Knock Off (1998)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The film follows Marcus Ray, a former denim knockoff artist who has moved on to work for V-6 Jeans. But as the film starts, the movie is more concerned with Russians in Hong Kong, who are not only dealing in knockoff jeans, but ones that have little explosives in them that are as powerful as a stick of dynamite, and emit green flames (yes, green flames). The movie starts in the middle of a sting operation where the Russians are trying to get their latest shipment, but something goes wrong and the cops move in. The film briefly sets up some of the Russian antagonists, mostly by giving them colorful looks, or in one case a cough. But when the cops arrive (led by Michael Wong), everything goes nuts.And from this opening action sequence Tsui Hark decides he didn't want a single shot in the movie to be boring and so every place he puts the camera is interesting and surprising. In the opening chase sequence Michael Wong is in a boat chasing the Russians, and one of the Russians has a sniper rifle. He shoots one of Wong's men, but to show that death, Hark cuts to blood bursting in air. It's impressionistic, and the film borders on chaos, incoherence even, but every decision is bold and crazy. Right away he sets the tone, as the film stock seems to change in moments, and he'll use a fish eye lens for the hell of it."Knock Off" offers so much unique visual information that it's overwhelming. Which is probably why I went back and saw it again the next day, and made a point to see it five times in the theaters. The film spoke to me, and it continues to, I've probably watched it at least once every year, and love showing it to people who have no idea what they're in for.As far as action genre is concerned, this movie is absolutely great. Action fans will be pleased.

*SPOILERS* Knock Off (1998) is very forgettable Hong Kong action movie. I still don't know what the hell this movie is about? This film is completely a Jackie Chan Movie. Van Damme moves like Jackie Chan. Mostly action scenes seems to be dubbed from Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong's movies that they work on them together. The action in here is good, but not that good. If they were playing an Chinese Action movie, they could came up with Van Damme action style movie flick, or better script and better storyline, but no! I realized that Sammo Hung was the second director for Van Damme's scenes, that is why they made this movie like a Jackie Chan movie. It is sort of a good-bad action movie. I don't hate the movie, but I don't like Knock Off either, but in my opinion Double Team is just way much better movie than this. I still like that this movie is made in the late 90's in Hong Kong and I think Van Damme did a solid job in here.Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider and Michael Wong trio action stars on the ship did a terrific outstanding job, but I would replaced three or two actors in this movie, in the Van Damme support team. I would replaced Rob Schneider with Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, he would be much better choice for play Marcus Ray's (Van Damme) partner. I would replaced Lela Rochon with Cynthia Khan, because Lela is black and can not act or kicking ass. I would rather put Cynthia Khan in this movie. Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan worked together with Michael Wong in my favorite Hong Kong martial arts action film In the Line of Duty IV (1989) one of the best Hong Kong action martial arts movie, I have ever seen. Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan did return one year later in another action film Tiger Cage II (1990), this time Donnie Yen was the lead star in that movie and Cynthia was only a support co star, who was only in a few scenes, because her character was telling her own side of her story. That is why I liked about those Hong Kong movies.I liked Van Damme and his martial arts, when Van Damme in the factory put a chain around his knuckles and kicks those triads ass, trying to kill him, that was awesome. Asian cinema was coming strong like Jackie Chan and Jet Li so Van Damme teams up with Tsui Hark an Asian director marking their second collaboration together (the other was "Double Team"). It was something new for JCVD cause you had comedy with Rob Schnieder co-starring made the movie a decent action comedy, but I recommend the "Rush Hour" trilogy over this one. This is one of the strange movies , and the storyline is all over the place , its quite funny though , it's crazy in parts. I mean I never heard about counterfeit jeans? I thought this movie is more about smuggling Heroine, or cocaine. In the opening scene you see Michael Wong chasing someone, than some explosions and you see a lot of dolls in the water. I thought in the dolls where hiding drugs in it, now I know they weren't. What did Michael Wong chase at all? This movie to me, makes no sense I don't know what the hell the CIA was doing in this movie at all?, what they try to do with the story line? I blame Steven E. de Souza for this flick, It is his fault for making a terrible script, Van Damme has not even one good line in this movie at all! Other Chinese actors voices where dubbed. Why was an Afro-American Woman in this Chinese movie? Why? If Tsui Hark would have replaced Steven E. de Souza with Chi-Sing Cheung, Wing-Fai Wong and Kwong Kim Yip who made a script and storyline for In The Line of Duty IV (1989), this movie would not be a disaster! I don't like this movie for what it is, and it is not my Van Damme favorite film and I keep forgetting what this movie is about at all? Btw the acting from the cast and crew is terrible and laughably bad, the dialog is really dull and pretty stupid! Rob Schnieder is not an action star, stop putting him in an action movies guys! Anyway this movie get's by me a 4, because I liked the action scenes, but the explosions where bad CGI's. I like Van Damme a lot in this movie, he did a great job, but I will not seeing this anytime soon again.Knock Off is a 1998 Hong Kong action crime film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a sales representative who deals in counterfeit jeans who along with his partner find themselves mixed up in a conspiracy involving Russian mafia, terrorists, and the CIA. Knock Off was the second film collaboration between director Tsui Hark (A Better Tomorrow III) and Jean-Claude Van Damme, following 1997's Double Team.2/10 Grade: E- Studio: TriStar Pictures, MDP Worldwide Film Workshop Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, Lela Rochon, Michael Wong, Paul Sorvino, Wyman Wong, Carman Lee, Glen Chin Director: Tsui Hark Producer: Nansun Shi Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 31 Mins. Budget: $35.000.000 Box Office: $44,000,000

Knock Off (1998): Dir: Tsui Hark / Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, Lela Rochon, Paul Sorvino, Carman Lee: The title is absolutely correct. Everyone tries to knock each other off while viewers struggle to stay awake. The story is simply an excuse for Jean-Claude Van Damme to physically beat the tar out of bad guys and further prove that acting isn't his strong point. Tiny button shaped bombs are placed in dolls and phony salesman Van Damme and Rob Schneider get involved after a friend is murdered. Tsui Hark handles the action but he fails to drag a good performance out of Van Damme or Schneider. Hark and Van Damme previously collaborated to bring the world another action embarrassment called Double Team. Together, these films can be strapped together and sold cheap in the bargain bin at the local supermarket. Schneider does as expected and that is to provide horrible comic relief. Lela Rochon has the misfortune of playing damsel in distress because she just happened to be within arms length of the producers during casting. Also wasting time is Paul Sorvino. No point but to entertain senseless violence. Double Team was a stupid movie so it should come as no surprise that Knock Off is just as dumb. I wish they would knock it off and write a decent script, or at least give viewers the option of knocking the film off with several blows of a baseball bat. Score: 2 / 10

Marcus Ray and Tommy Hendricks are sales reps for V SIX Jeans, and they are enjoying life in Hong Kong.While Tommy busily prepares for the latest fashion show, Marcus is off looking at knock off goods: imitation watches, jewellery, and baby dolls, in which his longtime friend Eddie Wang is involved.When Marcus and Tommy's supervisor arrives and informs them that much of their last shipment of jeans was filled with knock off imitations, the two can't believe her, but they agree to help in raiding a warehouse to prove their innocence.After a violent encounter, Marcus eventually learns that Tommy is an undercover CIA agent, and so is Karen.Meeting with their boss, Johansson, Marcus learns of a conspiracy involving the Russian mafia and their attempts to smuggle tiny, but highly explosive "microbombs" to the black market.Any film that features Van Damme in a movie about exploding designer jeans, has to be seen to be believed.Is it plausible? anything is really, but is it any good? Well it's so absurd and silly, it's very very enjoyable and furthermore, a lot of fun.This was Van Dammes last proper big screen outing that wasn't a sequel, or docu-drama, and it feels like the studio has given up on him, which is a shame.Harks direction and camera-work is frenetic and downright bizarre and you can see where Neveldine and Taylor get some of their ideas from.The action is well paced and there is obvious wire work involved, but it's all comic book in tone, and it's tongue in cheek throughout.With a great supporting cast, this film is unfairly despised, thanks to movie snobs who just dismiss the actors work.A great piece to watch with Double Team..