Jean-Claude Van Dammestarred in a wonderfully goofy cyberpunk movie in the late ’80s, and silly names aside, it’s one of his best hidden gems. A staple of ’80s and ’90s action films, the Belgian martial artist and actor specialized in headlining B-movies that were usually better than many of the first-run features that Hollywood was producing at the time.
Bloodsportput Van Damme on the map, but he would soon move away from the strict martial arts genre toward a plethora of science fiction-inspired films. By the middle of the 1990s, Van Damme was in bona fide blockbusters likeTime CopandUniversal Soldier, and he cemented his status as one ofthe greatest action stars of all time.
It’s hard to say that any of JCVD’s early movies are hidden gems, especially since they were already B-movies, but one cult classic stands head and shoulders above the rest. While it may be a beloved slice of late ’80s cheese, the cyberpunk film is still some of Van Damme’s best work.
Cyborg Is Probably Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Most Overlooked Movie
His First Sci-Fi Movie Kicked Off A Career Trend
1989’sCyborgis not generally mentioned highly amongJean-Claude Van Damme’s best movies, but it certainly deserves a spot.The film was directed by B-movie maestro Albert Pyun, and is set in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States. Van Damme stars as generic action hero, Gibson, and he is allowed to kick his way through crowds of enemies.
Despite a razor-thin plot,Cyborgshines because of its martial arts choreography and intelligent creative choices. Pyun excelled at getting the most from the least amount of money, andCyborgdoesn’t suffer from the same lazy pitfalls as many of its contemporaries. The movie’s setting is unique, and the American South isn’t usually the location fora post-apocalyptic sci-fi film.
it kicked off a career trend for JCVD, and the ’90s saw him appear in more and more sci-fi films.
It also never pretends to be anything that it isn’t, and embraces the silliness while highlighting what it does right. Perhaps most importantly, it kicked off a career trend for JCVD, and the ’90s saw him appear in more and more sci-fi films. WithoutCyborg, he probably wouldn’t have been cast in his biggest films a few years later.
Yes, Cyborg Has Some Of Cinema’s Most Ridiculous Character Names
A good name is crucial, butCyborgmight have the most ridiculous names in film history. Van Damme plays a character named Gibson Rickenbacker, which is silly enough, but it’s even goofier for those who know about musical instruments.Both parts of his name are guitar brands, and he wasn’t the only one.
Cyborgspawned two sequels,Cyborg 2andCyborg 3: The Recycler.
The main villain is Fender Tremelo, a combination of a guitar brand and a guitar effect, which doesn’t make him more intimidating. Another character is named Pearl Prophet, which is a bit more subtle, but is still an obvious nod to instrument brands. While it doesn’t tank theJean-Claude Van Dammemovie, it certainly makes everything a lot more cheesy.
