Customer Reviews

Jackie Chan - Black Dragon (A.K.A. Miracles) [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Does anyone here know how to read? It clearly states that this version contains BOTH the subtitled and the dubbed version. If you don't want to read the subtitles, it contained a dubbed english version. How hard is it to realize this? Before you complain, why don't you read the back of the box.

I saw this film 10 years ago in the local Chinatown theatre and it still holds up on DVD as his most complete film. The film is shot with higher production values than it's Hong Kong counterparts. The comedy elements don't seem really out of place like in his later films and there is actually a story in this one ( borrowed from Frank Capra's "Pocketful of Miracles" ) The action sequences are as clever and inventive as anything he has ever done ( I didn't mind that there weren't as many of them ). The Restaurant sequence and the Rope factory fight are stand-outs. Even though the film was made for a Hong Kong audience, it transcends that and has something for everyone. It's great movie-making.

Again, unfortunately someone has been jumping the gun and accusing every DVD released in America to be cut. Usually a warning is apropriate, as foreign films are often cut, however, you should know whether or not that's true before you write a bad review. Not only does this film have both the original dialogue/ uncut version & the english dubbed(on one double-sided disc), but it lists it right in the features above. Please do your research or at least read the description before you continue to make these harsh allegations.

That being said, the audio and video quality on this DVD is very poor. The other R1 version by Tai Seng is the 22 minutes shorter cut, so avoid that one. So, region free player? Hong Kong Legends version, if not, either this one, or some cheaper HK import that will probably also have subpar quality.

"Miracles" is one of Jackie Chan's best overall movies, with funny comedy, great sets and cinematography, and wonderfully acrobatic fight scenes. its not a non-stop action fest, but that's also what makes it more of a "real" movie. Unfortunately, i found Columbia-Tristar's DVD version to have a significantly degraded picture quality. Sometimes the images break up quite a bit, looking like a third generation dub of a vhs tape. Characters in long shots will often look as though they are on the COPS show as criminals with their faces electronically obscured. I wish C/star had gone to the trouble to get ahold of a real print of the film and had then handed it over to a digital transfer expert (in contrast,for example, much care was taken with the new Shanghai Noon DVD, and it has a spectacular look to it). Anyway, this is the only version of the film available in the states, so its still worth buying. ps--if it matters to any of you, there is no English dub track. Just Cantonese and mandarin, with several languages in subtitles.

I see a bunch of people have made comments
like "Good if you like subtitles" - this
is annoying and stupid, since the disc contains BOTH
the original version (fir those who 'really'
appreciate hong kong cinema), and the a dubbed
"Chan-for-dummies" version, obviously for those who
only speak 'American.' Ironically, though
Columbia has done a great service by providing
choices for "everyone's" benefit, I have to read such
trifling comments by those who get weak in the

knees when they see a subtitle - even if the dub
is right in front of them.

This is sort of the Jackie Chan version of a chick-flick. It doesn't contain as many action scenes as some of his other films, but what action there is, is really thrilling. The chase scene through the crowded streets of Hong Kong had me laughing out loud, and when it culminated in an unbelievable fight in a rope factory, I was once again awed by the inventiveness and daring (lunacy?) of the choreography and stunts. In between the action, however, is a really lovely movie--beautiful sets, gorgeous photography, beautiful ladies (particularly Anita Mui), fabulous costumes--this looks like a Hollywood movie, and considering the difference in Hong Kong and US budgets, that's saying a lot. I have seen over 20 of Jackie Chan's films, and I am amazed at how varied and creative his movies are. This is definitely one of his best.

Besides Drunken Master II Miracle is Jackie Chan's best and I own about thirty of his movies. Well shot also. More acting than action but the three major fights are packed full of action and stunts.

The movie, which I won't bother summarizing since it's been done in other reviews, is a feel-good-story sprinkled with some awesome action. If you're just out for an action fix, you may want to pick up another Chan movie instead. Although the fight scenes have quality work in choreography, execution, and creativity (beautiful fight in a rope-factory), it focuses on plot and dialogue for good chunks of time. If you don't mind a balanced movie between plot and action, you might want to jump on this one.

Jackie Chan did a nice job in both directing and starring the movie. He played the naive poorboy with a heart of gold perfectly. The comedy in the movie didn't evoke the laughter Chan movie's usually get out of me, but it's still abit humorous nevertheless. It's a shame Anita Mui didn't get much development throughout the movie. Her love-relationship with Jackie in the movie seems strained, out of place, and unnecessary. I guess since there were so many things going on in the plot at once, their relationship was underdeveloped and took a back seat.

Chan's directing throughout the movie is, in my opinion, his best effort as a director yet. He did a great job organizing the hectic mess of plotlines that consistently intervened and conflicted with each other, while ultimately leading it up to a climatic finish with the different plots being intertwined and combined.

Note: I only viewed the movie through Cantonese dubbing w/English subtitles. English dubbing WAS included in this version, but I just prefer to view movies in their original, intended format.

After deciding for some reason that 'Miracles' was an unworkable title for the DVD rerelease of this film, they dubbed it 'Black Dragon' and shipped it out. This is a remake of Capra's 'pocket full of miracles' with a greatly enhanced action quotient.
This is the best of both worlds in that it has the elaborate costumes, subtle comedic twists and period piece feel that Chan loves to do, while still giving fans the fantastic action scenes that they love from him. Indeed the choreography is some of his best-you have to see the rope factory scene to believe it...
Although the ending is a bit overdone, this is one of his best overall films. The cinementography is fantastic.
A fabulous date film....

This movie establishes Jackie as a very good director, actor, and action star. Though it is light on the action, the movie includes some breathtaking fight scenes and stunts that are well worth waiting for. The story is very intriguing and is similar to the plot of "A Pocket Full of Miracles." This movie literally has it all.