Year of the Dragon Reviews and Ratings


  • Dracula787
    August 7, 2009
    Dracula787
    This is the second film I?m watching in my exploration of the early career of Mickey Rourke, its also interesting as a major work in the career of the director Michael Cimino (another figure I need to catch up on). This is the first movie Cimino was allowed to make after the deb...( read more)acle of Heaven?s Gate, and its clear he was trying to prove that he could make a ?normal? movie. This is pretty much a standard, clichéd, Dirty Harry rip-off cop movie. It?s got every hallmark of the genre from the lonely grizzled cop to the moronic police chief. The hook that?s supposed to set this apart is that the villains are a Chinese Triad centered in Chinatown rather than Italians centered in Brooklyn. This choice resulted in a lot of controversy from the Asain community who believed the portrayal of Chinatown was stereotyped. I can see what they were offended by, there are elements of the film that seem to mitigate some of the less enlightened portrayals, but these politically correct elements feel like they were thrown in at the last minute in order to avoid controversy, I suspect that the original script was much less savory. Regardless of the racial overtones, this is a pretty lame and boring movie. Rourke is clearly trying, but he?s too young for his role and he?s give a really bad dye job. This probably didn?t deserve the five razzie nominations it got, but it?s still very unoriginal.
  • warmgentalover
    May 4, 2009
    warmgentalover
    SEEN THIS YEARS GO... IT A GOOD MOVIE ABOUT A COP WHO FALLS FOR THE TOP REPORTER WHO IS JAPAN AND WORK IN NY. SHE IS TOP REPORTER AND HE IS LEAD DETECTIVE. HE HAS TO TAKE DOWN SMALL TIME GANG MOFIA. THE ELDERS ARE NOT SO HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE YOUNG GENERATION IS DOING THINDS. T...( read more)HE REPORTER HATES THE DETECTIVE BUT NEEDS HIS PROTECTION DUE TO HER ALWAYS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE YOUTH GANGS.
  • stopitgoaway
    April 10, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    Year of the Dragon is something of a little known masterpiece. It is well written by Oliver Stone, and directed by Cimino at a turning point in his career. The centre piece, however, is Rourkes performance, which was caught while he most likely was at the peak of his acting abili...( read more)ty's. You will be totally blown away by the realism of his acting, and it's even more noteworthy that the film was made while Rourke was youthful while making this and was made to look more senior (that grey hair is dye). A heartfelt performance from an actor playing a cop with "scar tissue on his soul", will never be forgotten once seen. While the main character is far from perfect, it is just that which makes him believable as well. Stanley White is on a crusade and would die for his principles, which effects all those involved with him. It is a complex film, often talky, which is punctuated throughout with explosive violence, well shot with use of excellent set pieces. Bloody in places and above all gritty and realistic, in parts it is even beautiful. The film works on many levels from it's slow burn beginnings with emphasis on conspiracy to the final pay off on the dock yards. Well drawn characters are everywhere in this film, and it never losses its hard edge. Rourke has seen a much needed and deserved return in recent years. He may have lost his handsome good looks due to boxing and due to too many face lifts, but the guy will never lose his acting ability. We, the true fans, never gave up on this chance. And now he's finally gaining popularity with a new generation, who need to see and experience The Year Of The Dragon, To believe the hype. Also check out his other classics Angel Heart and Barfly.
  • alanjayh
    May 27, 2008
    alanjayh
    panned by many..but I think ariane is alluring and seductive in her first cinematic appearance and mickey rourke is relentless and believable in this role...this movie has an 'epic' feel to it..engrossing story, violent, highly entertaining tale from michael cimino (deer hunter, ...( read more)gates of heaven).
  • deano
    February 10, 2008
    deano
    Not quite bad thriller of an obsessed cop takes on the Chinese mafia, determined to reassert America's supremacy at home, having failed in the East. John Lone should become a major movie star. Mickey Rourke gives a good performance. Director Michael Cimino has talent to burn... h...( read more)is work is smashing.
  • jonrmcmahon
    January 19, 2008
    jonrmcmahon
    Stanley White is one of the all-time great cinema characters, played to a T by Rourke. Cimino cements his legitimacy as a director.
  • nicholls805
    January 14, 2008
    nicholls805
    mickey rourke in a great unpredictable crime thriller
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    September 24, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Utterly entertaining film.
  • jonnyfever
    August 3, 2007
    jonnyfever
    "thats where you went wrong, joey. i'm a pollak not an italian.. i can't be bought!"
  • craigy616
    July 24, 2007
    craigy616
    i thought this was a awosme film and Mickey Rourke looks so differnt to how he is now but damn good acting so well enjoyed the film watch it
  • alanhyc
    July 15, 2007
    alanhyc
    don't understand..the show..alot of scene censor
  • pier007
    July 6, 2007
    pier007
    The last good film directed by Michael Cimino. a violent thriller written by Oliver Stone and featuring a great cast with an evil John Lone and Mickey Rourke posing as a Bogart of the eighties.
  • mtoothman
    July 6, 2007
    mtoothman
    Michael Cimino got another chance to direct and turned in this turkey. In one scene, characters run across a scaffolding at night, then the reverse shot shows it is daylight. There is a horrible murder of Mickey Rourke's wife and then a very, very long funeral scene. VERY BAD, St...( read more)ay away!!!
  • princesspatricia122
    July 3, 2007
    princesspatricia122
    a gritty story & acting by mickey rourke when he was a little more together.
  • sleepykiss
    July 2, 2007
    sleepykiss
    Again, I luved it, Mickey AND JLone, how come no one else did? I want my loft to look just like that, bath tub & all...
  • cstreuli
    June 27, 2007
    cstreuli
    Forgotten classic! One of the best thrillers ever! A very tough movie with an intensity in the style of "Heat"!
  • blue4u3
    June 3, 2007
    blue4u3
    mickey, mickey - i just love him
  • msanthrope
    May 7, 2007
    msanthrope
    OK flick about Chinese gangsters in New York.
  • mia336599
    March 29, 2007
    mia336599
    A lot of Action and Mickey Rourke was young, young...
  • markymarkslunggnome
    March 26, 2007
    markymarkslunggnome
    Mickey Rourke is the guy! He is a super dick, gets a lot of people killed and raped, appreciates no one along the way, and still comes out the lovable hero in the end. this is an entertaining movie though.
  • lundyronald
    March 16, 2007
    lundyronald
    GOOD STORY ABOUT THE CHINESE TRIADS AND MICKEY ROURKE IS RAW.
  • MysticAnglFire1
    March 6, 2007
    MysticAnglFire1
    this is a good mov ie too
  • hanckuo
    January 5, 2007
    hanckuo
    This is when Mickey Rourke is still cool. "It isn't even New York. It's Chinatown...and it's about to explode. "
  • SarahJoyFrost
    December 11, 2006
    SarahJoyFrost
    i would like to see this
  • brianpark08
    December 10, 2006
    brianpark08
    Extremely boring. Do not bother watching, absolute waste of time.
  • cgheinkel
    June 29, 2006
    cgheinkel
    Very violent . . . me likey.
  • KESSLER72
    April 10, 2006
    KESSLER72
    I just rewatched this movie after not having seen it in full in probably 10 - 15 years. And i still pretty much have the same opinion. This movie is ok but really nothing special. Rourke is great though in his role but outside of him, there is not a whole lot to recommend. Wa...( read more)tchable but not much else.

Summary

Year of the Dragon Summary