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).
For thoughts on Hard Target, please see my previous article here.
Video Quality
Kino Classics presents Hard Target with an excellent 2160p HDR Dolby Vision transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative of the Unrated International Cut. The base remaster for this release is absolutely stunning. The level of detail and clarity is miraculous with a pleasing amount of natural film grain intact. The grain mostly resolves quite well, but there are some moments during the slow-motion sequences which can appear a bit thick due to the filming technique. The texture on display in the costumes and within the landscapes are a revelation. Even facial details such as dripping sweat or cuts and bruises present with impressive clarity. This transfer does feature a few stray specks that do not amount to much in the long run. This presentation is as true to the original look of the film as it can get with the added resolution making elements seem more natural.
The Dolby Vision HDR really proves its worth, as well, as it makes the warm New Orleans setting really come to life. The most impressive moments of HDR implementation are in the film’s exterior locations with vegetation and hot summer weather which provide colors that radiate naturally with a pleasing intensity. White levels offer a greater stability without veering into blooming. Black levels do not struggle with even the slightest hint of crush, as it maintains a strong amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones look natural and the color saturation throughout is virtually flawless. This transfer is a treat for fans of the film and should stand as the best representation on home video to date.
Audio Quality
Note: Due to a production error, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track on the initial batch of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs had the left and right channels switched. These discs have been recalled and will be reissued soon. If you received the initial batch, you can learn more about the replacement program Kino Lorber implemented here.
While the 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc was messed up, the included Blu-Ray features the correct 5.1 track which should be what is included on the corrected discs. For review purposes, I will cover the audio of the Blu-Ray release below.
The Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track, the latter of which offers a really poor sounding experience which lacks delineation. Luckily the original 5.1 track is as dynamic and hard-hitting as you could possibly hope. This track features a broad soundscape which captures the kinetic sound design of the film with perfect fidelity. The track features some pretty constant activity and really comes alive when things go full-tilt. The score and soundtrack is used perfectly to establish the mood of the story, and this track handles it flawlessly throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. The environmental sounds are rendered well alongside everything else. The low end response is significant and will have your house shaking during certain explosions. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Kino Classics has given this film a solid audio presentation that brings the movie to life in an exciting manner.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Action Film Historians Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder deliver a very informative commentary track in which they discuss where this fits in the careers of the talent involved, the workprint versions of the film, the role that New Orleans plays in the film, the music in the film, the construction of the action set pieces and more.
- From Hard Boiled To Hard Target – Interview with Director John Woo: A 13-minute conversation with Woo in which he discusses his unique relationship with Hollywood, his initial reaction to the script, working with Van Damme, the fun of blowing up things and more.
- Henriksen vs. Van Damme – Interview with Actor Lance Henriksen: A nine-minute piece in which Henriksen discusses coming to the project, his love of John Woo, his contributions to the narrative, the appeal of working in New Orleans, the construction of the action scenes, the darkness of the role and more.
- Hard Times In The Big Easy – Interview with Actress Yancy Butler: A 15-minute interview with Butler in which she discusses getting into acting, immersing herself into the work of Van Damme and John Woo, bringing her mom to New Orleans, the reluctance to being a damsel in distress, how Wilford Brimley nearly killed her, injuries she sustained on the set and more. Butler is full of stories and they are all blunt and interesting.
- Gun Fu and Van Dammage – Interview with Stunt Coordinator Billy Burton: A nine-minute talk with Burton in which he talks about his need to use action to tell a story, his entry into the business, the construction of various sequences, the inspiration of westerns, the collaborative nature of the film and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Hard Target is provided here. There are also trailers provided for No Retreat No Surrender, Hero and the Terror, Wanted: Dead Or Alive, Running Scared, Black Moon Rising, Avenging Force, and Revenge of the Ninja.
Final Thoughts
Hard Target is a patently ridiculous film, but it is one that goes down easy when you are looking for some mindless, bloody action. Van Damme delivers some of the cheesiest lines with a straight face and a ridiculous accent. Where this film succeeds quite a bit is in the ruthlessness of its villains, as Lance Henriksen in particular gives the story his all. Kino Classics has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a fantastic new restoration, but flawed audio which resulted in a replacement program. They also included a host of new special features that are truly fun to dig into. Once the corrected discs are in circulation, this release should be a top-notch addition to the collection of any fan of over-the-top action films. If you are a Van Damme fan, you know what you are getting into and whether or not this should be added to your wishlist.
Hard Target is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.