The legendary Sammo Hung directs and co-stars in this, the last of his collaborations with both Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. However, it is clear that the best was indeed saved for last (at least in terms of pure martial arts action), managing to outdo even Project A, Wheels on meals and all of the lucky stars series. The storyline is pure simplicity, with our heroes out to stop a criminal from polluting a fishpond whilst at the same time attempting to woo their female co-stars. No one ever watched a Hong Kong action movie for its storyline but it is nice to have some semblance of a plot. What saves this film is the characters, most notably the three main leads and the villains (including Yuen Wah, Billy Chow, Dick Wei and Benny Urquidez). The characters played by Jackie, Sammo and Yuen are generally against the "type" they normally found themselves playing. Jackie is still given the most screen time due to his higher marketability and he still plays the hero, but this time he is a lawyer and not a policeman as he is so often cast. Sammo still plays the fat and lovable criminal, but this time he is not quite so pathetic in that he also gets a girl. Yuen Biao takes the biggest departure from his normal character playing a rather disturbed young man with parental issues. It is the action that simply sets this movie apart, however. There are plenty of smaller fights that keep the viewer hooked until the final battles. Sammo Hung pummels his way through about a dozen men and shows that he is one of the most powerful fighters in screen history. He is waylaid for the last ten minutes however, giving more time to Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. Yuen Biao impresses again with effortless acrobatics and grace but it is Jackie's fight with Benny Urquidez that really leaves a mark as it is every bit as good as their encounter in Wheels on meals, though much more serious. All in all this is a highly recommended movie for fans of action cinema at its very best.
Review of Dragons Forever
