Dashe 3: Long she zhi Zhan

Working on an isolated island, a group of tourists looking over an island supposedly being set up for a tropical prehistoric park find the island teaming with actual dinosaurs and other creatures, and when one of the group is befriended by a giant snake must get off the island alive.

There was quite a lot to like with this one. Among its better features is a spectacularly over-the-top action-packed setup that keeps things moving along at a frantic clip. Getting introduced to the characters on the trip through the island to initially focus on the security setup of the area before becoming lost and stranded in the jungle with the wild creatures provides enough here to be worthwhile at setting up everything needed here. It provides just enough to get a sense of the project being built there which requires the group to explore the area to complete it, their own struggles which get enough of a handle on their characters, and then going from there with a slew of encounters with the creatures loose in the area to offer up the thrills of the team trying to recover the missing son while dealing with the onslaught of greed between everyone giving the film a strong overall storyline. As well, there's also the fun secondary storyline about the imprinting done on the young kid by the mother snake which grows over the course of the film. Quite realistically handled with the scene that sets it up where his attempted escape from a nest-robbing creature brings him into contact with the yolk from the spilled eggs before the mother returns to notice him emerging from a hiding spot in the shell of an egg, the whole sequence is incredibly well-handled. The relationship that develops over the course of this is quite fun with the mother snake continually trying to project him from the elements on the island with the different encounters with man-eating trees, giant dinosaurs, or other threats on the island while also taking care of him in a motherly way which is all rather fun to see play out. The other fun factor with the film is the incredibly fun series of gloriously cheesy creature action. Starting with the attack on the dig site that sets everything in motion, the later attacks on the bus which strands the group on the island bringing them into contact with the giant frogs in a fantastic sequence, the scene in the underground lair with the mother snake, and a thrilling chase through the jungle trying to escape the massive dinosaurs before the mother snake arrives to help fight them offer up plenty of cheesy fun. Offering a mix of solid and cheesy effects trying to get the different species to interact with each other as the confines of the action require it to go for this exceptionally cheesy route which might be way too cheap for some to handle. That's really the main issue with this one as it doesn't have too many genuine drawbacks present.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.

The creatures were done decently, both animal and plant. Prehistoric creatures are slumbering underground, and now are awaking and emerging because the island is being developed. Mother and son, who were both injured in a fire, are the main characters, as when they got separated, it lead to most of the drama. Mother is certain where her son may have gone. There is a bit of humor when the big dinosaur relieves himself on top of several of the characters hiding behind a large rock. And in running from the creatures, there is a lot of falling down. Yes, on the island is a development of a theme park featuring dinosaurs, but not meant to be real ones. The old professor starts to wear on a person after awhile. Seems like there is nothing he doesn't know about. The vessels at the start and the truck at the end were poorly done, which is a bit of a surprise considering. But turn off subtitles, turn down the sound and you will not miss anything. It is easy to guess where things are going.

I watched a subtitled version of this which was fairly horrible to read Chinese doesn't seem to translate to English very well but you'll get the gist .The acting was mostly ok but way over done in some places as to get annoying at times especially from the old professor character, The best part of this movie is the creatures which are really well done and make the entire movie well worth the watch and one you will remember.

Overall a watchable movie but far from great, I gave it a seven just for the work done on the creatures, the giant frog being my personal favourite i would watch it again if i can find better subtitles.

A more direct sequel to the previous film in the series as many of the creatures return (and not just the giant snake) but we add dinosaurs to the mix and this is another Monster Island in which no one should be trying to develop into anything. A ground on people run a fowl of the creatures and now try to find a way off the island but it's gets more complicated which the mother of a child with a physical handicap gets lost on the island and she must search the wilderness for him. Things get complicated when the giant snake takes a liking to the kid (who thinks he's one of her children. It gets more complicated than needs be) in a strange homage to King Kong. Needless to say, the film never gets boring despite being more ludicrous than the previous films.