Michael Cimino’s Year of the Dragon carries so much pent-up anger, there’s no room to exhale. It’s a film packed with exquisite wide-angles by cinematographer Alex Thomson. However, peeling away the surface layers reveals scant storytelling. For the viewer, these shortcomings constitute a shallow experience.

In the beginning, Triads lean heavily on businesses to cough up protection money. Those who don’t pay meet a gory end. Somehow, there’s always been an understanding between the Chinese bosses and local law enforcement. Yet the arrival of Captain Stanley White (Mickey Rourke) could change things. The latter’s policy of clean money and transparency puts him at loggerheads with bigwig Joey Tai (John Lone).

Inside Oliver Stone’s bloated screenplay there’s a lean 70 minute thriller screaming to get out. If ever a picture needed more editing, Year of the Dragon seems ideal. Meanwhile, the performances lack serious motivation. Despite playing the lead, Rourke often disappears behind a cloud of cigarette smoke.

As a critic, I try to find the good in every situation. Therefore, Year of the Dragon contains some of Thomson’s finest camerawork. His lens choices feel comprehensive, and allow movements to flow smoothly. Above all, his contribution makes Year of the Dragon visually intriguing. (Capsule review)

(Released by MGM/UA Entertainment Company and rated "R" by MPAA.)