02-20-2020, 10:01 AM
I could've used some coke (or speed?) for those subtitles. Even with all the action, there was so much rapid-fire dialog throughout. There came a point early on when I made the decision to focus on the visuals and merely visit the subtitles on occasion.
Donnie Yen starts the movie in his regular guise. I suspect this was done to placate those who go to the movie to see Donnie Yen. A reasonable choice. But his transition to fat (maybe a half-hour in? Hard to estimate because it's such a frantic movie) is a bit hokey. A job demotion and love-life problems put him at a desk next to a much-visited concession machine, and "six months later" we have the fat dragon. BTW, Donnie looks younger than I expected in the opening. I guess I was misled by his graying Ip Man roles of late. The fat suit made him look even younger, and a bit goofy -- the chipmunk cheeks were a bit off. Still, it added to his naive charm. And yes, with and without the fat suit Donnie remains remarkably fast, spry, and powerful.
There were times when the plot was threatened with a dramatic moment, but director Wong Jing was always adept at preventing it with some silly bit of humor. It's like the characters would start to gell, to become real people relating in some real way, but then they'd have to deliver some bit of slapstick or verbal humor that would tear them down again.
Still, the movie is entertaining. And there's ample high-caliber fights with lots of creativity and complexity, as DM mentioned. Donnie Yen remains in firm control of his craft in this action vehicle ... though a dwarf did steal some scenes near the midway mark.
Yeah, DOOM recommended.
Donnie Yen starts the movie in his regular guise. I suspect this was done to placate those who go to the movie to see Donnie Yen. A reasonable choice. But his transition to fat (maybe a half-hour in? Hard to estimate because it's such a frantic movie) is a bit hokey. A job demotion and love-life problems put him at a desk next to a much-visited concession machine, and "six months later" we have the fat dragon. BTW, Donnie looks younger than I expected in the opening. I guess I was misled by his graying Ip Man roles of late. The fat suit made him look even younger, and a bit goofy -- the chipmunk cheeks were a bit off. Still, it added to his naive charm. And yes, with and without the fat suit Donnie remains remarkably fast, spry, and powerful.
There were times when the plot was threatened with a dramatic moment, but director Wong Jing was always adept at preventing it with some silly bit of humor. It's like the characters would start to gell, to become real people relating in some real way, but then they'd have to deliver some bit of slapstick or verbal humor that would tear them down again.
Still, the movie is entertaining. And there's ample high-caliber fights with lots of creativity and complexity, as DM mentioned. Donnie Yen remains in firm control of his craft in this action vehicle ... though a dwarf did steal some scenes near the midway mark.
Yeah, DOOM recommended.