Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Tiger Cage II Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 11, 2023

When is a sequel not a sequel? When it’s 1990’s “Tiger Cage 2,” which has nothing to do with the previous installment in terms of story or character. Instead, it’s a reunion of sorts for the production team, with director Woo-ping Yuen overseeing another race across Hong Kong with star Donnie Yen, this time working on a more comedic take on violent happenings. The endeavor is attentive to action, keeping the characters on the move and constantly under threat, showcasing furious action choreography. However, “Tiger Cage 2” is also goofy, going broad with opposites attract antics that fully detract from the viewing experience. There’s plenty of hostile encounters for fans of action cinema, but the not-a-sequel is also very attentive to levity, requiring viewing patience it doesn’t earn.

Dragon (Donnie Yen) is a hothead cop refusing to accept his upcoming divorce. Mandy (Rosamund Kwan) is a lawyer working on the separation, refusing to deal with Dragon’s objections as his life falls apart. While law office life carries on as normal, boss Waise (Robin Shou) is working on a plan to get rich with a money laundering scheme, dealing with gangsters including David (David Wu). When an assassination attempt goes wrong, a briefcase full of money goes missing, while Mandy is a witness to extreme violence. When Waise’s girlfriend, Petty (Carol Cheng), learns about her lover’s misdeeds, she’s immediately killed, with both Mandy and Dragon framed for the crime, forcing the opposites to run for their lives as crooks and cops chase them around the city. Joining the cause is David, who’s looking to reclaim the briefcase, working with the odd couple to find it and clear their names.

Dragon is a weird character, with the unhinged cop filled with rage issues, lashing out at the world around him. He’s the hero of “Tiger Cage 2,” but basic human decency isn’t really the focus of the screenplay, which isn’t big on noble characters, instead creating a gray area where good and bad guys are basically the same. This approach doesn’t appear to be intentional, just what the final cut ended up becoming, and it certainly gives “Tiger Cage 2” an unusual atmosphere of hostility. But there’s fighting, plenty of it, with the production serving up all kinds of violent events as Waise’s men and police officials pursue Dragon and Mandy through the city, with the pair initially handcuffed to each other, giving physical action a little extra complication, and a moment of urination leads to a wet pants mess.

Pursuits tear through alleys, sewers, and on top of a city tour bus, offering “Tiger Cage 2” some variety when it comes to dangerous showdowns. Pain is also crazy, with Dragon subjected to torture featuring an exercise bike. There’s fun to be had with superhuman physical activity, but the writing doesn’t trust the inherent appeal of action, trying to be somewhat lovable with slapstick shenanigans between Mandy and Dragon, with the lawyer easily spooked and the cop a ball of rage, giving them “Odd Couple” situations where they attempt to work together to solve problems. It’s all played to the back row, making high jinks unwelcome, and a vague sense of romantic attraction comes into play in the second half of the feature, but without offering a reason why these two would find each other so irresistible. David eventually joins the fight, and he’s pulled into a love triangle of sorts, with Mandy given the choice between someone likely to assault her at some point in their possible relationship and a gang member. A love connection brings the story to a karaoke bar for some drunken confession time, but it doesn’t add anything to the “Tiger Cage 2” experience, with googly eyes a fairly ridiculous addition to the manhunt and cash retrieval tale, putting a big, fat speed bump in the middle of an otherwise snappy endeavor.

Two versions of “Tiger Cage 2” are included on this release: a Hong Kong Cut (96:18) and a Malaysian Cut (96:19), with the latter featuring a different ending.

Tiger Cage II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "2K restoration by Fortune Star," who appear to be sprucing up an older master of the feature. Fine detail is much softer, with filtering present, losing texture on skin particulars. Colors lack freshness but remain approachable, with costumes offering decent primaries and red blood is distinct. Decorative additions add some variety with office and hotel visits. Skin tones are reasonably natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain looks processed at times. Source is in good condition.

Tiger Cage II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

2.0 DTS-HD MA mix options include Cantonese, Malay, and English, with all three tracks dealing with the same simplistic sound design for "Tiger Cage 2." Dialogue exchanges are clear, preserving intelligibility with dubbed performances. Scoring is adequately balanced, supporting suspense moments and sensitive scenes with decent instrumentation. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Tiger Cage II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian David West.

• "Clawing a Living" (30:06, HD) is an interview with action choreographer Bill Lui, who recalls his early years in the Hong Kong movie industry, getting into the business in the mid-80s, when competition for work was minimal. Training was a must, and Lui worked with some of the best in his youth, including members of Jackie Chan's team. The interviewee shares his memories of actor Donnie Yen, working with him during his rise to fame, and the physical demands of the "Tiger Cage 2" shoot are offered, aiming to deliver a level of style and bodily risk worthy of a Woo- Ping Yuen picture, which included time with real weapons. The stars of the feature are explored, with Lui called in to prevent harm from coming to the actors. Some talk of "Tiger Cage 3" is included, along with a look at the history of Hong Kong action entertainment and its gradual decline, with Lui celebrating excellence in filmmaking craft while acknowledging production overkill during the height of this popularity.

• "Hunting High and Low" (18:31, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Victor Fan.

• And a Trailer (4:00, HD) is included.

Tiger Cage II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Law is present with Inspector Yeung (Cynthia Khan), who's one step behind everyone, trying to discover the identity of Petty's killer. Such detective work escalates into a fight and chase sequence. Evil is present with Waise, who's looking to disrupt the balance of power in the city, eventually pulled into the battle when he makes things personal with Dragon and Mandy. More martial arts and weapons work are provided, and the material tries to conjure emotion when it comes to the fate of certain players in this game, which is another strange choice in a movie where Dragon pees all over his pants and Mandy does a spit take with a mouthful of noodles. "Tiger Cage 2" has some punch, making for an entertaining sit as choreography and nutty stunt work takes command of the viewing experience. It has a real problem with consistency and comedy, requiring viewers to tolerate crummy screwball asides before the film returns to more urgent matters.