Dragon Eyes (2012)

In St. Jude, drug dealers and corrupt cops have destroyed an urban neighborhood. But newcomer, Hong, has the fighting skills and moral vision to save this town from itself.
Director: John Hyams
Writer: Tim Tori (screenplay)
Stars: Cung Le, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Johnny Holmes 

Storyline

St. Jude Square is a neighborhood living in fear and despair. The dueling gangs of local kingpins Dash and Antuan terrorize the streets and the citizens live without a shred of hope... until mysterious stranger Ryan Hong (Cung Le) arrives in town. He begins to play one gang against the other using his unparalleled martial arts skills, and by calling on the teachings of his brilliant mentor Tiano (Jean-Claude Van Damme) to find the strength to battle back. However, just as he begins to bring the community under control, Hong is confronted by Mr. V, the town's ruthless and corrupt police chief. At first Mr. V is impressed by Hong's skill, but soon sees Hong as a threat to his regime, and the two warriors are locked in a head-to-head battle, pitting the fear and corruption of Mr. V's regime versus the new beginning Hong represents for the people of St. Jude Square. Written by IM Global

User Reviews

Dragon Eyes is a Yojimbo remake but a bad cheap looking one with all close up shots, yellow filters and colorization which all cheap straight to DVD films have these days.

It stars MMA fighter Cung Le who has few lines but gets to do a lot of fighting. Jean Claude Van Damme appears in a cameo as a prison inmate/mentor of Cung Le.

Dragon Eyes sees Cung Le turn up into a town called St Jude where he plays off different gangs against each other and crosses path with a Mr Big who is also a corrupt police chief called Mr V (Peter Weller).

The fight scenes are well staged but nothing special. The story is actually confusingly realised, strange given its inspired by a Japanese classic remade so many times.

Director John Hyams is the son of renowned filmmaker Peter Hyams and he clearly lacks his father's skills.