Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

You won't be disappointed!

the audience applauded

Memorable, crazy movie

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

This movie is based on a comic book which i haven't read, but i understood the plot and characters surprisingly flawless through great storytelling.The cinematography and editing of this film is very stylish and fairly creative, especially with the interesting lighting of the settings.The stunts and fights are marvellously done, entertaining and, through great sound design, very impactful.The best part for me were (like i said) the characters. I understood the motivations of all of them, and never lost interest. A big part of this is the great storytelling, every time something is setup that seems to be little, or unimportant at first, it get's a big pay off.The actors all fit their roles very well, and it wasn't just a Donny Yen one-man-show like i expected, which was a big surprise.The visual effects are okay for the most part and not overdone (for the most part).The only real flaw is the pacing of the third act, which drags for a while and looses some of it's momentum before it get's to a big climactic fight, which is a good counter balance, but also fairly long.A heart-warming, investing story, full of great action and drama...

Based on the manhua (Chinese comics) by Tony Wong Yuk-long who also play a cameo as Master Qi in the film.The manhua depicts the story of a close relationship between both brothers who once endure hardship together as the best of friends. Later separated and reunited when they cross-paths as adults. No matter what happens, the elder brother will always protect the younger one.Keen readers and followers of the manhua series may or may not like the film because it lacks of its original story. Many scenes were fast- forward and focus on Shibumi's reign, rather than the brotherhood history.--Two brothers named Dragon Wong and Tiger Wong, were separated when Dragon's mother decided to take Dragon away leaving the younger sibling behind with his father. However, Dragon's mother gave a piece of half jade amulet to Dragon, so as he can reunite with his younger brother who has the other half. Dragon is a master of fists while Tiger is a master of legs. They make a good combination.Unfortunately, Dragon's mother (Sheren Tang) was short-lived when she was killed in a blazing apartment and Dragon is taken under the care of triad boss named Ma Qun and he grew up to become Ma's bodyguard. Ma Qun's gang is a subject of the evil Luocha Gate.Several years later, Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse) and his friends dines in a restaurant and encounter Ma Qun and his men, who are receiving the Luocha Plaque.The Luocha Plaque is a symbol of authority within the Luocha Gate and indicates the holder is second-in-command only to the Luocha Gate's leader Shibumi (Yu Kang/Louis Koo). Ma Qun and the leader of the White Lions Gang were arguing over the Plaque when Tiger starts a fight with the gangsters.Tiger and his friends seized the Plaque. And, Dragon Wong (Donnie Yen) appears and fights with Tiger, whom he does not recognise to be his half-brother. Ma Qwun calls for Dragon to stop.That night, Dragon confronts Tiger and his friends at a Japanese restaurant to take back the Plaque. Tiger and his friends' meal were drugged by Scaly (Vincent Sze), one of Ma's lackeys, who also wants the Plaque to prove to his worthiness to the boss.Scaly and his followers fight Dragon over possession of the Plaque. Turbo Shek (Shawn Yue), was also dining next door but his delicate meal has been interrupted by the commotion and he joins in the fight on Dragon's side. Dragon and Turbo defeat Scaly and his men and Dragon takes back the Plaque from Tiger. Soon, Tiger realizes that Dragon has the other half of the jade amulet pendant and realises that Dragon is actually his half-brother.Turbo follows Tiger back to Dragon Tiger Gate and challenges Wong Fuk Fu (Yuen Wah). Turbo was ultimately defeated. Wong Fuk Fu agrees to spar with Turbo and defeats Turbo easily. Turbo is humbled and accepted by Wong as a student.Meanwhile, Ma Qwun returns the Luocha Plaque to signify his retirement. He is supported by Dragon, who wants to return to Dragon Tiger Gate, and his daughter Ma Xiaoling (Dong Jie), who wants a simple life. Shibumi disapproves and sends the Double Devils to kill Ma Qun.He uses his subordinate Rosa (Ella Koon) to lure Dragon away while his minions kill Ma Qun. Dragon realises that he had been tricked. Dragon slays the Double Devils after a vicious fight and leaves Ma Xiaoling in his brother's care before leaving.Shibumi was impressed with Dragon for defeating the Double Devils and goes to Dragon Tiger Gate to issue a challenge. With Dragon not present, Master Wong Fuk Fu, Tiger and Turbo takes on Shibumi's challenge but were utterly defeated. Master Wong Fuk Fu is killed by Shibumi. Ma Xiaoling brings Tiger and Turbo to Mount Baiyun to seek help from Master Qi (Tony Wong Yuk-long). Master Qi heals Tiger and Turbo, and teaches them new martial arts techniques to defeat Shibumi.Tiger and Turbo races to Shibumi's pagoda to defeat him. Although improved, but still lack of energy and power to defeat Shibumi. Towards a crucial moment, Dragon appears and fights Shibumi, and defeat him.

OK firstly I have to just say that I watched this movie on Netflix with English Subtitles and I was disappointed with the overall movie but then I re-watched it online in it's original language Cantonese with English subtitles and it really makes a huge difference. The English dubbing is so cheesy and they even mistranslated a few important lines which cleared a few things up for me that I had been confused about! I won't say what they are for spoiler purposes but if you can find the Cantonese I suggest that 100% over the English dubbed. OK on to my review: This movie is worth watching for Donnie Yen's fight/action sequences alone. He is top notch as far as martial arts skills go in my opinion and while he usually doesn't do a lot of wire work in his films in this one he does some but it adds to that comic book feeling. He is so kick-ass in this movie that I have re watched his action scenes over and over again. And...he does it all in leather pants!This movie obviously doesn't have the budget of Hollywood films so the CGI created environment parts of it are lacking but I believe it still works since this is supposed to be based off of a comic book. Of course having a bigger budget would have taken this film up a to a higher level. A little more explanation of the characters is needed and they could have utilized the musical soundtrack more to add to the intensity in some scenes. However, I think Donnie Yen's action sequences make up for the lacking parts in this. Overall I find it to be a fun movie with great scenes from Yen. I am a fan of movies like Tomb Raider so if you don't like that movie you probably won't like this one just because it has that same kind of vibe to me. I really liked one reviewer on here who basically said if your going to watch this and take it too seriously then your wasting your time, they are 100% right. This is one of those "for fun "movies and is not meant to be some gripping, emotional story. It's meant to be fun and have things in it that go beyond reality. I also really find it to be a movie that grows on you. And once again Donnie Yen is fantastic if I had to judge just him my rating would be 10 stars for his action directing alone.

Entertaining yet uninspiring... Donnie Yen isn't exactly a fresh face, but with the action starved HK fans, he isn't half bad and perhaps the most consistent martial arts performer for the last 5 years. With several action director awards under his belt, his signature is written all over the bubble gum action in Twins Effect and the gritty crime in Sha Po Long. Much is expected of Yen and director Wilson Yip, coming off the incredibly well made – Sha Po Long, but one must not forget that the new film - Dragon Tiger Gate is comic book and therefore comparison between the two is rather unfair. Sure, Dragon Tiger Gate is filled with flaws, but at the same time it is comically entertaining without much tension and in a way with lower expectations, it certainly works to some extent. The movie goes like this: Donnie Yen is Dragon, who left the martial arts organization Dragon Tiger Gate years ago and is now working under triad leader Ma Kwun (Chen Kuan Tai, star of many Shaw Brothers swordplay films). Ma Kwun gets the Lousha Plaque which grants him the exclusive rights to do business with Shibumi, the evil leader of the Lousha Sect. Dragon's long-lost brother Tiger (Nicholas Tse), still living in Dragon Tiger Gate, accidentally gets hold of the Plaque, and the two brothers finally cross paths...Wilson Yip have certainly matured as a director and after viewing his resume of films like Bullet Over Summer with stands along with Sha Po Long as one of his best film, he have also created entertaining yet forgettable movies like 2002 and The White Dragon. Perhaps, Yip is in the 2002 mode for this film and the result isn't half bad. Like all his films, they are extremely well produced and excellently presented. One thing of particular interest is that Yip is very much a character director who attempts to extract a performance from his actors. Louis Koo in Bullet Over Summer, Simon Yam in Sha Po Long and even in lesser flicks – Francis Ng in White Dragon, but with a twist and a turn his attempt in Dragon Tiger Gate is suitably wasted in the form of Donnie Yen. Yen is brilliant fighter and has terrific physical presence, but seriously his attempts at acting are rather bland and forced. While other actors, in scenes such as the swimming pool scene can express a "Great Wall", Yen expresses nothing other than him being bulky. Of note, the chick in the swimming pool scene is seductively hot from what I remembered and her last impression to Neo is pretty memorable.The action in the flick isn't exactly top class, and at times, Shawn Yue and Nick Tse seems suitably more concerned with their weird hairdos than the actual action moves. For non-fighters, they did a pretty credible job, but pales in comparison with some brutal trademark kicks and physical presence of Yen. I don't know if it is just me, but to me, Yen's action directing seems the same in every movie and at times his trademark double kick seems more cliché than freshness. However, the last fight with Yen and the masked guy is of the best in recent years and definitely extremely entertaining to watch. Nick Tse is an actor that Neo praised in a number of movies with some good comic touches in most notably New Police Story and The Promise. Here, Tse doesn't do much either than act cool or let his hairdo do all the talking. In a way it is a wasted performance and like wise, Shawn Yue's hair does more than his needless performance. It is disappointing to realize that Shawn, whose potential is seen in Jiang Hu, is only given more than an extended cameo performance with Yen given the center of attention. As mentioned above, Yen is not much of an actor and his attempts at acting are even more laughable than Jackie Chan trying to be serious. It seems that Yen is now trying out to become a romantic lead, with a sexually daring performance in Seven Swords and now a romantic lead in Dragon Tiger Gate. Really, Yen isn't convincing, but whatever he lacks in character, he redeems himself with fists and kicks. Of the three action heavy weights, Chan, Yen and Li, Neo can be save to say that Jet Li is by far the best actor out of the pack. Dragon Tiger Gate is all in all a fun, entertaining yet rather forgettable flick. While I may seem to be contradicting myself, but for a Yip's film it just isn't up to scratch. The plot seems thin and the comic book isn't exactly tense, but the real downside is really the action. While it is still leaps above the state of HK cinema, it is in no standing to rival neither the action quality of Fearless nor the brutal feel of Sha Po Long. However, with all being said, Dragon Tiger Gate is by no means crap and in fact it can even be considered as a success as it reaches it ultimate aim of being entertaining. With lower expectations and defying the fact that Wilson Yip is the director or Donnie Yen trying to act, this movie can be pretty adequately fun to watch, but that's about it… (Neo 2006)I rate it 7.75/10.www.thehkneo.com