Summary
Overview
The team tackles Double Dragon, the 1994 video game adaptation that somehow combines post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, karate tournaments, mystical medallions, and Alyssa Milano's inexplicable pants. Recorded live in Philadelphia, Paul, June, and Jason dissect this bizarre kids' movie featuring Robert Patrick fresh off Terminator 2, two martial artist brothers, and a plot that makes absolutely no sense. From spinach torture to Andy Dick as a weatherman, this film has everything except coherence.
Introduction and Opening Thoughts
The hosts introduce Double Dragon, describing it as one of the most insane films they've covered. They explain the basic premise about two halves of a pendant and compare it to other bonkers films like Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter, and Demolition Man. Paul emphasizes that while based on a video game, the movie shares almost nothing with its source material and features Robert Patrick apparently inventing vaping.
- Double Dragon combines elements of Demolition Man, Escape from L.A., and feels like a spiritual sequel to Super Mario Brothers
- The basic plot involves a pendant split in two halves - bad guys have one, good guys have the other
- June reveals she didn't know this was based on a video game
" Steroid therapy, gangland warfare, in a post-apocalyptic society where spinach torture happens and Andy Dick is a weatherman. Plus, it's a fucking kids movie. "
" I didn't have a fun childhood. "
The Video Game vs. The Movie
Paul explains how the original Double Dragon arcade game differs drastically from the film. The game features Billy Hammer Lee and Jimmy Spike Lee fighting through gangland to rescue their shared love interest, with the final level being the two brothers fighting each other to the death. The movie keeps the character names and little else, abandoning the game's actual plot entirely.
- The video game features two martial artists named Billy Hammer Lee and Jimmy Spike Lee fighting the Black Warriors gang
- The brothers share a love interest in the game, and the final level has them fighting each other to the death over her
- The video game has no powers or medallions - just street fighting with suits as the only similarity to the movie
" They must rescue her and fuck her together as brothers and then kill themselves? "
" Double Dragon becomes Solo Dragon at the end. "
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