This review may contain spoilers
Tony Leung Ka Fai, Maggie Cheung, and Brigette Lin have the ultimate slumber party in the middle of the desert at the Dragon Gate Inn.The hero, Chow Wai On, sends Yau Mo Yan and some mercenaries to save the children of an executed loyal official who are being used as bait. The power mad eunuch is back at it again and this time he's cleaning house of anyone not loyal to him and he wants Chow's head on a platter. Chow and Mo Yan rescue the children and get as far as the Dragon Gate Inn in the middle of the desert. It's run by Jade who is ruthless in her own right and has an eye for Chow. Things get complicated when the Eunuch's men show up at the inn and everyone is trapped there due to the weather.
Tsui Hark did a good job of creating a claustrophobic atmosphere as deadly games were played within the inn. My problem with it was that he didn't slow the pace enough for us to get to know any of the characters. Maggie Cheung's Jade was the only one who came across with a personality. Tony Leung Ka Fai and Brigette Lin had little to do besides fight and call each others' names. He didn't have many lines, but I was happy to see Yen Shi Kwan in a supporting role. Donnie Yen was in what amounted to a guest starring role as the Eunuch.
Most of the fight scenes didn't work for me either. I have no problem with wire work but much of the focus was from underneath the fighting which made it harder to follow the movements. Swords missed by great distances. These martial arts directors usually do a much better job of interspersing real kung fu moves and narrowing the focus to show the action, here everyone seemed to be jumping around in a frenetic pants on fire style. If there was something I did really like it was that the women were capable fighters, especially Jade.
Though the characters were only in the Dragon Inn for two days it began to feel like two weeks with nothing aside from the random deaths going on. Even with hints of romance, a great cause, friendship, betrayal, etc., with all the random scenes it was hard for me to get invested in any of the characters or their relationships.
The final fight scene in a sandstorm was bonkers but couldn't make up for the messy chaos in the inn. Because this is post 1990 it doesn't get graded on a curve with me like earlier martial arts movies. If you like kung fu movies, and the cast is strong in this one with some of my favorite actors/actresses, Dragon Inn is worth seeking out. Just ask for the vegetarian meal if you ever go there.
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I watched this with out watching Dragon Inn first and was able to follow the plot line relatively easily. If you are looking for a serious movie this isn't for you. if you like well choreographed, slightly plausible fight scenes tied together with an okay premise, watch this and enjoy. It is actually one of my favorite action movies out there ..It does have Donnie Yen in it after all.
Also don't be decieved by dvd titles I had this review on the wrong title for 3 years until someone pointed it out be cause the Dvd was title "The new Flying sword at dragon gate inn"
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