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Movies / On DVD / Sudden Death
Sudden Death

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Sudden Death (1995)

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Reviews Counted:32

Fresh:17

Rotten:15

Average Rating:5.2/10

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: In this action-packed thriller, a ruthless gang of criminals holds the Vice-President of the United States hostage at a Stanley Cup finals ice hockey game in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. The demented... In this action-packed thriller, a ruthless gang of criminals holds the Vice-President of the United States hostage at a Stanley Cup finals ice hockey game in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. The demented leader of the group threatens to blow up the building unless the government hands over $1.7 billion. However, the villains aren't prepared for Darren McCord, a tough fire marshal skilled in martial arts. McCord, who happens to be attending the game with his two children, struggles desperately to disconnect the ten bombs set to explode in the arena -- and rescue his own daughter, who the creeps have taken hostage. Can he complete the mission before time runs out? [More]

Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry, Dorian Harewood

Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry, Dorian Harewood, Whittni Wright, Ross Malinger, Kate McNeil, Audra Lindley, Michael Gaston, Brian Delate, Steve Aronson, David Flick

Director: Peter Hyams

Director: Peter Hyams

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Sudden Death

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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Van Damme is at his butt-kicking best, with Sudden Death offering all the thrills, spills and stuff blowing up that action fans relish.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
11/02/08
James Jennings
James Jennings
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Reuniting Hyams and Van Damme, director and star of Timecop, this spectacular nail-biter exploits their combined, if limited, abilities to the full.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Derek Elley
Derek Elley
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Good clean fun, with just the right ratio of explosions to dialogue.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
11/02/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The best of the many Die Hard rip-offs made during the 1990s. Sudden Death is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of hard-edged action.

comment Comment
11/12/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
08/09/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Wooden-as-ever Van Damme is no Bruce Willis, unfunny main bad guy Powers Boothe is no Alan Rickman, and uninspired director Peter Hyams is no John McTiernan.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
12/05/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/24/04
Spence D.
Spence D.
IGN Movies

Gets a lot of mileage out of the well-worn trapped-in-a-blank-full-of-hostages action genre.

comment Comment
07/31/03
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Fun Die Hard knockoff that uses the stadium for all its worth. The mascot fight is a highlight.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

Offers above-average pyrotechnics, a body count that steadily mounts, and plenty of hand-to-hand combat.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A mildly satisfying high-energy romp complete with outstanding professional hockey footage and intense physical confrontations.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

I'm surprised not only that there wasn't a lawsuit over the film, but also by how watchable the film is (though it truly is bad, it's fun at least).

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
04/20/03
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Works as entertaining mix of good action and unintended comedy, but the viewers won't enjoy it today as much as they did in 1995.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
04/03/03
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Although this is an uninspired re-working of the Die Hard formula, it is probably O.K. as mindless holiday entertainment.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
03/27/03
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

No review available.

comment Comment
11/08/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

comment Comment
11/08/02
James Hill
James Hill
BET.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/16/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

Sudden Death is one of the best action thrillers of 1995. It's also the film Jean-Claude Van Damme has been building up to for 10 years.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
06/18/02
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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