Hard Target (1993)

Title -               Hard Target

Type -              Feature Fiction

Genre -            Action, Martial Arts

Director -         John Woo

Country -         USA


Where were you at in 1993?  I was coming home from school on a Friday afternoon when my father, as he usually did over weekends, brought some rented VCRs from the Video Store.  Hard Target was one of them!  As children, we had already established a cult-like following for Jean-Claude Van Damme with Kick Boxer 1989 and Bloodsport (1988) being personal favourites for the then 10 year-old me.  Now, we have Hard Target, a time when we never knew movies had directors but only had action heroes and stars, nevertheless, John Woo would woo us with his prowess in weaving together action films with this at the time being my second of his to uncannily watch [Hard Boiled (1992) being the first].



One thing I'll never forget about this film (other than everything about it!) is the tagline on the poster which was commonly painted on most matatus in Eastlands area, Nairobi (especially the number 23 Buru Buru ones where we once lived briefly in the 80s) - Don't Hunt What You Can't Kill! - yes!  This gave us chills to the fullest!  Hard Target was also the film in which we, for the first time as children, noticed that different directors have different styles; John Woo would aptly use slow-motion in his films and there would always be a dove flying off somewhere in his films i.e. Face Off (1997) and Mission Impossible II (2000).

From round-house kicks to flying spin-kicks to high-adrenaline action sequences this was a movie to watch and rewatch!  It also inspired some of us to get into martial arts early in life, a thing I never regret.  If you haven't watched this film you must be a resident of Mars or Pluto, but its not too late - WATCH IT!  I know I definitely will for the gazillionth time!

What if John Woo is given a Marvel super hero film to direct?  Hmmm ...


Rating -      4/5 stars


Review by Robert Mũnũku


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