“The
run-down neighbourhood of St
Jude’s Square is a place where drug
gangs clash, ignored by corrupt Police;
and where the honest citizens who live
there are waiting for a hero to clean up
the streets in the rough, tough and well-
paced Dragon Eyes...”
A MYSTERIOUS ORIENTAL recently released from prison, Hong (finely played
by Cung Le, who is also an Associate Producer: Fighting; Tekken; Pandorum)
appears in St Jude's Square, a neighbourhood where the locals live in
constant fear of violent drug gangs who bribe corrupt police. He rents an apartment
from George (Danny Mora) and his granddaughter Rosanne (Crystal Manticon) and
it seems he is prepared to stand and fight.
Ready to take on anyone looking for trouble, Hong gives the people hope, drawing
on the unparalleled martial arts skills and the teachings of his former cellmate
Tiano (Jean-Claude Van Damme: Universal Soldier; Timecop). But he has
a dark past and is haunted by a dreadful secret.
Hong strings along the notorious corrupt Police Chief Victor Swann, known as
Mr V (a wonderful Peter Weller: Robocop; 24; upcoming Star Trek 2013),
leading him to believe that he is co-operating with him. As Hong begins his
savage campaign for justice, he single-handedly takes on the brutal gangs and
cleverly removes drug money from under the noses of rival gangs, setting them
at each other's throats.
When he empties Mr V's safe of his ill-gotten gains, the Police Chief at first
believes it was Sgt Feldman (Kristopher Van Varenberg), before realising that
Hong is not going to do the things he has asked. Hong is given a vicious beating
by the corrupt police, leaving him gravely injured.
Hong searches deep within himself for the power to overcome the odds. While
he was in prison, Tiano had told Hong he has the 'dragon eyes' (the spirit of
the great masters) but that he has strayed from his path. Will Tiano's faith
in Hong be realised and will Hong have the strength and courage to see everything
through to the bitter end?
The ever-dependable Jean-Claude Van Damme works well with the laid-back Cung
Le, keeping the action going through a well-paced and highly watchable movie.
A fine cast and a tightly-spun story.
Dragon Eyes is a superb, hard-hitting and astonishing crime thriller
with fantastic mixed martial arts and a heavy-handed barrage of bare-knuckle
street fighting. There are, happily, some lighter moments — and look out
for UFC stars Dan Henderson, Trevor Prangley as Lord and Gilbert El Ni Ño Melendez
as Trey.
The film also features: Johnny Holmes as Big Jake; David Ali as Theo; Sam Medina
as Biggie; Adrian Hammond as B; Danny Cosmo as Junkie; Arielle Zimmerman as
Young Woman; Luis Da Silva Jr as Dash; Arturo Palacios as Jonesy; Edrick Browne
as Antoine; Jason Mitchell as J Dog; Travis Johnson as Mikey; Scott Shelley
as Yuri; Craig Walker as Sgt Howe; and Sari Cummings as Honey Darling.
Music is by Michael Krassner; Director of Photography is Stephen Schweber; Executive
Producers are: Steven A Frankel, Stephanie Caleb and Courtney Solomon; Producer
is Moshe Dramant; Written by Tim Tori; Produced by legendary action producer
Joel Silver (Sherlock Holmes; Lethal Weapon; Die Hard); and Directed
by John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Regeneration).
• The
battle for the street begins as Dragon Eyes is released on DVD and Blu-ray
on 2 April 2012. Running Time: 88 Minutes | Certificate: 18 | RRP: £15.99 (DVD);
£19.99 (Blu-ray) | Catalogue Number: G2P046 (DVD); G2PB046 (Blu-ray) | Extras:
G2 Pictures Action Trailer Reel.
"Dragon Eyes is a superb, hard-hitting and astonishing crime thriller
with fantastic mixed martial arts" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“The
run-down neighbourhood of St