The Quest Reviews

Van Damme basically remakes Bloodsport, but makes it boring instead of fun.

Pretty much the same movie as Bloodsport set in the early 20th century with a more "elaborate" plot. I don't know why but I love this movie.

In "The Quest," Jean-Claude Van Damme directs and stars in this action movie about a street dweller (Jean-Claude Van Damme) who helps out kids that are on the street the best he can. He accidentally gets onboard a freight ship and travels to the Far East. Some people notice his fighting skills and he eventually gets entered in a fighting tournament that features the best fighters from various countries and continents. The fighters range from a sumo wrestler from Japan, a martial arts fighter from China who fights just like a monkey, and a monstrous and intimidating fighter from Mongolia. It's up to Van Damme to try and show everybody that he's the best fighter and have a chance at winning a huge golden dragon that goes to the fighter.
Unlike what Van Damme movies are usually known for, "The Quest" does have a good plot, and it's even directed by Van Damme himself. He should make more movies like this. "The Quest" has a plot, the fighting is exciting, and it's a good movie. I recommend anybody who likes good fighting movies to get "The Quest." You'll be glad you went along on this quest. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001.

A reasonable cast and some nice looks only save this feeble film. Its basically just a rehash of 'Bloodsport' with virtually the same types of fighters, plot and fight sequences!!
Roger Moore adds alittle class but thats about it really.

Van Damme did good jobs on acting and directing in this epic one-on-one martial-arts fighters film.

Van Damme is great!

If your a big action junkie and love martial arts movies and Jean Claude Van Damme than you will like this movie. Van Damme's first movie where he directs and stars in it is actually a well acted very fun movie. The action scenes are great and you have great performances by Roger Moore (James Bond) James Remar, and Jack McGee (Rescue Me TV series). Also there is a great villain in this movie too. Also, for anyone who thinks it is low on story, it actually has some decent character development and explains stuff with a clear plot.

Harmlessly enjoyable "warriors gather from around the globe" movie with competent direction from Van Damme. Moore gives good support and it's wonderful to see so many different fighting styles pitted against each other - with great choreography. The tone is more Stephen Sommers than Ang Lee, but there are far worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

Seeing Roger Moore on his "quest of regaining the glorious fame he once had" is probably the best thing coming from an ambitious,eccentrically fucked up "competition" of juvenile warriors including Van Damme.Hey,it's not the worst movie ever but the whole movie pack of this genre is generally despicable.

One of my favorite Van Damme movies. Many would say this is a copy of Bloodsport, indeed it is but with much more class and has a nice 20s touch.

Amazingly bad, in a completely awesome way. Directed by Jean Claude and co-written by him and Frank Dux!

The Quest is a chance for Jean-Claude Van Damme and Frank Dux to bring back a storyline similiar to Bloodsport. While The Quest has better fight sequences and acting, the film doesn't have the gusto that Bloodsport had. Unfortuneately, because of this film, the friendship of Van Damme and Dux ceased.

Christopher Dubois (Jean-Claude Van Damme), abandoned as a child, is a pickpocket and entertainer while taking care of orphaned children like he. They make a living by stealing from the local crowd whenever they can. They eventually end up stealing from a group of mobsters and Debois goes on the run, becoming a stowaway on a ship captained by gunsmugglers. English mercenary, Lord Edgar Dobbs (Roger Moore) and his partner Harry Smythe (Jack McGee) eventually apprehend the ship and kill all the smugglers on it, while sparing Debois' life. He is tricked into believing that Dobbs will help him get back to America and is left on an island around Siam. There he is trained in the arts of Muay Thai, until Dobbs and his partner come back to the island with an American reporter in Carrie Newton (Janet Gunn) some time later. Dobbs informs Debois about a tournament being held in Tibet, with the winner obtaining a huge dragon statue made out of solid gold.

The competitors that Debois faces come from various countries with some exceptional skills that surpass the one's in Bloodsport. While Van Damme tried to make this film as strong as Bloodsport, the determination was not there. Each fighter had his own style, which made for an amazing display of fighting techniques; even throwing in a little humor among the contestants. As the characters journeyed to the Lost City, we're treated with some nice scenic landscapes of the country. The film keeps up a steady pace of action, with the final stage being completely all about the matches.

As I said before, while the choreography is wonderful, having Debois battle for the release of his fellow traveling party wasn't as endearing as his revenge for his pal in Bloodsport. His friends obviously didn't seem to look like they were in any kind of trouble, being comfortably restrained in their prison. The people of the Lost City were actually mild-mannered about the whole attempted robbery of the golden statue. Van Damme is still pulling that whole "wounded soldier" gig when he's in a battle, but it surprisingly works because his opponents are no push-overs. The Quest is a stylistic display of filming with some eclectic characters covering an array of martial arts styles.

I'm only giving it a single star, even though some of the martial artts look decent, just because it's so Gawdafully plotted.

I mean, how fucked up is that? A martial arts film in which the martial arts aren't enough to outweigh the shitty plot?

It was an okay watch via cable, but I'd never look at this again.

Pass.

another movie where he competes in a tournament. Roger moore plays a suave charecter. Fights are more brutal and less flashy.

jcvd directed this ripoff of bloodsport, it's great, who watches a van damme movie for the story anyway, as long as he's kickin i'm happy

Im glad I choreographed all his moves. What if someone else did it? What would the movie look like then? Hmmmm

While a lot of the acting is just cheesy at best, and the plot is just an excuse to put together the fights, it's not a bad movie at all. And it's primarily because of the fights, which are pretty well chroeographed.

van damme started goin down about this time, but myself being a big fan of his at one time, plus very open to martial arts movies, i liked it

man if you watch one movie of van Damme you gotta see the rest
or it might because i was watching spyke too long lol

THE DIRECTING MUSCLE FRM BRUSSELS
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Van damme's directoral debut, and roger moore too. NUFF SAID
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NOT GOOD