There’s a rule when it comes to 80s Kung Fu movies; if the three amigos billed as the “Three Dragons” are in it, it’s gonna be good. This trio of Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao had the uncanny ability to combine zany comedy with breath-taking action and heartwarming sweetness. And though their infamous brotherly rivalry would take them in different directions after this film, they went out with a bang. Dragon Forever is a delight of good-natured physical comedy, demanding, acrobatic fight scenes and that indefinable energy that makes the best Hong Kong cinema so memorable.
The transfer on this two-disc set from 88 Films/MVD Entertainment is a treat; it utilizes a 4k restoration and looks excellent with bright, rich colors and a light level of film grain. Detail levels are high and there are no signs of artifacting or compression.
Aside from the three versions of the film, this set includes Legacy Extras that include a series of interviews with actors, directors and martial artists (including Troy Sandford, Chris Jones, Steve Lawson, Maria Tran, Ross Boyask and Mike Leeder) who discuss their impressions of the movie and what it means to them as fans of this period in Hong Kong cinema history. There are also a pair of Deleted Scenes (reinstated in the Japanese version) and outtakes; and English export and Hong Kong trailers.
Although it doesn’t rise to the heights of Project A or Wheels on Meals, Dragon Forever is still a fine effort from the “Three Brothers”. Its plot may be a little muddled and it does get sidetracked by potential love interests but what really keeps this one going are its consistently well-choreographed and exciting fight sequences.