dworldeater

It goes without saying that Conan The Barbarian is a classic film, well made, well received and the perfect vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger to become a superstar and big draw at the box office. Director/writer John Milius didn't return for the sequel and it falls to veteran director Richard Fleischer, who has a different vision for the film and a lighter tone. When you try to make a follow up for a successful movie that was originally given a X rating for violence, you are going in the wrong direction. Also the material was taken less seriously and the approach was more generic. The story itself is nothing special and it was the director that insisted that Arnold's physique is a central focus. A great alternate title for this film is "Put On A Shirt Dude". The movie itself is competently made, well paced and a fairly entertaining (and very campy) fantasy action movie. It has been some time since I revisited Conan The Destroyer and with all of its flaws, with a script that plays like a Dungeons And Dragons module, I still enjoyed it. Although, it is not a popular opinion, I much prefer the even more campy fantasy flick Red Sonja to this. It also has Arnold in a rare supportive role and is also directed by Richard Fleischer.

Around the time this was made these type of films were a dime a dozen in Hong Kong. It contains a solid cast with Andy Lao, Max Mox.and Alex Tam as the leads in another film about brothers in the bleak crime underworld of Hong Kong. Norman Chu and the rapist guy from Brother Of Darkness and Daughters Of Darkness 1 and 2 are the main baddies here. Dragon Family is another entry to the heroic Bloodshed genre and another movie heavily influenced or imitating A Better Tommorrow. This film, while not too original was certainly well done with good acting and highly emotional scenes. The action is great and totally insane, the plot, bleak and uncompromising and the building of plot and characters is excellent. The problem with the film was the market was flooded with similar fare. With all of John Woo's work , similar genre fare like Return Engagement and Hero Of Tommorrow, it's hard for Dragon. Family to stand out.. However, these type.of films are not made anymore and are greatly missed. Dragon Family is great action drama, that is.melodramatic, bloody and brutal flick that doesn't have Chow Yun Fat in it ( but it certainly helps).

I guess this is a remake of a older Shaw Bros swordplay flick. It was directed and co starring Frankie Chan. Ti Lung is always good and this picture is no exception as he plays a crippled swordsman seeking revenge. There is a whole lot plot holes, but it doesn't matter as there is tons of well choreographed action that gets sped up at times and is completely insane. There is some goofy and out of place humor, as well tasteless jokes about AIDS( which I didn't know existed in period China). Ti Lung is the central focus and the main component on making this film.work. Ti Lung is always good and made some shoddy productions more watchable and this production is no exception,