Pretty Good

From my favorite movies..

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

With a title like "Dragon" that has Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro in it. I was expecting some grand or epic martial arts movie, with lots of battles and fight sequences...That is what this movie is. So if your an audience member that is expecting a lot of fight sequences you might be disappointed. This movie is a bit of a slow burner that has a message. Which is about what is right, the law of the land or if humanity, empathy and redemption. And how sometimes your past can comeback to haunt you. The two main leads really work together as opposites that comes to an understanding. The story is nothing all that special and it has been done before, but I did like the execution and the direction of this movie. It's simple and yet it has enough to make it stand out for what it is. It's a forgettable movie, but it's still a good enough slow burner of a movie.6.5/10

This is not a detailed review, and I am not going to speak to the cultural differences between American story-telling and the various differences which can be found in foreign films generally.This movie has some very Chinese cultural approaches which I appreciate for their differences from the standard American approach.There are many significant themes present in this film. The primary theme is that redemption from past transgressions is never free and can be very expensive.The overall plot and storyline of the movie brought to mind: "Les Miserables", Victor Hugo; and "Crime and Punishment", Fyodor Dostoyevsky.The cinematography reminded me of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Beautifully done.The martial fight scenes were excellently choreographed and very exciting to watch.The language is Chinese with subtitles, However, when I finished viewing the movie, I actually had to ask myself if there were subtitles because they were totally unobtrusive to the film or spoken dialogue.The story is taken from the point of view of a detective investigating the death of two criminals when they attempted a robbery and murder of the shop-keepers in a small town. The detective is the primary story-teller, and also, the narrator for transitions between scenes. The transition from scene to scene is almost totally seamless to the extent that there is no noticeable break.During his investigation of the two deaths, the detective suspects that the hero of the story is not a common laborer, but highly trained in the martial arts. The story centers on his relentless pursuit of the truth regardless of the consequences to the families and community.I classify this film in the same category of the best Chinese films released in recent years: "Hero", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and others I have watched.The only surprise for me was that I haven't found it nominated or receiving any awards in the foreign film category.Respectfully, MJR

Peter Ho-Sun Chan directs the intriguing, entertaining martial arts film "Dragon," by utilizing his art house sensibilities. With a narrative as intense as the set pieces, it is an intriguing thriller about two men seeking redemption from their past. Partnered with the narrative are strong performances, intense action sequences, and beautiful cinematography.The story takes place in China in the year of 1917. A man named Liu Jinxi (Yen) resides in Liu Village with his wife Yu (Tang Wei) and their two sons. One day, two men try to rob the local store, which Liu just happens to be at. The two criminals end up dead, and Liu is the only one that walks away. The unusual event catches the eye of Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a detective who is convinced Liu isn't the man he says he is. Once Xu has confirmed there is more to Liu than meets the eye, the psychological conflict between the two men begins. Both actors, Yen and Kaneshiro are fantastic in their roles, with fine character development enhancing their stellar performances. Liu is a complex character, determined to live an ordinary life, but evidently hiding something terrible. The opening scene depicts him dining with his family in a tranquil home, and it is so genuine a moment that his sincere desire for reform cannot initially be doubted. However, as word of his whereabouts spreads, Liu's resolve is sternly tested, and he is forced to directly confront the demons of his past.The first fight scene is entertaining in itself, then magnified when attack is meticulously reconstructed in Detective Baijiu's mind. The action is replayed, with an added focus on the crucial moments. The method of physiology in which Detective Baijiu analyzes the crime scene and attack is unique and captivating. Director Chan uses a range of visual effects, particularly to add precise detail to the development of internal wounds, a technique that remains effective throughout the film.The last 20 minutes of "Dragon" take you completely by surprise. The conclusion of the last fight will make or break your opinion of the film. Nevertheless, "Dragon" delivers swift kicks and a barrage of bone crunching punches to the standard expectations of a remake. "Dragon" is a stunning display of martial arts action, mesmerizing detective work, and engaging performances.

Donnie Yen has been the go to guy for great martial arts films for the last few years. He is one of the few in the industry that delivers great acting performances alongside some remarkable action. His latest film Dragon aka Wu xia looks to continue his tradition of great epic films, but with a bit of a drama suspense aspect, but will this new direction hurt the film or just deliver another great addition to his already brilliant resume? Dragon follows a martial arts expert trying to live in peace, but after a couple of criminals attempt to rob a store and are killed, a determined detective sets out on a hunt to solve the case and reveal the secret he has been trying to leave behind. This is a bit of a different type of film than Yen's previous endeavors. Make no mistake, there is plenty of action here, but it's separated by mystery story that is simple yet cleverly crafted. The film plays as a homage to the classic martial arts film One Armed Swordsman in both story as well as having the legendary star of the film Jimmy Wang in a major role in the film. In addition it almost feels like an Asian remake of History of Violence with the story being the exact same direction. There is some brilliantly clever layout to the way this film is crafted taking out of the realm of average to something a bit more special. Seeing the events unfold in numerous ways throughout this film adds a new dimension that keeps you guessing and wondering where things are going and how it will be revealed. Yen gives another great performance with one of the widest ranges he has had to deliver in some time. Jimmy Wang, while not in the movie a lot, delivers some great moments of pure evil as well as an epic fight scene that any hardcore martial arts fan will surely get sucked right into.Dragon is a great entry into the martial arts genre and one that shows you can deliver the awesome action with a great story and performances. If you are a fan of Yen or the classic One Arm Swordsman then this is a must see film. Understand though, this is not a remake of that film, but does pay homage in a big unexpected way that you will not want to miss.