Leofwine_draca Van Damme's latest thriller is a low-budget riff on BLACK HAWK DOWN, complete with a foreign locale (this time it's the cheap-to-make-films-in Romania) and lots of scenes of arms-waving militia walking the streets and engaging in shoot-outs with the defending Americans. Essentially this is yet another siege film, as the heroes protect innocent people holed up in a single location and attempt to hold out against overwhelming numbers until help arrives. Except one of the problems with the low budget is that there aren't actually that many bad guys on screen at one, probably a dozen, and it's pretty obvious at times that extras are playing multiple parts.In the film's favour, this boasts another decent performance from Van Damme, something that's become quite comment in his recent films. Van Damme is a likable, friendly type of guy throughout, and you find yourself rooting for him from the beginning. The supporting cast members (most of whom have 'graduated' from UK soaps) are okay, with the standouts being Velibor Topic's imposing rebel leader and Julie Cox's fragile reporter. The locations are passable and there are some decent big-bucks explosions at the film's climax, in which the CGI helicopters are the only things that don't convince. There is less action than you'd imagine, and Van Damme only gets to engage in a couple of fist fights. My main problem with the film is that director Simon Fellows seems to find it necessary to shoot his scenes in a juddery, hand-held camera style that always cuts away from the impact. This is particularly bad in the fight scenes, which are little more than blurred messes where you spend half the time trying to figure out who's hitting who.Still, the film deserves kudos for the gory eye-gouging that Van Damme inflicts on one particularly unpleasant villain. If it wasn't for Fellows dropping the ball with some truly bad camera-work, SECOND IN COMMAND would have been a highly decent B-movie. As it stands, it's a watchable film with plenty of problems but one that somehow proves to be just as likable as its leading man.

ghostrlb I was actually disappointed with this move as I felt that a better portrayal of the heroism in situations like this, seamed to have been over looked. Never thought I'd see a movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme, being anything but the hero. His character's primary concern seams to be for the Female reporter that he knew personally, then for the others that were in the same trouble. She was about the only thing he did manage to save and protect at the cost of others. The use of abilities that Jean- Claude Van Damme is most known for are few and far in between. Nice action scenes that show the producers paid good attention to the details.Was happy to see the "REAL" Hero, show up at the very end to save the life of the character acted out by Jean- Claude Van Damme's. Not a Movie I would recommend to anyone as it was in my opinion one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's worst.

KHayes666 When I first saw the back cover to this, the first thing I could think of was "uh oh....another military themed movie." But appearances can be deceiving and it turned out to be a decent flick.The plot to this one is a new president was elected in Moldavia (Vigo the Carpathian must be proud) and the citizens are none too happy. A gaggle of rebel militants threaten to overthrow and kill the new prez so the US Embassy calls upon Van Damme to save the day. What looks like a standard evac turns into a complete Alamo where the US Marines barely make it out alive with the president.I thought the cast did a hell of a job with the roles they were given, Raz Adoti was hilarious which would be akin to his role in Doom. Van Damme was his usual self which you can consider good or bad while the rest of the unknowns did a tremendous job. The only negative I can think comes near the end where the Moldavian army sides with the rebels and lays waste to the Embassy building, are we to believe a few American cobra choppers repel a panzer column? The highlight of the movie is Raz Adoti's one liners, picking up where he left off in Doom. The rest of the movie was a modern day Alamo, I say its worth picking up only if you now what you're getting into 6 out of 10

Lesley Fernandez This is absolutely THE worst movie I have ever seen Van Damme in. The plot is rubbish, the actors are rubbish and everything about it is nothing but dreadful. Van Damme is clearly past his prime and it is about time he retires from making any more 'action' movies, like Steven Seagal.This movie was a total waste of time! Do not even consider watching this B grade movie. You are better off doing anything but this. Trust me when I say that this movie is to be avoided at all cost. Any of Van Damme's movies, even when he made his first appearance in 'No Retreat, No Surrender' is miles better than this effort! 'Bloodsport' would be considered an Academy Award winner compared to this movie, which would not be fit even for TV viewing. It IS that bad!