Diamond Dogs (2007)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Shimon Dotan

Writer:

Léopold St-Pierre (screenplay)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

Meet Ronson: Adventurer, world traveler, always short of money, a man of a few words, a gun for hire. The solution to your problem.

Plot:

A mercenary is hired to protect an expedition group while they search for a Tangka, a Buddhist artifact worth millions of dollars.

Plot Keywords:

Mercenary | Buddhist | Temple | Treasure | Monk

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Xander Ronson
Nan Yu	...	Anika
Xue Zuren	...	Ang Shaw
William Shriver	...	Chambers
Raicho Vasilev	...	Zhukov
NuoMing Huari	...	Sonia (as Noming)
Hu Sha	...	House Manager
Gregory MacIsaac	...	Sinister Man
Zhang Chunnian	...	Eye Patch
Huriga	...	Mongolian Man
Wang Heping	...	Old Monk
Wang Xinmin	...	Main Judge
Wang Lusha	...	Young Judge
Wang Jun	...	Female Judge
Gabriel Alejandro Carrillo	...	Steve

Also Known As:

Chiens de guerre (Canada: French title) (DVD title)
Quan zhang (China: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Canada | China

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:18 (video premiere) | USA:R | Australia:MA (2008) | Australia:MA | Singapore:NC-16 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Company:

Golden Ocean Entertainment

Trivia:

While "Diamond Dogs" was still in preproduction, a second Xander Ronson adventure was already in the works, with Lundgren attached as Director. Titled "Tumbling Dice", the plot supposedly involved Ronson traveling to Shanghai to battle the twin descendants of Genghis Khan for control of a mystical spear. However, after the less than spectacular result generated by "Diamond Dogs" messy production, Lundgren bowed out and all plans for future Xander Ronson films were canceled.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chambers picks up the Tangka it is full of dust and dirt, but when you see it after they come out of the cave there is not a spot of dust on it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Diamond Dogs' (2008) (V)

Not Dolph's best, but worth watching

Former Green Beret and now professional fighter/gambler Xander Ronson (Dolph Lundgren) is hired by millionaire Chambers (William Shriver) to lead his group on a search in Mongolia for the Tangka, a Buddhist text missing since the Russian crackdown on religion in the region in the 1930s. Naturally, there is a sinister group after them looking to steal the Tangka once it is discovered. This Dolph vehicle was finished 2 years ago, but is finally seeing release in the US via Sony DVD. While not up to the level of his recent directorial efforts (THE DEFENDER, THE MECHANIK, MISSIONARY MAN), it is worth seeing for the gritty tone and tons of violence. It also features some great location photography in mainland China and the unknown supporting cast also helps out with the realism. Now if anyone can explain why it is called DIAMOND DOGS, please let me know. :)