Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
- Original title
- Max Havoc: Curse Of The Dragon
- Directed by
- Isaac Florentine
- Genre
- action film, martial arts film
- Country
- United States
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Rating
- 5.0 of 10 from 11 voters
- Elsewhere
- IMDb
The catalogue in 3D
The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.
How it feels
An ex-kickboxer turned sports photographer gets pulled into a conflict with a yakuza clan over a stolen jade dragon statue. He helps an art dealer and her sister escape the gang.
fast-pacedformulaiclightflightydatedgrungyearnestaction-oriented
What happens
Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon is a straight-to-DVD action film directed by Albert Pyun and Isaac Florentine on the island of Guam in 2004. Swiss actor Mickey Hardt plays Max Havoc, an ex-kickboxer turned sports photographer. Max has to help an art dealer and her sister, played by Joanna Krupa and Tawney Sabley, flee from a yakuza clan trying to retrieve a valuable jade dragon statue. Aimed at the European market, the film was planned to kickstart a franchise, which would have included a sequel and a syndicated television series in the United States, but these plans did not materialize. A sequel, Max Havoc: Ring of Fire, was eventually shot in Canada. The film was originally slated to be directed in Hawaii, but a series of mishaps led to filming on Guam. Most of the film was shot there by Pyun, including a cameo by Carmen Electra. A smaller part was added by Florentine to improve the film's marketability, including added cameos by David Carradine and Richard Roundtree. It premiered on Guam in 2005 and on DVD in 2007, earning around US$250,000. Most critics reviews were negative, chiding the plot, casting and the cliché portrayal of Guam, but some praised the fight choreography and the "so bad it's good" value. Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon has garnered press through lawsuits regarding its financing. Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority (GEDCA) gave a $800,000 loan guarantee to producer John F. S. Laing, which was forfeited as the film failed to recoup the investment. GEDCA alleged Laing defrauded them, while he claimed Guam authorities promised him funding he did not receive. This kicked off a lengthy legal battle, ending with a settlement between Laing and GEDCA. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)
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Shaolin vs. Evil Dead (2004)- More like this film, on a shelf you can walk up to.It's the lit case on the top shelf.