murders among the general population. His only backup comes from a hottie fresh out of law school (Cynthia Gibb) and a wise old con (Robert Guillaume) who isn’t keen on sticking his neck out. As if the odds weren’t bad enough, the serial killer Burke put behind bars shows up for an encore appearance.
The screenwriting debut of David S. Goyer and an early assignment for cinematographer Russell Carpenter, Death Warrant never feels like a cheapie independent. The prison itself resembles a music-video hellscape, filled with colorful lighting and even more colorful characters that keep JCVD on his toes. Director Deran Sarafian bounces the star off stronger performers like Guillaume, Art LaFleur and Conrad Dunn (“Francis” from Stripes), leaving Van Damme free to concentrate on the fight sequences. The film isn’t high art, but it delivers the goods with unexpected style.
Released separately on 4K-UHD Blu-ray as part of the MVD Rewind Collection, their commitment to getting the best possible Van Damme editions out there is admirable. Lionheart comes from a 2025 4K scan and restoration from the original negative, but, while there’s no significant damage to speak of, the results look more like a serviceable release print. It lacks the “pop” and fine detail of Death Warrant which is in a class by itself. The extras on Lionheart are impressive, including an extended version of the film, new commentary and loads of archival material carried over from the 2018 release. Death Warrant gets a commentary as well, along with interviews featuring LeFleur and Gibb. Both releases include a slipcover, foldout poster and cool collectible packaging.
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