Drive (1997)

A prototype enhanced human, on the run from Chinese-hired hit men, hooks up with a dread-locked bystander, and the two of them elude their pursuers narrowly each time.

Director:

Steve Wang

Writer:

Scott Phillips

Stars:

Mark Dacascos, Kadeem Hardison, John Pyper-Ferguson

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Dacascos	...	Toby Wong
Kadeem Hardison	...	Malik Brody
John Pyper-Ferguson	...	Vic Madison
Brittany Murphy	...	Deliverance Bodine
Tracey Walter	...	Hedgehog
James Shigeta	...	Mr. Lau
Masaya Katô	...	Advanced Model
Dom Magwili	...	Mr. Chow
Ron Yuan	...	Razor Scarred
Clive Rosengren	...	Cantwell
Christopher Michael	...	Jeb
'Evil' Ted Smith	...	Joss (as Ted Smith)
Tedd Szeto	...	Receptionist / Assistant
R.A. Mihailoff	...	Singing Trucker
David Watts	...	Apollo Bartender

Storyline

A prototype enhanced human, on the run from Chinese-hired hit men, hooks up with a dread-locked bystander, and the two of them elude their pursuers narrowly each time.

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Plot Keywords:

on the run | violence | tough guy | showdown | gunfight | 

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Taglines:

An irrepressible thrill ride combining the high-impact fight-action of "The Matrix" and the comedic interplay of "Rush Hour".

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violent content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Sanaa Lathan.

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Goofs

During the shootout in the hotel room there is a camera shot of Madison next to the door. In this shot you can see there is a bullet hole just above the card reader. Even though no bullets hit close to the part of the door until a few seconds later.

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Quotes

Delivarence Bodine: You owe me...
Malik Brody: I owe you what?
Delivarence Bodine: Entertainment, chocolate boy wonder!

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Alternate Versions

Deleted scenes include:

• A scene in Malik's house where Malik and Toby enter his daughters' room and they talk about his 4 year old daughter and how much he loves her.
• A scene in which Hedgehog and Madison question the existence of aliens.
• A scene after the Motel fight where Deliverance hugs Toby and Malik gets a bit jealous.
• A scene in which Toby reveals he has a brother and that they were both singers once. - A longer version of the final fight where Toby delivers a new kick.

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Connections

References Pulp Fiction (1994)

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Soundtracks

Surf 'N Turf
Written and Performed by Dennis Michael Tenney (as Dennis Tenney)

User Reviews

This is the Best US made Martial Arts film!!!. Hush up all u grinches

I see a majority of everyone like this film and especially the Hong Kong Film fans (like me), but a few of you .. including some of the Hong Kong films fans had panned this movie and shame you, that makes you no better than the elitist "arthouse" critics. You set up such high standards for an action film: some of you complained about the story, the writing, the budget, not every direct to video film that is made is crap, but a good 99.9 % of them are and this and The Boondock Saints are in the .01 percent that aren't. Just because it is made in the Hong Kong style and it doesn't have any big names like Jet Li or Jackie Chan doesn't make it bad either, they have made some real stinkers too and Hollywood has also made some atrocious actions films with 100 times the budget of this movie and they sucked too, money alone doesn't not ensure quality.

Having said that, this is bar none one of the best Hong Kong style action films to be made in the US and it beat Hollywood to the punch this was made 3 years before The Blade and The Matrix and doesn't have those irritating rotating camera gimmicks, ( i like the Matrix don't get me wrong) so the action scenes are much more fluid.

OK this isn't art and everyone isn't John Woo, I don't know about you butI watch action movies to be entertained this is one more than fills the bill. It has a economical plot as a lot of action movies esp Hong Kong films so there all you "elitists" and that is what u want, its just enough plot to hang some framework around some astounding martial arts scenes but not enough to get in the way and slow things down without all that talking crap. This film has breakneck pacing and fight scenes where each scene outdoes the one before.

This film is a Jet Li caliber movie and is better than any of Jet Li's or Jackie Chan's Hollywood films and probably 1/50th the budget.

Why Mr. Dacascos was not hired for the role of Neo in The Matrix is a mystery to me, he already knows martial arts and can act circles around Keanu Reeves or most any action star like Seagal, Van Damme, or Arnold.

If you love martial arts and Hong Kong action films check this one out there is a reason that this film has won many awards at Asian film festivals Because it kicks ass. A great injustice has been done to this film by not being released at the movies, but since they released some of the 90's Hong Kong films like Drunken Master II and Iron Monkey, why not open this one in US theaters. If there is one film that deserves its cult following its this one.

For all you "artsty-fartsy" and extremely picky Hong Kong film fans loosen up and enjoy this film like the rest of us and remember the golden age of Hong Kong cinema has been over since about 95.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 August 1997 (Philippines)

Also Known As:

Drive

Filming Locations:

25955 Vía Catalina, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Overseas FilmGroup, NEO Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 117 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1