Legionnaire (1998)

As I said in my comment above, this is a great Jean Claude Vam Damme film, which he also co-wrote. This proves that he can actually act, and not just be a muscle-bound man who kills everyone. The battle scenes are epic-like, the acting top-notch and the script brilliantly done.

Legionnaire is set in the 1920s France about Alain (Jean Claude Van Damme), a boxer who was payed by the French mafia to lose a fight, but he breaks his promise and tries to flee the country with his much-loved girlfriend, but that plan goes wrong, so he's forced to join the French Legion and fight rebels in Morroco. There he meets makes three men he befriends: Luther (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), an African-American man trying to have a better life, Guido (Daniel Caltagirone) a Spainish man trying to prove his bravery to marry his girlfriend, and Mackintosh (Nicholas Farrell) a British man trying to redeem himself. They're under the command of Steinkampf (Steven Berkoff), their commander who will do anything to win. They go to battle with the local rebels, which is hell. Not only this, but mafia hitmen also join the Legion to kill Alain.

This is a seriously underrated Van Damme film and is surely his best work. It's a crime that this didn't make it into the cinemas and get all the acclaim it deserves, yet pieces of shit like My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) get in and it's a massive hit. This is a classic from start to finish, even it's brilliant (perhaps corny to some) ending. I hope Van Damme keeps making these types of films and continues showing his true acting ability. Slyvester Stallone was thought to have not much acting ability, but he made Copland (1997), which got him a lot of acclaim. Perhaps one day people will finally see this and let him back into show business.

Rating: 5/5

Fmovies: "Legionnaire" is one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's more serious movies. Here, he tried to take a break from his usual action packed movies and appear in a picture that focused on story and character development. The result is a film that doesn't really work that well in the end, but it is definitely not that bad either.

The film relies more on drama than on action scenes and in spite of the fact that this represents a pleasant departure for Van Damme from his usual movies, this is also one of the film's main weaknesses. The movie doesn't know exactly what it wants to be. There were times when the film was a little too slow and some of the actors seemed a little uncomfortable in the scenes that demanded some acting abilities. On the other hand, the film makes good use of its setting (desert) and it has a good atmosphere. I also found the ending to be pretty good and thought that Van Damme did a decent job as an actor, an improvement from his previous roles.

In the end, "Legionnaire" is a nearly good movie, but I had the impression that they could have made it better. Also, if I were to compare it to Van Damme's other effort from 1998, "Knock Off", this is a lot better.

My rating: 5,5/10

Jean-Claude Van Damme can hold his head high with Legionnaire.

Directed by Peter MacDonald (Rambo III), Legionnaire is a slick, well-mounted production that, amid the action and beautifully arid locations, deals with matters close to Van Damme's heart - friendship, loyalty, sacrifice.

The script, by Sheldon Lettich and Rebecca Morrison (story by Lettich and Van Damme), is notable for the anguish it puts its hero through, and for avoiding the more conventional storyline it initially appears to be setting up. Instead, the film concludes on a more resonant note.

The most rewarding aspect of the film is probably the friendship Van Damme's character forms with three other Legionnaires. There are some terrific performances here, and it's obvious that MacDonald is as comfortable with his actors as he is with handling the battle sequences (the final battle is particularly bravura stuff). What a pleasure it also is to see Steven Berkoff back in a big Panavision production!

Composer John Altman's sweeping theme and heavy percussion in the opening credits really gets the anticipation going for Legionnaire. And, I'm pleased to say, the film pulls through.

Legionnaire fmovies. I like history movies, so I like this one. Nice change for Van Damm he plays a different role. The film is interesting to follow. We have the reasons why people joined, and the harshness of being one. A solid 6, and I would watch this film when they show it on TBS.

A different style Van Damme movie, using no kicks or any fancy martial arts moves. JCVD plays a Legionnaire in this, as in 'Lionheart'. He has a boxing match in this movie, in the beginning. Well directed, and good story-line. It's another good Van Damme movie that's very enjoyable. Recommended for everyone.

I bought the DVD off the sales rack at Wal-Mart, thinking I could pawn it off after once viewing it. . . .not expecting much of it, even though I am a fan of Van Damme. BUT, it surprised me as Van Damme expresses his DRAMATIC skills! Not his usuall puncher-kicker film, he tells the story of how it is for a legionnaire watching people he knows being picked off one-by-one in the heated Hell of war! Although it's not a true story, it IS, however, true to the way it is with any heartfull man who joins the Foreign Legion and gets caught up in such Hellish realities of hatred in combat. Leaving behind all he's ever known & felt comfortable with and fighting for a whole different cause, and finding out later the trespasses that happen which can result in hatred. You can feel the loneliness he felt as the Arabs ride away & he's the only one left standing there in the death, rubble, and smoke of what was his fort in Northern Africa. Certainly a welcomed change from Van Damme's usuall martial arts mayhem. It's a keeper!