Jean-Claude is Back

I know that you've heard of this action star. Jean Claude Van Damme, or JCVD, was once one of the biggest stars in the worldnot that we ever took him very seriously. For years, he's lingered in the straight to video world. But now we're being forced to take him seriously.For the very young or very new action move fans: Jean-Claude Van Damme is a muscular, handsome, world-famous action hero that started training in martial arts at age 11. He retired from his active competition with an 18-1 (18 knockouts) record to pursue a movie career. An important note: Before he retired, he had a rematch with Patrick Teugels, the only man to defeat him. Van Damme came out punching and kicking, but his overwhelming aggression was too much for Teugels. The match was halted in under the 2-minute mark.Muscular and handsome, Van Damme has an impressive physique and in nearly every Van Damme film, he usually executes a masterful split. The characters he portrays are usually softer than the typical invincible or unrefined action hero that Schwarzenegger or Stallone portrays. He never managed to achieve blockbuster status in America in his prime, yet he has been in almost 40 movies and has unchallenged worldwide appeal.His new film, appropriately titled JCVD, is garnering real attention on the festival circuit. Van Damme plays a character not far distant from his real life persona. More than just a comedy, the movie promises to give us real depth of character.And apparently, JCVD himself manages to give a stellar performance. Again, I know that you're surprised, but apparently, the star of such cinematic wonders as Cyborg and Universal Soldier has had some unused talents.The new trailer for the film at www.apple.com/trailers/independent/jcvd/ shows a highly stylized look. The color is gone and the light contrasts are big, making the film look more like Schindler's List than Time Cop.The trailer shows an aging action star, forced to make straight to video released films, directed by young Asians directors who have no aspirations to make good films. A real laugh comes when the star says, 'I'm 47 years-old and it's very hard for me to do everything in one shot.'The movie seems to move from a hip mockumentary to a genuine action film, as Van Damme is forced to use his martial arts skills in a bank heist. The whole thing looks to be enormously fun. I can hardly wait to see it.