Dragon [Blu-ray]

This movie is such a perfect blend & balance of character, action, & storytelling. One of my favorite movies. I've watched & paid to rent it numerous times. What happens when you transcend evil but its remnants stick to your feet like molten tar? Donnie Yen is a big black bear & Takeshi Kaneshiro aka Wu Jin Cheng is a needling mosquito. Their interaction drives the conflict & plot.One of my favorite storytelling devices is hearing different points of view about one-singular event from many people. Per usual, Donnie Yen's martial arts choreography is off the chain.I wish there were Hollywood films featuring Chinese Actors - maybe I should change that to Chinese films since neither main lead are just "Chinese". Donnie was raised in Canada & Aniki is Taiwanese-Japanese & was raised in Taiwan.Between the movies excellent leads, they have been in over 100-movies. I doubt if American fans know more than a handful of their work. America has so many outstanding Asian-actors. They're always out of work & hungering for work including Bruce Lee. Lee died in 1973 after relocating to Asia b/c he couldn't earn a living in America.I'm still waiting on diversity to happen. I don't care about awards just hire some people. Bruce Lee died waiting for Asians to be accepted ** on our small & big screens. Here are the only NON-STEREOTYPICAL ROLES that I've witnessed on primetime TV Networks during my lifetime:1968 * Julia - 1st TV show featuring an African American actress2012 * Scandal - 2nd TV show featuring an African American actress44-years apart1995 * Vanishing Son'''''' - 1st & last TV show featuring an Asian-American actor1998 * Martial Law^^^ -1st & last TV show featuring an Asian actor**NOTICE I LEFT OFF THE TV SHOW CREATED BY BRUCE LEE? Bruce Lee was too Chinese so they hired someone to wear yellow-face - David Carradine.'''''' Russell Wong was/is so handsome. He was held down by Hollywood.^^^ Martial Law was SO CRAZY b/c Sammo Hung, the star, was SO INCREDIBLY famous outside of the US - as famous as Jackie Chan. (Arsenio Hall was in it, too.). Imagine CBS doing a Jackie Chan TV show? What? That's how FAMOUS you have to be to just get a foot in the door.This may seem like a digression but like most mixed-race Americans, growing up I always wanted to see people who looked like me on TV & film. I'm sure if Jackie Chan wanted to do American TV, he could at anytime.

I originally acquired this movie as Wu Xia back in 2010 or 2011... I'd forgotten about it until my brother was asking me about great martial arts movies. This was one of the best I recalled. Donnie Yen is amazing on his artistry as a fighter and acts the part well.My favorite part is the detective being in HEAVILY Boondock Saints influenced scenes that shows him picturing the fights as they really happened (a la Willem Dafoe).It is subs and no English dubs, if that bothers you, but I feel keeps the dialogue flow more genuine.Mad props for "legend"/period movie that uses modern Tarantino style story telling.

This movie is worth collecting. It was surprising on many grounds...unlike much of the martial arts genre. The storyline, premise and choreography are all top notch. I love the lead actor from Ip Man. He brings his remarkable talent to this screenplay. This tale was told quite well and crafted believably with scenery and costume, appropriately weaved. Bravo! Very well done. It reminds me of the crafting that went into the Jet Li movie, Hero.

The martial arts movie field is littered with hundreds of movie of questionable production values, goofy over-acting, silly or confusing plot lines. "Dragon" avoids all those problems nicely - well made, actual acting skills, and a more coherent plot line than most. I still had some disappointment in a little bit of over-acting by Donny Yen just before the climactic final battle. Tang Wei adds a beautiful, sober portrayal of a wife with a sad past without the constant crying and whining typical of most Chinese movies. Would have liked to see more of her in the story. Overall, a very good movie for kung fu genre and above average rating as an entertainment movie.

WARNING! Many spoilers below! This is more a review for people who want to think about what they have already seen.This is largely a remake of David Cronenberg's 2005 film, A History of Violence. But with some major changes in emphasis. Cronenberg's film is a meditation on the thin line between the action hero and the sociopath. Dragon reflects on the possibility of redemption and where to draw the line between mercy and justice.Consider the situation of the two families at the ends of their respective films. Cronenberg's Stall family have no idea if they can put their lives together again, their whole sense of stability having been shattered by the events of the movie. Chan's film ends with a sense of healing and hope.Cronenberg's is the better film. The story is beautifully told and the theme strikes me (enter Personal Opinion) as the deeper theme. Dragon has some major plot holes. For example, toward the end Yen's character is confronted by a group of twenty or so bad guys who then send him off to fight their master. After the defeat of the master, the twenty bad guys apparently decide to retire off screen somewhere. Maybe in a monastery?And I have some issues with the whole Iron Bell(or whatever variation he uses) chi defense the master uses. It is about time that Wu Xia movies give up the whole skin that cannot be penetrated or sliced by a sharp sword schtick. It didn't work very well in the Boxer Rebellion and it doesn't really work in the movies.On the other hand, you have some beautiful acting by the three main principals and Donnie Yen doing his usual incredible movie fighting. There are moments that are very exciting and moments that are deeply moving. Dragon may not be a minor masterpiece like A History of Violence but it is still an excellent and very entertaining movie. A kung fu spectacular for grown-ups.

OK, first ask yourself what do you want from a martial arts film? Firstly, i'd say this is a film that just happens to include fighting. The reviews give you an idea of what you get here. Indeed, this film isn't a series of fight sequences interspersed with an attempt to tie them together with dodgy acting on a budget. I enjoyed the fight sequences, i enjoyed the acting and the plot, and they spent some cash on it, so it looks nice. Good interplay between the two leads, some twists, it keeps you engaged. Yes you have to read the subtitles, to be honest i'd rather that than listen to a westernised dub. Not quite up with Ip Man (imo this is better than Ip Man 2), i'm going to look out for the uncut version 'Wu Xia', not sure why they trimmed 20mins from this 94min version, unless they felt there was too much acting!! I take the point made about packaging, i've bought films based on the cover, but then they are designed to sell films!Extras - you get some insight to the film with a 10min or so Donnie Yen interview.........Legend of the Fist up next.

I watched this film recently on television and the whole process and technics of production provided an insight into the implication of certain aspects of the martial arts being used. The storyline was good too. I recommend this DVD.

Excellent film with great action scenes. Another film from China that shows it can do as well as any Hollywood actioner.

ONE COMMENT....RUBBISH. B

Some good martial arts action and some philosophy on good ,evil and forgiveness. The story was a bit uneven but I was interested to know how it would end. I would sum it up as an oriental version of Les Miiserables.