As a huge fan of action and martial arts comic books, my anticipation and expectations were high when I learnt that they were making a movie based on Tony Wong Yuk-long's Dragon and Tiger Heroes. Fortunately, the film adaptation didn't fail to impress and amaze as director Wilson Yip manages to combine non-stop high-hitting action with a simple (but rather weak) storyline.Three martial artists possessing something that belongs to an evil crime lord which eventually leads to an amazing showdown between the heroes and villain himself. That should sum up the whole movie in a nutshell. But of course, there are the usual subplots, flashbacks and a couple of time-wasting lovey-dovey scenes.However, the fast-paced action in the film more than makes up for the mediocre plot. Most, if not all, of the fighting sequences are carried out to pure perfection (I am not surprised - Donnie Yen is also the action choreographer in the movie) and the stunts rival those of Hollywood action movies. Only one question remains... Why is it that hundreds of villains can't seem to stop just one person. Seems like the film-makers had been influenced too much by "The Matrix".Of the three main leads, only Donnie Yen, being the most experienced in acting, succeeds in creating a lasting impression as the cold and matured Dragon Wong. Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue are only average in their roles as the brave but indecisive Tiger Wong and the arrogant and cocky Turbo Shek respectively.The supporting cast should also be given a pat on the back. Yuen Wah (a regular in Chinese martial arts film) is responsible for bringing Dragon Tiger Gate sect master Wong to life. Chen Koon Tai is equally impressive as the masked villain, Shibumi, while the two female stars are just a couple of pretty faces with little acting skills. To me, the 'real' stars of the movie are the kids during the flashbacks. Not only are they innocent and cute, they could certainly teach a thing or two about acting to their older counterparts.The special effects are definitely something to 'marvel' at. The opening sequence reminds me of a Marvel comic movie, with a collage of comic strips flipping across the screen. Most of the other special effects emerge during the fighting scenes, adding colour and spice to them. One thing though, did Nokia phones exist in the comic world created by Tony Wong, or did director Wilson Yip just chose not to bother with such details?Those looking for solid action by hot-looking guys with great bods (plus a couple of hot chicks as well) shouldn't miss this martial arts fest. "Dragon Tiger Gate" is the perfect place for action fans. Just make sure you don't get lost in the muddle of a plot.
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