By: John M Jerva
It’s time to lock and load and go to war as we delve into the special edition Blu-Ray release of JCVD’s Hard Target from Kino Lorber. I picked up this Holy Grail for serious fans for $1.25 at my local Dollar Tree. Released last December this is the definitive version to own as it contains the 4K restoration of the international unrated cut which features more action and Van Dammage!
Listen to the latest entry of The Action Fix Podcast below as I detail why this version is a must own and why this is my favorite Van Damme flick!
The legendary “Muscles from Brussels” Jean-Claude Van Damme (No Retreat, No Surrender, Kickboxer) teams up with world-famous action director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled, Face/Off) and executive producer Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Spider-Man) for this electrifying thriller. Chance Boudreaux (Van Damme) is the target of an evil mercenary (Lance Henriksen, Aliens) who recruits combat veterans for the “amusement” of his clients—bored tycoons who will pay a half a million dollars to stalk and kill the most challenging prey of them all: Man. So when beautiful Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler, TV’s Witchblade) hires Chance in search of her missing father, she gets more than she bargained for. Screenwriter Chuck Pfarrer (Darkman) takes “The Most Dangerous Game” and laces it with dark humor and slam-bang action for the hard-hitting Hard Target, featuring Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Kasi Lemmons (The Silence of the Lambs) and Wilford Brimley (The Thing).
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Arnold Vosloo, Wilford Brimley, Kasi Lemmons, Willie C. Carpenter, Ted Raimi and Sven-Ole Thorsen
Directed by John Woo
This edition is locked and loaded with some amazing special features including new interviews with Woo, Henriksen, Butler and more!
Blu-Ray Extras Include:
Brand New 4K Restoration of the Unrated International Cut – From a 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative!
NEW Interview with Director John Woo
NEW Interview with Actor Lance Henriksen
NEW Interview with Actress Yancy Butler
NEW Interview with Stunt Coordinator Billy Burton
NEW Audio Commentary by Action Film Historians Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder
Theatrical Trailer (Newly Restored in HD)
ACTION-FLIX 
