On the fringes of modern consumerism concerning film & media lies something known as a workprint. Essentially, a workprint is a beta or prototype (if you will) of a film. Normally, the workprint is used for digital editing and test audiences to determine if and what should be cut from the motion picture.
In 1993, John Woo began production on his first Hollywood film starring Jean Claude Van Damme called Hard Target. This film was yet another rehash of The Most Dangerous Game, this time addition came before a dread-locked Ice T rocked the story (Surviving the Game), which we are all heartbroken about the decision to exclude a Rastafarian Van Damme. A screening of this film debuted for a single audience which featured an extra 20 minutes that was cut off of the theatrical and DVD release. Today, the workprint is near impossible to find except via torrents and bootlegs.
The differences are many and small, some ranging from large to hardly noticeable. The most prominent features are a love scene and extreme gun play. Many more bullets are fired and the death toll is greater. The vintage feel of a Woo film is restored and it showcases many wounds including a man getting shot 29 times with an upside down Beretta.
Various angles and little scenes were clipped but I read that the real fear came from a NC-17 rating which I couldn't see happening, although the ear removal scene (ode to Tarantino) might have pissed some people off. Studio exec's told Woo that he cannot kill seven henchmen in one scene. Such censorship obviously led to a lackluster vision in which the director probably regrets not challenging the system at that time.
The source copy of this has a time stamp which tends to bother me until I forget it's there and the quality is almost horrid. Although I'd rather absorb the director's vision of a hyper-violent Cajun vigilante so I much prefer the workprint. Now onto the actual film - Hard Target is an American Hong Kong action film. While Woo makes poetry with absurd violence, Hard Target is one of his lesser works but it still stands strong.
Several scenes kill the stern visage set on by Van Damme's face such as the infamous snake punch scene in which he knocks a snake out cold with a swift fist in the kisser. Hard Target features some very enjoyable scenes of extreme disregard towards shop windows and the human life.
Led by Lance Henriksen and Imhotep, the villains create a daunting atmosphere led on by the stark fear in their victims eyes. Exploiting veterans has been going on since the dawn of Vietnam and it is just as sad to see scum like these torture these people. I'd like to see an alternate reality of this film in which Henriksen employs a lonely John Rambo to be his prey. Oh how sweet the suffering would be.
In 1993, John Woo began production on his first Hollywood film starring Jean Claude Van Damme called Hard Target. This film was yet another rehash of The Most Dangerous Game, this time addition came before a dread-locked Ice T rocked the story (Surviving the Game), which we are all heartbroken about the decision to exclude a Rastafarian Van Damme. A screening of this film debuted for a single audience which featured an extra 20 minutes that was cut off of the theatrical and DVD release. Today, the workprint is near impossible to find except via torrents and bootlegs.
The differences are many and small, some ranging from large to hardly noticeable. The most prominent features are a love scene and extreme gun play. Many more bullets are fired and the death toll is greater. The vintage feel of a Woo film is restored and it showcases many wounds including a man getting shot 29 times with an upside down Beretta.
Various angles and little scenes were clipped but I read that the real fear came from a NC-17 rating which I couldn't see happening, although the ear removal scene (ode to Tarantino) might have pissed some people off. Studio exec's told Woo that he cannot kill seven henchmen in one scene. Such censorship obviously led to a lackluster vision in which the director probably regrets not challenging the system at that time.
The source copy of this has a time stamp which tends to bother me until I forget it's there and the quality is almost horrid. Although I'd rather absorb the director's vision of a hyper-violent Cajun vigilante so I much prefer the workprint. Now onto the actual film - Hard Target is an American Hong Kong action film. While Woo makes poetry with absurd violence, Hard Target is one of his lesser works but it still stands strong.
Several scenes kill the stern visage set on by Van Damme's face such as the infamous snake punch scene in which he knocks a snake out cold with a swift fist in the kisser. Hard Target features some very enjoyable scenes of extreme disregard towards shop windows and the human life.
Led by Lance Henriksen and Imhotep, the villains create a daunting atmosphere led on by the stark fear in their victims eyes. Exploiting veterans has been going on since the dawn of Vietnam and it is just as sad to see scum like these torture these people. I'd like to see an alternate reality of this film in which Henriksen employs a lonely John Rambo to be his prey. Oh how sweet the suffering would be.
-mAQ
Man, it would be great to see unrated cut of this film, someday. When, i saw it i was always disappointed in the low level amount of violence (for John Woo).
ReplyDeleteI totally can relate. I remember loving this film when I was a wee lad though, so I never really was sore from that, but looking back, this film had more potential to screw with me head but failed.
ReplyDeleteI can't see this version getting released due to the only print being absolutely hideous.
Damn, the dude gets shot 29 times and then gets his cigar roundhouse kicked out of his mouth. That's pretty demoralizing. Cutting the over-the-top violence out of a John Woo film is like cutting the comedy out of a Mel Brooks film. This is what happens when a small unelected committee of pious hypocrites gets handed the reigns to the MPAA.
ReplyDeleteDemoralized alright. Can you imagine living through that and going home to your wife? Wait, scratch that. 29 shots.
ReplyDeleteThat man is screwed either or.