Year of the Dragon (1985) Movie Review // VHS Boys Podcast #080

Overview

The podcast reviews Year of the Dragon (1985), framing it as director Michael Cimino’s notorious follow-up to The Deer Hunter. After Cimino’s earlier major flop Heaven’s Gate (described as a financial disaster that helped “kill New Hollywood”), the discussion positions Year of the Dragon as a crime thriller that—despite controversy—still stands out as one of the better 1980s crime movies.

Main points and analyses

Critical reception vs. audience value

• The film is said to have received mixed reviews from critics overall.
• A major criticism centers on Ariane Koizumi’s performance as Tracy Su, described as flat, with contention also directed at how her character is written.
• One argument claims she underperforms relative to a field of strong performances, including other Asian-American actors whose presence makes her stand out negatively.

Racial controversy and community backlash

• The most notable real-world impact discussed: the movie “pissed off” the Chinese-American community due to its portrayal of the Chinese mafia.
• One contributor argues the film is not as racist as special-interest groups claimed, while still agreeing it contains problematic material.
• Another view emphasizes that the movie depicts moral gray areas rather than simply demonizing all Chinese people, and it includes an immigrant/adversity narrative for Chinese Americans.
• The podcast suggests the controversy became “bad PR,” and that limited media at the time allowed a few negative narratives to dominate globally.

Genre reputation

• The film is praised as a strong 1980s crime thriller, compared to titles like:
  • To Live and Die in L.A.
  • At Close Range
  • Scarface
• An irony raised in the discussion: despite racial complaints, the film also gave prominent roles to Asian and Asian-American performers, which (in the hosts’ view) weren’t widely available elsewhere.

Availability and preservation concerns

• The hosts discuss how the movie is not easy to stream and may be at risk of disappearing.
• It’s referenced as available on Blu-ray, with rental/buy options mentioned through platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
• One person notes watching a free YouTube version but missing subtitles during Chinese-language sections.
• Another contributor speculates that corporate shifts (e.g., Warner/Paramount acquisition) could lead to the film being pulled from circulation, so they recommend buying/downloading it.

Mickey Rourke commentary

• Mickey Rourke’s performance is highlighted as one of the film’s standout elements.
• The conversation pivots to recent news about Rourke—an exchange involving JoJo Siwa, alleged financial struggles, and erratic public behavior—framed with humor while expressing hope he gets more great roles.
• His on-screen persona is also treated as part of the movie’s appeal and cultural presence.

Ending scene critique

• The podcast calls out the final sequence as a bit cringe/weird, especially the emotional wrap-up and ADR-like dialogue.
• The dialogue includes a line resembling: “I love you… it’s Chinatown, baby.”
• However, another contributor interprets the ending as reflecting a lack of resolution common to Chinatown-style stories: violence and power cycles continue, with another “vacuum” likely leading to more conflict.

Alternate dialogue / intended themes

• The hosts mention an earlier, changed line concept—something like: “if you fight long enough, you end up marrying the enemy.”
• They argue the final script ties the movie’s message together: communities and enemies blur through ongoing engagement, likened to Batman/Joker dynamics (mutual dependence and continuing rivalry).
• There’s also speculation that the film’s editing may have been influenced by production interference and that Cimino may not have had final-cut control, similar to concerns raised around Heaven’s Gate.

Presenters / contributors

• Russ
• Gary
• (An additional main host/speaker is referenced repeatedly but not clearly named in the subtitles.)