Hollywood has been corrupting Asian mythology for the sake of melodrama since the beginnings of the film industry, and there's no reason to expect this tradition to cease.
But where Old Hollywood based its Eastern-menace thrillers on the urgent reality of recurring Tong wars in America, the new Gramercy Pictures release "Double Dragon" takes its cue from a video game.
"Double Dragon" may have its merits as a computerized contest of wits and strategy, but the movie is a stinker, directed with apathy (by newcomer Jim Yukich) and "written" by committee from any number of recycled movie plots.
Actors who should never be allowed speaking roles (Mark Dacascos, Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano) share the screen with good actors who should know better ("Terminator 2's" Robert Patrick, "Sidekicks' " Julia Nickson). The result is a muddle of incoherence not even Mr. Patrick's flair for villainous wit can penetrate.
Any such picture, from the "Fu Manchu" adventures onward, requires a mysterious talisman which, in the wrong hands, will bring civilization to a disgraceful end. Mr. Patrick, playing a corporate-raider update on the genre's opium-den stereotype, wants the missing half of a medallion that will empower him to do anything he darn well pleases.
Which is the cue for the heroic types (Mr. Dacascos and Mr. Wolf, along with Ms. Milano) to come charging to the rescue. Which is the audience's cue to head for the exit.
MOVIE REVIEW
"Double Dragon"
Directed by Jim Yukich
Starring Robert Patrick, Mark Dacascos, Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano, Julia Nickson
Rated PG-13
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