Dolph Lundgren stars in DIAMOND DOGS(2008).
© Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Mania Grade: C
DVD: Diamond Dogs
Rating: R
Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Yu Nan, Xue Zuren, William Shriver, Raicho Vasilev
Written By: Leopold St-Pierre
Directed By: Shimon Dotan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Original Year of Release: 2008
Extras: Making of Featurette, Digital Copy for PSP

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DVD Review: Diamond Dogs

Xander Ronson (Dolph Lundgren) is a down on his luck, solider of fortune, whose failed security business has lead him to become an underground street fighter. To alleviate his debts, Ronson takes on a job to find an ancient Buddhist tapestry known as the Tangka.

The film is a simple action flick that plays like a poor man’s version of a modern day Indiana Jones. Dolph Lundgren, for all of his movies, has not yet shed his accent, making many of his voice-overs and dialogue scenes tough on the ears. There are a few moments that Dolph Lundgren conveys a lot of feeling and emotion with out saying anything. His scene with the Buddhist monks is probably the best in the whole movie.

The film was filmed in Inner Mongolia adding a strange otherworldliness to the production that I came to appreciate. It added a realism and grittiness that is not present in many low budget action films. Unfortunately, when Ronson and company enter the ancient crypt to locate the Tangka tapestry it looks like an old cellar with Chinese restaurant lawn ornaments. 

The problem with Diamond Dogs was its story arcs. It didn’t have any flow. Act I and Act II passed with little notice and before I knew it Act III was over and so was the film. It seemed like there was more story to tell. Showing the back story of the Tangka would have added to the story instead of hearing that it was a spiritual mystic tapestry that had diamonds interwoven into it.  

Surprisingly, the film didn’t have all the clichés of the genre. There was not a big love scene between Ronson and Anika (Yu Nan: look for her in the new Speed Racer Movie). The action is simplistic and quick and nothing is grandiose.   There wasn’t even one slow motion explosion with stuntmen flying every where.  The villains weren’t over the top and, in actuality, treasure seeker Chambers (William Shriver) and Russian Mob boss (Raicho Vasilev) were both completely believable. Look for Dolph Lundgren’s tribute to Sylvester Stallone’s Over the Top early in the film. It is classy.

There was one loose end that was never resolved. Ronson’s final voice over might mean Diamond Dogs 2 could be in the works. 

If Dolph Lundgren movies are your cup of tea then you will be presently surprised by his performance in Diamond Dogs. If you like to keep your Dolph Lundgren confined to Rocky 4 then by all means stay away.

There is a short making of Diamond Dogs Featurette which gives you a behind the scene look at the film and what kind of Inner Mongolia crew they had.