Well GO USA
The Legend of the White Dragon is one of those passion projects made a few years ago that was thought to be shelved, but is now finally available to view. It’s streaming now and will be released on home video in October. What began as an idea between Aaron Schoenke (from the YouTube web series Superpower Beat Down) and Jason David Frank (Power Rangers) evolved into a superhero-style narrative about a hero who screwed up big-time and is trying to save face. That’s hard to do when nearly everyone hates Virtuo City’s favorite superhero, hence the film’s title.
When this hero, Erik Reed (Frank), fails to avert a disaster and thousands of lives are lost, he’s hardly seen as virtuous. His secret identity is exposed, and not even his family is safe. Remember that old adage never to reveal your face, lest the bad guys target your loved ones? Well, that’s what this movie explores too. Although no one in the Reed family is safe, this outcast lives away from the public eye. It seems that unless he’s brought to justice, nobody is going to feel secure.
Neither his wife, Rebecca, nor his teenage daughter, Ashley, is considered safe. Though he desperately wants to stay hidden and rebuild his fractured life, other events unfold, including evading citizen patrol groups that still harbor a vendetta. Three years is a long time; while some citizens remain angry, others just want to move on. Upon reflection, I can’t help but wonder if this film is partially autobiographical, especially when considering Frank’s attempt to balance being a hero to his fans with the personal skeletons he tried to keep hidden.
Even with his few remaining allies—Connor, Iris, and Max (Michael Madsen)—confiding in them remains tough. Although they help him stay underground and sane, it’s fair to ask if that’s enough. As for the authorities chasing after Reed—namely Officer Brian “Lighthouse” and Mayor Trevon Sterns—they aren’t like Batman’s allies on the police force; instead, they feel like the antithesis.
At the same time, Erik has a rival to contend with. Jai Katua (Aaron Schoenke) has his own agenda under the codename Dragon Prime. Only one of them can hold the crystal that grants these humans their superpowers. Although the concept feels more like a story written for LEGO Ninjago than live-action, there’s some good world-building here, even if it comes at the expense of character drama. I found myself confused by what was happening, mostly because the screenplay isn’t well constructed and fails to give the characters the gravitas needed to make them compelling.
When I caught myself switching to just listening to the film rather than watching it, I knew what was on screen wasn’t holding my interest. I wouldn’t say this film is entirely bad. It just suffers from editing choices that shifted the focus midstream. Although much of the film wrapped production normally, the final edit reshaped the story into something it wasn’t originally meant to be, and it shows.
While it operates as a passionate tribute to its late star, the final product is a mixed bag. We get to see Frank play a broken knight who knows he’s not perfect, and that sheer sincerity is the main thing carrying the film. As for sequels and the like, it’s safe to say those will never happen.
3 Stars out of 5
Legend of the White Dragon Trailer
