The Pete Quiñones Show Pete and J. Burden Discuss Michael Cimino's 'Year of the Dragon' (1985)
Mar 31, 2026
J. Burden, content creator and host of The J. Burden Show, brings sharp film commentary. They dig into Michael Cimino's Year of the Dragon: its operatic violence, Mickey Rourke's extreme performance, Chinatown power struggles, Vietnam-era trauma transposed to NYC, tense undercover beats, racial tensions, brutal set pieces from a noodle factory to Thailand, and a relentless climb to a train-bridge finale.
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Cop As Vietnam Veteran Still Fighting At Home
- Year of the Dragon operates like a Vietnam veteran still at war on New York streets rather than a realistic crime drama.
- J. Burden ties Michael Cimino's Deer Hunter sensibility to Stanley White's relentless, warlike approach in Chinatown scenes.
Everything Is Dialed To Maximum Excess
- The film deliberately pushes every element to an extreme: violence, costumes, performances, and set pieces.
- Pete Quiñones highlights over-the-top choices like hitmen in new-wave outfits and relentless escalation that keep viewers off-balance.
Shocking Opening Funeral Sets Chaotic Tone
- The movie opens with a funeral and sudden, shocking public violence to establish chaos fast.
- Pete describes a shopkeeper shot in his store within the film's first minutes, setting the tone for escalating disorder.