Frank Dux has spent most his life being trained by Tanaka to participate in the Kumite, the ultimate martial arts tournament, where participants are seriously injured, even killed. Frank decides to go despite being told by his superiors in the army that he can’t because they need him. Two army officers are sent to get him and the trail leads to Hong Kong but Frank eludes them. While Frank advances, he knows that he may have to face Chong Li, the defending champion, who has killed a few participants. —IMDb
Van Damme's body as auteur. A pure Van Damme fight film, not "art" like Universal Soldier: Regeneration or In Hell, not thematic, but expressive posture. This film feels like a connection to what I consider the three great Van Damme precursors: Buster Keaton, Bruce Lee, and Gene Kelly.
Bruce Willis winces, Jason Statham mouths off, Arnold Schwarzenegger quips and gets irritated, Jackie Chan mugs earnestly, Steven Seagal