Bloodsport III (1996 Video) User Reviews

The formula is starting to wear thin...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 21 August 2023]

I knew that this 1996 movie existed, though I never got around to watching it before now in 2023. I can't claim that I was overly interested in "Bloodsport" without Jean-Claude Van Damme. But having just sat through the "Bloodsport 2" movie prior to watching part three, of course I opted to continue on watching the movies.

The storyline in "Bloodsport III", as written by James Williams, was a pretty straightforward and generic one. This time, Alex Cardo (played by Daniel Bernhardt) is out camping with his son Jason (played by David Schatz), when he tells his son the tale of how he won his second Kumite. Yeah, that was about the essence of this movie. Pretty weak storyline actually, but of course writer James Williams was boiling soup on a broth that was already watered down.

Initially I was thrilled to see John Rhys-Davies on the cast list, however his talent was not utilized at all throughout the course of the 91 minutes that the movie ran for. Instead, we get to watch Daniel Bernhardt take on a heap of fighters once again and emerging victorious, all the while doing his best to look like Van Damme in the original 1988 "Bloodsport" movie. Actors James Hong and Pat Morita show up for short appearances in the movie, which was a nice touch. A shame that they didn't opt to give actress Uni Park a bigger part to play.

The fighting in "Bloodsport III" is definitely what keep the movie afloat and keeps it semi-watchable. But of course you know the outcome of the entire ordeal prior to sitting down to watch the movie, so there are no surprises along the way from director Alan Mehrez.

The "Bloodsport III" movie is an archetypical example of a franchise that should have stopped when the going was good.

My rating of "Bloodsport III" lands on a bland five out of ten stars.

Slowly goes down to s***

[swedzin · 4/10 · 15 June 2011]

There isn't much to say about this film, except that slowly goes down... This is just one of those bad martial arts films... with classic story about Alex Cardo who's taking a revenge upon a rich mobster and his "monster" fighter called the Beast. Again with Daniel Bernhardt in leading role and his Van Damme face expressions. He travels on Thailand to another master to train him for next Kumite. But, this time... it IS personal! We get to see John Rhys Davies as the leading bad guy, the mobster, who is doing nothing but walking around with a large cigar in his mouth and look menacing, just like in "Cyborg Cop", James Hong and Pat Morita are there again... The fights are good, no complaints there... This is strictly for martial arts fans.

A confusing mess

[rdoyle29 · 4/10 · 29 July 2017]

Swiss martial arts dude Daniel Bernhardt stands in again for Van Damme in this second sequel to "Bloodsport". Alex Cardo has retired from martial arts after winning the Kumite in the last flick, but rich heavy Jonathan Rhys-Davies wants him to compete in a new Kumite he's putting on. When our hero refuses, Davies kills his former teacher James Hong (who wisely appears to have agreed to be in this movie for less than 5 minutes). Cardo seeks out Pat Morita (also in this flick for mere minutes), who hooks Cardo up with his brother, who trains him, even though it is repeatedly stated that Cardo is the best martial artist in the world. He returns to take revenge on Davies by entering the Kumite ... which is actually what Davies wanted him to do in the first place. I confess to being confused at this point. Cardo "gets revenge" by winning the competition, which is what Davies wanted ... but now he doesn't???

Third time harms...

[fmarkland32 · 2/10 · 27 July 2006]

Daniel Bernhardt returns as Alex Cardo as he tells in flashback to his son, how his mentor James Hong was killed, how he wins the kumite against "The Beast" who is a titan and along the way discusses how he met the lad's mother. Also on how the kid's grandfather was a no good scumbag, in other words it is Bloodsport for a younger generation. Bloodsport II wasn't exactly great (In fact far from good) but when compared to this boring dud of a sequel, it almost feels as if you can sense how bored the movie is with itself. The fight sequences this time are terribly staged, with martial artistry so sloppy, you'd swear you walked in on a drunken fight. The movie starts off reasonably well enough but once the training montage begins, you'll be so bored that your only excitement in the fight sequences, will be getting closer to the ending. The movie is just so lame. Also the singing in which Amber van Lynt does, is quite positively more damaging to the human body, then any harm "The Beast" inflicts. (I'm not sure if i'm the first to bring that up, but how nobody remembers such awful singing is mind boggling.)

* out of 4-(Bad)

Not as good as the 2nd Bloodsport

[SteveDonnachie20022001 · 2/10 · 10 September 2005]

When I first saw bloodsport 2 I was so impressed. Bloodsport 2 had everything. Lots of fighters,a ruthless villain{Demon} and the character of Alex Cardo was cool. The story was good. A man sent to prison and makes friends with a man who becomes a mentor to him. And the man teaches him the Iron hand and Alex in return fights in the Kumite to win his friends freedom and to honor him for making Alex a changed man.

Then we come to Bloodsport 3. I was expecting another good movie. Instead I was let down. Don't get me wrong. The only good part about this movie is the fight scenes. Thats it.

This movie didn't have many fight scenes. Or for that matter many fighters. And the main villain/fighter the beast,is no where as awesome and ruthless as the Demon from the second film. He seemed slow and tired at times and it looked liked they had to stop the fights just so the guy could regain his breath.

Not to mention the storyline. What was the point of Alex having to go re learn martial arts if he already knew how to fight. All he would have to have done is use the iron hand on the beast and win the damn thing.

And the fighters in this movie wern't as good. They seemed skinny as hell and arrogant.

This movie shouldn't have been made. Or it needed another storyline. A better storyline. Stick with the first 2 films. Don't waste your time on this movie. It will disappoint you start to finish.

You cant polish a turd

[gibbs-18172 · 1/10 · 20 December 2020]

Just changing the lead does not make this piss poor franchise any better, the more that come the worse they get I need a 0 star option

pure crap.

[SZM · 22 August 1999]

I saw Bloodsport, sadly one of Van Damme's best films, and could say it wasn't all that stupid. Number 2 was far more entertaining, mostly because they cast Daniel Bernhardt as the lead, (a basically taller, better acting, better looking and better fighting version of JCVD). Now comes lucky number 3. For the love of your sanity, don't see this movie! Don't touch this piece of maggot-infested crap! I lost an hour of my life that i'll never get back (thats how much of it I stomached before I tossed it out the window). If you feel the need to see a film that so bad that it actually entertains you, go see "Cool As Ice". Bloodsport 3, however, is not one of those films.

Worst. Movie. Ever.

[andrew_carruthers · 1/10 · 1 August 2006]

I'm not kidding. In my opinion this truly is the WORST FILM EVER MADE. The only thing that could possibly be worse is the fourth installment, which I was unaware of until now. The only reason you would watch this is to laugh at how bad it is, which I did for the first half hour or so. But the novelty of that wears off quickly, especially once you realise that it is for real ... they're not kidding ... this isn't a comedy. So on second thoughts don't even see it for that reason. If you want to watch something that's so bad it's enjoyable, go rent out Plan 9 From Outer Space. Hell this film is even worse than Scary Movie 2, and I really, REALLY hated that film. But don't go see it if you liked Scary Movie 2. It's nothing like it.

The worlds worst kept secret ... continues

[kosmasp · 4/10 · 4 April 2023]

No pun intended - and I completely forgot to mention this when I reviewed the very first Bloodsport. Supposedly there is this secret tournament ... but also everyone seems to know about it. And it seems super easy to get to it ... to say the least. The reporter woman was a good example on that.

But back to this - a movie that sheds the last remaining part that connected the second movie with the first one! So no more Mr. Jackson for you (and for me ... and for all the viewers). But this does take Bernhardts character and tries to elevate him to a new level. We even have flashbacks to the second Bloodsport. Is that enough for you? Or the fact that the fight scenes are not entirely bad to be honest ... still there is something missing .. shame for the good lead ...

Awful movie

[NemkeSRB · 5/10 · 20 April 2013]

Not interesting at all, plot is also bad. Bloodsport I was okay, II was kinda watchable, but III and IV are terrible! Poor acting, poor fighting scenes... This movie is one of those movies where you want to leave the cinema although you paid to watch it. Of course I didn't watch it in the cinema, but I was like "dear God, will it end already". You get bored watching it, you know the ending, there are no surprising parts, twists, nothing. I give it 5/10 while being very very generous! It's better than Bloodsport IV, but hey, that's not so hard since IV is one of the worst movies ever made! It would be better for director if he hadn't made sequels after first Bloodsport movie with van Damme. I'm really disappointed.

Disappointing

[sveknu · 6/10 · 12 May 2005]

Daniel Bernhard returns in this 3rd installment in the series. I suspect that this movie were made in a big rush, since it's worse than "Bloodsport 2" in many ways. First of all, the story is a little bit too standard. But that is of course not the most important. The fighting in this movie isn't that good, and it's just too much of the same styles. The Kumite in this movie has to be the worst Kumite ever arranged. One detail that particularly draw my attention, was one of the fighters sitting on the bench ringside and waiting to fight. On the bench, he didn't have any hair on his chest at all. But when he was fighting, he suddenly had lots of hair. Things like this confirms that this is a C-movie, and probably really low-budget. What where they thinking?

Alex is the love child of Sean Connery and Van Damn and knows random street hookers on a first name basis...

[shaolinmasterkev · 6/10 · 9 June 2018]

Alex is the love child of Sean Connery and Van Damn, a casino gambling agent who fights in random Kumite tournaments and has mystical powers.

Some ninjas try to rob a casino with just knives and swords, and are easily defeated by our hero Alex, bring a gun next time?

Then a redhead in a blue dress sings to him at a bar

He then goes on some mini Quests for experience points to level up by fighting generic ninjas for some diamonds, then fighting some crime guys in an antique shop...

He then goes to various dinner parties and claims that he doesn't fight anymore (liar) even though he fought earlier...

He then wanders the streets and seems to know random street hookers on a first name basis...

A smoke bomb in the phone goes off and somehow knocks people over? The master is dead and I already forgot his name...

Alex gets played like a deck of cards!

The iron hand can heal with magic which is totally real because I can do it too!

He then trains with some random master guy and flirts with his niece through various training montages while getting shot at with arrows, similar to Dodge Ball "if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball" except its "If you can dodge an arrow, you can dodge an effort to make a better plot"

The bad guy who originally wanted him to fight now doesn't want him to fight... woahhh ! M. Night Shyamalan plot twist?

More random training montages where he makes dumb noises with ropes then catches an arrow, but doesn't catch the opportunity to bang that guys daughter or whatever in the bath house. She then tells him "your like a brother to me" what kind of messed up family is this?

Beats up some random guys and doesn't even bother calling the police

More training montages with random dangerous nonsense... and hes ready to fight the Beast!

With his training complete, he decides to go to an opium den? and of course fights again...

Random Kumite starts in India or something...

His son is terrible at chopping fire wood but alex then shares his secret fire bending powers and can start fires with his mind.

In the tournament some guy uses a whip which is somehow allowed?

The beast is basically like the Mountain from GOT, I feel like he needs an eye patch or a scarred face, but all we get is a mustache.

In some fights, the bad guys teleport around the stage due to the editing and filming.

Final fight! The BEAST! Lets face it, we all knew Alex was going to win.

The ending music is so 90s its painful, Cheerful hip hop version of Mortal Kombat.

And that's how Alex didn't teach his son to chop lumber properly. The end.

Inferior to the first two, but delivers it's promise

[Happy_Evil_Dude · 7/10 · 26 November 2006]

You should watch Bloodsport III if you have enjoyed the first two, but know that it is inferior to those movies.

First of all, the narration style is the same as in the second one(told by flash-backs). This is not bad, but it doesn't bring anything new to the franchise, and the between flash-back scenes in B2 were arguably better. Secondly, the main villain (who somehow looks like Vince Vaughn). His name is "The Beast"...OK, the name of the bad guy in B2 was "Demon", so does every bad guy now have to have a weird name like "Evil Guy" or whatever? Also, and more importantly, he really isn't that impressive, and doesn't look like he poses a threat to the hero. Finally, all the other Kumite fighters sucked. Some of them had funny names (Lima Lama, JJ Tucker), but none of them were sympathetic, rather super annoying (except for Lima Lama).

Now for the good. The movie was a shot in Sri Lanka, which makes for an interesting change of locale. A lot of the team behind B2 is back for this one, and it's nice to see actors like Pat Morita and James Hong don't mind coming back for just one scene. It's also nice to see actors like John-Rhys Davies, who played Sallah in Indiana Jones, and Gimli in Lord Of The Rings, will also act in movies like Bloodsport. Also, and importantly, though handled somewhat awkwardly, the underlying storyline in B3 is deeper and has more meaning than all the other Bloodsports.

All in all, while inferior to it's predecessors, Bloodsport III is a movie for which one should not have high expectations, and with Daniel Bernhardt in the lead, it delivers it's promise.

no point in this film

[the_last_shadow_2000 · 31 March 2002]

when i watched the first two bloodsport films i thought that they were pretty good (especially the first film). and then when they made a third one i immedietly rented it at the local movie store and was dissapointed in how stupid this film was. the action seens werent too bad, but the storyline was completely messed... if you ask me, there was no point in making this film. I rank it a *** out of **********.

Don't expect too much...then it's OK

[gerolamo44 · 6/10 · 7 March 2010]

Just finished watching the movie, yesterday I have seen part II. It's not as good as part 2, and well, they shoudn't have named it part III. I mean, the events concerning master Sun, are not possible since Master Sun was telling the students about the last kumite as an old man, so he was still alive. But then again Highlander 2,3 and 5 are also horrible, whilst parts 1 and 4 are very nice, and the increasing number behind American Ninja/kickboxer is also, let's say not an increase of quality.

I have the tendency to watch lets say, the lesser pearls of the movie world in the weekend. And if you expect a B film, this is rather OK. It's 90 minutes of not-too-bad acting and nice fighting scenes. Obviously the continuity is very very poor (JJ and the bandage of the long haired fighter) and the biggest mistake??? location... 'several years after winning the kumite, I was living in the far east'....WHY SAY THAT??? the film was shot in Sri Lanka, all the people are 'indian', why say that it's in the far east?...

Eventually this film is OK, I enjoyed watching it... If you want to see it, don't expect anything fancy, just real B material, and you can have a nice 1.5 hr.

cheers

OH NO!!! A BAD SEQUEL!!!

[Pat-88 · 16 March 1999]

The first Bloodsport is a great action movie. Bloodsport 2 came and that was okay.

Now here is Bloodsport 3, And Boy! It's sure sucks big time. The plot and the acting sucks. My 2-year old brother can act 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times better than the actors in this movie. Watch the first movie instead. And stay far far away from this crappy movie.

I hope to god there will not be a Bloodsport 4.

* out of ****

no better or worse than the second installment(entertaining enough)

[disdressed12 · 6/10 · 14 May 2007]

at first,it looked like this movie was going down the crapper and quickly.somehow, though,it turns out not too bad.unlike,number two,which isn't really a sequel,this one is.the main character returns,and learns more lessons.i liked the training montages.to me,they were better than the ones in the second film.at times,i could swear it was Van Damme on screen.Daniel Bernhardt really looks like at times.the plot is quite ridiculous,but the action is better,i think.the fight scenes are better at times. the ending could have been a bit better,as the climax seemed to short.however,overall,this movie is no better or worse than the previous entry, and it's not a complete waste of time.in fact,it's quite entertaining.so i'll give it a 6/10

In the "white tuxedo" scene, he truly is Daniel BernBond.

[tarbosh22000 · 6/10 · 31 January 2014]

Alex Cardo (Bernhardt) is a Punchfighter, but he'd rather be having tender heart-to-heart talks with his classically 90's son Jason (David Schatz). While he trains his tot in the ways of Martial Arts, he regales him with stories of the time he won the Kumite (thus eliminating any sense of suspense or drama and telegraphing a spoiler alert from the get-go). Alex recounts the tale of his time in "the Far East" when he used to frequent casinos while dressed in a white tuxedo. Jason, clearly riveted, continues to listen. Alex tells of the evil fight promoter Duvalier (Rhys-Davies), and how he murdered his mentor Master Sun (Hong). He neglects to mention why Pat Morita is only seen for about 30 seconds and for no apparent reason. To win the tournament, Alex goes to the countryside and begins training extensively, which is a prerequisite if you want to win. Alex soon dons his singlet and enters the ring, and proceeds to work his way through a bunch of fighters with no character development beyond their names, such as Bruce Burly (McElroy) (though why J. J. Perry had to play a guy named J. J. Tucker remains unexplained). Finally he faces off against The Beast (Oleson), an almost comically oversized meathead of the highest order. Will Alex live to tell the tale to his son? Well, yeah, of course he will.

Grown men punching and kicking each other. It can take on many wondrous and colorful forms. Apparently there's no real limit on how many of these types of movies can be made. The original Bloodsport and Kickboxer films truly opened the floodgates during the video store era for Punchfighters for decades to come, even up to the present day. But the problem with movies like this is, during the last half-hour at least, it gets very boring and repetitive. But you have to show the Kumite, right? So on and on it goes.

Before the internet and even Pay-Per-View, renting movies like this was one of the only ways to see fighting of this kind on film. It's easy to forget that in this day and age. So the movie gets somewhat of a pass, but it really should have bothered to do a bit more character development and maybe concentrated a little less on extended Kumite footage. We realize we're talking about Bloodsport III here, but still, we think that's a fair criticism. The first half of Bloodsport III is actually a lot of fun. It has that silly, funny, absurd vibe we love so dearly. But then it slows down and becomes more standard, unfortunately enough.

Daniel Bernhardt must have been an obvious choice to fill the shoes of Van Damme, because, let's face it, he's basically the same person. We've never seen them in the same place at the same time, have we? It must have been tough living in the shadow of JCVD. But somewhere in between Van Damme and Olivier Gruner, the Bernhardt dwells. At many points throughout the film, you could swear that it IS Van Damme. But Bernhardt puts forth his best "suave eyebrow" to woo the ladies, and why wouldn't he go after Crystal Duvalier (Van Lent), with a singing voice like that? In the "white tuxedo" scene, he truly is Daniel BernBond. But the man has his own personal problems and demons as well, as he has nightmares of recycled footage that he has to contend with.

Perhaps, in the end, Bloodsport III raises more questions than it answers (what exactly is the timeline of all these Kumite matches as they relate to parts II and III? Why do deathfights to the death have a ref? And so many others...). But it does have a noteworthy end-credits song, "Rhythm of the Kumite" - a techno tune where you think at any moment someone will yell "Mortal Kombat!!!!!" - but they do indeed yell "Bloodsport!!!!!", so, no harm no foul. So basically the first half is entertaining but it devolves into a slog. So watch it on YouTube and save the money on your credit Cardo.