Dragon Tiger Gate

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.

People have been unfairly criticising this film and taking things far too seriously indeed.

If you love Hong Kong action films, and have been a fan of such productions since the 70's or earlier, you will love this film pure and simple.

I actually enjoyed some of the action in this film more than SPL! Why? Because DTG was pure unadulterated comic book escapism. It isn't meant to be serious, it isn't meant to be deep. Its a totally entertaining popcorn movie, and I would suggest that anyone who tries to analyse it any further than that really should take some time out from watching movies.

Put simply, Dragon Tiger Gate is what a comic book adaption should be. As a long time Hong Kong martial arts film fan, I found this film to deliver everything I expect from such a thing and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Just don't bother watching it if you are the type of person who is going to sit there with their arms folded expecting it to change your life or something like many of the other reviews I have seen on the web seem to have done.

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.

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.

Comics-simple good vs evil. Fantastic three-way marriage of state-of-the-art CGI, clever montages and absolutely first class martial arts action (at least on Donnie Yen's part). Nicholas Tse at his cutest. Shawn Yue at his coolest. Donnie Yen always at his very best, and he IS the best. Beautiful and sometimes imaginative photography. Two Mainland actresses with faces that are very easy on the eyes and not bad in the acting department. And the sound! All add up to a super summer entertainment package. Highly recommended.

Just to given some balance, it's slightly odd to see 43-year-old Donnie Yen as 26-year-old Nicholas Tse's elder brother who is supposed to be just a few years older. Good makeup and lighting helps. Also, permit me to draw the analogy of having an absolutely top-notch, middle-age and slightly plump soprano singing the role of a slim, young girl in an opera. In the entertainment business, for excellence in one line, sometimes a little compromise is inevitable. Did you see Kevin Spacey's scene as a teenage Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea"?

Finally, ignore the "Plot outline" in IMDb. I'm sure it was contributed with good intentions. But the comics "Dragon Tiger Gate" has been around for decades and what the movie has done is just borrowed some of the key characters and put them into a story that barely has a plot. And who needs a plot anyway?