Tiger Cage 2feels very much like a film Jackie Chan would have made, but instead, it’s Donnie Yen leading the action this time around. Like Chan, Donnie Yen has starred in a long list of Hong Kong kung fu films and Hollywood action movies, but their approaches are inherently different. Whereas Jackie Chan has built a career out of family-friendly martial arts films heavily laced with humor,Donnie Yen’s moviesare typically more serious, with theIp Manfranchise being a prime example of the contrast between the two.
Of course, it’s important to note that Donnie Yen’s image has evolved significantly over the years - not unlike Chan himself. Many of Yen’s older films - including his debut performance inold school kung fu movieDrunken Tai Chi- are drastically different in tone from the work he’s most commonly recognized for. That also applies toTiger Cage 2, a 1990 Hong Kong action film from critically acclaimed martial arts movie director Yuen Woo-ping. Although it’s far from one of Donnie Yen’s most famous roles,Tiger Cage 2remains a special entry in the actor’s filmography.
Tiger Cage 2 Is Almost Like A Jackie Chan Movie
Tiger Cage 2 Is Very Similar To The Formula Of A 1990s Jackie Chan Action Movie
During the 1980s and 1980s, modern-day cop movies infused with martial arts were a popular trend in Hong Kong, likely due in large part to the success of Jackie Chan’sPolice Storymovies. In 1988, Donnie Yen played a supporting character in a lesser-known installment in the genre, titledTiger Cage,and was elevated to the starring role forTiger Cage 2.Like the first movie,Tiger Cage 2employs a serious story, but differentiates itself from its predecessor in its willingness to have fun with its characters, offering some slapstick moments with Donnie Yen’s character reminiscent ofJackie Chan’s best martial arts comedies.
Lo Lieh, an actor who was once one of Shaw Brothers' top martial arts stars in the 1970s and a frequent choice for its villain roles, has a cameo as a crime boss inTiger Cage 2.
This is exemplified by the relationship between Donnie Yen’s Dragon Lau and Rosamund Kwan’s character, Mandy. Early on, Dragon and Mandy are handcuffed and forced to go on the run together, leading to some humorous interactions between the two, not to mention some creative action sequences when the pair is pursued by gangsters.
Donnie Yen’s Dragon Lau engages in not one, but three heated showdowns in the span of a half hour.
Its high-octane action is paced nicely, intertwined with scenes of romance and comedy. But in the same vein as a Jackie Chan masterpiece such asWheels on MealsorDragons Forever,Tiger Cage 2steps on the gas when it gets to the climax, putting the brakes on the humor and focusing solely on the fighting, which doesn’t let up once it gets to this point.
Tiger Cage 2 Has 3 Amazing Donnie Yen Fight Scenes Back To Back
Donnie Yen Has 3 Scenes In Tiger Cage 2 That Feel Like “Final Boss” Fights
Tiger Cage 2is more than just a Donnie Yen action movie with similarities to Jackie Chan’s work; the 1990 film is actually one of the star’s most underrated martial arts movies, and that’s owed primarily to what takes place in the climax. Donnie Yen’s Dragon Lau engages in not one, but three heated showdowns in the span of a half hour.
In this timeframe, Donnie Yen is pitted against Robin Shou ofMortal Kombatfame, John Salvitti, and Michael Woods. Stacking three major fight scenes back-to-back inTiger Cage 2’sending naturally ran the risk of becoming repetitive or overly long, but the film skillfully avoided this via its approach to the fights and its diverse choice of opponents for Donnie Yen’s character.
Michael Woods played an underling in bothTiger CageandTiger Cage 2.
Donnie Yen vs. Robin Shou is a traditional, somewhat old school style of kung fu battle, with the two characters exchanging in some well-choreographed fisticuffs that show off both actors' remarkable speed. The second matchup, against John Salvitti, mixes things up by equipping both combatants with swords. A katana was an interesting choice of weapon for Donnie Yen, butTiger Cage 2succeeds in creating the impression that the actor is well-versed in the handling of the sword.
Even though the sword battle with John Salvitti easily carried enough intensity to serve as a satisfying finale, Tiger Cage 2 keeps going, offering one more one-on-one fight, this time with Dragon Lau taking on a hulking boxer played by Michael Woods. Differing from the previous two fights which focused on finesse and agility, the last fight forces Yen’s character to deal with a decidedly different challenge, which is overcoming a massive size and strength advantage. With his physical presence, Michael Woods comes across as extremely formidable opponent, and one that pushes Dragon Lau to his limits.
You Don’t Have To Watch Tiger Cage To Understand Tiger Cage 2
Tiger Cage 2’s Story Isn’t Reliant At All On What Happens in The First Tiger Cage Film
With its fun action sequences, utilization of Donnie Yen’s fighting style, and funny dynamic between its male and female leads,Tiger Cage 2is certainly a must-watch 1990s martial arts gem. Unfortunately, its title could be seen as a deterrent. However, it’s important to point out thatTiger Cage 2can be viewed independently ofTiger Cage. Ultimately, there’s only a few things that connect the two films, and none have any bearing on the sequel’s story.
In total, there are threeTiger Cagemovies, all with mostly different casts and stories. Donnie Yen appears only in the first two, but Yuen Woo-ping serves as the director of each film in the trilogy.Tiger Cage 3was released in 1991, one year after the second film.
Tiger CageandTiger Cage 2are linked by the fact that they follow stories about undercover cops fighting organized crime, feature Donnie Yen and Carol Cheng in major roles, and aredirected by Yuen Woo-ping. Outside of that, there’s no meaningful connection between them, as both Yen and Cheng play original characters within a whole new plotline.
