In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

My hopes were pretty high when this movie popped up on a cable movie channel that I get. Jean Claude Van Damme and Scott Adkins in the same movie? That combination sure promised that there would be a lot of action. But I think action fans will be as let down as I was. Oh, there is action - but it's hardly there. Most of the time it only lasts a few seconds long instead of being extended to a decent enough length to really pump your blood. And while the movie's leads have shown their martial arts skills in other movies, believe it or not there are almost NO martial arts displayed in the movie. The two do get into a scrap with each other, but it only lasts a few seconds long. And this particular action sequence, like the others in the movie, suffers from the modern way directors think an action scene should unfold - with quick cutting and with the camera zoomed close in. Directors like the one who directed this movie should really study Hong Kong action movies to find how action should be directed.So the movie disappoints with its promise of good quality action. But there are other problems. The movie is shot with really ugly colors that make everything look washed out and bland. Other production values look pretty dismal as well - this is one cheap-looking movie. The script also has problems, like familiar characters and plot turns. In fairness, I can't say I was bored at any moment - the movie does move swiftly from scene to scene. But to be honest, at the same time I was wondering why I was subjecting myself to such a predictable story that wasn't given any juice by the director. Yes, I have seen a number of far worse direct-to-video movies... but I have also seen a lot that were a heck of a lot better than this.

When corrupt Interpol agents spring a powerful drug dealer from prison and put a hefty price on his head in hopes of luring out their former #1 contract hit-man that they want dead who has a dark history with said drug dealer and another elite assassin is in the mix, you know things are about to get … complicated.Jean Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins in a film called Assassination Games and here's the rub. Its not the type of flick you're picturing in your head. Okay maybe that's a half truth. The prerequisite elements are within. Guns, death, fisticuffs, deception, etc and it gets off to a brief but predictable action start, but then slow city. Between Van Damme's detached, solitary arch of a (hit)man and Adkins broken past, there's a lot of drama and the pacing is monumentally slow. No wham, bam thank you ma'am. Its nearly two hours long.Shot down and out in Romania, much of the film's backdrop isn't visually intensive / interesting. That doesn't mean it isn't well shot however. Watched in SD, felt like HD. Acting wise, the two leads acquit themselves fine and some of the supporting cast actually stood out. The story could be more exciting and/or shorter, but as it is, Assassination Games finds itself not at the bottom of either stars resumes, but hardly at the top neither.

In little words --- what else could a man want from a movie. I mean i am no expert or a qualified guy but of late there have been very few movies that have been so riveting. I mean I went to see Thor 2nd. I expected it to be a drab and it was so as with Robocop and all the other big budget movies with their promotion and gizmo's, they literally suck. I went in to watch this movie expecting it to be another mindless bore but what i saw was repeated yeah... but well done. And lo and behold i was a fan of Jean-Claude van Damme all over again. Scott Adkins was great. Different from his "Undisputed" self. Jean has used hid age gained calmness well.

Pairing Scott Adkins and van Damme seems to bring the best out of those two actors (other examples being Expandables 2 and of course the most recent Universal Soldier). Of course in those movies and in this the pairing has a different agenda and a different relationship to each other, so I won't go into what makes them tick in this movie, so it won't be spoiled.What I can say, is that the action in this movie is more than decent, which can also be said about the acting. It's not your run of the mil action movie with just some random action scenes in it. There has been put a lot of thought behind this and if you're not to concerned about the next big action scene coming up, you will be able to quite enjoy it