Customer Reviews

Year of the Dragon [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

For the longest time I didn't know what this film was called. I would catch it late night on cable like twenty times and finally found it on vhs.

This movie has it all, a superb script by Oliver Stone and Michael Cimino, great direction by Cimino and without a doubt, Mickey Rourkes greatest performance. He plays a relentless vietnam veteran police captain who is brought in to take down Joey Tai (wonderfully played by John Lone), the new drug czar in Chinatown backed by the Triads (the Chinese Mafia).

This film is intelligent (i'm in the process of reading Robert Daley's book from which it was scripted) and features a standout rourke, he actually makes you care for a racist. Amazing work all around. This film should be put out on DVD packaged with "the corruptor"

This is one of my favorite movies. John Lone is so good, I think he steals the show. Rourke and Lone carry this movie, and the actress who plays Rourkes wife is terrific too. I might be bias here, because I relate to Rourke's character so much; A cop caught between his private ideals and the political groups and beauracracy. The movie shows how compromise and expediancy work to extend the life of the evil they are trying to destroy.

"Year of the Dragon" takes us into a world most of us never knew existed, let alone have seen: the seamy underbelly of New York City's Chinatown, a world unknown to the outsiders who visit the trendy restaurants and tourist traps. It's the story of the Asian heroin trade controlled by the Chinese triads; the young Chinese drug lord who will stop at nothing to take it over, and the police captain who will stop at nothing to destroy him. As Captain Stanley White, Mickey Rourke gives the performance of his career; he doesn't just act Stanley White, he is Stanley White. And Stanley White, as Rourke portrays him, is a straight-up jerk. This guy is about as subtle as a runaway steamroller. He's totally self-centered, treats his wife like part of the furniture, and barges into his Chinese girlfriend's home and takes it over is if he owned it. And John Lone is remarkable as Joey Tai, the young drug lord who cynically arranges for the murder of his own father-in-law and then tells the members of the triad that it's time for a new and younger leadership. The battle lines are drawn; Tai and White are going to upset the uneasy truce that has existed between the Chinatown police precinct and the triads and are going head to head. The results are calamitous. White doesn't care who gets into harm's way in his zeal to do Tai and the triad in, and Tai ignites the wrath of his elders in the triad when he forgets the ancient Chinese philosphy that recommends moderation in everything and goes for broke, bringing down the unwanted attention of the NYPD and the press into the triad's activities. Tai finally goes too far in directly attacking White's family and girlfriend, and all hell breaks loose. We know how the movie is going to end, and it gets there eventually, but not before the blood and gore is splattered all over the screen.

The movie goes from Chinatown, to the ethnic enclave of Polish-American Brooklyn, to the opium hills of southeast Asia and back again, and the pace varies from fast to warp-speed. The acting is generally excellent, with some of the best performances being given by the Chinese actors playing the men of the triad and the boys and girls of the gang that carries out and enforces their activities. One of the most shocking scenes in the movie is White's gun battle with two exquisitely beautiful Chinese girls who look like porcelain dolls and act like the most vicious, cold-blooded killers imaginable. The major supporting cast is very good indeed; Caroline Kava has never been one of my favorite actresses but in this movie she is terrific as White's long-suffering and neglected wife, who has been forced to put off motherhood at his demand only to find herself tossed on the dump heap when she is abandoned for a younger and more exotic woman. The movie has been panned as sexist, racist and overly violent, but it's not a pretty film and it doesn't tell a pretty story. It's down and gritty and tells it like it is. More praise to Michael Cimino for keeping it real.

This movie is the best cop show I have ever seen. Aside from its controversy and violence this show was well made. John Lone was at his best as always and Mickey Rourke was the same with attitude. I hope that the director would bring this great show out on DVD in stead of letting it collect dust!!! When it does come out buy it you won't be sorry!!!

I'm lazy so I won't write much and to hell with the lot of you who give me a "no". I simply want to counter the reviews of the soul-starved who gave it a poor rating. This movie so profoundly displays a good man beaten by the mediocrity of the world but, damn it won't quit his fight. It descends to the usual shoot-'em-up cop drama from time to time but has many very great moments. The scene where he loses his wife, a woman he was having troubles with, but still loved is moving and always affects me. Why in hell is this not on DVD? Would of given it 4 1/2 but couldn't - so 5 it is!

Although Mickey Rourke has not had a juicy leading role in a while, there are plenty of good movies from an earlier era in which he shines as a leading man. In Year of the Dragon, we see Mickey as a cop caught up in the mean streets of New York's Chinatown. We see Mickey both tough and vulnerable, and in the one scene where we see Mickey in tears, there is a sense that there is more to Mickey than meets the eye. And indeed, in this movie (as in most of Mickey's movies), there is more to his character than meets the eye. Although Mickey is stylish in this movie, wearing a trench coat and playing the role of a gritty and tough cop set against neon nights, Detective Stanley White (Rourke's character) is also a man with a mission. White is a part of the Vietnam legacy, a veteran of the longest war who has never let go of the fighting, although it is not certain what he is really fighting against. But no matter, the movie is enjoyable and it entertains. In sum, Mickey, Cimino, and the rest of the cast and crew, help us remember what movies are all about. Especially the really good ones in the tradition of a bygone film-noir era. That one's for you Ebert.

Year of the Dragon is Mickey Rourke's best work. The cinematography and music were great. The performances were strong and the action was intense. It is superior in quality to most action movies. This movie is excellent and it must be released on DVD!

"Year Of The Dragon" isn't a "masterpiece," but it's still a thrilling, thought-provoking cop drama. I loved it's visual style and music and the performances. Also, the screenplay by Oliver Stone is powerful and well-structured. I just wish director Michael Cimino could have added just a bit more to the film's structure, then you would have an epic. Still, "Year Of The Dragon" is thrilling, action-packed and exciting.

The sets of 'Chinatown' were constructed and photographed at Dino de Laurentiis' film studio in North Carolina. I know because I saw them while visiting the set. The real Chinatown has streets so narrow you could not possibly film on them. However, that's where the 'pretend' ends and the gritty reality of life on Canal Street begins.

While this movie was made over 20 years ago, it not only holds up over time, it gets better with age. It's like the best Dim Sum you ever had. You want it again and again. I am delighted it is now out on DVD. I just wish they would re-release 'Year Of The Dragon' in theaters so a new generation of filmgoers could see the genius involved.

John Lone, as always, is quiet elegance. A wonderful actor with one of the best faces in the business. Mickey Rourke was Mickey Rourke. The guy we fell in love with. Not the Mickey Rourke of today who has had so much plastic surgery we can't recognize him anymore. He is brash, crass, electric. A real spitfire of an actor. Ariane, poor soul, was badly miscast. The material was way over her head.

You see small parts in the film played by actors who were just getting started in the business. Eddie Jones, the great character actor who played my daughter's grandfather in a Harry Kondolian play in NYC, is the tough Cop on horseback in the first part of the film. He is still around playing great roles. John Lone and Ariane have long since left the screen. I really miss Lone. A wonderful actor.

The film is not a small film. It's big in grandure and in scope. Lone travels to Thailand, Hong Kong. This film sneaks up on you when you least expect it and makes you think. The writing is superb. Cinematography incredible. Music, acting, you name it. The very best film has to offer.

As someone who photographed Chinatown for many years here in NYC, it is very special to me. I love this film. I just wish millions of people could see it now in DVD and be as thrilled by it.

SERIUOSLY. this film is that good. a film in its time(1985), truly that was misunderstood. look at by critcs as too racist and violent, but really wasnt. basically, yotd portrayed how life was and is in NY Chinatown(underworld). mickey rourke(Captain White) was 'my idol' after seeing yotd for the 1st time back in 86-87(only 13), a great performance as the straight ahead, no-nonsense, ex-Vietnam vet, but loving to the ladies, NYPD Captain in Chinatown. as Cap, he vows to bring order back to Chinatown. Great performances everywhere. breathe-taking settings through-out movie, especially the scene between Rourke and Arianne(reporter having affair w/ rourke) overlooking Manhattan(priceless). I also pre-order the yotd DVD in July, not knowing the DVD format was just release in May. SWEET! also, as far as picture quality, yotd is one of the finer quality DVDs on market. (play it on your laptop..WOW)