Legionnaire (1998)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Peter MacDonald

Writers (WGA):

Sheldon Lettich (story) &
Jean-Claude Van Damme (story) ...

Release Date:

3 December 1998 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

From The Producer Of The Crow And The Director Of Rambo III

Plot:

Alain Lefevre is a boxer paid by a Marseille mobster to take a dive. When he wins the fight he attempts...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Foreign Legion | Italian | Mercenary | 1920s

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Alain Lefevre
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	...	Luther
Steven Berkoff	...	Sgt. Steinkampf
Nicholas Farrell	...	Mackintosh
Jim Carter	...	Lucien Galgani
Ana Sofrenovic	...	Katrina
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Guido Rosetti
Joseph Long	...	Maxim
Mario Kalli	...	René Galgano
Joe Montana	...	Julot
Kim Rømer	...	Capt. Rousselot
Anders Peter Bro	...	Lt. Charlier
Paul Kynman	...	Rolf Bruner
Vincent Pickering	...	Viktor
Takis Triggelis	...	Cpl. Metz

MPAA:

Rated R for battle violence.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Australia:M | France:U | Germany:12 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Atlas Corporation Studios, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

Edward R. Pressman Film

Goofs:

Plot holes: Lefevre is photographed for the machine gun demonstration against his will, thus leading to his discovery. One of the few guarantees afforded legionnaires is anonymity, and it is specifically forbidden for a legionnaire to be photographed without explicit permission.

Quotes:

[Galgani offers Alain a bribe to lose his next boxing match.]
Alain Lefevre: I don't crash the canvas for anyone.
Lucien Galgani: You fight for me, or you never fight again.
[The legionnaires set out on their long march across the desert.]
Guido Rosetti: Hey Alain, how far you think this fort is, eh?
Alain Lefevre: I don't know, Guido.
Guido Rosetti: What do you think, Mac?
Mackintosh: [irritated] About a mile closer than the last time you asked.

Movie Connections:

Version of March or Die (1977)

Soundtrack:

Mon légionnaire

What? No kicking?

This has to be one of the oddest, yet best Van Damme films ever. It's not chop-socky martial arts kickboxing crud, and it isn't mindless sci-fi action... it's a war drama. And a surprisingly good one. Van Damme plays Alain, a boxer who is paid to take a dive, but who instead flees and joins the French Foreign Legion, where he learns about friendship, honor, and fighting to the last. Sound like a normal Van Damme movie? Far from it. Sheldon Lettich's script, while somewhat cliche, is very well put together. The acting is surprisingly top notch, with even Jean-Claude Van Damme himself turning in a good performance. What a shame this movie never made it to theaters. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting, epic war film. I give it 8/10.