Customer Reviews

Replicant [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First of all, this movie should have been released theatrically instead of going straight to Video. But since the DVD is here, Van Damme's fans (and action fans) should check it out. It is far better than his last 4 or 5 films (which are very bad: Desert heat, Universal soldiers: The return, Double Team, Knock off).

The story about cloning but director Ringo Lam made this movie highly entertaining. Van Damme plays double role, one is the serial killer, the other role as his clone which created so the police can catch the serial killer. Interestingly, Michael Rooker co-stars, he also appears in other cloning movie starring Arnold (The sixth day).

The DVD is OK. Bright and clear and the sound is fine. Van Damme provided commentary tracks along with ROoker, which are quite amusing. REcommended.

Jean-Claude Van Damme has reunited with Director Ringo Lam (Maximum Risk) for the movie "Replicant." To my surprise, this movie delivers a powerful punch and why it did not get a theatrical release in the United States is unknown. However, it deserved one. This is not the average straight to video/DVD type of movie. The production values are high and the acting by Rooker and Van Damme is very good. Actually, it is Van Damme's best performance ever and is the caliber of any action star in the "A" market today.

Van Damme plays a convincing serial Killer and Clone who is directed to track him down. Both characters are well acted. He, for once, does not over act in two roles which could have been very easy to do. Rooker plays a street cop who is obessed with catching the killer. His character is developed well for an action flick and the two pull if off nicely.

The fight scenes are terrific and the stunts are great. For action fans-this film is a must. For others, it may not be worth the purchase, but is well worth the showing. You will be entertained.

While Jean-Claude Van Damme may be a direct to video action star now, Replicant is a surprisingly good film that should have seen time in theaters instead of other Van Damme flops like Knock Off and Double Team. The storyline, which has Van Damme doing double duty as a serial killer called The Torch and a clone of the killer, is instantly ignored as we see how surprisingly creepy and effective Van Damme is as the killer, and how naive and innocent he is as the developing clone. Michael Rooker is great as well (he always is though) as the ex-cop on the killer's trail. The action scenes are very well put together, and as I said before, the acting from Van Damme is so unbelieveably good in his dual roles that you might forgive him for films like Street Fighter and The Quest (well, maybe not), but all in all, Replicant is one of Van Damme's best, and it is a shame it has gone direct to video.

I never thought I'd ever give a Van Damme movie 4 stars. I also never thought I'd see the day that Van Damme would perform as a "real" actor. Well, folks. This is the day, and this is the film. While this may only be a fluke (like Segal's UNDER SEIGE), one can always hope.

Granted, the storyline isn't much to talk about (what is it that makes Van Damme want to play two rolls?), and the premise itself is absolutely unbelievable ... still, it is not without interest, but one must keep eyes tightly closed to a few plot holes and contrivances. But believe it or not, what helped make this film interesting was Van Damme's performance (that and Ringo Lam's fast, hard-hitting direction -- he also directed Van Damme's MAXIMUM RISK).

If you're not much of a Van Damme fan, I doubt this film will change your mind. But for those of us who enjoy mindless action every now and again, this film turned into a real surprise. Between 1 and 10, REPLICANT gets a marginal 7. Happily, I got much more than I bargained for.

We all know that not everyone is a Van Damme fan, and that Martial arts actors have no brains just brawn... well not any more. This movie is uncomparible to any other of the magnificiant movies this muscles from Brussels has ever produced before. Its a cross between "Rain Man" and the "Matrix" with Van Damme playing the role of both a B.O.S.E and a Killer, in the same movie! It hasn't gotten this hot since Double Impact my friends. I would suggest you'd be sitting down for this one, because this will have you crying, and cheering all within the amazing acting ability of the man, VAN DAMME!! Get Ready For the SILENT POWER.......

I've seen replicant in the theater in belgium, where it got a cinematic release. I've been a van damme fan for a long time, but still i went with mixed feelings. Let's face it, van damme has made a couple off bad careerchoices the last couple of years. His last movies didn't do so well, and they weren't really great either. But this movie suprised me, ok, the storyline is a bit thin, (van damme plays the torch, and to catch him they make a clone of the torch, but the clone must learn about life to, pretty funny), but there's pretty good acting in it, a few action scenes which are really great. It's good entertainment, a good action-thriller. If you like movies like the watcher, then you'll defenitely appreciate the replicant. Good movie, but nothing more, just put your mind at zero, and watch.

Absolutely amazing. I mean, the guy had been written off for so long, I really didn't have many expectations for this movie, but it was a surprise and a half. The GOOD kind, too.

Ringo Lam also directed the tepid Van Damme film "Maximum Risk", but at least the fight scenes showed panache. You'll find this film mirrors "The Sixth Day" (if for no other reason but that Michael Rooker stars in both), and actually beats it for sheer watchability.

It's a lot of fun to see Van Damme brutalize any innocent bystander that gets in his way; he must have had a ball with that role. On the other hand, watching him perfect his 'Rain Man' side added a touch of pathos and humour as well--I think this movie represents his best acting yet, and believe me, that is saying a lot.

Some of the deleted scenes should have been left in for further character development, but overall, it's a tight, well-paced thriller/action film that really deserved a theatre release. Absolutely recommended.

REPLICANT as indicated in the Amazon review is a surprisingly good movie. Jean Claude van Damme gives one of his most convincing performances in two roles: a slimy serial killer called the Torch who has been murdering mothers and their babies, and as his genetic double, a kind of childlike replicant. The clone was done in order to try and retrace the movements of the real Torch, but also as a governmental experiment to initiate further plans for the future. Van Damme is repulsive as the Torch and quite convincing as the new Torch, who is put under the care of former cop, now secret service agent Michael Rooker. Rooker gives a compelling performance and the relationship that develops between he and the genetic double is well developed. Ringo Lam directs with a sure eye and the action scenes are well executed. A very surprising entry for van Damme and a good actioner overall.

I wish I had a replicant as well. That way one of me could watch this movie 24 hours a day. It is a masterpiece worthy of AFI top 100 movies. The fact that it was snubbed by the oscars is a travesty.

I used to think of Michael Rooker as a poor mans David Morse. Now I view the man as the only real actor ever to grace the face of the planet. Watch this movie and you will feel his inner turmoil as a man paired with a clone of his serial killing rival. If you only see one straight to video Van Damme film this year make it REPLICANT!

In the most compelling Van Damme picture yet, he acts as a serial killer and a clone, or in other words, 'replicant'. He has the mind of a five-year-old in a forty-year-old man's body. The clone learns how to stand, walk and sit all at once. Good boy. "Sit!" is a typical command from his master, Jake (Michael Rooker) who is also a cop. Retirement was on his agenda, but the psychopath stopped him from putting down his gun. The clone helps Jake find the killer and all mayhem occurs! The clone can do ballerina tricks and the killer knows martial arts. They fight in a bar and the killer actually picked up a vacuum cleaner and threw it! Strength! The clone started to pick up on his senses and helped Jake get the killer. He started to feel emotions and feel saddened by the loss of the killer's mother. Van Damme is an ultra genius for this one and the ending will leave you sobbing the night away.