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Best movie of this year hands down!

Overrated and overhyped

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The second teaming of Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Ringo Lam after the underrated MAXIMUM RISK is an extremely violent tale with a neat twist which makes it akin to both THE BONE COLLECTOR and Schwarzenegger's recent THE SIXTH DAY, as it mixes both science fiction and horror elements into an otherwise action-orientated plot. Hong Kong legend Ringo Lam shoots his movie with style and his typically hard-edged action scenes don't disappoint here, from the acrobatic martial arts battles (Van Damme inevitably ends up battling himself, as almost always in these kinds of films - the actor has a fetish about playing dual roles, you see) which make good use of props and take full advantage of Lam's brutal, fast-paced style. Then there's a hair-raising ambulance chase in an underground car park which really gets the blood going - an excellent sequence, near flawless in its execution.The plot is slower-paced than normal and rather more complex than you might at first expect. The 'bad' Van Damme is a long-haired sunglasses-wearing punk, who was tortured and beaten by his mother as a child and now has a vendetta against single mothers, whom he burns like in the chilling opening shots. As the baddie, Van Damme is pretty nasty and totally acceptable in what is a total turnaround from the normal, masculine hero-type parts he plays. The 'good' Van Damme on the other hand is a clone with the mind of a child, who must quickly learn to mentally grow and adapt to the world. Van Damme's acting in this part is superb and far surpasses any of his previous performances: he conveys the naivety and wonder of a child trapped in a man's very well indeed, far better than the likes of Robin Williams have done so previously. Congratulations indeed for such a complex part for the actor and that he managed to pull it off successfully.The only major flaw that this film has is its handling of violence - some of it is pretty graphic, not bloody but still repellent. I refer to scenes in which beaten men are repeatedly kicked - hard - in the stomach whilst on the ground, sadistically so. The worst offending moment is when Michael Rooker beats the heck out of a handcuffed Van Damme whom he believes has mistreated a child (it turns out he hasn't after all) - judging by the mental state of Van Damme's character at the time this is akin to the beating of a child and as such leaves an unpleasant aftertaste - is this really necessary? Fortunately this and other scenes don't spoil the film too much but the gratuitousness of the violence is something we haven't seen much of before in Van Damme's other movies and take the edge of what could have been a classic.The only other actor of note in the cast is the veteran Michael Rooker, playing yet another cop (okay, an ex-cop in this case) with a grudge. Rooker puts in a solid and believable turn but it's nothing he hasn't played before, having become typecast in such roles in recent years. Ironically a minor character - Marnie Alton playing a hooker with a heart - is the strongest female part the film has, but then this is really a three-hander between Rooker and the two Van Dammes. A solid entry for the ageing action hero and different enough to be accessible for even those who aren't his fans - this is deeper and far more complex than anything he has made in the last five or six years and also a better film for it. Well-made, well-acted and only spoiled by some unnecessary sadism which it would have been better off without, my advice is to give REPLICANT a chance.

Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take a Van Damme underrated, science fiction, action film from Ringo Lam, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Replicant (2001) is Van Damme's third Direct to Video decent Science Fiction/action movie, that I think is very underrated and bashed off. In my opinion this is my favorite Van Damme. It is the second movie from Van Damme that is direct to video I saw on VHS. The first one would be Legionnaire which I liked that movie, but I love this one. In my opinion this movie is far way better than Knock Off, Derailed and Inferno aka Desert Heat! I seriously hate those movies. Each of them suck and Replicant is miles way better than those movies together, that I think Van Damme made a shitty job in there. The movie starts off about a scientists who create a genetic clone of a serial killer in order to help catch the killer, teaming up with two cops.Replicant is about obsessed serial killer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and the recently retired cop (Michael Rooker) intent on stopping him. After finding his hair follicle at a crime scene, a secret government agency clones the killer in the hopes that the replicant will aid in the search. Although he's full-grown, the clone (also played by Van Damme) has the emotional and mental capacity of a young child. Soon the naive replicant begins to have visions of past murders and an abusive mother, leading him to escape and seek the killer on his own. The film it self is more about retribution for a cop and a serial killer's replicant clone. I love Michael Rooker as Det. Jake Riley, I seriously love his acting performance in this movie, the same I did love his acting performance in his other movies as a cop. Renegade Force (1998) and The Replacement Killers (1998), which I own this movie on Blu-ray disc. Jean-Claude Van Damme did a solid job acting performance in this movie, the fight choreographer was good, and the fight scenes where also good.This was the second collaboration between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam that they where working together. This first one was Maximum Risk and this is the second one. Honestly Direct to Videos that Van Damme made, my favorites are Maximum Risk and this one Replicant. I love how smart and brilliant this movie is, that Van Damme's replicant helps Jake (Michael Rooker) catching the serial killer his original clone./: Edward "The Torch" Garrotte (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a serial killer, who prey's for the female's who are mom's or a single mom's and kills's them. Each of the mom is picked up randomly whenever she say's words like "You're a bad boy" than he attacks and kill's them. He uses his martial arts to escape from the cops, who are after him. Det. Jake Riley is actually a cop, who is chasing The Torch for a years not successfully. So now he is forced to get retired, but The Torch call's on the phone him and pushes him, beyond the limit. A scientist clone the killer with the help of his DNK and they gave him to Riley (Michael Rooker) in to the care. The replicant will help him to catch The Torch.I love how Rooker's character hated, the replicant and blaming him for everything that is happening in his life and so on. I also love how the replicant saves Jake on the end, beats up The Torch, fake's his own death and flees the crime and starts the new life with the hooker, he just saved. Seriously a good movie and not bad for 51 year old Van Damme. There are few more movies Van Damme made direct to video that I like beside this one. I am giving this movie a sold 8, because Ringo Lam did made a great job directing this movie and working together for the second time with Van Damme. I love this movie and it is my favorite Van Damme movie. I will get this movie on Blu-ray disc next month, I hardly wait. Replicant is a 2001 American science fiction action film directed by Ringo Lam, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Michael Rooker. It is the second collaboration between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam, and the fifth time that Van Damme has starred in a dual role. The film had a limited theatrical release in many European countries, and was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on September 18, 2001.8/10 Grade: A Studio: Artisan Entertainment Eagle Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Rooker, Catherine Dent, Brandon James Olson, Pam Hyatt, Ian Robison, Allan Gray, James Hutson, Marnie Alton Director: Ringo Lam Producers: David Dadon, Danny Lerner, John Thompson Screenplay: Lawrence David Riggins, Les Weldon Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 40 Mins. Budget: $17.000.000 Box Office: $848,053

A "genetic double", cloned from the DNA of a serial killer nicknamed Torch(..for how he burns the female corpses of mommies who resemble the horrible maternal figure who abused him as a child), will be used to track him down, partnered up with disgruntled ex-cop Jake(Michael Rooker). Jake has been after Garrotte for so long, it has developed into an obsession that wrecked his marriage with cop Angie(Catherine Dent). The chase is on but will Jake be able to babysit this clone, whose an infant to the world around him, and succeed in his mission to capture Torch once and for all? Can the replicant be trusted, since he is, after all, a "brother", in a sense, to Torch? Collaberating with director Ringo Lam once again, Jean-Claude Van Damme actually has here one of his better Post-Time Cop movies, starring in dual roles, as both a vicious psycho and essentially a child responding to a brand new world alien to him. And, I'll be damned if he doesn't pull it off! Torch is easily one of JCVD's most sadistic characters, pummeling women and men alike, no conscience or humanity, just a nasty, cold-blooded killer who stares down anyone who in his path, superkicking them out of his way. JCVD, as the replicant, however, is a polar opposite to Torch, an innocent drug about, mostly by handcuffs, like a houndog by a monumentally angry Rooker. Rooker is on edge the entire film, a short fuse with one goal in mind and that's to find and kill Torch. JCVD's replicant is often victimized by Rooker because he's a direct image of the man he's pursued for a long period of time. As you'd expect, Rooker grows fond of the replicant and eventually the showdowns commence. JCVD uses a lot of stunt doubles in this movie because Ringo Lam stages several incredible set-pieces which demand dangerous stunts. While JCVD doesn't really emote when portraying Garrotte, he really doesn't have to because as this killer, he physically destroys innocent people in vast quantities(..particularly during the finale in the hospital)..you hate him for his violent conduct towards others alone. The scene certain to raise eyebrows will be when Rooker "strip searches" JCVD's replicant for a properly placed tracking device. When you compare Replicant to the host of direct-to-video actioners JCVD has put out recently, it isn't so bad. Does it cover new terrain? The science-fiction angle regarding cloning aside, no, not really. But, it moves relatively well and there's enough thrilling set-pieces to maintain interest, I think, and seeing JCVD in a different kind of film besides those aping Kickboxer and Lionheart is refreshing. Set in Seattle, this is a location I enjoyed quite a bit. I think JCVD fans will enjoy this one along with non-discriminating action fans. Torch's handiwork is rather shocking.

I think we can never wait an A+ movie from the Belgian martial arts star. But between all those weak movies he made after his only one chance period, this is a big-good-surprise. Maybe it's Ringo Lam the answer or maybe Van Damme realized, that he must turn his character in a better way. I don't know but Replicant works for me. Okay I was a big fan of JCVD in the '90s. And I always hoped maybe Tarantino will bring him back to the top 10. The Replicant is not a typical Van Damme movie. He plays a double role like in Double Team but the story is much better than in 1990. It's not perfect there are typical B-movie parts and we can clearly see here is nothing to do with Hollywood. In his way with the good(!!!) acting of JCVD and Michael Rooker Replicant goes higher than we can imagine. Van Damme's double character is good enough. Action comes with the evil side and feelings and a lot of things more with the "clone". Some parts of the movie are really good. Especially when Rooker punishes Van Damme in the basement. A really good scene!!! So, maybe You like him, maybe not give him a chance! It's worth to see and wonder how can a B-movie star climbing near to the top of the Hollywood mountains.