This summer's hot made-in-China movie, Dragon Tiger Gate is likely to be the top box office earner, as three young men defeat the bad guys and set up their own martial arts school.

 

Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible III may be the hottest movie in the local cinemas this summer, but, the made-in-China feature, Dragon Tiger Gate, released today in Shanghai, is expected to stir movie fans' passion for Chinese kung fu. 　

 

The movie by Hong Kong director Wilson Yip is adapted from a cartoon hit of the same title by Wong Pak-ming. The story centers on three young men - Little Dragon, Little Tiger and Black Dragon - who defeat the villains and set up the martial arts school called Dragon Tiger Gate. 　　

 

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen takes the lead role of Little Dragon and another Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse, also a pop singer, plays his younger brother Little Tiger. In the film, the two unleash their talent, sparring, kicking, and deploying sticks, spears, sabers and other weapons. 　　

 

"I am not that type of person who is easy to satisfy," says Yen with a smile. "I like to have more fun behind as well as in front of the camera." 　　

 

Yen enjoyed his three-dimensional role in Dragon Tiger Gate - a leading character on the silver screen, a co-producer and also the movie's martial arts choreographer. 　　

 

It's the second time for Yen to collaborate with director Yip, following their first collaboration in Sha Po Lang, an action film co-starring Hong Kong's Sammo Hung and Chinese mainland actor Wu Jing. 　　

 

"The story line seems simple but entertaining," says local movie buff Vivian Ji who watched the promotion clip. "But Yen goes all out to creating never-seen-before fight scenes in an intense and thrilling rhythm, which makes the picture so different and impressive." 　　

 

Some incomparable sequences such as the fierce fighting at a teahouse, and the final fight against evil at the end will win the audience's hearts. 　　

 

Yen admits that the movie, featuring distinctive characteristics of a cartoon work, did give wider scope for the imagination. Compared with ordinary kung fu flicks, he could add more fantasies and exaggerated action. 　　

 

Actor/singer Tse, who has received mixed reviews for his performing in Chen Kaige's fantasy epic The Promise and Hong Kong director Jeffrey Lau's comedy A Chinese Tale Story last year, considers the new production his real debut for martial art film - a new start in his acting career. 　　

 

"Domestic kung fu movies are not so common at the Hong Kong cinemas recently," says Tse. "We cannot deny Chinese kung fu films' growing force in world action cinema. But I hope to have more shooting opportunities in domestic kung fu productions."

 

Xu Pengle, deputy director from Shanghai Film Group Corp and also a co-producer of Dragon Tiger Gate, is optimistic about the box office. 　　

 

The entertaining elements such as stunts, stars and a large fan base for the original cartoon work are helpful to win a big audience when competing with this summer's other Hollywood hits - When A Stranger Calls, Garfield 2 and Cars, says Wu.

 

(Shanghai Daily August 2, 2006)