Maximum Risk – Blu Ray Review

The Film:

Maximum Risk came towards the end of Van Damme’s theatrical career in 1996, and still opened at number one at the box office, prior to a stint he had in straight-to-DVD films. Van Damme is back after the successful JCVD, but it is a kick (no pun intended) to re-watch these films that I did so endlessly on a Saturday evening growing up.

Far from his worst, but not the ideal Van Damme film, the flick is still pretty watchable and follows the formula we love about these action films he did during the 1990s. Van Damme stars as Alain Moreau a French cop that comes across a strange case. A man who looks just like him, is found dead. Curious, he finds that it is his brother, separated at birth. Now, he must seek out why his brother died. Yeah, that sounds like formula, but we do like formula, admit it. It’s safe, and we know what we’re going to get, and in the hot summer days in the 90s, that’s what action fans, Van Damme fans, and this once little boy going to Blockbuster to rent his latest, got.

Amidst all of the explosions, the fights, and the beautiful, beautiful, Natasha Henstridge (Species), I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the elements that are also in Eastern Promises. I can bet David Cronenberg didn’t see Maximum Risk, but we get an opening murder that brings us into the film, a story about the mean Russian Mob, and a steam room fight (but Maximum Risk doesn’t have penis shots). Those are elements in Eastern Promises, and while that don’t have any barrings on this film, made 6 or 7 years prior, a film fan can smirk, can’t he?

Maximum Risk is a typical action film. Fights, gun shootings, and some Van Dammage, his fans should be pleased on some level, and 13 years later, it still holds up as a decent vehicle for our beloved Muscles from Brussels. It was a plug-and-play action film that capitalized on the stardom of Van Damme, and the rising star (at the time) of Henstridge, and while action films have evolved, there’s nothing wrong with a little nostalgic roundhouse kicking.

The Blu Ray:

Audio/Video: For a 13 year old film, I was pleasantly surprised on the quality of this Sony Blu Ray. First, the audio is punchy, bass heavy, and while the range isn’t like a modern film, the surrounds are still quite active. They offer the film a new DD TrueHD mix. Next, the picture looks reasonably sharp, clear and highly detailed. It’s not as impressive as modern films, again, but for an average budgeted film, it looks good in HD.

There are no extras on the disc, outside a few Trailers.

Conclusion: A mid-level Van Damme film, but a pretty decent Blu Ray, making Van Damme fans happy with this purchase. Others, rent.

The Film: Rating:

The Blu Ray: Rating: