Twin Dragons

For those who love Jackie's stunts, there are some amazing ones in this movie. One in particular blew me away: when he leaps through the window of a car feet first.

I also like very much that in Twin Dragons the women aren't just objects to be rescued from the villain, as happens with such annoying predictability in most action films. Instead, in this movie, something I've never seen before in quite this way, the rescue-object is Boomer's ridiculous male best-friend, a scrawny fool who's always in trouble, because he's addicted to baiting bad guys. Because Boomer's pal is such a manipulative little jerk, the audience can freely enjoy it when he frequently gets his comeuppance in the form of dumped-on-the-rear slapstick.


Twin Stars   June 3, 2001
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

I haven't as yet seen this DVD (I fully plan to as Jackie Chan dubbed on this release I am told). The 3 stars are for the movie itself. It is not the best Jackie Chan Hong Kong movie, the Police Story series and Project A 1 & 2 are much better but is definitely worth a look. I have seen an old dubbed version (OK) and the Asian DVD release (better). Before approaching any "old" Jackie Chan film (ie. ones done in Hong Kong before America!) viewers should be aware they are lower budgeted so don't have the capacity for special effects as in US movies. Also, what a Chinese considers funny might not necessarily be what a westerner thinks is funny! Keeping this in mind, I really liked this film. The story is "old" (ie. twins separated at birth and coming together later in life with the expected mix-ups) but with Jackie (twice!) it is a lot of fun. The last action scene in the car factory shows Jackie's amazing acrobatic and martial arts skills to perfection. If you are Hong Kong movie buff, there are a lot of cameo appearances by HK actors and directors. Jackie did not direct this film, so ignore any criticism of bad direction by him! Most of the films Jackie directed himself are superb action pieces, though the acting is not very good in some. Jackie is more interested in action than dialogue, though "Accidental Spy", his latest Asian release, is extremely good in all aspects, both action and action, with a good storyline. Anyway, give Twin Dragons a look - it will be worth it.


Lots of fun - but not one of the best   November 4, 2000
Alexis S. Mendez (Aguadilla, PR USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Just a quick note: I don't think some of the reviewers have paid attention. There are criticisms to Jackie Chan as director. Well, two notes: 1) He did not directed this movie 2) Most of the best Jackie Chan movies have been directed by him. He has been recognized as an excellent director.

Anyway, this movie was done for the construction of some association for directors from Hong Kong, and that explains why the multiple directors. Jackie Chan has said he is not satisfied with the final result of the movie.

But don't be scared. This is an excellent comedy, using the old joke about mixed identities. It is not heavy on the action side, but includes some nice fight scenes, including a final shutdown at a facility for testing cars.

If you are looking for one Chan movie, there are better ones to select for starters (Supercop, Operation Condor, Rumble in the Bronx). But if you are a die hard fan, you will want to take a look at "Twin Dragons".


This is NOT an ORIGINAL VERSION !!!   May 8, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

1 star is not to the movie - movie itself is one of my favorites - but for the US edition.
Some idiots are cutting all the time LARGE parts of Jackie Chan movies for the US. Does anybody know why? I think they just hate Jackie Chan and don't want to others enjoy his performance as well.

In the US edition of "Rumble in the Bronx" they deleted the entire love line (it may surprised some people, but there are 2 of them in the full version).

So, if you like Jackie movies, avoid this edition and try to get the Hong Kong one.


Fun chop-socky from a martial-arts master   June 25, 1999
Joey Barlow (Northeast PA (near Tromaville), USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

To review a Jackie Chan film is to admit that one has too much time on one's hands. A more futile gesture is hard to imagine: I doubt anyone has ever decided whether or not to see a Chan movie based on anything so trivial as a review or critique, and with good reason: Chan's track record speaks for itself. Over the past three decades, he's churned out dozens of martial arts extravaganzas which have delighted audiences all over the world, making him one of Asia's biggest (and richest) stars. Chan fans, a group I count myself part of, go to see his films not because of their breathtaking intellect, but because we enjoy seeing the Master kick a little ass, and make us laugh while he does so. Who cares what the critics think?

Chan is a rare breed: a hybrid who possesses not only stunning physical grace but also a sly streak of self-depreciating humor-- he's not one of those buff Ah-nold clones, and that's part of his appeal: he looks like "everyman," and his characters use their wits (and a dash of good ol' dumb luck) to pull themselves out of the dire situations they continuously find themselves in. In that regard, his performances parallel the great silent comedians of cinema's earliest days: both Chaplin and Buster Keaton are acknowledged by Chan as major influences.

The plot of "Twin Dragons," made in 1992 but just released in America, consists of the usual silliness: some bad guys are running around Hong Kong, and only some tightly-edited kung-fu and astonishing stunt work by Chan can make the streets safe again. The twist this time is that Jackie plays two roles, a pair of identical twin brothers separated at birth. One grows up to be a master martial artist named Boomer, a tough guy raised in the hard streets of Hong Kong. His twin, John Ma, is a revered classical pianist and conductor, educated in the finest schools and possessing no martial arts ability. Having no prior knowledge of each other's existence, both men are soon mistaken for their twin, leading to some predictable but amusing fish-out-of-water comedy (Boomer being forced to conduct a symphony orchestra (one of Chan's all-time great comedic scenes), the wimpy Ma being forced to duke it out with the bad guys, etc.)

It's silly to even consider commenting on the story itself; the dialogue and obligatory love tangents (one of which features Maggie Cheung, Chan's co-star in "Supercop") are here only to give the action sequences something to alternate with. Suffice it to say that this isn't "Casablanca," nor is it intended to be. It succeeds at what it attempts to do: take the audience on a wild ride through some hilarious and tense moments, with barely a moment to catch one's breath. It's a winner on two levels: this is not only the tightest Chan movie I've yet seen... it's also the funniest.

The only major disappointment with "Twin Dragons" is the fact that there are no bloopers or outtakes attached to the final reel. (For those of you not in the know, Chan makes it a policy to include a number of humorous outtakes intermixed with the end credits of each of his movies, showing flubbed lines and stunts.) It's a long-standing tradition, and I'm perplexed as to why these were not included with this American release of the film. With such impressive stunts, the outtakes are no doubt fascinating.