Displayed prominently on the DVD artwork just above the title of Scott Thomas' snappy martial arts flick Latin Dragon lies a very, very bold statement. This incredibly ballsy tagline reads, and I quote, "Finally... a Latino action hero." Surely you jest! If I'm not mistaken, there have been countless Latino kung fu masters/action icons sprinkled throughout the world's rich cinematic history, all of whom were devoted to delivering high-quality thrills to a community that is oddly overlooked at the local cineplex. Though this neglected group may not have oodles and oodles of action heroes ready to thrust their feet into the necks of whatever evil doer happens to be in town that week, they at least have a few to choose from. Right?
Wrong! Dead wrong!
While I can't say whether or not 2004's Latin Dragon is the first action-oriented motion picture to cast a strong Latino chap in the lead role, I do know for a fact that its the first flick of its kind to feature a Ray Romano impersonator as the film's proverbial hero. The resemblance is so strong, so brutally uncanny that it almost detracts from the flick's fine selection of spellbinding kung fu wizardry. If you can shake the strange feeling that Peter Boyle is seconds away from stepping into the frame and delivering one of his patented snarky one-liners, most action fans should get a shiny spin kick or two out of this enjoyable Latino-centric extravaganza.
Martial arts maniac Fabian Carrillo stars as Daniel Silva, a supposed war hero who returns to the old neighborhood after escaping from one of those mythological foreign prisons one rarely sees on what passes for American news networks these days. Much to his heavy-lidded dismay, Daniel's old stomping grounds have been overrun by an army of tattooed gang bangers led by a trigger happy punk named Paco. Eager to set things right, our hero begins dispatching his unique brand of bone-breaking justice as soon as his feet hit the pavement, a decision which angers a few evil white guys who are pulling the silly strings from behind the scenes.
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