DOUBLE DRAGON IN LAST DUEL is a vibrant and well-plotted kung fu film from South Korea. It feels much like a Taiwanese production in terms of values and look, with the only Korean angle the colourful costumes and bandannas worn by the characters. I was pleasantly surprised while watching to discover that it's a more-than-adequate addition to an overworked genre.
The film's opening titles play out over the RAIDERS FROM THE LOST ARK theme before the back story begins a-proper. The tale is about a gold shipment being waylaid by bandits with a random stranger saving the day. The stranger is taken in by the hero's father only to betray him and massacre the family, leaving just the hero alive. He grows up and seeks revenge; the rest follows from there.
This elaborate set-up is a lot better than expected and paves the way for some solid fight scenes that are not particular spectacular but get the job done. The over-dramatic music certainly adds to the excitement of the piece. It's an effective enough revenge story, and one which is surprisingly well shot throughout.
The film's opening titles play out over the RAIDERS FROM THE LOST ARK theme before the back story begins a-proper. The tale is about a gold shipment being waylaid by bandits with a random stranger saving the day. The stranger is taken in by the hero's father only to betray him and massacre the family, leaving just the hero alive. He grows up and seeks revenge; the rest follows from there.
This elaborate set-up is a lot better than expected and paves the way for some solid fight scenes that are not particular spectacular but get the job done. The over-dramatic music certainly adds to the excitement of the piece. It's an effective enough revenge story, and one which is surprisingly well shot throughout.
