Son of the Dragon (2006) User Reviews

Would have liked it if I were a kid and liked movies like this....

[innocuous · 4/10 · 13 December 2007]

This mini-series is actually more entertaining than some others with much bigger budgets and grander aspirations. SOTD falls somewhere between "Kung-Fu" and "H R Pufnstuff" on the entertainment spectrum. If it weren't so long (nearly 3 hours) I think that kids would like it quite a bit. It's got adventure, action, "cliffhanger scenes", and not too much romance or other "icky" stuff. When you're young, you're not too critical of flexing rubber swords, campy acting, and scenes that are repeated. (At least two scenes are repeated identically in the movie, just as was done in old-time serials in order to bring the audience up to speed.) Finally, kids are usually more accepting of American English dialogue coming out of the mouths of Asian actors. (Not to mention the fact that several of the leading roles are played by non-Asian actors.)

I was going to give this movie three stars, but I felt like the director, producers, and cast deserved some extra credit for at least carrying through on the project. This movie is not art, but, like painting your house, it actually took some time, effort, and discipline to get it made.

Overall, not a recommended use for your time, but it might keep the kids entertained while traveling in the mini-van.

Oh, yeah...hey, IMDb! "Dialogue" is the preferred and traditional spelling. Your spell-checking seems to think that "dialog" is the proper spelling. While "dialog" is acceptable, both Webster's and the OED consider it an alternative form.

Not bad

[BethAngel48 · 6/10 · 16 January 2008]

It certainly wasn't bad. I enjoyed it. Two of the main characters were very likable in fact and i was not bored whilst watching. John Reardon is quite talented and attractive. I hadn't heard of him before seeing this movie,now i shall keep my eyes peeled.

'Son of the Dragon' has action,adventure,comedy and romance all entwined into the story line.

I would recommend this particular movie to anyone aged between 15 and 30 whom martial arts and adventure orientated films appeal to.

If you enjoyed the T.V mini series 'Maro Polo or films such as 'The Mask of Zoro' or 'House of Flying Daggers' i think you may enjoy this.

Cheesy

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 4 March 2022]

A typical cheesy 'exotic' adventure set in a make-believe China that never existed. Invariably our hero is a white saviour who takes time out to romance the pretty Chinese ladies while beating up the bad guys. A bit like HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS but without the same sense of humour. David Carradine turns up being mysterious and cool in one of those 'mentor' roles. I only watched this for homegrown talent Eddy Ko and Ku Feng and neither are in it much.

Could have been

[azizanicole · 2/10 · 9 August 2007]

I was in such high hopes of seeing an adaptation of a classic story like the Arabian Nights. Instead i was disappointed in a film that failed to keep my attention from the very beginning, even though i tried watching it twice!!

It was a bonus that Caradine was in this movie but it didn't amount to much as the actors lacked likability. For something a little similar Zorro with Anthony Hopkins and Bandaras is much better for action, comic moments and overall enjoyability.

OK, so Son of the Dragon has many possible fans out there, but if your looking for something to wow about in terms of martial arts and plot line you wont get it. If you just want the kids to settle down on a Sunday afternoon then maybe this it for you along with the 3 ninjas.

One word-stupidity!

[Maylar · 2/10 · 15 April 2007]

Yeah, stupidity! I just finish watching and I still have bad taste in my mouth. Too much colors, too much unnecessary "addons" to a story, too much stupid characters (I presume they wanted to achieve comic relief, but I only wanted to cry)... too much of everything. Shame to spoil one of divine stories from "Arabian Nights" like this. Childish, naive (both on a bad way) and with lot of magic-breaking mistakes, I don't think this could keep a child of five for more then ten minutes. Princess is lovely, but should be tongueless, cause actress don't know how to carry a role. Rest of the cast is even worse...our "bad guy" is REALLY bad. Shame that the "good guy" is not better. Only light in this dark is, of course, David Carradine, who goes unfortunately deeply down under his level with this, but at least keep his actor/"fighter" skills at top. I'm still sorry to see him in a thing like this, but glad that I had something to watch in whole charade, so thank you David. Only, ONLY, for him, I give this 2 stars to this fiasco...I would give more for him, but that would rise final score to entire movie. The rest is so bad, that I would, maybe, like to grade it, but there is no grade lover then 1 here, and I think that would be too much.

If you are not a poet , become a poem

[fernandez_1989 · 11 February 2007]

The princess of a Chinese-style shogunate has to choose a husband for her wedding between a variety of prince's from neighboring nations. One of them is an elegant handsome white man who looks like an American from the East Coast. He has to compete with other tough men, but obviously he wins the Princess' heart.

But in fact he is not a prince but a fake! He wants to steal a valorous gem from the inside of the castle. With the help of Ting Ting he goes to success and fall in love. Ting Ting is beautiful and very pretty. She looks like an American from San Mateo County, California. The diversity of America is so great.

Americans of Asian ancestry are improving the country and making it even more interesting and fascinating.

David Carradine is another great American Actor from California. He is specially good in his role and I like him a lot for his talent of acting.

I recommend this movie for action, drama and pretty girls who fall in love with a handsome tall white man. But also for brave and strong Asian men who are making America great.

No.

[symphonyofnames · 3/10 · 10 January 2008]

Unless you're twelve, this movie really isn't worth it. It's obviously a low-budget film with B actors, and with a genre like fantasy that sometimes requires intense CGI work that's not good. I knew it would be bad when I rented it. I enjoy laughing at bad movies. I didn't know how bad though. It's bearable, until after hour 2, then it really starts to burn. Fighting styles go between normal fighting that obey the laws of physics, and wire-fighting. There's no real explanation for the transitions. It has a plot, but once again, it's obviously a kid's movie. It seems like there are explicit moral lessons of the day that are being conveyed, like Sesame Street or something. It's bearable. But much better if you're, say, nine.

Chinese version of Aladdin has good intentions and sacrifice

[roska-posti · 7/10 · 15 February 2019]

If you like fairy-tales, romantic drama and Medieval China, you will love this story. If you are looking for a kung fu action hero movie, you will not be as well served. This isn't a big budget spectacle, but the settings are still beautiful.

It is a story in Medieval China of a thief and the family who adobted him. When rich princes come to propose the local princess, the thief aims to steal from the gifts, to provide for the family and the villagers. The prince of thieves was adventurous and good-hearted, the former warrior step-father couldn't help but aid him, despite resisting the whole risky idea, and the step-sister is caught in the events with her heart torn. It wouldn't be a proper Chinese story, without a bitter-sweet taste and tears.

Great Family Movie for children 6-16

[eyekinduit · 9/10 · 19 January 2011]

We are grandparents with 5 grandchildren between the ages of 6 and 12. We often get together for the weekend, & an evening family movie is often a part of our weekend finale. This movie may not be a critics choice, but we all loved it because it was truly entertaining, had a great story line, had action, adventure, fantasy, and mild romance. It had pretty decent acting from all of the characters, and an ending that didn't blow you away by being what you wouldn't like (Message In A Bottle-like stuff.) It was a happy ending, even though one of our favorite characters died. Bonus........... not a swear word in the whole film. David Carradine was the only actor we recognized in the film. There were others in the film that were up and comers, and after checking up on them in the IMDb database, I see their careers are moving right along. I'll take movies like this anytime, because.... they are entertaining, and for some of us that is the point.

Funniest scene I've ever seen on TV

[tswartzbaugh · 9/10 · 9 May 2013]

Easy-going movie. Good for younger viewers.

I have nothing against David Caradine, but I howled with laughter at the following scene...

David Carradine and his younger protégé are captured by the evil warlord. In a take-off from the end of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, they are left each trying to balance on a wobbly wooden post with a noose around their neck. Also, there is only one rope looped over some overhead anchor point so that if one falls they both die.

They start bickering over who is at fault for getting them captured. Fed up with being lectured, the younger man finally says, "Well, if you're so wise, what are you doing hanging from a rope!" ...