Mark Dacascos Starred in a Forgotten 90s Martial Arts Film You Won’t Believe Actually Exists!

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In the ’90s, Mark Dacascos starred in an old, martial arts movie that’s not well-remembered now – Double Dragon. Before he became famous again in movies like John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Dacascos had leading roles in numerous martial arts films throughout the ’90s. Some of his most recognized films during this time were Only the Strong and Drive. It was between these two films that he starred in Double Dragon, which debuted as a low-budget martial arts film in 1994.

Mark Dacascos played prominent roles in both American Samurai and Only the Strong before co-starring as a key figure in Double Dragon. In American Samurai, he portrayed the main antagonist, while he was the central character in Only the Strong. Following these appearances, he joined the cast of Double Dragon, a production featuring recognizable actors such as Alyssa Milano and Robert Patrick. Despite not being a box-office success or considered among the best martial arts movies from the 1990s, Double Dragon offers an intriguing adaptation of a popular video game series that remains relevant today, making it worth revisiting.

Double Dragon Was A Fun Adaptation Of A Popular 1990s Beat ‘Em Side Scroller

In 1987, the side-scrolling beat ’em up game Double Dragon was introduced by Technos in arcades. This game centered around martial artist siblings Jimmy and Billy Lee who battled through waves of thugs to destroy the dangerous gang known as the Black Warriors. Over time, this game expanded into a franchise with numerous console releases such as the NES and SNES. As the series continued to grow, a live-action adaptation was also made featuring Scott Wolf and Mark Dacascos portraying Billy and Jimmy.

1994’s “Double Dragon” movie deviates from its original content, transforming a typical crime-fighting tale into a story with a hint of post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Set in the future, a fictionalized Los Angeles, ravaged by a colossal earthquake and acid rain, serves as the setting. The narrative unfolds against this bleak backdrop, focusing on the quest for a powerful artifact known as the Double Dragon. Brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee must hurry to locate it before it falls into the hands of Robert Patrick’s sinister crime lord character, Koga Shuko.

In a fresh take, Double Dragon maintains respect for its source material by adhering to an action-oriented gameplay style. To thwart Koga Shuko, characters Billy and Jimmy must navigate hordes of thugs, relying on their mastery of martial arts to emerge victorious.

Double Dragon Was A Fun But Extremely Campy Martial Arts Movie

Double Dragon Isn’t Nearly As Bad As Its 12% On Rotten Tomatoes May Suggest

This premise (and its implementation) has a lot to offer, but don’t expect it to delve into serious or dramatic themes. That wasn’t essential in the first place, given that Double Dragon is a side-scrolling beat ’em up video game series with minimal narrative focus. Instead, Double Dragon brings its core ideas and characters to life, maintaining a cheesy ambiance that suits its gameplay style perfectly.

Similar to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Street Fighter film, Double Dragon isn’t shy about being goofy as it endeavors to bring the game material to life, such as featuring Billy and Jimmy’s iconic blue and red outfits. The movie is excessively energetic in both its action and comedy, but this exuberance, coupled with its swift pace, makes for an entertaining watch.

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2025-05-17 03:07