gary-444 I caught this by chance, and am not a particular fan of formulaic violent Police stories. But… It was quite good. JVD plays the taciturn out of town cop with a rabbit, brought in to supplement the numbers of the Texan border guards. Andree Bernard is hotter than the Texan midday sun as a barmaid, and the rogue Special Forces team turned drug runners are convincing adversaries.A classic, formula, bar brawl where a mouthy local picks on the wrong man is well handled, as is a quickfire shootout with some alleyway muggers. A set piece confrontation between the drug runners bus, disguised as a Church outing, is absurd. The choice of weaponry absurd. But if you like explosions, sirens, cars becoming wrecked, machine guns and the like, it does just fine.JVD's treacherous partner Billy is well played by Gary McDonald. JVD's taunt that Bily's adulterous wife was fond of giving other men oral sex, and Billy should remember that the next time he kissed her was memorable, as was the result.Border security, illegal immigration, drug running and local politics all appear in the mix just the right side of credibility, even if the finale inevitably tests that credibility to its limits.At ninety five minutes, it does not outstay its welcome.

Leofwine_draca Will wonders never cease? First off, I caught a not-bad Seagal film from 2008 on TV one night (the title is PISTOL WHIPPED, in case you're interested), proving that the ageing action hero can still make entertaining films on occasion. Now, three nights later, I've caught a Van Damme film from 2008 on the same channel, and guess what? It's pretty good! THE SHEPHERD is a throwback to the classic Van Damme thrillers of the 1990s, an action-packed testosterone ride full of vehicle chases (in this instance, a stand-out sequence has a coach – modified with machine-guns and a bullet-proof chassis – pursued across the US/Mexican border by Van Damme), intense shoot-outs, and some scorching martial arts action.The film itself might be pretty predictable but it's a step up from the last Van Damme film I watched, SECOND IN COMMAND. Isaac Florentine has proved himself to be one of the best straight-to-video action directors and he doesn't disappoint with his efforts here. The action choreography is slick and stylish, with nice clean fights and some great slow motion moves from the professionals. Van Damme is matched against Brit high-kicker Scott Adkins for an extended bout at the climax, and it's another highlight in a film full of 'em. Naked chicks, torture sequences, traitors, twists, suicide bombers, and balaclava-wearing bad guys: all of the ingredients are here and make up one thrill-ride of a film.Van Damme himself particularly shines in a role that stretches his acting as well as action chops. He's actually very good indeed as the ageing cop struggling to cope with dark memories from his past. Compare his acting here with that in CYBORG and you'll see just how far he's progressed. In fact, he gives the likes of some A-listers a run for their money here, and his acting blows Seagal's clean out of the water. He's supported by a cast seemingly recruited from British television: there's Stephen Lord, fresh off EASTENDERS and fairly convincing as Meyers, the chief bad guy, and Natalie J. Robb from DOCTORS as Van Damme's tough, ass-kicking superior (less convincing, but pretty enough). In any case, this is nothing new, but it runs through the action clichés with aplomb and sits solidly as one of Van Damme's best.

Comeuppance Reviews Jack Robideaux (Van Damme) is a cop from New Orleans who comes to the small town of Columbus, New Mexico to start on their border patrol. It seems a gang of drug smugglers, including Karp (Adkins), are made up of former U.S. Soldiers gone bad. Now Jack, his partner Billy (McDonald) and Captain Ramona Garcia (Robb) have to get to the truth. Additionally, some folks in this dusty ol'town don't take kindly to newcomers, so Jack, and his pet rabbit, also named Jack (there's an explanation) must defend himself there from the locals. After some twists and turns in the plot, we finally get to the fight scene between Scott Adkins and Van Damme that we all want. Will human Jack and rabbit Jack get what they came to New Mexico for? We're happy to announce that The Shepherd is a winner! Overall this is a solid, entertaining, quality movie that delivers the goods. And why wouldn't it, as it was directed by the capable and dependable Isaac Florentine, whose name is becoming synonymous with satisfying action creations. This movie really should have gone to the theater in America. Sure, there's at least one scene that's a bit too long, and there might be some other quibbles here and there, but this movie is prime JCVD all the way.Naturally, Van Damme plays yet another guy with a French name. This harks back to past JCVD efforts, while references in the movie to hurricane Katrina, the war in Afghanistan, and of course, the issues surrounding the U.S./Mexico border firmly bring The Shepherd into current, relevant territory. It is somewhat lame that the bad guys are former U.S. Soldiers - what, they couldn't think of any other type of person that could be evil? - but we get it, they are "rogue" agents and all that. But it's puzzling why that's the place the writers went to. They even find time to sneak in some Punchfighting! Sure, it's unnecessary, but who cares? It's just fun. Of course, there's the prerequisite torture scene, which is just another excuse for shirtlessness. We love Scott Adkins, and he does a good job as one of the baddies, but we think he makes a better good guy. Someone we've always lovingly compared Adkins to is Gary Daniels, and it would be weird seeing him as a baddie (even though it has happened, mainly in the earlier part of his career). That aside, Adkins is a talented martial artist and has strong screen presence. His fight with Van Damme gives you what you want. They would team up again in the disappointing and inferior Assassination Games (2011). Also Van Damme has a pet turtle in that movie. Either a rabbit or a turtle, and Scott Adkins. But that's where the similarities between the two movies end.The Shepherd just goes to show that if you use Van Damme right, he's still a viable star. This can firmly be placed in Van Damme's win columnFor more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

rlange-3 Worth the entertainment value of a rental, especially if you like action movies. This one features the usual car chases, fights with the great Van Damme kick style, shooting battles with the 40 shell load shotgun, and even terrorist style bombs. All of this is entertaining and competently handled but there is nothing that really blows you away if you've seen your share before.The plot is made interesting by the inclusion of a rabbit, which is clever but hardly profound. Many of the characters are heavily stereotyped -- the angry veterans, the terrified illegal aliens, the crooked cops, the indifferent feds, the bitchy tough lady station head, the crooked politician, the fat federale who looks like he was typecast as the Mexican in a Hollywood movie from the 1940s. All passably acted but again nothing special.I thought the main villains were pretty well done and fairly well acted. By the end of the movie you certainly knew who the good guys were and weren't. There was an emotional lift as the really bad ones got their just deserts. Very simplistic, but then you weren't expecting Hamlet, right? The only thing I found really annoying was the constant cuts to VDs daughter during the last fight scene.Not bad. Not good. Passable 4.