In Bloodsport 4 Daniel takes on a whole knew character by the name of John Keller. Keller is a cop who is a pretty good fighter but one who also has a need for revenge. It is these 2 qualities that sends Keller undercover to a local prison to find out why the bodies of inmates who have been executed are disappearing. Keller's main reason is to find out how an inmate he put on death row managed to escape and kill 2 local cops. With a plan hatched by his captain, Keller is accused and found guilty of killing 2 officers and is sent for life to the very prison that bodies are disappearing from. He soon finds out that the men have not disappeared but their executions faked so they may fight in a local Kumite for a rich man by the name of Ceasar. The prize: One million dollars and a plane ticket to anywhere in the world to start a new life. Losing means death.
This movie was filmed in Bulgaria in an actual prison where the film crew had to interact with a working prison. Inmates and guards were used in the production which adds a certain authenticity to the film. However, that authenticity is a paradox in my opinion. Where the film has an Eastern European "flavor" to it, that "flavor" contradicted the story is supposedly taking place in the United States. Had the director (and writer) told us that this was taking place in a fictional city in Europe it would've had a lot more credibility. Maybe I'm just too American (or maybe I'm just too anal), but when so many things jump out at me and distract my veiwing experience, I just can't sit still without listing them. For instance, the judge that sentences Keller to life in prison is wearing what looks like some sort of Scottish garb worn in their courts, complete with black short coat and frilly white neck tie. All of this while standing in front of an American flag. It was one of the most absurb scenes in the film. The inmates in the prison were dressed like inmates in a Nazi death camp, and the prison guards were dressed in black leather reminiscent of the SS under Hitler's regime. You don't have to be American to know how silly that is, anyone who has seen an American prison movie can see these inaccuracies. And there lies the paradox; where the use of the Bulgarian prison may have added a terrific background for the story it also detracted from the believability.
Apart from my analities the acting of the lead charatcers was very good. Daniel was in fine form and Lisa Stothard was terrific as his loyal partner. There was a tad bit of overacting by the Warden (note the subtle sarcasm here), and the character of Ceasar looked like a perverted Ben Franklin. But the quality of the movie was better than both BS2 & BS3. You shouldn't view this film as a continuation of either of those films for this is a horse of a different color. Where the Kumite was the story of the previous films this is clearly a story about John Keller. My advice is to take this film as it is and try not to compare it to the original.he story it also detracted from the story's believability.
Apart from my analities, the acting by the leads was very good. Daniel was in fine form and Lisa Stothard was terrific as his loyal partner. There was a bit of overacting on the part of the Warden and Ceasar looked like a perverted Ben Franklin, but the quality of the movie was better than both BS2 & BS3. Don't go into this one thinking it's going to be a rehashing of either of those films, this one is a horse of a different color. The Kumite is not the main story here, John Keller is. My advice: Take it for what it is but don't compare it with the previous films.
If the franchise is going to exist than it is imperative that the producers stick to the original idea. #4 is not related to the other films other than it stars Daniel Bernhardt. In this installment Bernhardt plays the character of John Keller, a cop who likes to participate in illegal street fights. When inmates at a local prison start disappearing he is ask to go undercover to see what is going on. Once inside he finds that he has been targeted by the crazy Ceasar to participate in an event called the Kumite. This film draws parallels to JCVD's "Death Warrant", but the direction and script need work. With this entry of the Bloodsport series it's obvious that Daniel Bernhardt and the writers have given up on the Kumite premise. The film over all is not bad, but it leaves much to be desired. It appears to take place in the U.S. but it's obvious that it was filmed in another country! Bloodsport 2 & 3 stay true to the original where this film shows an almost radical departure from the premise. If they are going to make a fifth installment I hope they go back to the original premise and allow Bernhardt to flex his martial arts skills. BS4 is watchable but only because of Bernhardt's presence.
By MadMatt-4-Guilford, England
Not as cheesy as Edam!
I'm a Martial Arts fan and I think that is the only reason they keep making the Bloodpsort series. What you have here is a film that's actually very watchable for the genre, even if it is low budget. Overall it's better than 3 and as good as 2, but at the end of the day I can't stop watching the Van Damme original.