Yeeeeeeeesh
Where to even begin with this pseudo-rant about how Legend of Drunken Master ruined Drunken Master 2?

To give you some background information, Legend of Drunken Master (2000) is Disney's release of Jackie Chan's kung fu classic, Drunken Master II (1994). To take a couple of steps back, Drunken Master II isn't so much a sequel to Drunken Master (1978) as it is Jackie Chan revisiting the legendary character of Wong Fei Hung. Looking at the dates I've just listed, you may be wondering why I'm bitching and moaning about this now.

The answer? Because it deserves to be bitched and moaned about.

A Dubba Dubba Dubba...
I can totally understand dubbing this film. The mainstream US market would've had a hard time swallowing this flick in another language. While this movie does have a decent plot and some pretty good acting, it's not at all artsy enough to warrant a subtitled release like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon did. But, on the flip side, while CTHD was one heckuva movie, DM2/LofDM is the best kung fu flick ever filmed. Hands down.

While that last complaint wasn't much of a complaint, how's this: "Why did you change the @#$%ing soundtrack?!?!" The original DM2 soundtrack was perfect for the movie. I wouldn't have changed a single note. The LofDM soundtrack just seemed… I dunno a little out of place and goofy.

And why the heck did they redub the SOUND EFFECTS?!?! I'm sure Disney didn't realize this when they did it, but they actually changed the rhythm of some of the fight scenes. If you've ever heard Jackie Chan talk, you've probably heard him talk about how critical rhythm is and that a fight scene is almost like choreographing a dance. This LofDM change alone irks me to no end.

CLANG the Conqueror
There's one scene toward the end of the movie that takes place in a factory. One segment has Jackie fighting multiple opponents and steel "staves" some into play. One sequence in the original DM2 version where you see and hear "CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG!" In the inferior LofDM version, you hear something like, "clang… clang."

What happened to the other three CLANGS? I see the hits? I can hear the hits in my heads, but from Disney… no hits?!?! There are a few instances where things just don't sound right, particularly if you've ever seen the original version.

Feel the Beat of the Rhythm of the Fight
I guess that's what it really comes down to… rhythm. Legend of Drunken Master ruined the rhythm of Drunken Master 2. It's amazing how much the movie changes due to a few misplaced, missing, or mangled sounds.

But, in all fairness, I should say that even the tampered, Disney-fied version is more than watchable. Such is the brilliance of Jackie Chan.

So, if you can deal with subtitles, please go buy the Drunken Master 2 (if you can find it). If not, Legend of Drunken Master is fine, but let me tell you, you're missing out.