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Starring
:
Maggie
Cheung
Brigitte
Lin
Tony
Leung Kar Fei
Donnie
Yen
Action
:
Ching
Siu Tung
Yuen
Bun
Producer
:
Tsui
Hark
Director
:
Li
Hui Min
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NEW
DRAGON GATE INN (1992)
A.K.A.
- Dragon Inn
Reviewed
by Tony Ryan
This
film is an updated version of the 1966 classic 'Dragon Gate
Inn'. Interestingly, the original action choreography was
styled in no small part by a certain Hung Kam Bo (Sammo Hung)!
In this remake, Ching Sui Tung takes on the role of action
director; however, I feel that Sammo would have done a better
job, due to the choreographed sequences not relating as well
to the camera as they would have done under Sammo's talented
eye. Also, the fights seem cramped, filmed in tight shots with
the rest of the movie making excellent use of space and
surroundings.
The
story also goes off track at times, with Leung's important
role as a resistance fighter being under-developed and
overshadowed by Maggie Cheung as the peripheral innkeeper
character. Action-wise the movie stops and starts, with the
fights finishing before they get going (much like the
original), and Miss Cheung seems more than uncomfortable
brandishing a sword! Donnie Yen is also wasted, not appearing
for the entire middle section of the film, before delivering
some ordinary moves in the final reel. The best choreography
in the movie is not a fight, but a striptease 'duel', showing
Cheung and Lin develop their own sexual chemistry stealing
each other's clothes and admiring what they see!
The
ordinary action is surrounded by more superior dialogue and
visuals to hold our attention. Some excellent acting is on
show, mixing a tense atmosphere with dark humour, while the
cinematography is a joy to behold. Especially the final scene
in the Gobi desert, as Hui Min uses the vast, pastel
background to good effect with a contrast of sharp colours.
Essentially
a case of style over substance, this is inferior to 'Swordsman
2' and may disappoint die-hard action fans, but would
prove a good introduction to swordplay style films, especially
for the H.K uninitiated and Hollywood lovers, due to it's
added emphasis on acting, dialogue and exciting visuals.
Rating:
 
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