How sad is this?

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

This martial arts film follows two half-brothers, Dragon and Tiger Wong; sons of one of the Dragon Tiger Gate martial arts schools. When they were young Dragon's mother left the school and was later killed in a fire, after which he is taken under the wing of local crime boss Ma Kun and grows up to become his bodyguard. Years later Kun's top people are in a restaurant celebrating being awarded the 'Luocha Plaque' which gives them a local monopoly under the powerful Luocha Cult. By coincidence Tiger and his friends are there too and he gets involved when another gang turns up and starts causing trouble; in the ensuing fight one of Tiger's friends takes the plaque. Dragon goes to retrieve the plaque but Scaly, one of his rivals in the gang, has got there first and drugged Tiger's friends. A fight ensues between Dragon and Scaly. With the help of Turbo Shek, Dragon gets the plaque. Dragon returns the plaque to Kun and the latter states his intention to return it to Shibumi, the leader of the Luocha, and retire… something that is taken as an insult. Kun is murdered by Shibumi's men; Dragon gets to the scene too late to save his master but defeats the attackers.Inevitably one thing leads to another and ultimately Dragon is reunited with Tiger and along their new friend Turbo they confront the evil Shibumi.This martial arts film has a decent enough plot but ultimately it isn't about the plot it is about the martial arts action; in this department it delivers the goods. There is lots of fighting; some hand-to-hand and some involving typical martial arts weapons; most notably the nunchaku wielded by Turbo. These fights are delightfully over the top, with characters thrown so hard they shatter walls and a fair amount of CGI. Normally I'd prefer traditional wire-work to obvious CGI but here it fits the films comic book origins. Obviously this is mostly about the fighting but there are also some good humorous moments and decent character development. The cast does a fine job making us believe in their characters even during the more fantastic moments. Overall I'd recommend this to anybody wanting undemanding martial arts action.These comments are based on watching the film in Cantonese with English subtitles.

Based on the manhua (Chinese comics) by Tony Wong Yuk-long who also play a cameo as Master Qi in the film.The manhua depicts the story of a close relationship between both brothers who once endure hardship together as the best of friends. Later separated and reunited when they cross-paths as adults. No matter what happens, the elder brother will always protect the younger one.Keen readers and followers of the manhua series may or may not like the film because it lacks of its original story. Many scenes were fast- forward and focus on Shibumi's reign, rather than the brotherhood history.--Two brothers named Dragon Wong and Tiger Wong, were separated when Dragon's mother decided to take Dragon away leaving the younger sibling behind with his father. However, Dragon's mother gave a piece of half jade amulet to Dragon, so as he can reunite with his younger brother who has the other half. Dragon is a master of fists while Tiger is a master of legs. They make a good combination.Unfortunately, Dragon's mother (Sheren Tang) was short-lived when she was killed in a blazing apartment and Dragon is taken under the care of triad boss named Ma Qun and he grew up to become Ma's bodyguard. Ma Qun's gang is a subject of the evil Luocha Gate.Several years later, Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse) and his friends dines in a restaurant and encounter Ma Qun and his men, who are receiving the Luocha Plaque.The Luocha Plaque is a symbol of authority within the Luocha Gate and indicates the holder is second-in-command only to the Luocha Gate's leader Shibumi (Yu Kang/Louis Koo). Ma Qun and the leader of the White Lions Gang were arguing over the Plaque when Tiger starts a fight with the gangsters.Tiger and his friends seized the Plaque. And, Dragon Wong (Donnie Yen) appears and fights with Tiger, whom he does not recognise to be his half-brother. Ma Qwun calls for Dragon to stop.That night, Dragon confronts Tiger and his friends at a Japanese restaurant to take back the Plaque. Tiger and his friends' meal were drugged by Scaly (Vincent Sze), one of Ma's lackeys, who also wants the Plaque to prove to his worthiness to the boss.Scaly and his followers fight Dragon over possession of the Plaque. Turbo Shek (Shawn Yue), was also dining next door but his delicate meal has been interrupted by the commotion and he joins in the fight on Dragon's side. Dragon and Turbo defeat Scaly and his men and Dragon takes back the Plaque from Tiger. Soon, Tiger realizes that Dragon has the other half of the jade amulet pendant and realises that Dragon is actually his half-brother.Turbo follows Tiger back to Dragon Tiger Gate and challenges Wong Fuk Fu (Yuen Wah). Turbo was ultimately defeated. Wong Fuk Fu agrees to spar with Turbo and defeats Turbo easily. Turbo is humbled and accepted by Wong as a student.Meanwhile, Ma Qwun returns the Luocha Plaque to signify his retirement. He is supported by Dragon, who wants to return to Dragon Tiger Gate, and his daughter Ma Xiaoling (Dong Jie), who wants a simple life. Shibumi disapproves and sends the Double Devils to kill Ma Qun.He uses his subordinate Rosa (Ella Koon) to lure Dragon away while his minions kill Ma Qun. Dragon realises that he had been tricked. Dragon slays the Double Devils after a vicious fight and leaves Ma Xiaoling in his brother's care before leaving.Shibumi was impressed with Dragon for defeating the Double Devils and goes to Dragon Tiger Gate to issue a challenge. With Dragon not present, Master Wong Fuk Fu, Tiger and Turbo takes on Shibumi's challenge but were utterly defeated. Master Wong Fuk Fu is killed by Shibumi. Ma Xiaoling brings Tiger and Turbo to Mount Baiyun to seek help from Master Qi (Tony Wong Yuk-long). Master Qi heals Tiger and Turbo, and teaches them new martial arts techniques to defeat Shibumi.Tiger and Turbo races to Shibumi's pagoda to defeat him. Although improved, but still lack of energy and power to defeat Shibumi. Towards a crucial moment, Dragon appears and fights Shibumi, and defeat him.

From the first seconds of Dragon Tiger Gate,it's easy to note its absence of originality and its intention of copying scenes,characters and concepts from other movies with the intention of entertaining the spectator.And the film gets that intention.There's nothing original in this movie,but director Wilson Yip knows how to adapt all the elements from other movies to Dragon Tiger Gate for finally getting a fun movie with a lot of energy.This film takes elements from the films directed by Tsui Hark,Ronny Yu and a lot more.As I said before,the story is not original and it has clichés,so,we do not see nothing new,but the film made a good work in keeping me fun.Dragon Tiger Gate is not as subversive and as good as director Stephen Chow's films(like Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle) and it is not as intensely dramatic as the masterpiece Time and Tide.I would say this film is in some intermediate point,far away from the excellence,but pretty fun.I'm usually against the absence of originality but,on some occasions,like in this movie,the final result is a good film.I can recommend Dragon Tiger Gate because,without being great,it's pretty fun.

I watched this expecting nothing, but man was I lucky to stumble on this one hell of a movie. Yes there is simplicity to the script and i felt as if it could have been better. The story could have been also lengthened to give it an extra kick to the whole concept. But it doesn't really matter because, the fight scenes just blew me away. I've seen tons of martial arts movies revolving around wire effects but, this one just truly impressed me.I guess the action just looked more natural in the movie as if their not on wires. The actors did a great job with the fight sequences. Think Ong bak and kung fu hustle mixed together. The actors fit their roles perfectly as well as producing incredible stunts, fights, action etc..Donnie Yen is always impressive and here he's exceptional. Kudos for choreography too.Truly one of the most impressive of its genre to me personally, up there with fearless,fist of legend, ong bak, shinobi(i love this film)etc... I recommend this to action and martial arts fans. Unmissable.. 10/10 just because i Love the theme of this and how it was made.