Back in the 90s video games were still popular in arcades
and home video systems were just taking off. Noticing the popularity of the
games as well as the fact that they were siphoning off money that once headed
their way, movie studios began making feature films based on the games kids
were playing. The thing was that the movies weren’t great, most were kitschy at
best and then majority were forgotten not long after they made their way to
video at the time. Now those kids who were brought up popping quarter after
quarter into those machines and flocking to see those movies are looking back
with fondness at the time and looking for those movies on disc. DOUBLE DRAGON
is one of those making its way to disc now.
The movie tells the story of an ancient symbol, a medallion
broken in half with two dragons on it. One represented the soul and the other
the physical aspects of the world. Joined together they wield incredible power.
To insure this never happened the two pieces were split apart and secreted in
different locations. But today men still seek the medallion pieces with the
hope of taking control of that power.
In the near future (at least when the movie came out) the
world has changed. As with most movies at the time we now live in an
apocalyptic world strewn with garbage on the streets, an ineffective police
system that only covers the streets during daylight hours and gangs running the
streets at night. Not average gangs by today’s standards but flamboyant gangs
featuring Mohawk hairstyles, clown makeup and more.
Koga Shuko (Robert Patrick) is a crime lord in search of the
Double Dragon. He finds one half, the soul half, and it provides him with the
power to change into shadow form. But to have complete power he needs the other
half. He sends his henchmen out to find the missing half of the medallion.
Billy (Scott Wolf) and Jimmy Lee (Mark Dacascos) are two
young men living off of fight matches where they use their martial arts skills.
Billy is the more hot headed or the pair, quick to act and get them in trouble.
Jimmy on the other hand thinks things through and plan a strategy. Both are
being raised by Satori (Julia Nickson), an ex-archeologist who was close to
their father.
One night coming home after dark the duo is accosted by a
gang led by Abobo, a steroid fueled Mohawk wearing gang leader who chases them,
eventually catching up with them. As he is about to take them down the pair is
rescued by the Power Corp, another gang that’s intent on restoring law and order
led by Marian (Alyssa Milano) who happens to be the daughter of the police
chief. She also happens to be someone Billy has a crush on.
Abobo tells Koga that the boys have the second half of the
medallion. Koga rewards him with a dose of super steroids and along with his
henchmen they set out to retrieve the much sought after trinket. Arriving at
the abandoned theater where they are hidden a back and forth fight takes place
with the duo getting out in time but with Satori being caught in the explosion
that takes down their home.
Koga assembles the gangs and unites them, instructing them
to find and bring the brothers to him or at least let him know where they are.
Seeking the help of Power Corp the brothers, along with Marian, decide to bring
the fight to Koga rather than wait to see what transpires. But will they be
enough to take on this evil genius, unite the medallion and save the world?
The movie is played for camp from start to finish. Best of
all is Patrick as Koga with so many over the top scenes that he steals the
film. And that’s saying something with the martial arts skills of Dacascos on
display. But even Wolf, who in the extras notes he had no training ahead of
time, comes off well in the fight sequences and provides comic relief. And Milano
was just at that stage where she was changing from pre-teen princess to young
adult here. All work well together to give the story life.
MVD is releasing this film as part of their MVD Video Rewind
collection. That’s great news for fans because the film had only been available
as an expensive import for some time now. Here we not only get the release on
blu-ray but in the best shape possible with plenty of extras. Those include a
new documentary “The Making of Double Dragon” that includes interviews with
Wolf, Dacascos, writers Peter Gould & Michael Davis and producer Don
Murphy, a new featurette “Don Murphy: Portrait of a Producer”, an archival
making of featurette, a behind the scenes featurette, the pilot episode of the
1993 animated series (coming soon from MVD as well), a storyboard gallery,
press and behind the scenes photos, TV spots, the VHS home video trailer, the
original theatrical trailer, a collectible mini-poster and reversible sleeve
artwork.
If you grew up with this film and it brings back fond
memories for you then take advantage of the fact it’s being released in such a
fantastic offering like this one from MVD. You won’t regret it.
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