Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 9, 2023

As some of the copious supplements included on this release get into, there's almost a bittersweet irony to the "forever" in this film's title, which, considering the fact that its trio of marquee stars made this their last joint appearance together, might have been better titled Dragons Nevermore. As some of those selfsame supplements mention, parting in this instance may not have been so much "such sweet sorrow" as "good riddance", which may give the buffoonery and slam bang action suffusing this effort a bit of subtext, though as commentators Mike Leeder and Arne Venema in particular discuss, the real interest for film dissection advocates may not be any simmering discontent between stars, but rather the perhaps odd characterization that Jackie Chan delivers in this film.

Dragons Forever offers Chan as a skirt chasing lawyer named Jackie Lung. Lung is an attorney with a perhaps questionable moral compass, as is evidenced early in the story when he defends an accused rapist, getting him off (more or less, anyway), but then arguably showing a bit of gumption by pummeling the guy before he leaves the courtroom. The fact that Lung is next seen pummeling a woman is just the first moment when longtime Chan fans may understandably have a "WTF" the moment. In the meantime, the film has already detailed "shenanigans" (if killing people can be so described) of a crime family who will of course soon be woven into the main plot mechanics.

Lung is hired to try to dig up dirt on a fishery (how's that for patently weird specificity in an action film?), and brings in two acolytes to help in the process, Wong Fei-hung (Sammo Hung), a slightly gonzo arms dealer, and Tung Tak-hiao (Yuen Biao), a more than slightly gonzo petty criminal who, along with Wong, helps Lung set up surveillance of Miss Yip (Deannie Yip) and her cousin Miss Wen (Pauline Yeung), who are connected to the fishery. While Lung's employer is ostensibly a chemical company trying to subvert environmental policies that the fishery is enforcing, it of course turns out that the aforementioned criminal organization, which may not be dealing in "chemicals" as that term is typically understood, is actually behind things.

Dragons Forever takes an unabashedly comic approach to the mayhem that ensues, and there's almost a Three Stooges aspect to some of the interplay between Lung, Wong and Tung. The entire narrative is kind of a nonstop "McGuffin", or at least a somewhat convoluted shaggy dog story, that simply sets up enough of a structure that then allows Chan and his co-stars to basically go nuts, both with each other and with a series of nemeses.

Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc.

Dragons Forever is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of 88 Films with 2160p transfers (for the three versions included on the 4K UHD disc) in 1.85:1. Despite a rather stuffed to the gills insert booklet, 88 Films doesn't provide any technical data on the transfers, though at least from a historical perspective, it's perhaps salient to note that 88 Film's UK branch put out Dragons Forever a couple of years ago in a locked Region B release. This is another 4K UHD release that may have both pluses and minuses for videophiles. Two big pluses are an incredibly robust palette, which attains even greater nuance courtesy of HDR and/or Dolby Vision, and a noticeable if at times fairly subtle uptick in fine detail levels, something that tends to attend admittedly "mundane" things like the textures on fabrics in props and costumes as much as anything else. One potential minus may be the appearance of grain, which already struck me as being a bit grittier looking in this release than even on 88 Films' UK release (judging solely by screenshots), and which can be pretty chunky and yellowish, at least in passing, in this 4K UHD version. That said, in the most brightly lit moments, grain is rather tightly resolved in this version and helps to give things a suitably organic look. My score is 4.25.

Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dragons Forever features Dolby Atmos audio for the Hong Kong and Japanese cuts, and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono for the International Cut. Atmos engagement is noticeable basically from the get go, although kind of interestingly as much for underscore as for any effects work, though once the action sequences start up, there is of course consistent engagement of all the surround channels, with some cartwheeling effects that keep the listener well immersed within a sometimes chaotic array of fighting sounds. As some of the supplements get into, no matter what version of the film you watch, you're getting a "post looped" experience, and as such sync as they say can be (more than) loose. The kind of cheesy synth drenched score sounds full bodied and also helps to create a wash into the side and rear channels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Both the 4K UHD and 1080 discs in this package offer the same slate of supplements:

• Hong Kong Cut (UHD; 1:34:19)


• Japanese Cut (UHD; 1:38:00)


• International Cut (UHD; 1:34:11)


• Elite Stuntman (HD; 39:17) is an interview with Chin Kar-Lok. Subtitled in English.


• Writing for the Dragons (HD; 47:48) is an interview with Szeto Cheuk-Hon. Subtitled in English.


• Benny Forever (HD; 24:36) is an interview with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez.


• Discussing Dragons Forever (HD; 7:00) is an interview with David Dresser, Professor of Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois.


• Hong Kong Cinema Forever (HD; 6:05) is an interview with Mike Leeder.


• Working with the Dragons (HD; 6:15) is an interview with Jude Poyer.


• Double Jeopardy (HD*; 26:36) is an interview with Brad Allen.


• Beyond Gravity (HD*; 13:02) is an interview with Joe Eigo.


• Kick Fighter (HD*; 38:46) is an interview with Andy Cheng.


• Thai Breaker (HD; 34:11) is an interview with Billy Chow. Subtitled in English.


• The Legacy of Dragons Forever (HD; 2:33) features a bunch of brief talking head segments of notables discussing what the film has meant to them.


• Out Takes and Behind the Scenes (HD; 12:58)


• Music Video (English) (HD; 2:55)


• Music Video (Cantonese) (HD; 2:55)


• Additional Cantonese Dialogue (HD; 00:40)


• English Trailer (HD; 2:20)


• Hong Kong Trailer (HD; 3:13)


• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto (JP Cut)


• Audio Commentary by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema (HK Cut)

*720

Additionally, this limited edition comes with a bevy of non disc swag, including a harcase featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore, an 88 page perfect bound book featuring some interesting essays along with some equally interesting archival material, a large fold out double sided poster, and six replica Hong Kong lobby cards.

Dragons Forever 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chan fans may be scratching their heads a bit at the character Jackie has to play in this film, but aside from that potential misgiving, a lot of Dragons Forever is incredibly fun and rather funny. Chan, Hung and Biao are an appealing update on the Three Musketeers and/or Stooges (as the case may be), and the film nicely balances great action set pieces with some admittedly goofy character beats. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very appealing. Highly recommended.