American Dragons

New York undercover cop Luca has his cover blown during an attempted sting on mobster Rocco. The fallout leaves a cop and a civilian dead. Meanwhile in Korea officer Kim lives in the shadow of his wife and child – murdered by a gang called the black orchid. When Luca is moved top homicide he finds a connection to the black orchid gang – bringing Kim from Korea. The two must work together to stop the mysterious assassins causing a gang war between the mob and the Yakuza.

I thought this would be a martial arts type US cross over movie – and I wasn't far off. In fact this film covers all stereotypes of the mismatched-cop movies. We have a foreign cop, a hard assed cop, a firm but fair black captain etc etc. The cliches are overpowering and the story itself is nothing special. Because of the cliches you never get to the point of getting to believe in the characters. The action scenes are OK but it's nowhere near the type of martial rats stuff I expected – even Martial Law is more exciting.

The cast are mixed – Biehn is OK but really overdoes the tough guy stuff and delivers his lines flat. Park is not much better, at times I thought he was poor because he was foreign and at other times I thought he was poor because he was rubbish. Tagawa is always value for money – but has too small a role. The rest of the cast are nothing more than stereotypes – police captain, mobsters, informants etc. The whole cast is one big cliché.

The ending deserves special mention (don't worry I'm not spoiling the end!), the line `yeah, see you – but next time I'll come to Korea!' is typical of this mass produced straight-to-video gumph, already planning an international sequel….

Overall it's almost rubbish. The fact that you know exactly what to expect from it means you're not disappointed (there's a backward compliment!) but it's still pretty poor. May I suggest you watch Rush Hour instead – it's cliched too but it has more energy, comedy and flair. This is very workmanlike stuff.

A very well written and superbly directed film with the old standby mis-matched cop theme. Lots of action, slick camera work and nicely done fight scenes throughout with last ten minutes that always makes for good entertainment. Yes we love it when the bad guys get their just reward. Subtle twist ending left open for sequel.

Ok, so this is just a cheesy action movie but that doesn't mean you have to hate it. It's got a lot of plus points. The performances of the two leads is good and they do have actual chemistry. Plus this movie is funny; whenever the cops come to a dead end they just beat some people up. There is a fight every few minutes. It's great. Plus it teaches kids an important lesson: VIOLENCE SOLVES EVERYTHING! Wooooo!

What I don't get is how come Michael Biehn isn't a bigger star. He is quality.

If you see "American Dragons" on TV then give it a look, you might like it as much as I did.

You might not though. I'm not promising anything, ok? OK?

Okay, if you want a good movie with comedy between America and China, pick up the Rush Hour franchise. Don't get me wrong, I love Rush Hour, but I love the seriousness and suspense that's felt in some of the scenes, especially when the leader of the Yakuza meets his underlings in the harbor office. If you understand a bit of Japanese customs and culture, you would be able to feel that level of tension that I'm talking about.

I'm also a nut about Korean and Japanese cultures and customs and I was able to get into it easily. What Michael Biehn said at the end, "kahnsahamnida," is Korean for "Thank you very much." I train in Tae Kwon Do (a Korean Martial Art), and it's what drives my fascination about the cultures of Korea and Japan. Okay, I'm drifting off the subject, so I'll get back ON the subject.

A murder in Seoul,Korea of a detective's family...a black lotus origami-styled folding (I have no idea what they call it in Korea, so I'm using the Japanese similarity. If anyone knows what it's called, please let me know.) is the only clue that's given. Fast forward several years later to a murder in the New York alleyways; several members of the Yakuza are flat on their backs with their throats slashed out. A NY detective (Biehn) investigates the area and notices a black lotus origami floating by and scans the design to be sent to all police networks around the world. It is the same detective who's family was murdered that picks up the bulletin and when the two meet, you can tell there's some resentment until they have at it. It gets even better when the two go meet the Yakuza at the Harbor office.

I won't say anything more, but it gets better and better. I recommend this movie for anyone who wants good serious police work between two cultures.

New York detective Tony Luca is paired with South Korean detective Kim after a failed sting, as they navigate a deadly Mafia-Yakuza conflict while facing cultural clashes and personal demons.

Orion's American Dragons (1998), also known as Double Edge and The First to Die, inexplicably skipped a release in the U. K. until 2005. Director Ralph Hemecker blends action and drama with shades of American Yakuza (1993) and Black Rain (1989). The cinematography by Ernest Holzman enhances the noir-like atmosphere, while Joel Goldsmith's score adds tension and intensity. The action sequences are a mixed bag-some are executed with precision, while others are less well executed. With scattered fistfights and shootouts the tense opening, alley fight, bowling alley encounter are particularly notable highlights.

Michael Biehn delivers a strong performance as the hardened Luca, bringing both edge and depth to his role. Park Joong-hoon holds his own, adding humor and charm. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa makes an impression as Matsuyama, though his screen time is limited. Don Stark as mobster Rocco injects energy, making his scenes particularly engaging.

The film strikes a balance between gritty action and lighter moments, offering amusing one-liners without veering into full buddy-cop comedy. Biehn shines and carries the film effortlessly.

While Hemecker's offering may not have the scale or reach the heights of likes of Red Heat (1988), it's still wonderfully atmospheric, embracing the fish-out-of-water dynamic, creating a stylish crime shoot-em-up.