Synopsis

After a mission goes disastrously wrong, counterterrorist agent Jack Quinn is declared dead and confined to a secret penal colony for supposedly irredeemable operatives. When terrorist Stavros abducts Quinn's wife and newborn son, Quinn escapes with help from flamboyant arms dealer Yaz. Together, they pursue Stavros across Europe in a frantic mix of espionage, martial arts, gadgetry, and extravagant set pieces.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film marked Dennis Rodman's first major movie role after his rise to international fame as an NBA star. His flamboyant wardrobe and changing hairstyles became part of the character's presentation.

• Hong Kong action specialist Sammo Hung served as a special action choreographer, bringing Hong Kong-style fight design to the production.

• Mickey Rourke trained extensively in martial arts to build the physical appearance required for Stavros and prepare for his fight scenes.

• Filming took place between August 19 and November 2, 1996, with locations in Rome, Antwerp, Nice, and Arles.

• The movie was produced on an estimated $30 million budget but earned about $11.4 million in the United States and Canada.

• At the 1998 Golden Raspberry Awards, the film won all three categories in which it was nominated, including Worst Supporting Actor and Worst New Star for Dennis Rodman, as well as Worst Screen Couple for Rodman and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

• The film's unusual blend of international espionage, comic-book physics, science fiction touches, and broad comedy made it one of the more eccentric action vehicles of the 1990s.