Directed by Michael Cimino (Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate)

Written by Cimino and Oliver Stone (lots of good stuff)

Starring Mickey Rourke, John Lone (Ricky Tan from Rush Hour 2), Raymond J. Barry (from one of my first reviews)

Synopsis: “Joey Tai becomes the head of the Chinese mafia in New York using unprecedented degrees of violence. Stanley White, the most decorated cop in New York (and racist Vietnam Vet), is put in charge of cleaning up Chinatown.”

I am automatically interested in any movie Michael Cimino makes, despite any stigma he may have in some circles (see my earlier Heaven’s Gate review). Also as anyone who knows me is well aware, I love Oliver Stone. So this was an easy sell for me. Because of both of these things, I’ve always been curious about this movie. It also seemed to complement yesterday’s film, The Yakuza, this one looking at the Chinese mafia, or Triads, in New York City, and that one the Japanese mafia in Japan.

Year of the Dragon is a good movie. It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even great. But it’s good. Unlike Cimino’s other films that I’ve seen this one doesn’t meander much. It starts with a bang and moves with a rapid pace pretty steadily after that. Its hyper-violent and loud for the most part… well as much as you would expect a gangster film to be. many elements, including Mickey Rourke’s performance, is pretty over the top, but I quite enjoyed it.

In comparison to The Yakuza, Dragon’s Triads (Joey Tai’s young punks) are not represented as noble soldiers with a code, but rather as reckless, impulsive and dangerous. The difference may be the cultural touchstones that the “white” protagonists are viewing these people through. Yakuza’s Kilmer was looking back to WWII and his time in Japan during the occupation. A Japan that we defeated, and who fought in this more traditional war. Stanley White sees all asians as one corrupt group colored vividly by his service in Vietnam. The fact that these are Chinese people, not Vietnamese makes no difference to him, mostly because this movie isn’t really about them. Whereas Yakuza was about The Yakuza, Year of the Dragon is about White (Subtle name choice by the way… Thanks Michael and Oliver).

Anyways… its an interesting movie, and I think definitely worth a watch.