Enter the Dragon (1973)

A splendid kung fu film that offers more than the genre's usual

The 1973 film ENTER THE DRAGON was the first Hollywood kung fu film, placing the then little-known Bruce Lee among American actors and featuring a plot of international proportions.

Of course, the Hong Kong roots of the genre still hold. The manaical supervillain Han (Shih Kien) is murdering young women on his private island. When Han organizes an international martial arts tournament, Lee is sent by the Hong Kong government to bust Han's operation. He is joined by American businessman Roper (John Saxon), hoping to get some money to pay off mafia debts, and black activist Williams (Jim Kelly), who just seeks victory and looking good.

There's a great deal of humour in the story, beyond the traditional incompetent henchmen and improbably deft martial arts. I can't imagine that the film-makers did not intend that the viewer take the supervillain's tropes seriously. When Han strokes his cat while plotting his schemes, or when he gives one character a tour of his entire criminal enterprise before asking him to join them, we can't help but chuckle at this borrowings from James Bond. The film works well as mindless entertainment.

Nonetheless, the film-makers succeeded in making a film that was more than a simple action outing. Two scenes made ENTER THE DRAGON a classic of cinema. In a scene where Bruce Lee wields nunchaku we are treated to one of the finest documents of athletic prowess, testimony that Lee was not just a simple action star but a great sportsman. The climax of the film, where Lee duels with Han in a hall of mirrors, is rich in symbolism and elegantly filmed, coming to influence many films since. And I personally, a recent visitor to Hong Kong and one passionately interested in the area, enjoyed seeing how Kowloon and Hong Kong Island looked before the boom era.

I had a good time watching ENTER THE DRAGON and recommend to any who might be intrigued by a kung fu film that transcends its genre to some degree. April 13, 2008

the best bruce lee`s movies

this is the best movie of bruce lee, where he shows something about his philosophy about fighting, and the documentals are very interesting, its almost unreal the things he did, February 29, 2008

Watch a Master of Movement

Every so often a genius of kinesthetic flow arrives in the world; Enter the Dragon is an opportunity to witness first hand the phenominal ability of Li Jun Fan (Bruce Lee) at the very top of his craft. I feel safe in saying that there is no other martial artist put on film that has such dynamic presence and amazing focus as Lee; and Enter the Dragon captures this intensity like no other film.

This film is the first in many ways. Not only the first Chinese/American team up of a martial arts film, it is the very first true martial arts picture ever to be filmed in English. Martial arts star Sammo Hung is highlighted in the first five minutes of the film (first time I believe) and there is even a bit part for an extremely young Jackie Chan (watch closely) as the recipient of Lee's "fists of fury". Starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon and new-comer Jim Kelly, Lee plays a Shaolin monk that is convinced by British Authorities (at the time Governing Hong Kong) to infiltrate an island via a martial arts tournament run by a rogue Shaolin monk named Han (Played by Shih Kien). The government wants Lee to infiltrate the tournament and contact them with information of Han's activities.

The film is laced with Lee's Zen philosophy of life. He uses martial arts as a metaphor for all of life and a vehicle in which to understand all of life's big questions. This film is Lee's final masterpiece as the Little Dragon died 6 days before the US release of Enter the Dragon. This film is a testament to an amazing human being that managed to bridge the gap between East and West. A must see for anyone interested in Martial Arts or Eastern thought. February 26, 2008

The Best Martial Arts Movie Ever Made!

Enter The Dragon is in a class all its own.

Bruce...we salute you! February 8, 2008

The Gold Standard Of Martial Arts Films!

While there have been some classics since this 1973 film such as Bloodsport (Van Damne), Hard To Kill (Steven Seagal), Best Of The Best (James Earl Jones), The Perfect Weapon (Jeff Speakman), Rumble In The Bronx (Jackie Chan) and Eye For An Eye (Chuck Norris), none have touched this legendary piece by the late Bruce Lee and the late Robert Clause.

The plot is very basic. Bruce plays a highly skilled and spiritual martial artist who goes to the tournament of Han to avenge his sisters death and resort honor to the Shaolin Temple which Han betrayed years earler.

Along the way, he meets Ropert (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly). The three end up in a web of intrigue and danger as they must fight for their own lives and bring down Han's criminal network. Also stars Ahni Capri and Bolo Yueng (the villian from Bloodsport and Double Impact).

Extras include an A & E special showing the lost footage from "The Game Of Death" in the way that Bruce originally meant it to be shown! It also has another bio narrated by George Takei with interviews from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Colburn, Danny Inasoto and Linda Lee Caldwell (Bruce's widow) among others. It also has two features focusing strictly on ETD and a very touching introduction from Mrs. Caldwell. It also has a rare interview with Bruce in which he ends it with one of his legendary quotes....."Be water my friend."

Overall, this is probably the best package for Enter The Dragon that has been released and probably ever will be released! As one reviewer said earlier, this is a must have! NO! This should be required viewing for anyone that calls himself a martial arts fan! Sorry to sound like a mark but this film is what a martial arts movie should be like! I would also recommend Bruce Lee's other films The Big Boss (Fist Of Fury), Fist Of Fury (Chinese Connection), Way Of The Dragon (Return Of The Dragon) and even Game Of Death though it is nothing like what Bruce wanted for the film.

Anyway, this movie is highly recommended! January 14, 2008

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