		Year: 1992 Director: Raymond Lee Starring: Brigette Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung, Donnie Yen Genre: Action/martial arts Literal title translation: 'New Dragon Gate Inn'

A remake of King Hu's 1967 swordplay classic 'Dragon Gate Inn'. Two noble warriors (Tony Leung and Brigette Lin) rescue the children of a general murdered by an evil eunuch, and, while fleeing through the desert, take refuge at the Dragon Inn. Trapped there by bad weather, the heroes are kept on their feet when the eunuch's swordsmen arrive...

I had high hopes for this film as I am a big fan of modern swordsplay films - especially when Tsui Hark is involved (he produced this). However, this is not essentially an action film and the only fight scene is at the end. The film is almost entirely set in the titular Dragon Inn and consists of various comedy and dialogue scenes. Maggie Cheung is the best of the cast as the innkeeper who seduces every man she meets to get her own way. She walks away with the film and if you are a fan of hers there is much to enjoy here acting wise. The rest of the cast do not fare as well. Brigette Lin plays her usual female dressed up as a male role and Tony Leung is instantly forgettable. Poor Donnie Yen looks the part but never really shows his range both in the acting and fighting stakes. As a result of the lack of action the film moves at a very slow pace. The excellent production design is shown in it's full glory though. Perhaps this would have been better if Tsui Hark or Ching Siu Tung had directed it as they would have upped the action content instead of just insuring that the film looked good.

Overall, a good film to watch if you like Maggie Cheung, and the end fight scene (shot in the Gobi desert) is one of the most over the top climaxes ever put to celluloid, Donnie Yen jumps out of his skin - literally! However , it does move at quite a slow pace so action fans should steer clear to avoid disappointment.