Heart Of The Dragon

Wasnt expecting much to be honest, but this was an enjoyable movie - especially it was more than just fighting as had some nice lessons about being there for family and friends. Great acting by everyone too and had some nice laughs. Watch this! One of Jackie's better films.

Fung Tat (Chan) is a cop. He's always wanted to get a job on a ship and sail round the world but can't as he has to care for his elder brother Dodo (Hung) who is mentally handicapped. Tat is in the process of trying to marry his girlfriend (Chu) so he can leave Dodo in her care and go off sailing but when his brother falls in with a gang of thieves he must save him and clear his name with the police.

Heart of the Dragon is far removed from a typical Sammo Hung / Jackie Chan film. The first thing that audiences will notice is that Sammo doesn't fight, though he does a couple of stunts, the other most notable thing is that Heart of the Dragon is overwhelmingly a drama, allowing Jackie and Sammo both to play far against type for perhaps the first time in their careers.

As Dodo Sammo really gets to create a character and he shows that actually he's a pretty versatile and talented actor, given the chance to stretch. We never get specifics on what is wrong with Dodo but Sammo's childlike performance is charming and never condescends to the audience or becomes so broad as to be insulting to the mentally handicapped as so so many films have.

Jackie is also effective as Tat. In one particularly excellent scene he rails against his uncomprehending brother about how he's not been able to go away because he's had to devote his life to caring for him. Jackie always gets to be more adult when Sammo is directing him (perhaps it's because, as his big brother, he trusts Sammo to stretch him) and that's certainly true here. Even outside of the dramatic scenes his fighting is more brutal, more outwardly violent and his relationship with Emily Chu both cynical and suggestive of a more adult side to the character, particularly in a couple of kissing scenes which from anyone else would be mild but are probably as sexual as Jackie has ever allowed himself to be on screen.

This is very much a drama. After an opening action beat (which includes a rare and sadly brief smackdown between Jackie and the late, great Lam Ching Ying) it settles down into being a very serious piece which lets the acting rather than fists and feet do the work and it works better than you'd ever expect because Sammo and Jackie hold it together (though supporting cast members like Mang Hoi are sometimes found wanting). So comitted was Sammo to this tone that he actually cut action scenes from the main body f the film, holding off on the action until the traditional end fight which, it has to be said, is a beautiful thing.

I love Jackie Chan's films and he's created some of the greatest action ever put on film but he never looks better, or more dangerous, than when he's directed by Sammo and this is no exception, fast, furious and violent it's a great release after a long wait for some action.

Heart of the Dragon is not a film for people new to Hong Kong martial arts movies as it's far from a traditional entry in the CVs of Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan but it's well executed in all respects and a recommended watch for fans who want to see Sammo and Jackie trying something new and doing well at it.

One of the surprises in Jackie Chan's career is this little gem. Playing it straight, this is a touching story of family loyalty and commitment as Jackie has to hold down a job as a police officer and take care of his mentally ill older brother, played with sensitivity and realism by the film's director, Sammo Hung. So concerned with everything looking right in this film, Sammo refused to do any fighting, even though the film studio expected it.

Torn between looking after his brother and getting away and joining the navy, Jackie bearly fights either until the last explosive twenty minutes, when we get some rough and aggressive fighting, again far removed from what you would expect from Mr. Chan.

If you like a more mature drama with a bit of action this one is definately for you. Jackie proves he can act, but Sammo Hung proves again that he is one of the greatest film makers to come out of China.

Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung team up again - this time as brothers - one of whom is mentally disabled (Hung). Chan plays the cop brother who longs to go to sea, but is torn between responsibility and his desire. As you can tell from the plot synopsis, this is a very different outing from the two martial arts kings. Both get to stretch themselves as actors (Hung in particular is excellent) and only in the last 15 minutes do we really see any of the sort of action that they're known for.

The Hong Kong Legends DVD is, as usual, excellent. An informative commentary is matched by a brand new interview with Sammo Hung, where he talks about having to shoot extra fight scenes for the international prints of the movie - which are also included in the extras.