MovieChat Forums > Double Team (1997) Discussion > Quite possibly the best movie ever made

Quite possibly the best movie ever made

posted 20 years ago by walla118
107 replies | jump to latest

A real "slam-dunk". This instant classic "stole" my heart and mind. After many sub-par attempts at the action genre, "Double Team" clearly illustrates that Jean-Claude van Damme's career is on the "rebound".

JCVD is completely remarkable in his role as a guy who really beat the crap of people. In his previous films, it is worth noting that he only kind of beat the crap out of people. In this film, he severely beats the crap out of people. This just proves that JCVD's grown tremendously as an actor. His talent has surpassed the acting skill The Rock and Vin Diesel added together, and then mutliplied together and then added together again. He quite clearly states with this role that he refuses to be typecast. I believe within a few years time, we will all see JC completely obliterate the crap out of every one in a movie (there quite literally be no more crap to be obliterated).

Dennis Rodman is brilliant as "Yaz". His acting talent in portraying a witty, basketball playing clown is unmatched, and in my opinion, commits no "foul" nor "double-dribble" in his performance. As a sidekick, he does not disappoint. It was remarkable how this man blended to every scene in the movie despite being the only seven foot tall, black, nose-pierced, or rainbow colored person in the film (a true credit his natural thespian ability!!). Like "the Mailman", he never failied to deliver the "ally-oop" for JC, who slammed it home time and time again! The duo hits "nothin' but net".

Not many people know this, but Dennis Rodman is not only a famous actor - he was also once a basketball player for the American National Basketball Association (NBA)! Throughout the film, there are many coy allusions to this fact. For instance, did you know that the title of the film is a basketball term, meaning to have two men defend against one opponent? Did you catch that his parachute in the film was shaped like a basketball? He also cleverly fashions certain basketball terminology and cliches to suit the perils of his situation. The best line of the film comes from Rodmans lips: "Sometimes the best defense is a STRONG OFFENSE". This original and masterfully-crafted line of irony not only speaks to the truth of the situation, but convinces us once and for all that violence IS always the answer. It is this type of subtlety of this type of dialog that allows "Double Team" to trancend conventional movie-making.

So please, see this movie. No "Bull", you will not be "board" by this action packed, thinker of a film. Make a "fast-break" to the video store on the "double-double".

[–] peeweesex 20 years ago

whahahaahhaah
excelent review xD!

[–] dougee_fresh 20 years ago

Only watch this film if you get off on cringing! man this suckd. avoid avoid avoid. if you wanna watch a good van-damme film try double impact or universal soldier but my advice is dont go to c double team!

[–] jbienpkt 20 years ago

i officially feel dumber after reading this post. the movie was good, but "classic" you gotta be kidding.

p.s. lose the corny basketball references...and dennis rodman was a BASKETBALL PLAYER first and foremost, the acting bit a bonus to his success and attitude on/off the court. saying he was a great actor is like Shaq is worthy of an oscar

[–] tacosmith 20 years ago

I like the fact that not only is this guy completely incapable of detecting sarcasm, but he called this a good movie.

P.S. the original post is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Kudos.

[–] mkclark-1 20 years ago

This movie was a good example of action with comedy...a light, get-away-for-a-bit-type movie. I wouldn't classify it as one of JCVD's best but it is up there. His escape from the island was great!!! Watching him set it up and work out was excellent!!! Rodman is a riot being over-the-top as usual...Mickey Rourke is such great "bad guy"....the tiger was beautiful!!! Plus, they set it up perfectly to have a sequel and then....nothing!!! Shame, it could have been a good action/comedy to rival Chan and Wilson.

I do have to draw the line, however, with any comparisons to The Rock or Vin Diesel!!! I truly believe that Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) will be the next action hero franchise. Arnold's "passing of the torch" in The Rundown was just the beginning of this guy's future career in movies...but that is a whole other story as is Vin Diesel.

Submitted all in my humble opinion, of course!!

[–] sutcal 20 years ago

The original posting had me laughing. JCVD cant act period. He has made some good movies (Kickboxer is still his best and Bloodsport for fighting). THis movie is a B grade action flick with some comedy. Will only appeal to JCVD fans. He will never have main stream appeal and is fading.

[–] surrealfate 19 years ago

what a *beep* *beep* film

[–] Evan-28 19 years ago

Totally agree. i read this post almost a year ago, and it still made me laugh my ass off. How is it possible that people dontsee the irony of this post? the writer is a genius, but it also shows that 90% of the world is stupid, by not realizing the irony and sarcasm....

[–] burr-sa 17 years ago

we should bump, to make this post viewable to others in years to come, far after we pass. but seriously, you should write some more reviews. they're very funny.

[–] TheNuttyIrishmen 15 years ago

is this sarcasm too?

[–] Jack-Torrance 20 years ago

that is definitely the best post i have ever read on these boards. hilarious, thanks!

and to those people that are taking it seriously - you are very funny too

[–] vlvetmorning98 20 years ago

Amazing review.

[–] Punisher55 20 years ago

Oh man. That review was fantastic. You have a talent man. Use it and review other terrible movies such as Gigli, Jersey Girl, Pearl Harbor, Armagedon, oops.....now I'm just naming Ben Affleck movies.

AIM: Spidrman2532

[–] abhimb-1 20 years ago

Good review and I like this film, JCVD and Rodman were great together in this film, I hope to see them together again

[–] hashoma2000 19 years ago

Excuse me but you are not very realistic are you ? I mean you gotta be freakin kiddin me to tell me that DOUBLE TEAM Is one of the best movies. ARE YOU ON CRACK? ok i think its one of JCVD's good ones but hell no it aint anything near being a good movie. And you say classic? DUDE ARE YOU *beep* up in your head?? What kind of taste do you have? LOL Man get out of that whole you are stuck in..

[–] summoned_contact 17 years ago

bah, go watch titanic or some *beep* oh, and dont forget to cry

[–] Galahad19 19 years ago

I think the original post was a joke.

[–] Itallian_Stallian 19 years ago

As i m an ispiring martial artist JCVD has and always will be my hero and my mentor maybe one day ill be as good as him.
He is underrated as an actor and that upsets me people people people jean claude had to learn english so he could act. The reason why his movies arent doing so good now is because he had a coupole of bad ones and then people dont bother or just assume that the newer ones are bad aswell people need to take chances or else the poor buggger will never be recognised as a great actor he once was. i actually buy all his movies when they come out before ive even seen them and some are great but nobody else notices this as they dont take a chance these people piss me off if your a fan of JCVD you watch his movies and even if they are bad you still dont mouth off about them or you arent a true fan

anyway iam going TRUE FAN OF JCVD FOR LIFE ONE DAY MY FRIEND ILL BE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE YOU WHAT A TEAM DOUBLE TEAM 2 JCVD KARATE MYSELF TAEKWONDO LETS DO THIS THING.

So It Is You The Son Is It Not?

[–] yantaisuperstar 19 years ago

Good work on the review Walla118. To everyone who is taking it seriously please wake up. This movie was dispicable nonsense. I was incredibly disappointed to see Mickey Rourke degrading himself by appearing in it. I did find one part incredibly amusing - Dennis Rodmans basketball/parachute invention. It is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in a film and I loved the way that they avoided showing it hitting the ground.

Kinda makes me feel like riverdancin'