First of all, Yuen Biao is not starring in this one as someone commented earlier. It's Mang Hoi who undoubtedly has strong resemblance to Biao and has also remarkable fighting skills. Yuen Biao however was the action director for this movie which is quite recognizable. I want to delve into the action part of this movie mainly. Let's face it: This being a Jackie Film you actually watch it for the action content predominantly although this one had a brilliant and dramatic story as well.
As said earlier, this film has 2 additional fight scenes. It's a pity they were taken out (at least for someone like me who cries out for good old 80s HK action) because they are just awesome all the way through! We see Jackie take on Lau Kar Wing in a hospital and what they show us is just breathtaking, brutal and fast-paced action with great rhythm and choreography. For those who don't know Lau Kar Wing: Being the brother of the grand Lau Kar Leung he was one of the leading HK-action guys showing absolutely skillful action sequences in his earlier old school Kung Fu flicks. "Odd Couple" or "Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon", to name a few. Well, you actually see him in a LOT of HK action movies, just that nobody really recognizes him... Anyway, he and Jackie go at each other in marvelous hand-to hand combat in this fight and it's just too bad it was cut out for story reasons. The other cut out action scene is a brawl on a parking lot involving Jackie, Mang Hoi, Yuen Wah Lee Hoi San, Fong Hak On and a few other guys I just can't remember quite well. Awesome hand work with some nice stunts. Hoi San is in good shape also. Okay, the end-fight gives a hint about how good Jackie once was. In fact, Jackie does not do all of his stunts himself. Yes, he does the big ones himself, the "clockwork tower fall" in Projec A, the Police Story stuff etc. Otherwise, all we know about Jackie, our whole image of him would just shatter. But the minor stunts, some tumbling and falls etc. are in fact often done by stunt doubles. That's pretty common in every HK action flick. Yuen Biao was one of the most skillful people out there, that's why he doubled sooo many action stars, even Jackie in Drunken Master 1. Now, in Heart of Dragon (HoD) Jackie does almost everything himself. I would normally have doubted to see Jackie do a wall-flip. But in this end-fight, it's 100% him doing this stunt. Gorgeous! He moves better than ever, faster as in any other of his movies. Let's not forget about Dick Wei, the all-time big villain who is in top-notch shape in HoD! His kicks look totally smooth unlike in other movies that he isn't quite as good as in HoD! The camera-work and editing is finger-lickingly brilliant! I cannot imagine a fight to be edited and shot in a better way in order to achieve the end-fight's intensity and toughness. Everything looks truly dynamic and super slick! I wouldn't wonder if Sammo had his hands on the action directing issues as well...the fight looks 'very' Sammo style. Big nods go to Meng Hoi, Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Lee Hoi San, Chung Fat, Philip Ko and a few others for their additional great action sequences.
In conclusion I want to say that HoD is my favourite Jackie movie. I have seen it many times already and the action never loses its powerful impact. Go get this masterpiece if you haven't seen it! But in case you cannot appreciate real HK action it'd be a shame to have you watch it...
As said earlier, this film has 2 additional fight scenes. It's a pity they were taken out (at least for someone like me who cries out for good old 80s HK action) because they are just awesome all the way through! We see Jackie take on Lau Kar Wing in a hospital and what they show us is just breathtaking, brutal and fast-paced action with great rhythm and choreography. For those who don't know Lau Kar Wing: Being the brother of the grand Lau Kar Leung he was one of the leading HK-action guys showing absolutely skillful action sequences in his earlier old school Kung Fu flicks. "Odd Couple" or "Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon", to name a few. Well, you actually see him in a LOT of HK action movies, just that nobody really recognizes him... Anyway, he and Jackie go at each other in marvelous hand-to hand combat in this fight and it's just too bad it was cut out for story reasons. The other cut out action scene is a brawl on a parking lot involving Jackie, Mang Hoi, Yuen Wah Lee Hoi San, Fong Hak On and a few other guys I just can't remember quite well. Awesome hand work with some nice stunts. Hoi San is in good shape also. Okay, the end-fight gives a hint about how good Jackie once was. In fact, Jackie does not do all of his stunts himself. Yes, he does the big ones himself, the "clockwork tower fall" in Projec A, the Police Story stuff etc. Otherwise, all we know about Jackie, our whole image of him would just shatter. But the minor stunts, some tumbling and falls etc. are in fact often done by stunt doubles. That's pretty common in every HK action flick. Yuen Biao was one of the most skillful people out there, that's why he doubled sooo many action stars, even Jackie in Drunken Master 1. Now, in Heart of Dragon (HoD) Jackie does almost everything himself. I would normally have doubted to see Jackie do a wall-flip. But in this end-fight, it's 100% him doing this stunt. Gorgeous! He moves better than ever, faster as in any other of his movies. Let's not forget about Dick Wei, the all-time big villain who is in top-notch shape in HoD! His kicks look totally smooth unlike in other movies that he isn't quite as good as in HoD! The camera-work and editing is finger-lickingly brilliant! I cannot imagine a fight to be edited and shot in a better way in order to achieve the end-fight's intensity and toughness. Everything looks truly dynamic and super slick! I wouldn't wonder if Sammo had his hands on the action directing issues as well...the fight looks 'very' Sammo style. Big nods go to Meng Hoi, Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Lee Hoi San, Chung Fat, Philip Ko and a few others for their additional great action sequences.
In conclusion I want to say that HoD is my favourite Jackie movie. I have seen it many times already and the action never loses its powerful impact. Go get this masterpiece if you haven't seen it! But in case you cannot appreciate real HK action it'd be a shame to have you watch it...