Brilliant Individualism in Action!
Added 10/28/2009
There are so many reasons who people have a problem with this film but the truth is that it hits a little too close to home for most's comfort level.
First, we have a heroic archetype in Stanley White (Rourke) who is tough, sarcastic, witty, honest, arrogant and is one of the few redeemable characters in the film. White's supposed "racism" and "sexism" is clearly meant to be part humor, part attack on the PC driven staff members of his Police department that turn the other cheek while blood flows in Chinatown. In his own way, Rourke's character shows the most respect to the Chinese (and Triad members) in this film by treating them as equals. Whether he "uses" them, as another reviewer stated is quite questionable. White is a believer in the American dream, and American justice - which he wants all to share in. And while he does not seem to be concerned as much with the old Triad members that are rational, calm and stay hidden, he does have a serious issue with the new generation that don't seem to respect anything, least of all the laws of the United States.
White's wife is clearly not bringing him pleasure any longer, and he engages in an affair with a young Asian reporter. Their relationship, at least to me, seems very believable. White seems to drag both this reporter and a young Chinese detective kicking and screaming (as well as some Nuns) to "do the right thing". Whether they live or die because of this is irrelevant. White is the archetype of the Lone Wolf, the single individualist standing up against corruption and evil. The fact that he does it with a punch, a smile and a knowledge of fine Chinese cuisine (well sort of) makes it even better. In fact, the sense I had from watching this film was that White loves being the outsider, and the respect of the Chinese in Chinatown seemed to mean a lot more to him than that of his own "culture". (in truth all of these cultures are "true" American)
The music, direction and acting of all involved here are great. And the unabashed way that the subject matter is dealt with makes one still believe in everything that once made America great and still sometimes does - individualism, heroism and great Chinese culture!
Of course, most modern men and women would only scream for Stanley White when some building blows up or a man with a gun is standing in their bank. What that tells you about White, America and today's culture is something to reflect on. We all needs heroes. We may want to make it possible for them to exist once in a while.
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If you are a Mickey Rourke fan.
Added 9/15/2009
Mickey Rourke is always great. The production values not so much. Mickey and costars were terrific.
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Product of another Time
Added 7/6/2009
A truly odd experience to watch now. Only recommended if you're looking for some cool '80s nostalgia: Elegant camera angles and blue filters. Gorgeous minimalist lofts. Shocking lack of political correctness. (One scene seems even far more pro rape than that infamous scene in Gone with the Wind.) And Mickey Rourke. However Dragon feels decidedly low budget, abrupt, overly stylized and cheesy, and laughably inconsistent, esp. character wise. Stone was practicing at this point, trying to discover his own style. One minute he's shooting a music video, the next borrowing the swelling violins and saucy exchange of a Sam Spade movie, the next it looks like he's shooting a spaghetti western in Mexico, but with asian actors. And there aren't a whole lot of transitions to hold all this together. As much as I love '80s Rourke-9 1/2 weeks is near sacred to me-this would have worked better with someone older, not Rourke playing so much older, with Halloween vampire highlights/greylights. And Rourke seems too hard to be trying to be an angry er "cracked" middle age crackpot. I think Nick Nolte-channeling a toned down Jerry from "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"-would have been great in this.
Because of the confusion about his age (and the harping on Vietnam gets tired, although an '80s hallmark)it is disturbing to see him married to such a grandmotherly looking actress. By today's standards it is astounding. The movie seems confused about the couples age too-his senior citizen looking wife (She honestly bears a resemblance to Angela Lansbury and has a tiresome martyr complet to boot.) is trying to conceive?!! Admittedly this is preferable to today. What a great time for older actresses. (Except for the whole rape part-granted feminists go way too far today-but honestly where were they on this film?) And it's nice to think that Hollywood didn't have Woody Allen's pedophiliac preference for young girls with geriatric men. How things have changed. Nonetheless the age confusion drove me crazy.
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Year of the Dragon
Added 6/24/2009
I want see Mickey Rourke in his films these he had played.
I met only his cine "Nine half weeks."
He is a famous actor. For me was a new approached to something
of him. His films are good. Sometime heavy and hard.
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Not Cimino's best effort>>>
Added 5/29/2009
I still like this movie, but I wish they would have left out some of the storyline [I think the trip to Burma could have been left out].
I would rate this higher, but the movie digresses too much. I would have preferred to have more of John Lone [who's exceptional!] and more Mickey Rourke.
Still, it was enjoyable.
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great buy
Added 10/22/2009
Great movie. Mickey Rourke at his best. If you grew up in a neighborhood then you will understand this movie.
One of the best opening scences to a movie ever. (Mickey Rourke geting ready to go out on the town, with Summerwind playing in the backround.)
Burt Young from the Rocky movies plays a great mob boss.
A true cinema classic.
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Rourke & Roberts Shine
Added 8/25/2009
I've seen this movie several times. The chemistry between Rourke and Roberts is fantastic. I like everything about this movie. The acting,the story,the music and the setting. I recommend it highly. You won't be disappointed.
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Dysfunction and Codependency on display!
Added 8/3/2009
This movie is a great example of dysfunction and codependency. The relationship between Charlie and Pauly is a perfect reflection of dysfunction. First you have Pauly, a sick, dysfunctional, self-absorbed guy, forever trapped in adolescence, who is way out of touch with reality. His denial is about as deep as it gets. And Charlie, who just can't seem to grasp the codependency involved in his friendship with Pauly. He's so hung up on cultural (Italian) loyalty, even when it brings him nothing but constant trouble. Pauly is dedicated to making life miserable for all those around him, and Charlie seems destined to forever rescue Pauly from his stupid choices, constantly being sucked in to Pauly's pathology. Even Diane, Charlie's girlfriend, can see the truth that evades Charlie when she says to him, "Pauly's a loser and he uses you Charlie". But Charlie can't handle the truth so he lets Diane walk out of his life. To his credit, at the very end, after Pauly again makes life difficult, Charlie turns to Pauly and says, "You have a serious thinking disorder"!!! That's my favorite line from a movie that's loaded with one-liners.
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