Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 11, 2019

Five years after the almost career-ending production of Heaven's Gate (which has undergone a critical reevaluation in recent years), polarizing director Michael Cimino returned with the controversial drama Year of the Dragon. Set against the colorful, bloody backdrop of New York's crime-ridden Chinatown, the film stars Mickey Rourke as highly decorated and racist police captain Stanley White. Waging a one-man campaign against suspected Chinese mafia activity led by ruthless young "Go" Joey Tai (John Lone), the Vietnam vet struggles to make an impact as his relationship with wife Connie (Caroline Kava) falls apart. Stanley's recent infatuation with reporter Tracy Tzu (Ariane Koizumi) and on-the-job friction with childhood friend Lou Bukowski (Raymond J. Barry) aren't helping matters, either. After a series of violent attacks, including one that affects him on a personal level, Stanley's campaign turns into an all-out war.

Although Warner Archive Collection's recent release of Year of the Dragon marks the film's American Blu-ray debut, it has been available for several years in other countries including Germany, France, and Japan. My fellow Blu-ray.com reviewer Svet Atanasov covered the very impressive Region A/B Collector's Edition, released by Carlotta Films in 2016, that included several exclusive on-disc bonus features and a hefty 208-page hardcover book. Although that edition is still fairly priced at just over 50 euros (as of this writing), those looking for a more affordable and streamlined option should appreciate Warner Archive's newer Blu-ray: not only do we get an improved and more film-like 1080p transfer, but also an excellent director's audio commentary carried over from Warner Bros.' respectable 2005 DVD.

Please note that the "Movie" rating in this review reflects my own opinion of the main feature.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio (rounded up slightly to 2.40:1 on the packaging), Year of the Dragon looks very good to excellent on Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray. It's sourced from a recent 2K scan of the interpositive and given some additional cleanup, which collectively yields satisfying results for this unique-looking film. Director Michael Cimino, working with cinematographer Alex Thomson (who reunited two years later for The Sicilian), imbue the film with an unmistakably neo-noir appearance and use several unorthodox shooting techniques that give certain scenes a raw, or in some cases, dreamlike appearance. Shot on-location (or occasionally on sets) in both New York and De Laurentiis Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina, Year of the Dragon only looks like a vast and internationally-filmed crime drama -- it's a successful illusion, for the most part. This 1080p transfer follows suit with a very rich and film-like appearance featuring subtle grain levels, a robust color palette, and pleasing textures on clothing and other production elements. Black levels and shadow detail are both solid, rarely succumbing to crush or blooming, with occasional noise levels (most visible during extremely dark scenes) that are likely part of the original source elements.

Aliasing, compression artifacts, and excessive digital noise reduction were not evident at all, and the film enjoys a healthy and very consistent bit rate that usually hovers well above the 30 Mpbs range. Overall, Warner Archive's Blu-ray treatment of Year of the Dragon is up to their high standards and should very much appeal to purists.

Comparison time: Owners of Carlotta Films' 2016 French Collector's Edition (or for that matter, Koch Media's 2018 German Blu-ray, which uses identical source material) may appreciate screenshots #1-5 on this page, which match the corresponding images from Svet Atanasov's linked review. It's fairly obvious just how different these transfers are overall: Warner Archive's new Blu-ray is brighter and much more film-like with a slightly greener tint overall, but one that does not approach what I would consider "revisionist" territory. It's substantially thicker and smoother, with any perceived loss of detail much less evident in motion. Additionally, the framing is closer to its original aspect ratio and slightly more information is visible on all four sides. While the Carlotta disc was (and still is) a more than acceptable effort, the strengths of this WAC Blu-ray provide more support to what I consider the film's strongest visual elements. The remaining 22 screenshots, while often much different than those included with Svet's review, offer a good mixture of close-ups and wide shots that showcase Year of the Dragon's varied settings and characters.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Please refer to Svet Atanasov's review of the 2016 Region A/B Collector's Edition for information about the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix. While there is no reason to believe the 5.1 audio on either disc is dissimilar in any meaningful way, there are two key differences about Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray. Like their parent company's DVD, it omits the 2.0 stereo option -- not a big deal, as 70mm prints of Year of the Dragon utilized a six-channel audio track -- and includes two optional English (SDH) subtitle tracks: one for the entire film, and a second for partial Chinese dialogue translation only (the Carlotta Blu-ray included neither option). Both are formatted in ALL CAPS with white text.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Perhaps the biggest difference between this Blu-ray and Carlotta Films' Region A/B Collector's Edition is the on-disc bonus features; not in sheer volume or scope, but in that the only overlap is the film's theatrical trailer. Even so, those who already own Warner Bros.' 2005 DVD will find absolutely nothing new to dig through here.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track with director Michael Cimino is broad and informative; if new viewers find themselves "on the fence" about the film, this might deepen their appreciation for it. Topics include the exhaustive amount of research needed to portray Chinatown's dark underbelly, Oliver Stone's screenplay and Robert Daley's source novel, the cinematography, shooting locations, pre-production and development, elements of racism, the original score, his many Chinese girlfriends (no, really), editing, production and costume design, visiting Atlantic City, casting, Clint Eastwood, and much more. It's an extremely insightful track overall, though not without a few (understandable) lapses into silence along the way. Given the director's sudden and untimely passing just three years ago, it's great that this candid and revealing commentary still lives on.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:31) - A very atmospheric piece that captures the film's spirit without revealing any major plot details. Also available on Warner Archive's official YouTube channel if you haven't seen it yet.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Michael Cimino's Year of the Dragon was an audacious comeback attempt after the disastrous Heaven's Gate in 1980. Instantly controversial and polarizing upon release for its portrayal of Chinese-Americans (enough so that it arrived with a disclaimer), it still treads water as an ambitious but not always successful crime drama. Those new to the film should give it a fair shake, while established fans will enjoy revisiting its world once again. Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray is the most convenient option currently available, pairing a new 1080p transfer with extras from Warner Bros.' 2005 DVD. It complements existing international Blu-rays, including Carlotta Films' 2016 Collector's Edition, but also stands up on its own two feet. Recommended to established fans; newcomers should try before they buy.