Executscan Expected more

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

lorenzruwwe First of all, Yuen Biao is not starring in this one as someone commented earlier. It's Mang Hoi who undoubtedly has strong resemblance to Biao and has also remarkable fighting skills. Yuen Biao however was the action director for this movie which is quite recognizable. I want to delve into the action part of this movie mainly. Let's face it: This being a Jackie Film you actually watch it for the action content predominantly although this one had a brilliant and dramatic story as well. As said earlier, this film has 2 additional fight scenes. It's a pity they were taken out (at least for someone like me who cries out for good old 80s HK action) because they are just awesome all the way through! We see Jackie take on Lau Kar Wing in a hospital and what they show us is just breathtaking, brutal and fast-paced action with great rhythm and choreography. For those who don't know Lau Kar Wing: Being the brother of the grand Lau Kar Leung he was one of the leading HK-action guys showing absolutely skillful action sequences in his earlier old school Kung Fu flicks. "Odd Couple" or "Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon", to name a few. Well, you actually see him in a LOT of HK action movies, just that nobody really recognizes him... Anyway, he and Jackie go at each other in marvelous hand-to hand combat in this fight and it's just too bad it was cut out for story reasons. The other cut out action scene is a brawl on a parking lot involving Jackie, Mang Hoi, Yuen Wah Lee Hoi San, Fong Hak On and a few other guys I just can't remember quite well. Awesome hand work with some nice stunts. Hoi San is in good shape also. Okay, the end-fight gives a hint about how good Jackie once was. In fact, Jackie does not do all of his stunts himself. Yes, he does the big ones himself, the "clockwork tower fall" in Projec A, the Police Story stuff etc. Otherwise, all we know about Jackie, our whole image of him would just shatter. But the minor stunts, some tumbling and falls etc. are in fact often done by stunt doubles. That's pretty common in every HK action flick. Yuen Biao was one of the most skillful people out there, that's why he doubled sooo many action stars, even Jackie in Drunken Master 1. Now, in Heart of Dragon (HoD) Jackie does almost everything himself. I would normally have doubted to see Jackie do a wall-flip. But in this end-fight, it's 100% him doing this stunt. Gorgeous! He moves better than ever, faster as in any other of his movies. Let's not forget about Dick Wei, the all-time big villain who is in top-notch shape in HoD! His kicks look totally smooth unlike in other movies that he isn't quite as good as in HoD! The camera-work and editing is finger-lickingly brilliant! I cannot imagine a fight to be edited and shot in a better way in order to achieve the end-fight's intensity and toughness. Everything looks truly dynamic and super slick! I wouldn't wonder if Sammo had his hands on the action directing issues as well...the fight looks 'very' Sammo style. Big nods go to Meng Hoi, Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Lee Hoi San, Chung Fat, Philip Ko and a few others for their additional great action sequences.In conclusion I want to say that HoD is my favourite Jackie movie. I have seen it many times already and the action never loses its powerful impact. Go get this masterpiece if you haven't seen it! But in case you cannot appreciate real HK action it'd be a shame to have you watch it...

gridoon The first half of "Heart of Dragon" is essentially a tearjerker (with occasional light moments): Jackie Chan is a lot more serious than usual, and Sammo Hung gives an un-self-conscious and honest performance as the mentally handicapped Dodo - he is forced to do the most ridiculous things and does them without any apparent embarrassment. The second half is a rather complicated crime caper, and the stunts, fights and chases are top-notch. Sammo doesn't get to do any fighting, of course, though he takes quite a few brutal hits. Jackie is in great form, and in typical HK-cinema tradition the villains can certainly hold their own in a fight. The total result is one of Jackie's best films, because the comic, the dramatic and the action-packed moments all work on their own terms. (***)

Shawn McKenna After several "Lucky Stars" films, Sammo Hung wanted to direct Jackie Chan in a serious movie. Jackie believed (rightly so) that the Hong Kong audience would have trouble accepting him in a non-action role. Sammo was insistent and Jackie acquiesced. With a screenplay coauthored by Barry Wong and Sammo Hung they ventured forth to create Heart of Dragon (aka First Mission). This film would be a box office disappointment though he soon would create one of his best films – Police Story.Jackie stars as a CID officer (formally from SWAT) who takes care of his mentally-challenged 29 year old brother Danny. Danny is an affable and naive grown-up who is known as Do Do by his child friends. He is so credulous that even his kid companions use him for nefarious reasons such as getting into a restaurant or passing off as a parent. He is a constant drain on his brother Jackie who always has to take care of him. Jackie is also split between wanting to make his girlfriend Jenny (Emily Chu who was also in the first two A Better Tomorrow films) happy and his dream of becoming a merchant marine. Danny is wonderfully played by Hung who is not afraid to sacrifice his dignity and his body for this role such as the scene when Danny is looking for a job to be more self supporting is taken advantage of by a restaurant owner (Wu Ma who also helped produce this film) who persuades him to act like a bull, a dog and a snake. Chan's acting is good with occasional forays into the melodramatic.Heart of Dragon is an enjoyable but fragmented and uneven film. It attempts to be a drama, but after half the picture is over it wants to be action movie. I feel that they did not believe they could create a full serious picture. The switch in tone of the film is distracting and hurts the overall feel of the picture. Yet the ending choreographed by Yuen Biao, though somewhat stereotypical of action film endings, has one of the most exciting sequences Jackie and Sammo has ever done. So my feelings are mixed by this change. Golden Harvest also felt that the audience would not believe a Sammo and Jackie film could sustain a dramatic pace and ordered two additional fighting scenes for the Japanese market. These scenes can be found as deleted scenes on the Fortune Star release.You could review this film as two separate films. The drama was good except for periodical bouts of overacting and melodramatic scenes (though Sammo's character seems quite believable.) The action part of the film was also good (not counting the opening scene which was totally unbelievable with Mr. Eyebrows – one of my favorite actors Lam Ching Ying) but catered to stereotypical scripting. For example Do Do plays cops and robbers with his kid friends and accidentally scares a gangster into giving up a bag of jewelry that belongs to local Triad member the cigar chomping Mr Kin (James Tien.) Mr Kin then, eventually, kidnaps Do Do to get the eventual climax between CID and Mr Kin and his men.As a complete concept, the film does not work as well as the sum of the parts. The film also has the problem of transitioning from action to drama to action then back to drama again. Then there is the problem with the horrible "electronic" music playing in the background. But many of the parts are quite excellent. People who are expecting a "Jackie Chan" film will be disappointed with the exception of the deleted scenes and the excellent ending. I was disappointed because I saw that they could have made a more compelling drama or at least a more fluid piece. However, there is much to enjoy with the film, as if I had not said it enough, especially the ending.. Notes: other character actors in the film are Fung Hark On (portraying another slimy character), Yuen Wah and Corey Yuen (both who grew up with Jackie Chan, Sammo and Yuen Biao as part of the Seven Little Fortunes.)

Mitora-san "Heart of Dragon" (aka. Long de Xin) is a very warm, poignant, sad, funny and even interesting movie. Much more interesting and humanistic than ANYTHING Hollywood can pull out of their rears.It is about a member of a police squadron(Jackie) who has to take care of his autistic brother (Sammo) and protect him from any harm.However, if Jackie wants anything accomplished, he needs to help his brother to shape up, stand up to yourself and be independant. There are also a few action sequences and Comedy in there to balance out the tear-jerking and angst as well. And the song "Sui Hoh Seung Yi Hoisong" (Who could be dependant for so long?), sung by HK-pop songstress, Noi So is very touching and beautifully done.If you have the chance, please see "Long de Xin"! It is a very influencing film.