Lung foo moon

Getting off to a very Marvel-like start should be enough of a hint that here's a comic book adaptation, in this event a conversion of an identically-titled HK staple. Similar to a multitude of other martial arts action fiestas, Dragon Tiger Gate espouses a mix of sentiment and beat 'em up orchestration that leaves it lingering on the average end of the dial.

Firstly, a word on the CG effects, used mostly in delivering a pseudo-Hong Kong metropolis that's seldom seen, yet overall manages to keep in tune with the urban, almost post-apocalyptic visage required in superhero stories. Technically, DTG looks quite good until you proceed to pay attention, and realize one especially long shot of the city basically takes digitizations of real-world skyscrapers, mixes them up and hopes for the best. This kind of amateurish shortcut doesn't become an otherwise professional production.

But aside from several visual faux pas, DTG's other irony is that the plentiful emotional segments really work much better than its action bits, which is somewhat odd in a fighting extravaganza. Uniquely enough, it's easy to become enthralled by the emotive content more so than with Donnie Yen's fight choreography, and despite submitting more than a mere sample of tacky clichés, the film nonetheless packs a touching punch far more formidable than its roundhouse kick.

And make no mistake, it's all about Donnie Yen, fresh from success with crime-noir number SPL (also directed by Wilson Yip), and less triumphant moments in Seven Swords and Hero. Surely, Yen's genuine martial arts prowess and good-guy charm come charging in on top of making movies like Dragon Inn and Iron Monkey so memorable, but in DTG he's in weaker form. Having said that, co-starring hunks Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue (Infernal Affairs trilogy) fall far short of eclipsing yen, indeed living up to their roles as his subordinates.

The trio delivers Dragon Tiger Gate's pivotal triumvirate of characters, Yen as Wong Siu Long (Little Dragon), a master fighter employed by benevolent underworld boss Kun (one has to love those kindly mobsters). When Kun's empire comes under attack from mysteriously evil overlord Shibumi (Yan Kung), Siu Long's enrolled in the cause, particularly since it involves protecting fragile Kun daughter Xiaoling (Dong Jie, who's grown a lot since Zhang Yimou's Happy Times).

Help for struggling Siu Long emerges from leftfield in the form of two fighters also trained in eponymous kung fu academy Dragon Tiger Gate. Wong Siu Fu (Tiger Wong, done by reformed badboy Nicholas Tse) and Shek Hak Long (charismatic Shawn Yue's Turbo Shek) both lend a helping hand. All receive a proper thrashing until realizing several internal issues and consigning themselves to the sacrifice one must offer in the name of goodness. Thus, DTG follows a path previously tread by the likes of Teenage Mutant Ninjas, since here too a goofy master bestows magical supernatural powers in a scene that comes across out of place.

As entire gangs of underworld henchmen and enough home décor for a Home Depot/IKEA combination megastore are demolished, the movie intersperses its action and borderline-sci fi atmosphere with back story, revealing the hurt that brought many of the characters together. These function well in spite of being ostensibly trite, extending to the story's most alluring persona, ambivalent beauty Rosa, who's affection for Siu Long conflicts with working for arch-rival Shibumi. Gorgeous Li Xiao Ran renders this troubled individual with flying colors, proving almost on a par with Maggie Cheung's double agent role in Moon Warriors all those years back.

Yet capable melodrama and a few acceptably strong performances do not suffice in qualifying Dragon Tiger Gate the classic. It may be often confused with Wuxia heyday masterpiece Dragon Gate Inn (1992), but rest assured a gulf separates the two. Toned-down, unimaginative moves come as a surprise from Yen, veteran of so many martial arts bonanzas himself, and the story in general does little to transcend the formulaic.

This is another major native East Asian comic book transition onto the silver screen that fails in many respects, following abysmal Initial D last summer. While blissfully not as bad, Dragon Tiger Gate has very little to recommend it beyond a few choice moments, and even those take it only so far, a predicament familiar to viewers from previous high-profile releases also afflicted with dud syndrome: Legend of Zu, Avenging Fist and Black Mask 2 all come to mind.

The hunt for a summer 2006 mastery of things action continues, and in the meantime, perhaps Dragon Tiger Gate aficionados can bide their time patiently for a hopefully reinforced home video release.

Rating: * * *

I had been looking forward to Dragon Tiger Gate since even before its Asian theatrical release. Same director (Wilson Yip) and action choreographer (Donnie Yen) as Sha Po Lang (aka Killzone on your videostore walls), and also once again co-starring Donnie Yen. It also stars Shawn Yue (who I don't know) and Nicholas Tse, who I've been assured many times by my friend Kim is a uber-hottie. This one was definitely just a straight-up action movie with visual effects to emphasize the coolness factor. I enjoy the occasional flashy action movie, and actually really got into this one, characters and all. Instead of saying much about plot, let's just say that 2 of the 3 leads are brothers who hadn't seen each other in a long time, and they team up with a new friend to kick some bad guy ass. Not for those of you who hate unrealistic action. Though I always enjoy seeing Donnie Yen kick a guy so hard he flies 20 feet back and through a wall.

Dragon Tiger Gate had nominations at this year's Hong Kong film awards for action choreography and visual effects.

First of all, forget the story plot. This is a popcorn movie and there is really no seriousness to it. The summary on the back of the DVD said it was about two bothers who separate when young, but rejoin to enter a contest where they have to battle to top of a pyramid to get a valuable plaque. Huh, no, that wasn't the plot at all. There are two brothers Dragon Wong (Donnie Yen) & Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse). They were taken in by Wong Jianglong (Wah Yuen from Kung Fu Hustle) when their mother died in a fire. Wong J. has a school called Dragon Tiger Gate, where he teachers young kids martial arts and discipline. After a few years Dragon Wong rebels and leaves the school. The next time Tiger Wong meets his brother it's years later. The chance meeting occurs when two gang leaders meet at a restaurant to discuss the ownership of a plague called Losorous (something like that).

Meantime Tiger Wong and his friends are having lunch at the same Asian restaurant right below the gang members on the 1st fl. When a fight breaks out above them between the gang members, the floor breaks open and the plague fall through the floor onto Tiger Wong's table. What follows is some of the best action in a restaurant not seen since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Tiger Wong is kicking butt until a bodyguard steps in and teaches him a lesson. That bodyguard ends up being Tiger's brother, Dragon Wong. Tiger escapes with the plague and eventually Dragon Wong is sent to retrieve it. There are other smaller plots between Tiger and a girl he met on the street. Dragon also has a love interest from his past that meshes with the story. I won't give away anymore of the plot. The plot really isn't that important.

It's the action that true martial arts fans will want to see. There are 3 major action scenes in this movie. The first is in the restaurant which is breathtaking. The director uses several unique camera angles, one being above the action, that looks awesome. The 2nd battle is on a baseball field which is good, but nothing we haven't already seen. The final battle between the 3 heroes and Shibumi take place at Shibumi's lair which is dark and has wide stairs and huge columns. The action is fast and furious except for a few slow motion moments of bodies flying through the air. Dragon's 18 Palm technique is a blur of fast hand motions that will have you running the film in slow motions just to catch a glimpse.

If you're looking for a great script, deep plot or romance story in this film, you're watching the wrong movie. The movie is based off a comic book, so you really can't expect to much from it. It's a must see for martial arts fans who like hard hitting action. Just don't take this film too seriously and you'll have a great time.

Oh-ho! This may be the best Kung-Fu movie I ever saw. The fighting scenes looked real. But I can say that the movie has a thin plot which is not very good (I can say). The only good thing is the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I do like the movie, it is just that I felt that the movie might need some improvement on the plot. It is about Tiger Wong, Dragon Wong and Turbo who believe in justice. They take possession of a gold plaque that holds one of the largest Asian criminal organisation, the heroes are now the target. They will have to fight the evil. The fighting scenes, I say it can be improved, as it just take a few minutes only. Longer fighting scenes would be more interesting. But overall, it still pass in my standard.

For me personally, this movie is one of the best Modern Martial Arts Flick of Hong Kong today! The kind that I've been waiting long to see!

As a long time fan of Donnie Yen (I'm an instant fan since I saw his first movie Drunken Tai- Chi, a loooong time ago), I believe he has finally get the chance to show his true talent, as the up-and-coming modern day Action Director. Donnie Yen has arrived!

The fight choreography is very unique and freshly thought, amazing at times. Combined with limited wire-work, stylized complicated movements (Donnie Yen's Specialty) and very complementary Computer Generated Special Effects, the fight scenes will blow your mind away. Not to mention the addition of the ground-shaking 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound Effects. You gotta see and experience it for yourself to know what I mean.

Story wise, LONG HU MEN (Dragon Tiger Gate) delivers true to it's comic book nature about the tale of Good vs Evil, told within the realm of Amazingly Imagined Hong Kong Triad/ Martial Underworld.

The Cinematography are quite unique too. In some scenes it felt like a very imaginary world, others like a very beautifully-painted old-day Hong Kong, yet in another it looks so realistic, true to the colour of the world today.

I may be biased so just go watch it for yourself.