Simply A Masterpiece

Fresh and Exciting

Fantastic!

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Former New Orleans cop Jack Robideaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) starts a new border patrol job in Columbus, New Mexico. He is haunted by his past. The area is overrun by human smugglers and drug runners. On top of which is a group of American ex-Special Forces returning from Afganistan involved in smuggling heroin and explosives.This is the border issue being handled with as much care as one expects from a Van Damme movie. There is a lot of kung fu kicking. The story doesn't really make sense. I don't know why anybody would bother with the suicide vest. What's the point of the weaponized priest bus? None of it has any reality. The production is lower quality. This is a B-movie without any fun or any tension.

Will wonders never cease? First off, I caught a not-bad Seagal film from 2008 on TV one night (the title is PISTOL WHIPPED, in case you're interested), proving that the ageing action hero can still make entertaining films on occasion. Now, three nights later, I've caught a Van Damme film from 2008 on the same channel, and guess what? It's pretty good! THE SHEPHERD is a throwback to the classic Van Damme thrillers of the 1990s, an action-packed testosterone ride full of vehicle chases (in this instance, a stand-out sequence has a coach – modified with machine-guns and a bullet-proof chassis – pursued across the US/Mexican border by Van Damme), intense shoot-outs, and some scorching martial arts action.The film itself might be pretty predictable but it's a step up from the last Van Damme film I watched, SECOND IN COMMAND. Isaac Florentine has proved himself to be one of the best straight-to-video action directors and he doesn't disappoint with his efforts here. The action choreography is slick and stylish, with nice clean fights and some great slow motion moves from the professionals. Van Damme is matched against Brit high-kicker Scott Adkins for an extended bout at the climax, and it's another highlight in a film full of 'em. Naked chicks, torture sequences, traitors, twists, suicide bombers, and balaclava-wearing bad guys: all of the ingredients are here and make up one thrill-ride of a film.Van Damme himself particularly shines in a role that stretches his acting as well as action chops. He's actually very good indeed as the ageing cop struggling to cope with dark memories from his past. Compare his acting here with that in CYBORG and you'll see just how far he's progressed. In fact, he gives the likes of some A-listers a run for their money here, and his acting blows Seagal's clean out of the water. He's supported by a cast seemingly recruited from British television: there's Stephen Lord, fresh off EASTENDERS and fairly convincing as Meyers, the chief bad guy, and Natalie J. Robb from DOCTORS as Van Damme's tough, ass-kicking superior (less convincing, but pretty enough). In any case, this is nothing new, but it runs through the action clichés with aplomb and sits solidly as one of Van Damme's best.

(Credit IMDb) A former New Orleans cop battles drug cartels and ex- Army Special Forces who are smuggling drugs from Mexico into U.S. through a Texas border town.I'm a massive fan of JCVD. I own almost all of his movies. Even though his work is mostly STD these days, I still watch every one that comes out. Unlike Seagal, he actually tries still. That being said, JCVD has churned out some forgettable crap as well. I wouldn't call this crap, but it's uninspired and mediocre to say the least. When you open a film with Van Damme feeding a rabbit with a carrot, you know it isn't going to be that good. Those expecting Vintage Van Damage will be disappointed. The fight scenes are tame, with only brief snippets of Van Damage. The main selling point here is Van Damme vs Adkins. They have a solid, if underwhelming scrap. I expected much more from two of the best in the world. The only other thing that stands out is a decent chase involving a bus. Van Damme is on auto-pilot here. His presence is there, but his heart doesn't seem to be fully into it. Sometimes he delivers, others he seems bored. I didn't buy into his pain with his dead daughter either. That's mainly because it is so vaguely written. Natalie J. Robb is entirely unconvincing in her role. She wasn't intimidating in her tough role at all. Adkins can play a henchman in his sleep. He should have been used better. This is one of JCVD's forgettable STD movies. It's somewhat dull, lacking in action, and has a poor story. It's not terrible, but certainly not very memorable. Unless you're a die-hard JCVD fan like I am, I'd pass4/10

when van damme makes a good movie, he makes a really good movie, when he makes a bad movie, he makes a really bad movie, luckily this is one of his better efforts, as he plays a border control agent, who wants revenge for the death of his daughter, who died after taking drugs. the action scenes are plenty full, and very well made and choreographed, the villains are good, and the acting actually pretty decent. van damme looks on great shape, expecialy compared to others like seagal and stallone, and he pulls his fight scenes off with ease, i didn't notice any doubles. the movie isn't a masterpiece by any means, but its a solid action thriller that delivers the goods, and van damme fans are bound to enjoy it. i recommend