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Chasing the Dragon
追龍
2017 128 min Hong Kong, China 12+
★6.7
Action, Crime, Thriller
Director: Jason Kwan, Jing Wong, Aman Chang
Trailers
Description
An illegal immigrant from Mainland China sneaks into the corrupt British-colonized Hong Kong in 1963, transforming himself into a ruthless drug lord.
Budget:
$30M
US Gross:
$456,854
Worldwide:
$87.97M
Starring
Donnie Yen
Actor
Andy Lau
Actor
Philip Keung
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 5 nominations total
Key opinion
Chasing the Dragon is a gritty, serious-minded crime drama that departs from director Wong Jing’s typical comedic style to focus on the rise of two iconic figures in 1960s Hong Kong. While the film is praised for its gripping narrative and strong lead performances, it is criticized for a somewhat simplistic and formulaic screenplay.
| Acting | Donnie Yen and Andy Lau deliver powerful, standout performances that anchor the central dynamic of the film. | |
| Direction | The production successfully maintains a dark, serious, and cold-toned atmosphere that marks a significant departure from the director's usual action-comedy sensibilities. | |
| Runtime | The runtime is utilized effectively, providing a gripping narrative flow without unnecessary filler. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as one-sided and formulaic, exhibiting typical shortcomings found in contemporary mainstream Chinese cinema. |