New Dragon Gate Inn (DVD)

This Hong Kong hit at the Sundance Film Festival had audiences cheering... I seen this film advertised on the Drive DVD (another great film), and decided that I'd buy it. I am a fan of the hong kong, action genre. I love to see fantastic sword fights that are performed to perfection with real skill. I was not disappointed with 'New Dragon Gate Inn' I'm wondering what is the best way to review this film, I could tell you the whole story line, but then I also want you to watch the film. Oh I know, I'll use the description from the back of the DVD: Set during the Ming Dynasty, this is a story of Tsao Sui Yan, a power hungry ...  Read the complete review

Hong Kong Legends are rapidly making a name for themselves as purveyors of high-quality DVD presentations of good Eastern films. Here they release the 1992, Tsui Hark-produced sword extravaganza ‘New Dragon Gate Inn’. THE FILM The film is set during the Ming dynasty, and the story essentially starts by introducing the audience to a bunch of rather unpleasant Eunuchs who form a clan known as the Dong Chang and are lead by a ruthless warlord called Cao. Cao is determined to eliminate all his enemies, and starts by eliminating his enemy Yang Yu Xuan, together with his entire family except for two small children. The two children are to be used ...  Read the complete review

Most Hong Kong historical epics involve lots of sword fighting together with lush green forests and rolling, grassy hills. In ‘New Dragon Gate Inn’ director Li Hui Min has chosen to retain the swords (although he has added a pretty deadly array of projectile weapons into the fray as well), but to relocate from the forest to that much less well known Chinese backdrop, the Desert (here filmed in the Gobi). The film is set during the Ming dynasty, and the story essentially starts by introducing the audience to a bunch of rather unpleasant Eunuchs who form a clan known as the Dong Chang and are lead by a ruthless warlord called Cao. Cao is determined to ...  Read the complete review

'New Dragon Gate Inn' received its Western premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it played to cheering audiences. It's a fast-paced, extravagant Hong Kong fantasy film loosely based on Chinese legend. The film was produced by Tsui Hark (responsible for producing classic Hong Kong films including 'Zu Warriors' and 'Once Upon A Time In China'), and employs a cast of talented Hong Kong actors. The story is set during the Ming dynasty, and concerns a despotic eunuch, Cao Shao-qin (or Tsao Siu Yan, depending on whose pinyin you prefer…), played by Donnie Yen, who wants his own kingdom. In order to achieve this goal, he ...  Read the complete review

The new dragon gate in was a film I have to admit I bought accidentally. The price was right and the cover said “fans of Jet Li’s ‘the swordsman’ will love it.” I thought that that impressive duo Tsui Hark and Jet Li had teamed up again, this was not true. However the film was enjoyable. Set in a China terrified by its evil eunuch ruler we follow the plight of a rebel general and his love, as they attempt to rescue two children from the emperor. Filmed in the Gobi desert the final battle is legendary. Their journey across the border takes them to the dragon gate pass, yet before they can cross they must spend a night in the New ...  Read the complete review