Year of the Dragon (1985) is a film about A police detective cracks down on organized crime in Chinatown after the murders of Triad and Mafia leaders. I thought this film was great an absolute underrated gem. The film is Based on the novel of the same name by Robert Daley, the screenplay was written by Michael Cimino & Oliver Stone, The Direction by Michael Cimino was good the film was made after his box office disaster Heavens Gate (1980) when everybody probably doubted him he really brought it he really created something new and it's nothing like his other works. The film is a Neo-Noir thriller and has everything Action, Drama, and Crime and has themes of ethnicity, racism, and stereotypes. The film stars Mickey Rourke as Stanley White a Vietnam veteran, John Lone as Joey Tai, and Ariane as Tracy Tzu, Mickey Rourke was good in this role he is a complex character who in order to arrest Joey Tai Stanley White blurs the line between right and wrong and it's very interesting to see, like Michael Cimino's film The Deer Hunter (1978) he gives a dash of the psyche of the Vietnam vet in this film. John Lone is good as Joey Tai he really had an awesome presence on screen sinister and smooth who is not all completely evil he has a code of honor which makes him the perfect foil to Stanley White who is a very flawed man who wants to do the right thing. The main criticisms of the film are the performance of Ariane a first- time actress as Tracy Tzu I didn't think she was that bad I like every time she interacted with Mickey Rourke I thought they had an interesting relationship. The film portrayed Chinatown in a negative light which at The time was met with protests by some Chinese Americans which led to some people not wanting to see The film or giving the film a negative reaction but if you watch it today all that is completely irrelevant and you can just enjoy this good film. The film had good cinematography and good action scenes that really make the film, the film goes where you don't expect it to go twists and turns and adrenaline. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat it ends in a way you won't expect and it's awesome. All and all this is a great under- appreciated film and should be talked about more. 10/10

I'm quite dumbfounded at the user rating. This is a great film, not perfect but great. It's one of those electrifying films from the eighties, I'm eternally grateful at having the privilege of having seeing up on the big screen, where as Rourke's character, Stanley White, says, the streets are gonna run red with blood, or words to that effect. If watching Rourke's performance here, and other films around that 1986-1990 time, looking back, you can see just what a remarkable actor this guy was, but not so now. This film was back in the day, when he had a much lighter and polite voice. He's top form here as an unstoppable ex Vietnam cop, determined to take a silky smooth talking kingpin (the excellent John Lone) down. At first we think Lone is one of the good guys, where soon he becomes Rourke's worst enemy. You want so much for Rourke to take this guy. On one side I loved Rourke's character, his mettle and determination, but on the other side, I found him detestable, his pushiness and arrogance, and being a thankless fu..er. Also he's a pig when it comes to treating women, which kind of stayed with him as he went onto to do that weird out sex flick, 9 and a half weeks. There are some shockingly violent moments, some in the starting of the flick, where life doesn't mean anything to these Asian badasses. Rourke's wife getting killed was an explosive and impactful moment, I'll never forget, and there was some others. You'll never guess how Lone buys it, that too has dramatic affect. Also the films is a little educational as in regards to the Triads. Arianne adds beauty as a relentless Asian reporter, not half bad in the role. When she confronts Rourke, after taking a raping, Rourke's reaction is comical. He's the one true anti-vermin, cop who's gonna make a difference, and it's admirable. This is compulsive viewing all the way, with some tough violent moments, but this is one of those films that comes along every so ofter that leaves a lasting impression, as does Rourke's performance, staying true to the end, his character one tenacious son of a bi.ch.

Using unprecedented degrees of violence, young Joey Tai becomes the head of Chinese mafia in New York and undisputed leader of the Chinese community.Stanley White, the most decorated cop in New York, who hates Asian people since his service in Vietnam, is put in charge of Chinatown.Both men are prone to breaking long-established rules and both men are unlikely to make compromises with each other, which leads to unavoidable and bloody conflict....Despite the presence of Rourke, a cracking screenplay by Stone, and an underlying tension that rumbles throughout the film, it loses a lot of gravitas thanks to a very strange final scene, and stark use of racism throughout.Instead of the eve increasing danger to Rourke and his nearest and dearest, the films narrative focuses more on the next use of violence and how far they can depict on screen. At the time, te film may have been controversial, and a little bit original, but twenty six years later,one cannot help but finding the film a little too slow, and snickering at Rourkes hair.There are speeches aplenty and lots of shouting at seniors, but these are overshadowed by silly characters, unbelievable sets, and strange connotations to the fairer sex.But Rourke is good in the lead, and Stone delivers a good script.

Say what you will about this film, watch it, then watch a current equivalent. It will be a stretch to find one, maybe "The Departed" or "The Good Shepherd" are close. Three days later, betcha you will remember this movie and the characters and will have absolutely forgotten the current equivalent, and this is no dig on either of those fine movies, but rather a testament to the compelling nature of "Year of the Dragon." Yes, the film has many flaws, but I believe it rises above them successfully to achieve greatness. "White Powder Ma," wiretapping nuns, real Chinatown in its beauty and strangeness, The "voicebox" mafioso, are among the many compelling images contained herein.Despite all the nitpicking about technical elements, I believe what annoys people most about this movie is its moral ambiguity. The white and black hat pablum of spoon-fed Hollywood mediocrity is absent. Would that more ambiguous movies were produced challenging us to wrestle with the issues portrayed instead of preaching to us. Also, contemporary audiences just don't have enough patience to appreciate thorough character studies. For example, witness how many IMDb reviewers pan "Deer Hunter" for developing the characters fully before getting to "the action." This is a movie that contends favorably with many others when one is looking for something to review, it presents a new revelation with every viewing, and few movies, especially current movies measure up in this respect. Yes, it can be a jumble at times, and much needed flavor was obviously left on the cutting room floor, but still it is an excellent movie. I crave a "director's cut" of this film.They just don't' make em like this any more.