Revenge of the Green Dragons (2014)

Two best friends rise through the ranks of New York's Chinese underworld in the 1980s.

Directors:

Andrew Lau, Andrew Loo

Writers:

Michael Di Jiacomo (screenplay by), Andrew Loo (screenplay by)

Stars:

Justin Chon, Kevin Wu, Harry Shum Jr.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Justin Chon	...	Sonny
Kevin Wu	...	Steven
Harry Shum Jr.	...	Paul
Eugenia Yuan	...	Snakehead Mama
Leonard Wu	...	Ah Chung
Jin Au-Yeung	...	Detective Tang (as Jin Auyeung)
Jon Kit Lee	...	Teddy
Shuya Chang	...	Tina
Alex Fox	...	Little Sonny
Michael Gregory Fung	...	Little Steven
Celia Au	...	Bobo
Ron Yuan	...	Born to Kill Dai Lo
Billy Magnussen	...	Detective Boyer
Geoff Pierson	...	FBI Director Sam Higgins
Ray Liotta	...	Michael Bloom

Storyline

REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS follows two immigrant brothers Sonny (Justin Chon) and Steven (Kevin Wu) who survive the impoverished despair of New York in the 1980s by joining Chinatown gang "The Green Dragons". The brothers quickly rise up the ranks, drawing the unwanted attention of hard-boiled city cops. After an ill- fated love affair pits Sonny against his own brother, he sets out for revenge on the very gang who made him who he is.

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Plot Keywords:

chinese mafia | shot in the head | new york | immigrant | chinatown | 

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Taglines:

The American dream isn't free

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence including a sexual assault, pervasive language, some drug use and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film Andrew Lau and Martin Scorsese officially work on together (after Andrew Lau's Infernal Affairs (2002) inspired Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006)).

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie its supposed to be 1983, however they show a big pile of modern US currency spilling on table with the current large President's head on the bills.

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Connections

Features New York Chinatown (1982)

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Soundtracks

Danger Zone
Written by Cary Beare
Performed by Bon Johnson
Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation

User Reviews

intriguing and insightful

Traveling across an ocean or desert and into a new country, one becomes subject to different rules, and vulnerable to thugs who know the system better. Those unable or unwilling to control their own destinies in this new climate, invite others to do it for them. "Captain leads, sailor sails," is the saying, and some unsavory, yet deceptively wholesome looking, captains appear at the helm. The American dream depends more on one's luck, resources and strength of character, than on equal opportunity, liberty or other tenuous threads. Based on actual events from the 1980s, the film follows the lives of Chinese immigrants to New York City who are pressured into gangs, menial labor and violence. The main characters are two boys who become part of the notorious Green Dragon gang. Despite shaky acting and disjointed transitions, it is an intriguing and insightful glimpse into the underworld of U.S. immigration. Many scenes are predictable, yet there were some twists and turns, especially at the end, that I did not see coming. Seen at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Hong Kong USA

Language:

English Chinese

Release Date:

11 September 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Revenge of the Green Dragons

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$107,412

Company Credits

Production Co:

IM Global, The 7th Floor, Initial A Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1