The Quest (1996) *


Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roger Moore, James Remar, Janet Gunn, Aki Aleong

Directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme essentially directs a remake of Bloodsport, this time as a kidnapped thief who fights for big wig pirate Roger Moore, to win a prized gold dragon in the 1920s sometime. Despite being the star’s directorial debut, it’s also easily the worst fight flick of his films since No Retreat No Surrender, lacking the strong villains, epic scale fight sequences and a sure hand to pump up the fights, Van Damme manages to film some of these fights well, but everything else he really louses up. For instance the drama of Roger Moore trying to steal the dragon, as well as the love interest and even the beginning which finds Van Damme as a mime(!) Indeed Jean-Claude Van Damme tries to go for more of an Asian feel that concentrates on the character, but Van Damme’s vision is too simplistic and therefore the fight sequences while adequate make this one of Van Damme’s lesser efforts. Indeed with Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Lionheart available, this quest is definitely one not worth going on.