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For highly regarded spies, a vacation is often like an interrupted melody.
They never get to enjoy it to the end. Such is the case with Jacques Kristoff (Jean Claude Van Damme) a skilled NATO spy who is tasked to protect and help an international criminal Galina Konstatin (Laura Elena Harring) get across the heavily guarded Slovakian border and on to Munich. Jacques accepts the assignment as Galina is said to be a valuable asset and informant of NATO. Contrary to the assurance of Jacques' boss Lars that the "babysitting" job will be easy, Jacques and Galina barely escape with the skin of their teeth from the Slovakian police who pursue them relentlessly. They manage to board the train using a ruse. Thinking Jacques to be on a business trip, Jacques' wife Madeleine (Susan Gibney) and his two teenage children get on the train at the first stop, to surprise Jacques on his birthday. This is no happy reunion, for international terrorists hijack the train, which through their bungling is in danger of being derailed. They are also on the lookout for Galina. Jacques discovers that Galina is smuggling a deadly virus, a mutant strain of small pox, known as SP-43. Holding Jacques' family hostage, the terrorists force him to hand over the virus and its antidote, direly needed to treat train passengers affected by the virus. How will Jacques extricate himself and his family from the clutches of the terrorists? Can he retrieve the virus so as not to endanger all humanity?
Often compared to Schwarzenneger's True Lies and Steven Seagal's Under Siege 2
, this high voltage action picture has generated a lot of expectations. Loaded with dangerous stunts, car chases, impressive special effects, firefights and martial arts
duels, this high velocity movie does not fail to thrill Van Damme's die-hard fans.
However, to other viewers who may be satiated by the dearth of action pictures using the usual tired formula for films of this genre, this movie may seem trite. The much advertised espionage angle may be an attempt to give this overused storyline a fresh approach but it does not make much difference, for Van Damme does not have many opportunities for acting the spy. It seems not much effort is exerted for good characterization, but as action stars, the leads' performances come across as adept and adequate but not amazing and extraordinary. The film is done mostly in darkness or shadows and sometimes in very muted colors. The photography misses opportunities for showing interesting sights in the old cities of Eastern Europe.
Like most action pictures, this one does not have much to say.
However, a plus for it is the fact that it has no vulgar humor nor graphic sex. It also shows that no matter how highly placed the offender is the long arm of the law will surely get him. No matter how carefully planned and concealed an evil act is, it will be brought to light and due punishment imposed.
(Date reviewed: August 30, 2002)
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