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Overall Rating : 5.5/10
Directed By : Isaac Florentine
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Soldier)
Scott Adkins (Undisputed II)
Stephen Lord (Until Death)
Gary McDonald (Until Death)
Supplied By : Sony Pictures
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : February. 27, 2008
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| PLOT THE SHEPHERD follows a border patrol agent who attempts to take down a rogue American Special Forces unit that's smuggling Afghan heroin into the United States. | ||||
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| THE REVIEW In THE SHEPHERD : BORDER PATROL, Border patrol agents in Texas are having difficulty bringing down a drug lord and his crew who are smuggling Afghan drugs into the United States. To help in their mission, an agent from Louisiana named Jack Jack Robideaux is brought in to assist them, and he has no desire of stopping until he brings them to justice. But completing the mission is not the only reason Robideaux has for wanting to get even with them, as it seems as if their drug smuggling ring may have played a part in his 16 year old Daughter's untimely death, just some months ago. With the last film that I reviewed starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which was UNTIL DEATH, I had mentioned that Van Damme films had seemingly lost their step, but that UNTIL DEATH was a step forward back to what fans used to love. Now with this film, THE SHEPHERD : BORDER PATROL, Van Damme's first release of the new year. it seems as if that progress is continuing to move forward, as THE SHEPHERD is yet another good film starring the action man from Brussels. Truly, the plot here is nothing truly special, as we do feel as if we have seen it before(minus the film's plot twist). We have some agents who are drug smugglers, who are trying to move their illegal drugs under the watch of agent Jack Robideaux. All of these drug lords seem to be skilled in martial arts, so when it comes down to it, the border patrol agent must fight in hand-to-hand combat, and in a little firearm action as well. This has always been the key to a great Jean-Claude Van Damme film, great action and choreography coupled along with great looking visuals for the eye to see. I'll admit though, going into THE SHEPHERD I expected another dry film that would struggle to keep me awake through out, but in all honesty I can say that this film wasn't that bad. In my opinion, THE SHEPHERD comes the closest to being like a Van Damme film of old, than any other recent film he has done - it has Van Damme acting - but not extensively, the plot is there, but thin - what it relies on is all out action, and more times than not, that's really all a Van Damme fan asks for. To keep the base plot together, no matter how small it is, we find that Van Damme's character of Jack Robideaux, is very likeable. We find out eventually that his daughter has died as a result of a drug overdose, and the only psychical memory Jack has left of her is her pet rabbit named "Jack"(which was named in his honor). Seeing Van Damme tote the cuddly creature around was a little strange to me at first - but it kind of reminded me of how Dolph Lundgren, Van Damme's UNIVERSAL SOLDIER co-star, carried around his trusty Bible in his latest film, MISSIONARY MAN. In both films, these particular items seem to serve has a link to the films' tough guy's softer side, showing that, no matter how much ass they may kick, they are still well meaning on the inside - in this film, the rabbit is sort of like Jack's muse I guess we could say. Whatever the case, THE SHEPHERD : BORDER PATROL is good as an action film. When comparing it to UNTIL DEATH however, i'd have to say that it is the weaker of the two when it comes to plot, but on action alone, it is a lot more fun. |
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| GORE
METER 1/10 As I seem to remember are a few fiery explosions, and a few gunshots, and some blood, but nothing that would really be labeled as gore. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 2/10 The score consists of some low key suspenseful scoring. Honestly, I barely remember it for the most part as it didn't seem to be one of the film's main priorities. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM THE SHEPHERD : BORDER PATROL turned out better than I expected, I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Although labeled a "Suspense/Thriller", i'm not sure i'd call it that, as the suspense is light, while taking a backseat to all of the action. If you are a Jean Claude Van Damme fan, particularly a fan of his older action work This DVD will be released on March 4, 2008 |
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