Double Dragon MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -1/2

Loosely based on a video game of the same name, this film tells the story of a Chinese warlord who fashioned a medallion with two dragons on it. Broken in half, one dragon gives the wearer the ability to become a shadow spirit to enter and control another's body. The other dragon makes the wearer indestructible. In the year 2007, after a severe earthquake in California, the "soul" half of the medallion is found by evil tycoon Koga Shuko (Robert Patrick). The "body" half is given to Billy Lee (Scott Wolf) and his brother, Jimmy (Mark Dacascos). Shuko wants the power of both and sets out to get the other half from the Lee brothers. Since the earthquake, gangs have taken over the city at night. The chief's daughter Marian (Alyssa Milano) leads a gang called Power Corps, similar to the Guardian Angels, who combat the gangs. When Shuko sends the thugs after Jimmy and Billy, Marian offers her help. Eventually, it comes to a showdown between Shuko and the Lees. The karate style action will be a hit with younger crowds.

An excess of martial arts violence justifies the PG-13 rating. Like the video game, hits and kicks are required every few steps to get to the end. There are the required kicks to the head and body, jumps into the chest, and crotch hits. The boys lose their guardian to a fiery explosion caused by Shuko. Later, they are chased down a burning river and survive an explosion. Shuko uses special steroids to transform one character into a grotesque parody of muscle-bound body-builders. With almost non-stop action, there is no time for sex or nudity but the brothers do leer at Marian as she bends over. Objectionable language is almost non-existent. The medallion's power is a combination of oriental mysticism and fantasy. When the boys' guardian says the medallion "magnifies the power inside you," it echoes New Age philosophy, which has some ties to oriental mysticism. But most of the power is fantasy and special effects. Like most violent video games, this film is a good way to kill time and waste money.

Preview Reviewer: Paul R. Bicking
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures, 9247 Alden Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210