Long de xin (1985)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Fruit Chan

Writer:

Barry Wong (writer)

Release Date:

October 1985 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Warrior, Brother, Protector, Friend

Plot:

Story of a cop who forsakes his dreams of sailing around the world so that he can care for his mentally retarded brother...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Fight | Martial Arts | Hong Kong | Mental Retardation

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Jackie Chan	...	Ted / Tat Fung
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	...	Danny / Dodo Fung (as Samo Hung)
Emily Chu	...	Jenny
Hoi Mang	...	Yan / Ian (as Man Hei)
Ching-Ying Lam	...	SWAT Team Commander (as Lam Ching Ying)
Lung Chan	...	SWAT Team Member
Wah Yuen	...	SWAT Team Member / Yan
Kar Lok Chin	...	SWAT Team Member / Log (as Ka Lok)
Corey Yuen	...	SWAT Team Member (as Yuen Kwai)
Melvin Wong	...	Inspector Wong
Ying-Fat Lam	...	Edmond Pang / Pang Kwok Hwa (as Lam Ying Fat)
Ka-Ho Lee	...	Kid / Heung Chi Ming (as Lee Ka Ho)
Dennis Chan	...	Waiter
Wing-Cho Yip	...	Restaurant Manager (as Ip Wing Cho)
Anthony Chan	...	Private Teacher

Also Known As:

Heart of Dragon (Hong Kong: English title)
Heart of the Dragon
Lung dik sam (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
The First Mission

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Hong Kong:IIA | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Bo Ho Film Company Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rain Man (1988)

Soundtrack:

Sui Hoh Seung Yi (Who Could Be Dependent)

Touching drama, unusual Chan fare but climaxing in one of the greatest fight sequences EVER

Heart Of The Dragon can be described as Rain Man with martial arts, which is not a bad description, although this was actually made several years before. Made around the time Jackie Chan was churning out loads of great films, such as Police Story, Project A, Wheels On Meals and Dragons Forever, as well as poorer but hugely successful efforts like the 'Lucky Stars' films, this movie has somewhat been ignored, which is a shame, as it's a brave attempt at something a little different.

For the first 50 mins or so, this is mostly a drama, but both Jackie Chan, playing a character who is initially none too sympathetic, and Samo Hung, as his mentally challenged brother, give amazingly strong performances. There are laughs [such as when Chan is walking around holding his brother's hand saying to people "he's my brother" in case they might think they are gay],but there is also a great deal of sensitivity and honesty, climaxing in a powerful scene where Jackie almost breaks down in sheer fustration in front of Samo.

After this the film suddenly becomes an action movie, but the transition is not badly done, and, as if to reward patient action fans, the film climaxes with what is quite simply one of the best staged fight sequences EVER, a small masterpiece of choreography, editing and lighting. Jackie is as vicious as Bruce Lee ever was here, he's never been meaner.

There are two extra fight scenes which exist, but in most places they were removed from the film to emphasise the drama. Indeed the other elements of the film are so good that it can exist perfectly well without them. Of course there are a few silly touches, including TWO montages with the sentimental theme song, and Dick Wie's eyebrows! Generally a fine film, though.