Review: The Muscles From Brussels Jan 21. 2010 | Comments (1)
JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMME In 1994, Jean-Claude Van Damme was one of the world’s biggest action stars alongside the likes of Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This was an astounding achievement for the muscle-bound Belgian who had arrived in Hollywood broke, alone and speaking no English. However, after achieving huge success, drug problems and a tempestuous personal life brought his career crashing down. This tongue-in-cheek documentary profiles the charismatic and eccentric star as, clean and focused again, he attempts to resurrect his career. Van Damme was born in 1960, in a quiet Belgian suburb, to hardworking parents. Fascinated by the superhero comics sold in his father’s shop, the weedy young man was determined to transform himself into a powerful warrior. After several years of dedicated training, his kick boxing team became European junior champions and, by the age of 18, he was a...