THE QUEST

In his directorial debut, Jean Claude Van Damme stars in THE QUEST. Set in the 1920s, Van Damme is Chris Dubois, a New York City pickpocket. One night while being chased by police, Dubois escapes onto a freighter. The ship is run by gun smugglers and is headed for Thailand when it is attacked by pirates. The leader of the pirates, Dobbs played by Roger Moore, likes Chris's style of fighting and decides to take him with them. Dobbs takes Chris to Muay Thai Island where he sells him as an indentured servant. Chris learns the island's martial arts way fighting style. Chris hears about the Ghan-gheng, the competition held in the ancient Lost City. The best fighters in the world come there by invitation-only to win the famed Golden Dragon. The Golden Dragon would give Chris enough money to get back to America and live well the rest of his life.

Van Damme's directorial debut is average. His style is no improvement on his earlier movies. At first, Chris's main motive for doing things is to satisfy himself and to make himself happy. In the end, he fights for his friends, as well. THE QUEST is a typical, action-adventure. It all boils down to the same plot of the underdog American against the giant Goliath. THE QUEST is violent, entertaining, predictable, and typical Van Damme.