Van Damme's Mad Max Clone? Watch This!

In the realm of post-apocalyptic films, Mad Max is virtually unmatched. However, if you’re a fan of martial arts cinema with a taste for dystopian stories, there’s an early Jean-Claude Van Damme film that could rival Australia’s renowned wasteland hero. The 1989 cyberpunk martial arts movie, Cyborg, may not surpass Mad Max in narrative and aesthetic aspects, but its protagonist, Gibson Rickenbacker, might very well hold his own against Max Rockatansky.

Similar to how the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max is characterized by a collapsed human civilization, the setting of Cyborg is dominated by a lethal virus that has almost entirely wiped out humanity, with the exception of ruthless mercenary pirates. Unlike Max Rockatansky who depends on his vehicles for power against adversaries, Gibson Rickenbacker solely relies on his physical abilities, particularly his exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills. In this sense, the martial arts expertise of ‘the Muscles from Brussels’ serves as a valuable asset to the cyberpunk action subgenre.

Cyborg Is Like Mad Max But With Martial Arts

The Movie Blends Apocalyptic Dystopia With Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Unique Talents

While the Mad Max movies revolve around Max’s high-speed pursuit of his foe, Cyborg showcases intense combat in a post-apocalyptic world. Initially, it seems that the characters are searching for data to create a remedy for a pandemic that could wipe out all of humanity. However, similar to Max Rockatansky’s relentless quest for revenge in the original Mad Max movie, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Gibson Rickenbacker is driven solely by his desire for vengeance.

It was the motorcycle group called “Nightrider” Montazano who committed the heinous act of killing Max’s wife and family, whereas Rickenbacker hunts down a ruthless pirate gang known as Fender Tremolo, who took the life of his sweetheart. Both Max and Gibson are essentially lone avengers driven by survival instincts and thirst for vengeance, a fact that unfolds in “Cyborg” when Nady Simmons and robot scientist Pearl Prophet urge Gibson to join their mission to cure the devastating plague affecting mankind. He shows no inclination towards this noble cause, instead opting to engage Fender in a deadly confrontation until one of them is eliminated.

The intense desire for vengeance by Gibson results in some exquisitely choreographed combat sequences, featuring a remarkable four-minute scene where he and Nady, portrayed by Deborah Richter, skillfully disarm several pirate members using just a couple of pocket knives. The Muscles from Brussels displays his peak prowess, showcasing swift hand movements and some of the most stylish spinning kicks seen in any Van Damme film. Most notably, the actor executes a flawless split while balanced on a doorway’s edge, followed by a precise sword strike against an unaware adversary’s head.

Cyborg Is One Of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Best Early Movies

Only His Martial Arts Classics Bloodsport & No Retreat, No Surrender Can Match It

Featuring a blend of a dystopian narrative, post-apocalyptic backdrops, a cyberpunk visual style, and close-quarters guerrilla fighting, the movie “Cyborg” delivers more for fans of these genres than many other early films starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. In some ways, his American-made martial arts debut, “Bloodsport,” or his first film with a credited role, “No Retreat, No Surrender,” might be comparable to “Cyborg” in terms of cinematic impact.

It’s worth noting that the fight scenes in those two older films are better than those in Cyborg. However, Cyborg stands out as a more grandiose production in various aspects. The film’s deep immersion into the cyberpunk subgenre, featuring mechanically-enhanced humans, a hero’s quest centered around scientists retrieving critical data from a massive scientific database to save humanity, and its distinctive retro-future costume designs, make it unique compared to other Jean-Claude Van Damme films of that period.

The film lacks the smooth rhythm and breathtaking visuals found in “Mad Max,” but instead features Jean-Claude Van Damme, at the height of his martial arts prowess on the big screen, rather than a younger Mel Gibson. Nonetheless, “Cyborg” stands out among Van Damme’s action films of that era as being superior.

Cyborg Has 2 Sequels, But Neither Compare To The Van Damme Version

Angelina Jolie & Malcolm McDowell Aren’t Enough To Save Cyborg 2 & 3

1989 saw the launch of Cyborg, a film that performed adequately at the box office and on home video, leading to thoughts about a potential sequel. The movie’s post-apocalyptic backdrop, appealing to both sci-fi enthusiasts and Jean-Claude Van Damme fans, was also reflected in the creation of a comic book to complement the video release.

Four years later, the sequel to the initial film, titled “Cyborg 2,” was released, taking place 80 years in the future and featuring a young Angelina Jolie alongside Elias Koteas as its main actors. A year after that, a direct-to-video third installment emerged, with Malcolm McDowell, known for his role in “A Clockwork Orange,” taking the leading part. It’s best not to dwell on “Cyborgs 2” and “3,” as they were less successful than their predecessor in maintaining the original’s unique blend of cyberpunk and martial arts elements.

It’s clear that actors such as Koteas, Jolie, and McDowell didn’t have the martial arts skills honed over decades like Jean-Claude Van Damme. However, these sequels, with their futuristic settings and human-cyborg conflicts, were positioning themselves for comparisons against cyberpunk subgenre classics such as “Blade Runner” and “The Terminator.” Compared to the giants of cinema like those films, “Cyborg 2” and “Cyborg 3” simply can’t compete.

Fundamentally, the unique visual style and genre-bending allure of Cyborg can be attributed to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s captivating charm as an actor and exceptional skill as a screen martial artist. His absence from the series significantly diminished its value, making subsequent projects less likely to succeed. Additionally, guitar enthusiasts will miss the witty six-string references that were prevalent in the Cyborg sequels, especially following Gibson’s battle with Fender in the initial film.

Among all the Cyborg versions, the 1989 original stands out as the most captivating one to watch. It’s not just an ordinary martial arts action thriller; it’s uniquely exceptional and has held up remarkably well in today’s context, given the resurrection of ’80s sci-fi dystopias, such as Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune series. Cyborg might not rival these films or Mad Max in terms of artistic value, but when it comes to genre filmmaking in the realm of cyberpunk, it ranks among the best. Plus, it offers a unique showcase of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s skills that you won’t find elsewhere.

2025-05-24 15:29

Van Damme’s Mad Max Clone? Watch This!