I recently reviewed the superb documentary The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender. Growing up on action films, it was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Today, I received news that the team was hard at work on something new. This new project could really be something special, especially since it’s a documentary about one of the most influential martial arts films of all time!
It’s a film that explores the history of a film that, against all odds, became a massive hit, despite being shelved for a year because the studio head hated it. We’re talking about Jean-Claude Van Damme’s breakout film, Bloodsport (1988).
Once again, Oliver Harper and Christopher Stratton are calling the shots on this documentary, with Sean David Lowe as producer. They’re going to bring us Fight to Survive: The Legacy of Bloodsport, a film that will explore the story behind the film, its continued cultural impact, and how it influenced an entire generation.
In order to uncover the secrets, they’ve enlisted an all-star cast to tell the story, including stars Donald Gibb (Jackson), Leah Ayres (Janice), Sheldon Lettich (screenwriter), Yoram Globus (producer), and Paul Hertzog (composer). These are just the tip of the iceberg, as there are many more to come.
A movie like this always has difficulty securing funds for production, so the team has turned to the fans to help complete it. Just the other day, they launched a Kickstarter campaign to help complete the film in time for its 40th anniversary. After seeing their previous work, what they deliver will be phenomenal, so if you think this may be something you’d like to support, take a look at their campaign to learn more about the project and decide for yourself.
Related: ‘Knock Off’ (1998) 4K Blu-ray Review: A Wacky Jean-Claude Van Damme Action Comedy
Support doesn’t have to come in the form of money either; talk about it with your friends, share it on social media, every little bit counts. The film really does have an interesting history, and there’s a chapter in the book, Sheldon Lettich: From Vietnam to Van Damme, that just scratches the surface, so I’ll be very excited to see what else is revealed. The difficult part will be patience; they’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to see how they fight to survive.
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