Film Review – Lady Bloodfight

1988’s “Bloodsport” isn’t going to be selected by the National Film Registry anytime soon, but to fight movie fans, the picture is a treasure. While responsible for turning Jean-Claude Van Damme into a global star, “Bloodsport” also spawned a franchise and shed light on underground fight tournaments, inspiring a league of knockoffs. Instead of trying to restart the series machine with Van Damme (like the recent “Kickboxer” remake did), the producers go all female for “Lady Bloodfight,” which isn’t a straight do-over, but a riff on the original feature, once again pitting a slightly overwhelmed outsider against a variety of hard, fierce competitors in the feared Kumite, an illegal martial-arts tournament. Changes in gender are interesting, and the cast is ready to brawl, but director Chris Nahon doesn’t tighten suspense or aggression to satisfaction, making an average DTV endeavor when the potential is there for something explosive. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com