Dragon Tiger Gate

A few recent movies have raised the bar for Hong Kong action cinema. Aside from the obvious "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" which introduced a moving plot and quality acting to the genre, "Ong Bak" raised the stakes for action by replacing gracefully balletic Wu Shu fights with acrobatic but brutal, hard-hitting action. Similarly, the Korean movie "Fighter in the Wind" also followed the hard hitting formula but added stylish camera-work to the mix. Luckily, "Dragon Tiger Gate" shows that Hong Kong kung fu cinema does have the skills to match these foreign usurpers.

The first thing that jumps out at the viewer is the rather contrived but undeniably stylish air of "cool" that surrounds the lead characters with their snappy streetwear and (quite amusing) emo haircuts. These guys are ass kicking metrosexuals! Luckily they ass-kick very well! Following the Ong Bak formula, the opening fight scene shows foot hitting face with real force and the fighting style replaces the graceful wu shu of traditional Hong Kong cinema with something that looks more like Japanese karate or one of the harder, external forms of kung fu - not much posing or flowery stances but lots of straight to the point slamming strikes.

So the film looks great and the fights are cool - how about the plotting? Crouching Tiger standard? Of course not! It's a standard formula about estranged brothers on different sides of the tracks coming back together to defeat evil. But this really isn't the kind of movie where the plotting makes much difference (and, to be honest, when Hong Kong cinema tries intricate plotting you usually get an over-long and unfollowable movie, so fair play to them for keeping it simple!) - what you really want is quality fighting and stylish visuals and this movie more than delivers. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to kung fu movie fans.

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.

Oh... my... GOD! What can I say?

I just finished watching this film and was so utterly blown away by it that I just had to preach its awesomeness to all kung fu fans the world over.

There is a story to this one, but let's just skip that part and concentrate on what gets real kung fu fans itching with excitement: the action.

Not even ten minutes into this film and you know that you're in for a treat. By the time you're 53 minutes in, you'll be wetting your pants - it's just THAT GOOD.

Donnie Yen did the action choreography and it's some of the best you could ever hope to see, combining genuine martial arts skill with wire-work and a touch of computer effects for some of the most stunning fights ever to come out of Hong Kong... and that means a Hell of a lot if you know your grain.

For me, this film rates up there with other kung fu masterpieces such as Iron Monkey, Fist Of Legend and Tai Chi Master; fans will therefore be able to get an idea of just how masterful this flick is!

I understand that no film can ever be perfect, but I rated this one a "10", as such is the highest attainable merit.

Now, if you're any kind of action fan, go and watch this film - I promise that you won't be disappointed.